That's all she wrote. The 6-1 win seems all well and good for the Americans, but looks can be deceiving.
Aside from a spurt in the final minutes, the Americans made the kind of mistakes that will bury them against better opponents.
There are some pros and cons with this one. Let's go with the bad news first:
Power play
The U.S. was careless on the power play, giving up numerous odd-man rushes and surrendering a shorthanded goal. The problems arose from the defensemen stepping up to join the play and abandoning the points. Fixing the power play should be item No. 1 on Ron Wilson's list at practice over the next two days.
The top line
Though it did score a goal, the first line of Patrick Kane, Paul Stastny and Zach Parise isn't as explosive as the U.S. wants it to be. Kane and Parise are two of the best young players in the game, and they need to consistently show the kind of skill they flashed on Kane's second-period goal.
Lack of energy
For much of the second and third periods, the scoreboard stood still at 3-1 and there wasn't much for the U.S. to get riled up about. Fortunately, the U.S. woke out of its slumber and exploded for three goals in the final six minutes of the game, but against Canada on Sunday night, such a lackluster stretch will do in the U.S.
Now, the good:
Kessel–Pavelski–Malone
This line was responsible for a number of solid scoring chances, and all three players registered two points each. Kessel got the scoring started just 2:39 into the game, and the line stood out as the best on the team.
Chris Drury
He showed why he made this squad by playing with David Backes and playing to his strengths. Drury hit the corners and was a true leader on the ice. He also scored his first Olympic goal.
Domination
Despite their shortcomings, the Americans still dominated the game, outshooting the Norwegians 39-11. Though Norway stayed closer than the U.S. would have liked, the game was never in doubt.
Ryan Miller
Solid yet again, only getting beat once and making at least three phenomenal saves. He's the No. 1 goalie, and there's simply no debate there.
That's all for this one. The U.S. has a couple days to perfect its lines and power-play units before taking to the ice Sunday night against Canada. For a complete schedule, click here, and be sure to check with NESN.com for the latest Olympic hockey updates. Thanks for following.
Third period, 37 seconds, 6-1 USA: And that one's for good measure. Brian Rafalski scores again, this time from the point. Credit Pavelski for clogging the front of the net and shielding Grotnes from having a chance at that one.
Third period, 3:00, 5-1 USA: A power-play goal from the U.S. That right there was a power play.
Zach Parise gets a puck that was dug out of the corner, and he takes it behind the net before hitting Brian Rafalski in front. Rafalski buries it, and the Americans have themselves a four-goal lead.
Third period, 3:59, 4-1 USA: Ouch. As chippy as this game has been, the high-stick on Bobby Ryan by Tommy Jakobsen looked genuinely accidental.
One last chance for this U.S. power play.
Third period, 4:27, 4-1 USA: Pavelski and Kessel work some magic again, with the former sending the latter on another semi-breakaway. Kessel couldn't settle the puck and get a decent backhand on it, and Grotnes made the save.
Third period, 5:10, 4-1 USA: So even though the Americans put forth a very "meh" effort for much of the third period, they only need one more goal to fulfill my 5-1, "this game was OK," assessment.
Third period, 5:41, 4-1 USA: The U.S. scores again, finally. The play starts back in the U.S. zone, with Miller making a nice pass to Jack Johnson in the neutral zone. Johnson weaved through two defenders at the blue line, took a shot on net, and Ryan Malone was in position to bang home the rebound.
Third period, 7:14, 3-1 USA: David Backes continues to be the man, leveling Alexander Bonsaksen behind the net at the end of a long shift.
Third period, 10:03, 3-1 USA: Norway gets yet another odd-man rush. You can't beat a good team in the Olympics unless you play defense, and the U.S. is simply not playing defense.
Third period, 11:27, 3-1 USA: Bobby Ryan fires perhaps the Americans' best chance this period, taking a feed from Chris Drury. No luck for the Americans, and it's still much too close for comfort.
Third period, 13:37, 3-1 USA: Zuccarello missed a golden opportunity at stuffing a puck in an open shortside of the net, instead missing just wide. That would have been devastating for the U.S. File that one under "luck" … or "playing against Norway."
Third period, 14:19, 3-1 USA: Still waiting for some spark from the Americans this period. These guys are playing like it's some throwaway game up in Rochester!
Third period, 15:34, 3-1 USA: Patrick Kane had the same chance that Backes had earlier, holding the puck on the doorstep of the crease. His shot, though, was gloved by Grotnes, who patiently waited for the shot.
Third period, 16:33, 3-1 USA: The penalty kill might look better than the power play.
Third period, 17:52, 3-1 USA: Oh boy, here comes a test. The Norwegians are going on the power play thanks to a Jack Johnson trip (though it looked more like a hold).
Start of third period, 3-1 USA: Here's my take: For this game to be viewed as a universal success for the Americans, they'll need to win 5-1 at minimum. A 4-2 or 3-2 win will be viewed as a loss.
If I was going to look out for anyone to score this period, it would be Kessel and Backes. They've simply been moving faster and better than just about everyone else on the ice.
Second intermission, 3-1 USA: Here's one more observation during the break: If the U.S. doesn't completely change its philosophy on the man advantage, it's safe to expect Canada to score at least three shorthanded goals Sunday night.
There's just no communication when the defensemen jump into the play, and teams that aren't from Norway or Switzerland will absolutely kill the U.S. when given the opportunity.
Second intermission, 3-1 USA: American hockey fans may feel pretty lousy after that lackluster period, but to that I ask you to recall four years ago. Back in Italy, when the Americans were tying Latvia, losing to Slovakia, Sweden and Russia and only beating Kazakhstan.
The point is, while everyone may expect better out of this team, a more sensible approach may be just that the team is taking baby steps. With those come some growing pains.
End of second period, 3-1 USA: OK, so each team scored a goal in that period, and the Americans held an 8-7 shot advantage, but there's no way any American hockey supporter can be happy about that 20 minutes of hockey.
For starters, the U.S. gave up a shorthanded goal. Second, they gave up far too many chances to a team that looked incredibly inferior in the first period. Third, goal differential may make the difference in the U.S. getting a bye to the quarterfinal round, saving them the trouble of playing teams like Norway and Switzerland again in the second round.
Though with the way the power play looking the way it does, some extra time on the ice might not hurt.
Second period, 30 seconds, 3-1 USA: So in the Olympics, refs can just stop play whenever they feel like it. That's at least what I've gathered from the last few minutes.
After Miller makes a save with his face, the whistle blows to … make sure he's OK? This is hockey, right?
Second period, 4:14, 3-1 USA: What an unbelievable save by Miller. Martin Roeymark deflected a shot from the point on net, but Miller adjusted on the fly and kicked it away. He's had very little action, making those tough saves even tougher, but Miller's shown why Ron Wilson named him No. 1 for the duration of the tournament.
Second period, 5:16, 3-1 USA: Phil Kessel does some nifty work with the puck, but his pass to the front of the net finds just too much traffic. It was a better look on the man advantage than the Americans have had all day.
Second period, 6:03, 3-1 USA: Rafalski lets loose a shot from the point, but the U.S. has still yet to get anything going on the power play.
Second period, 11:32, 3-1 USA: Parise-Stastny-Kane up front on the power play, with Suter and Rafalski in the back.
Second period, 7:33, 3-1 USA: Uh-oh … the U.S. is back on the power play. This could get ugly.
Second period, 9:55, 3-1 USA: The U.S. very nearly gives up another odd-man rush. The power play looks atrocious, no matter who is out there.
Norway has a 4-3 shot advantage this period.
Second period, 11:32, 3-1 USA: Norway gets on the board with a shorthanded goal. That's unacceptable for the U.S.
Marius Holtet carried the puck into the Americans' zone on a 2-on-1 rush, and he kept the puck on his stick. He fired it over the right shoulder of Miller and placed it perfectly in the top corner of the net.
The breakout was a result of a Langenbrunner whiff five feet from the Norway net.
Second period, 11:32, 3-0 USA: The U.S. power play gets another chance. It's going to have to show some togetherness on this one.
Second period, 13:59, 3-0 USA: Even though the U.S. has the goal this period, Norway's arguably played better. The Norwegians have found some room and gotten some good chances. Unfortunately for them, Ryan Miller looks unbeatable (with all of his five saves).
Second period, 14:28, 3-0 USA: The top line finally puts one in the net. Kane gives a pass at the blue line to Parise, who fires one on net. Grotnes lets up a huge rebound off the pads, and Kane follows through and buries the rebound.
That's the kind of goal that this duo should be able to score more than a few times in this tournament.
Second period, 15:26, 2-0 USA: Norway's power play comes in with a roar but fades out with a whimper. After Backes returns to the ice, Zuccarello sneaks a tricky shot on net, but Miller makes the stop.
Second period, 17:31, 2-0 USA: Backes is heading to the box for high-sticking a Forsberg. The bad news for Norway is that his first name's not Peter. It's Kristian.
Second period, 18:11, 2-0 USA: Hey look, Norway gets a shot! Maybe the Norge can get something going here.
Start of second period, 2-0 USA: You just have to feel bad for Norway. I mean, an 8-0 drubbing to open the Olympics has to be painful, then they got completely dominated in the opening frame here.
End of first period, 2-0 USA: The first 20 minutes are history, and so are the Norwegians. Aside from one Brooks Orpik breakdown, the Norge have been neutralized offensively and somewhat helpless defensively.
The U.S. has a ridiculous 15-2 shot advantage, which is better than the 14-3 advantage that Canada held on Thursday night. Will the Americans win 8-0? Well, that's doubtful. That's just difficult.
Still, the Malone-Pavelski-Kessel line has been outstanding, and the Americans are in complete control.
First period, 46 seconds, 2-0 USA: As good as the team has looked this afternoon, the power play needs some work. Just one shot through 1:38 in this one, and it was a wrister from about 30 feet.
First period, 3:52, 2-0 USA: Brian Rafalski unleashes a missile on net. Grotnes makes the save, but as Stastny hacks away at the rebound, he gets bombarded by Norwegians and draws a penalty. Mats Zuccarello goes to the box for cross-checking.
First period, 3:52, 2-0 USA: The U.S. has a 12-2 shot advantage, and that's not even telling half the story.
First period, 6:02, 2-0 USA: Team USA general manager Brian Burke raised some eyebrows when he selected Drury to the roster, but it looks to be an excellent decision.
Drury is the floating forward of this American team, having no dedicated line. He is playing the role of leader, and he just doubled the American lead.
And if you're wondering … no, this doesn't end with a Little League story.
First period, 6:54, 2-0 USA: Credit that goal to David Backes.
Backes hustled to keep a puck in the offensive zone, found some space to make a beautiful pass to Ryan Callahan in the high slot. Callahan fired a shot on net, which was turned away, but the veteran Chris Drury crashed the net and buried the goal.
Backes and Callahan get the assists. You really can't say enough about the play Backes made.
First period, 7:26, 1-0 USA: That was a sloppy power play, and as soon as it ended, the Norwegians get a huge scoring chance.
Jonas Andersen took a feed flying toward the net but Ryan Miller moved quickly to his left to kick it away.
There was a brief scrum following a whistle a minute later, instigated by a Norwegian wearing a full mask. Not OK.
First period, 9:58, 1-0 USA: Right on cue, Zach Parise fires a slapper from the slot that catches iron.
First period, 10:10, 1-0 USA: The Americans will go on the power play for the first time of the day. This will be interesting. They went 1-for-3 the other day, but given the way they've come out of the gate in this one, you have to think they'll be better.
First period, 11:38, 1-0 USA: Another pair (you could even maybe say trio) of big opportunities for the U.S. Jamie Langenbrunner's tip-in attempt goes off a Norway skate before the Americans unleash a flurry of bombs on the net. Still, we're at 1-0.
First period, 12:35, 1-0 USA: Ryan Miller just reached out to poke-check a puck he really didn't need to poke-check. He might just be trying to get involved. USA has the early shot advantage 8-1.
First period, 13:37, 1-0 USA: I have no clue how David Backes didn't bury that one. The forward — who had the prettiest goal of America's three on Tuesday — had the puck on the doorstep with Grotnes flailing on his belly. Grotnes may have gotten a piece of a shot, or Backes didn't get much on it, but it's still 1-0.
First period, 14:22, 1-0 USA: Ryan Malone deflects one off the crossbar. Through five-plus minutes, it looks like USA -5.5 was a good bet.
First period, 15:29, 1-0 USA: I said earlier that the Americans should waste no time in attacking the net. So far, so good. They've peppered Grotnes with six shots already.
First period, 17:21, 1-0 USA: Phil Kessel made that look easy. And you know what? Maybe it was.
The young winger scores his first Olympic goal, finding some space in the offensive zone and firing a wrister past Paal Grotnes. Norway had some brutal defense on that one, and Joe Pavelski and Ryan Malone got the assists.
First period, 20:00: The first line has not changed for Team USA, with Paul Stastny centering Patrick Kane and Zach Parise. That line couldn't connect for much Tuesday, so let's see what they have now.
3:09 p.m.: OK, the Americans lost their fourth curling match and John Shuster is like Bill Buckner times 10. Let's drop the puck.
2:57 p.m.: NBC hasn't exactly made nice with the American viewing public so far, seemingly tape-delaying events for the sake of tape-delaying events.
They are potentially on the verge of messing with hockey fans. As a network, you're pretty safe if you want to bother the skiing fans, but it's a bad idea to mess with the hockey fans … especially because of curling.
2:54 p.m.: Just read in The Wall Street Journal that a scalper was looking to buy tickets to Sunday's USA-Canada tilt for a cool $1,000. Obviously, the matchup is a major one, especially being in Canada, but there is likely to be absolutely nothing at stake. Yikes.
2:51 p.m.: Oh boy … bonus curling. Really? Can't we get the hockey game started?
2:50 p.m.: Devastating toss from the Dane curler there … because the only thing worse than curling is extra curling.
2:47 p.m.: If one thing stood out in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Swiss, it was a complete lack of chemistry on the ice. It was understandable, of course, as the team barely had a day to work together, but in this one, you have to hope to see something more.
At the same time, Canada wasn't firing on all cylinders out of the gate the other night, and it still won 8-0.
2:43 p.m.: Closing in on faceoff for this one, as the American men look poised to capture their first curling victory of the Olympics.
On Tuesday, the men lost a heartbreaker, which may have been to blame for the hockey team's slow start. All the hockey players must have been fairly devastated that their fellow countrymen suffered such a disheartening defeat in the grueling sport of curling. Hopefully for them, their compatriots will earn the inspiring victory over Denmark.
1:43 p.m.: Don't have your Norway hockey trading cards out this afternoon? I don't blame you, so here's a look at some names you may recognize:
Ole Kristian Tollefsen, defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
Patrick Thoresen, former winger for the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers
And … that's about it. This isn't a star-studded team, and if the Americans know what's good for them, they'll come out firing. The Canadians were deadlocked after 20 minutes with the Norwegians on Tuesday before unleashing eight goals in the following two periods. There's simply no reason for the Americans to wait around.
1:05 p.m.: Feeling lucky? The Americans are 5.5-goal favorites for this one. The Canadians were six-goal favorites on Tuesday.
10:25 a.m.: This game will provide a good gauge for where the Americans are at as a team. That's not because Norway is any good, but rather, just the opposite.
The men from Norge got smoked by Team Canada on Tuesday night to the tune of 8-0. The Americans, meanwhile, looked somewhat mediocre against the Swiss, winning 3-1.
The 8-0 Canadian win made a statement. Can the Americans match it on Thursday afternoon?
8 a.m.: Game No. 2 for the Americans will take place this afternoon, and we'll have everything covered here on the live blog.
Already this morning, we've learned (to nobody's surprise) that Ryan Miller will be the No. 1 goaltender throughout the tournament, and he'll only take a seat if he suffers an injury. Head coach Ron Wilson will no longer have to answer any goaltending questions, as he said he'll alternate his backup between Jon Quick and Tim Thomas. For Thursday's game with Norway, Quick will be the primary backup.
Be sure to check back in the time leading up to the 3 p.m. faceoff for the latest updates. And of course, stick around for the game.
