Controlled Excitement

Team USA, the youngest team in the Olympics this year, was supposed to be an afterthought for the 2010 Olympics. The pool play favored the Americans slightly, placed in a pool with two very beatable teams in Norway and Switzerland. However, the young Americans were supposed to get blown away by the Canadians, the overall favorite to win the gold this year. After last night’s stunning victory, these young guns are changing the course of these games.

However, despite all the hooplah surrounding last night’s upset, we have to remain a bit controlled. This, in no way, shape or form, is comparable to 1980. So just stop with those comparisons please, you look stupid when you make them. Canada is stacked, but they’ve won a single gold medal in hockey since 1952. 1952!

Team USA does not have to play Canada, Sweden, or Russia until the gold medal game. However, they still will need to face one of the Czech Republic or Finland, both very strong teams who are very capable of beating not only the Americans, but the aforementioned powers of the other bracket. Before we get excited about a potential medal, let’s make sure these young guns beat the winner of the Swiss/Belarus game on Wednesday. At that point, and only at that point, are they guaranteed to at least compete for a medal. They would then have to beat either Finland or the Czech Republic AND Canada/Russia/Sweden. That is no easy task.

But let’s hear it for Ryan Callahan and Chris Drury. Both are playing very well, especially on the penalty kill, and have proved doubters wrong about what they bring to the team. Hopefully this will give Drury a boost after the Olympics and he can get some of those garbage goals he’s been collecting.