Sports is tailored to the underdog, it always has been. There is something special about a David and Goliath match-up, something amazing about a Cinderella Story. We can't help it, as human beings we are drawn to the competition, to the fight for survival, the opportunity to witness something we can tell our grandchildren about. The opportunity to remember something that truly moved us for the rest of our lives.

But there is a reason why the underdog is an underdog. There is a reason why Cinderella stories are so exciting when they happen. Basically, there is a reason why we call victories like the USA had in 1980 "miracles." There is a reason why we remember them 30 years later, why we idolize people many of us never saw play, why we get the chills when we watch a re-creation of the most inspirational speech hockey has ever created.

It's because it's not supposed to happen. David is never supposed to beat Goliath. That's why it's so special when it happens, because you're never supposed to see it. That's why you remember, because you might never see it again.

The United States had an opportunity to do that today, they earned the opportunity to do that today.

Continue reading this post »

USA vs. Canada

Gold Medal Game

Sunday February 28th, 3:15 PM

NBC (HD)

Team USA will be looking to avenge their loss to Canada in the 2002 Gold Medal game in Salt Lake City. No better place to do it than tonight in Vancouver. Here is a preview of tonight's game: (Courtesy of NESN)

United States:

When USA GM Brian Burke assembled this squad, many questioned his selections and obvious youth movement with the average age being 26.5, but hey the last US team to win gold had an average age of 21 and sometimes the innocence and hunger that comes with youth can be a good thing. That appears to have been the case with this 2010 USA team who took another major step towards gold by embarrassing the oldest and most experienced team in the tournament Finland, 6-1.

"You know we were the youngest team with an average age of 21 and then you look at this team, they're older but they were maybe young enough to just go out, have fun and play their game, blocking out the pressure of the tournament," captain of the 1980 Miracle team Mike Eruzione told the Inside Hockey Radio Show Saturday.

This USA squad doesn't seem to know what pressure is! In their first real test of the tournament, they withstood an onslaught of shots, mainly thanks to the amazing goaltending of Ryan Miller (42 saves) and beat Canada 5-3. The biggest sign that this team wouldn't be rattled was the final minutes when Canada came back and made it a one-goal game. The US wasn't scared and didn't panic, getting a great empty-net goal from Ryan Kesler.

They have been calmer every game and dictated the game with their blazing speed and a defense that has learned when to pitch into the offense or stay back. USA is the only undefeated team left in the tournament and that has been because of their composure and ability to remain within their game plan.

That defense has been led by Brian Rafalski (4 goals, 4 assists) who leads the tournament with eight points and seems to always make seamless outlet passes from the defensive zone. Ryan Suter (4 assists) has been a minute eater on the blue line at 105:31 thus far and Erik Johnson (1 goal) and Tim Gleason have been shot-block masters, not allowing many shots to get through to the sensational Miller.

Miller (5-0-0, 1.04 GAA, .953 save percentage) has been the best player in this tournament. Regardless of the outcome of this gold-medal game, he will finish with the best GAA and save percentage. Miller has been amazing and probably most impressive has not been his 42 save performance against Canada but his ability to remain focused when his team has a game well in control as they did on Friday. Miller's focus prevents the opponent from gaining any momentum as he squashes any chance they get.

The forward position is probably where the USA needs to be at its strongest and utilize it's strength. Zach Parise (3 goals, 4 assists), had a goal and an assist Friday and has been the best USA forward but they have been the beneficiaries of plenty of unsung heroes like Kesler who may have only one goal but leads the tournament in face-off percentage winning 76 percent of his draws. Ryan Malone (3 goals; 2 assists) has also been critical to the USA attack, using his 6'4" 224 pound frame to be a major presence in front of the opposing goalies.

Besides Miller, the X-factors for the US may well be three forwards that until Friday have not taken advantage of their skill and speed. Phil Kessel (1 goal, 1 assist), Patrick Kane (3 goals) and Paul Stastny (1 goal, 2 assists) need to be huge for USA and show why they are some of the most talented in the world. Kessel did a great job creating the first USA goal with his speed and forcing Miikka Kiprusoff to come out and play the puck, subsequently making an errant clear to Malone who buried it into the vacant net behind Kiprusoff. USA will need more of that on Sunday.

They will also need Kane to be the sniper he was Friday against what promises to be a more focused goalie in Luongo and Stastny to be the playmaker he was in the semifinal. Those two points Friday were Stastny's first of the tournament. He needs to finish off strong. This trio was critical to the 6-1 win Friday and they will be critical to the success of their team Sunday.

Another key element to keep an eye on will be how USA handles trailing if they fall behind. They have not trailed the entire tournament. If their composure and calmness so far is there, that shouldn't be a problem.

More after the jump.......

Continue reading this post »

For our final installment to get us ready for the big game in a couple of hours, we bring you the winning goal of the 1980 Winter Olympics Gold Medal game between the USA and Finland, and former Rob Mclanahan's medal-winning goal:

Alright, we are getting closer to game time, only two more installments to go. Next up, nothing like a good old fashioned Rocky Balboa training montage to get you going:

Check back at 1 PM for the final installment.

Next up, the Herb Brooks speech to the USA Hockey team before their game against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. This is from the movie "Miracle", with Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks:

Check back at 12 PM for the next installment.

Alright, next up to get us all fired up for the Gold Medal game, how about a little motivational speech from Rocky Balboa?

Check back at 11 AM for the next entry.

As we all get ready to root the USA on in their quest for the first hockey gold since 1980, we're going to do our best to get you fired up as the day goes on.

No better place to start than with the "Miracle on Ice", USA's win over the Soviet Union on February 24th, 1980 at Lake Placid.

Check back at 10 AM, there will be a new post up.