"There is a lot of pressure on Team Canada. Hockey is the No. 1 sport (in Canada). But we just have to play the game and not worry about it." -- Team Canada forward Rick Nash

Canada, U.S. ponder predicaments
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com
Feb. 20, 2006

TURIN, Italy - The Canadians and Americans can't get this preliminary round of the 2006 Olympics over fast enough. The preliminary round has provided a harsh lesson in hockey's world order as the Americans have been tied by Latvia and dropped games to Slovakia and Sweden, winning only against Kazakhstan.

For the Canadians, wins have come against Italy and Germany with losses to Switzerland and Finland. These upsets and close games have run the gamut across a tournament that has features few blowouts, but have been especially startling to the Canadians and Americans.

"In the past, you could pick what team you'd face in the quarterfinals and feel good," Team Canada Executive Director Wayne Gretzky said. "Now, there are eight good teams and nobody can be taken lightly. The Russians look like they have something going. The Swiss are going. That first game will be tough."

"Better now than later in the tournament," Canadian captain Joe Sakic said of facing adversity in the Olympics. "We know we have to regroup. We were outplayed (vs. Finland). There is no excuse."

Tuesday, Canada faces the Czech Republic in what amounts to a medal-round tune-up since Finland already has captured the top spot in Group A.

"It is not life or death, but it is an important game because you set the tone for the medal round," Gretzky said. "We want to come out of the game on a positive note. Right now, we're a little negative and this is a chance to turn it around. (Monday) is a day to do some things (at practice) so we can feel positive and fresher and not so down."

But some Canadian players feel this team hasn't gotten it done with losses to Switzerland and the Swedes.

"There is a lot of pressure on Team Canada," forward Rick Nash said. "Hockey is the No. 1 sport (in Canada). But we just have to play the game and not worry about it."

"We lost a couple games and when this happens everything gets blown out of proportion," Sakic said. "It doesn't matter. What matters is how we play tomorrow It's the same situation as four years ago. What happens doesn't matter. We just have to play with confidence together. We have to pick ourselves up."

We have to step up and I believe we can," Canadian center Vincent Lecavalier said. "We are confident, especially after a good practice today. We are confident that we can play the right match at the right moment."

A good first step would be a goal. Canada is in the midst of two-straight games without a goal. That hasn't since the 1984 Games.

Mike Modano provided the only goal for Team USA in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Team Sweden.

"Maybe we squeezed our sticks a little too much yesterday," Lecavalier said. "It has been six or so periods without us scoring a goal. I think that allowed need is that one goal and things will loosen up."

"We can't continuously be stubborn in our end," Gretzky said. "We have to get the puck to the other side of center. We have to get the puck in their end. Our power play has to be better and our offensive defensemen have to jump in and pinch more."

For the Americans, the situation also is one of concern. Moving on to the medal round seems almost assured, unless Latvia would put on a Herculean display of offense against Kazakhstan to close the 16-goal differential between goals for and against with the Americans.

Team USA has gotten a lot of shots and some excellent scoring chances so far, but the puck has stayed out of the net. It is a conundrum for the coaches and players.

"We have people in the right places and had the right people on the ice," Team USA coach Peter Laviolette said of the 2-1 loss to the Swedes. "We hit him (Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist). He made a few big saves, we missed the net.

"I do believe we need to get a little hungrier to the front of the net."

"We're playing just well enough to lose," American defenseman Mathieu Schneider said.

Like the Canadians, the Americans realize a win over Russia Tuesday would go a very long way to boosting team confidence.

"Any one player can get hot and carry this team," Doug Weight predicted.