A Devilishly Good Day for USA Hockey

The Devils Zone Graveyard
Some of the best stuff from my pre-Zone blog

by Nick Casale

A Devilishly Good Day for USA Hockey

Brian Burke may be the GM and Ron Wilson the coach of the US Olympic team in Vancouver. But Devils GM/President Lou Lamoriello’s fingerprints are all over this team and their 5-3 win over Canada on Super Sunday.
Let’s start with...well, the start. The US opened the scoring just 41 seconds in on a goal by former Devil Brian Rafalski. Here’s a guy who was undrafted and playing in Sweden several years ago when he was discovered by Devils superscout David Conte’s minions and brought to the NHL. Two Cups with the Devils soon followed, then a third with the Red Wings, and he’s now recognized as one of the best defensemen in the league. Had the Devils not brought the Michigan native home, who knows? He might very well be skating in Vancouver with Tre Kronor on his chest.
Ralffy’s first goal was set up by some excellent work down low by Zach Parise (against another former Devil, Scott Niedermayer), while Jamie Langenbrunner was also instrumental in the opening shift. Great to see our current Devils making a statement tonight, as I thought they kind of underachieved the first 2 games. I was wondering why it took Ron Wilson that long to put Langer and Zach together. Seems like a no brainer to me, since these guys have played on the same line in New Jersey for the better part of 3 years. Better late than never, I guess.

Deflections:  More than one quarter of the US team is named Ryan.  Count ‘em: Miller, Malone, Kesler, Callahan, Whitney and Suter.  That’s 6 out of 23 guys...7 if  you count New Jersey native Bobby Ryan.

When Rafalski scored his second of the game, guess who was on the ice? Langenbrunner and Parise. Then in the third period, the only thing that kept Rafalski from getting a hat trick was Langenbrunner, who deflected the 4th US goal behind Devils teammate Martin Brodeur. Oh, and the super slo-mo replay showed that, had the puck not hit Langer’s skate, Parise’s stick was in perfect position to deflect the shot past Marty.
And speaking of Marty...if Roberto Luongo or Marc Andre Fleury gets the next start in goal for Canada, I’d be neither surprised nor disappointed. Sure, I love Marty and wish him all the success in the world, but not at the expense of my country. And putting on my Devils fan hat, if he gets embarrassed by a poor showing in Vancouver, how sick do you think he’ll play for us in the stretch run and Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Deflections:  You think next time Jack Johnson gets the puck  at the blue line, Doc will say he’s “Sittin’, Waitin’, Wishin’”  for a passing lane to open up? Yeah, probably not.

Let’s get one thing straight. This was NOT Miracle on Ice 2, despite what some clowns in the media, who don’t know a blue line from a clothesline, might be trying to sell you. This was a minor upset of a great team by another really good team, a well-constructed squad assembled by a shrewd GM and a brilliant coach. Burke and Wilson are 2 excellent hockey minds who learned their craft, by the way, playing at Providence College for a guy named Lou Lamoriello.
Short shifts: notes on the rest of Sunday’s action
My teeth are still hurting from that hit Ovechkin put on Jagr. They said Ovie was going to make a statement during these Games; that was certainly a great opening paragraph.
Three words to Mr. Elias: Patty, too pretty! Your deft little touch passes are nice to look at, but in an intense situation like the Olympics, sometimes you just have to put your head down and shoot!
One American who has not been on top of his game, I think, is TV analyst Ed Olczyk. But Edzo redeemed himself with that Burt Hooton reference in the third period. Nice!
Till next time...skate with your head up.
Nick

Originally posted Sunday, February 21, 2010

(C) 2011 Nicholas J. Casale | Got a beef? Think I’m brilliant? Talk to me