Much like they did in their 3-1 win over Switzerland on Tuesday, the Americans played a risky game with their defense pinching up and no one dropping back in case the puck went back the other way. The result was numerous odd-man rushes by the Norwegians, one of which resulted in their lone goal.
If not for Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), who was huge between the pipes with 10 saves, the expected romp over Norway could have been much closer. Still, chalking up another victory is paramount as, obviously, it's preferable to learn and grow from a win as opposed to a monumental loss.
The main lesson to be learned, though, is that something serious has to change before their date with the Canadians. Either the U.S. should completely switch up its philosophy and play a conservative, almost trap-like game (as the Germans did against the Swedes), hoping to capitalize on mistakes and minimal scoring chances, or they should play a more responsible transition game and not the run-and-gun style they seem to be resorting to.
"We've got to come out stronger in the first two periods," forward David Backes (St. Louis Blues) told NBC's Pierre McGuire after the game. "We were too sloppy in the neutral zones, and they had a lot of odd-man rushes. Ryan Miller was huge for us, making saves in key spots, and as time went on, I think [Norway] may have tired out and we got a few in the end. But 6-1 wasn't indicative of the game by any means."
As was pointed out after the Switzerland game, more deeply skilled squads like Canada, Russia and Sweden will make the USA pay for its neutral-zone mistakes. Too many times the American defensemen pinched without forwards dropping back to cover in case of a turnover and an odd-man rush. There is nothing wrong with activating their defensemen, but the U.S. needs to be responsible and realize that tactic could be dangerous against a more talented opponent.
One positive to the USA game plan thus far has been the team's physical play. Backes, Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks) have all played huge physical roles up front and the defense as a whole has done a solid job of pounding opposing forwards both down low and in front of the net. That will need to continue against the likes of Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks), Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames), Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks) and the other big Canadian forwards.
"It is gonna be huge," Backes said of the impending physical showdown with Canada on Sunday. "They have so much offensive talent from top to bottom, offensive-defensive guys, we are going to have to try to wear out some of the bigger guys that control the puck down low. It is going to be a tall task, but that is why we are here: to try and play the best and be the best."
Another positive for the U.S. was the line of Malone, Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) and former Bruin Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs). Each of the linemates finished Thursday's game with two points. The Ryan Callahan (New York Rangers), Chris Drury (New York Rangers) and Backes line was also solid as each forward played a role in the second U.S. goal, scored by Drury.
It appears, however, that some other lines will be broken up, namely the original top line of Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche) and Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils). Head coach Ron Wilson (Toronto Maple Leafs) had Kane with Kesler and Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks) and Parise and Stastny with Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils) in the third period.
While they were burnt pinching forward plenty of times, there were some successful jumps into the offensive zone by the defense and one blue-liner who stood out was Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), who scored the last two U.S. goals.
Three Stars:
1. Ryan Malone
2. Brian Rafalski
3. David Backes
