If decisively beating Canada in a heated preliminary round game on enemy soil is any indication, the USA are well positioned for a run at a gold medal.
I wouldn't quite call this a "miracle," but a medal of any colour will be considered a success for the young and feisty USA hockey team. This is no team of bushy haired college boys, but the USA are definitely inexperienced and were picked by many to finish well out of the medals. Now, the USA have almost assured themselves a medal round game.
In my Olympic Hockey Preview I stated that I felt like this could be another "Miracle" team based on the performance of goaltender Ryan Miller.
Against Canada, Miller was a difference maker standing on his head throughout the game, specifically in the decisive last minutes of the third period. Not only did the USA receive clutch goaltending from Ryan Miller, their young and fast forward corps featuring the likes of David Backas, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, and Dustin Brown, was impressive.
Would I call it a "miracle?" No. I would call it a young and talented team coming of age on the world's biggest stage. Is Canada out of it? Not by a long shot, but they've made the road to gold more difficult then it seemed at the start of the Games.
Saying the USA will win Gold, or even medal is a little pre-mature, but this team that is beaming with young stars (and stripes) and have the potential to go wherever goaltender Ryan Miller leads them.
After beating the heavily favoured Team Canada at the Vancouver Olympics, Team USA has officially erased their "miracle" status and replaced it with "Olympic contender."
Let the games begin.
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This was such an awesome game! So proud of our boys. This win was huge!
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