USA Men's Hockey Begins Winter Olympics As Favorites Over Switzerland

Sports News - February 15th, 2010 - Written By John Ritter

Eventually the young United States ice hockey team will have to stare down the barrel of the Canadians if they wish to advance to the final pairing later in the Winter Olympics.

But for the time being, the Americans will need to focus on beating a feisty Swiss team with plenty of momentum from it's last winter games.

On the 30th anniversary of the country's miracle win over the Russians in 1980, the United States is favored by two goals for Tuesday's Group A opener, according to BetED, with an over/under of six.

The Americans are a +300 underdog behind the powerful Canadians to eventually win the four-team group, and the neighboring countries will meet Sunday in the group finale. Canada is the favorite to win the entire tournament at -125, and is the only country with odds in the minus. Russia is the likely silver medal candidate at +250.

The Swiss are ranked seventh in the current International Ice Hockey Federation standings, but haven't medaled in a major hockey tournament since 1953, where they took bronze in the World Championships.

But they had a good showing in the '06 Turin Games in which they upset the Czech Republic and and Canada to reach the quarterfinals.

The sixth-place finish was the country's best since finishing fifth in '52.

The United States has only medaled once since the memorable '80 tournament, in which it went on to beat Finland in the final. While the women's team has won gold, silver and bronze in each of the last three winter games, the men have only taken silver in the 2002 Salt Lake City tournament.

The U.S. was shut out of the 2006 Games in Turin, but will try to get back on the podium with a revamped roster.

It already already suffered a setback with the loss of two first-teamers due to injury. New Jersey Devils defenseman Paul Martin pulled out weeks ago with a broken arm, and defenseman Mike Komisarek was dismissed on Feb. 4th because of shoulder surgery.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller will get the start for the U.S. in front of the net. He is in the middle of his best NHL season ever, leading the league in save percentage (.933) and second in goals-allowed per game (2.05). Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas will join him on the team, along with Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick.

In all, there are seven players on the team who have won a gold medal in other international tournaments, but only three - Chris Drury, Brian Rafalski and Jamie Langenbrunner - have ever competed in the Olympics.

"Our management group has worked hard to put together a group of players that will give us the best chance to win the gold medal in Vancouver and we feel like we've done that," general manager Brian Burke said.

In attempt to start fresh after the forgettable '06 campaign, the team's general manager Burke decided to cut loose former staples Mike Modano and Bill Guerin for players like NHL Rookie of the Year Patrick Kane and Paul Stastny. The duo, along with Zach Parise, are the top-three point-scorers in the league.

"We had some difficult decisions to make, but that's a credit to USA Hockey and depth of the player pool in our country," Burke added.

As a result, the Americans are a relative unknown coming into the opening round game.

Switzerland boats only one NHL player, Anaheim Ducks goalkeeper Jonas Hiller, who .919 save-percentage is 12th in the league.. Forward Andres Ambuhl and defensemen Mark Streit and Luca Sbisa also play in the U.S., but for lower-level teams.

The U.S. tied it's opening match in Turin, 3-3, with Latvia. It came back to win it's second game, 4-1, against Kazakhstan before consecutive losses to Slovakia and Sweden.