Bob writes:
>    Blackhawks 8  Tean USA 3
>
>    Team USA got off to an early start 96 seconds in Sweeney scored with
>    assists to Pederson and McEachern.
 
(questions directed to anyone who may know, Bob said his paper wasn't too
helpful)
 
Which Sweeney is this?  Tim?  I hadn't heard of a Sweeney being added to the
squad.  Peterson seems to be adding players left and right.  Bob and Don
are still with Boston, as far as I know, although Bob is not getting along
well with Boston coach Rick Bowness.
 
>    hawks.  1st period ended 3-3  waite 4 saves for hawks  Stauber 7 for USA
 
Was this Stauber's first appearance?  Could have played a part in his
allowing 8 goals.  It will take him several games to get back in the swing,
he hasn't played for quite a while.
 
>    Acording to the tribune Team USA defense looks like it needs major work
 
Yes, but several things the Almighty Tribune (I like how they've suddenly
become Team USA experts) may not have considered:
 
1) Team USA won't be facing any teams the caliber of Chicago in the Games.
  Chicago could probably go over and win the gold by themselves.  Getting
  blown out on the scoreboard isn't that bad, Team USA is playing teams better
  than themselves so they will get better.  You don't get better beating up on
  college teams.  And there are no NHL teams in the Olympics.
2) Peterson is rotating players in and out of the lineup.  He is not playing
  his six best defensemen right now.  Some of the players sitting are better
  than the ones who played this game.  As we get into January, he will start
  to finalize his lineup.
3) Again, Stauber has not been back for very long; I didn't see the game and
  I don't know how he looked, but I would have expected he'd take several
  outings to get into game shape.  That's what these games are for.
 
Still, all this aside, I do agree to a point that defense is the weakest
part of Team USA's game - but it isn't that bad.  They will get blown out
occasionally by NHL teams because, let's face it, if these guys (Team USA)
were as good as the NHLers they're facing, their NHL teams wouldn't have
let them go (for those who are pros).  And the collegians don't have as much
experience as the pro players although some of them may be better players.
 
I had wanted to write on this for a while; I think the Canada-USA game last
Saturday should have made us feel pretty comfortable with this team (USA).
They didn't allow Lindros to control the game, and except for that 2-3 minute
stretch in the first where Canada got 3 of its 4 goals (discounting the
empty-netter, and the fourth was on the power play), I thought USA had the
better of the play.  The goal by Guerin, I believe, where three different
players walked right through the slot and put shots on Burke made the
Canadian defense look like Swiss cheese, as did the one that went off Guerin's
skate off the faceoff.  Regardless of whether or not it should have been
allowed, the coverage that allowed Guerin to get right in for two shots off
the draw was terrible.
 
One thing I thought was funny was that if someone who didn't know much about
the players tuned in, they'd think David Emma was a goon.  He played much
more physical than I have ever seen him, and it seemed he was in the box every
five minutes.  He seems to be very focused and playing very intensely.  Lance
Pitlick was also a lot of fun to watch; he is one of the few players left
who actually throw hip checks, and he was just as good if not better than
the USA-BU game I saw here in October.
 
Finally, I have to say I thought goaltending was a key to the game; Burke
was stupendous while Leblanc played well but allowed a couple of goals his
counterpart would have stopped.  I am wondering just who the goaltenders for
USA are right now.  I have seen/heard of Leblanc and now Stauber playing
lately, but it seems to have been a while since Gordon and Kuntar have played,
and Delguidice joined the team last week.  It would be too bad if Gordon
and Kuntar were given the unceremonious heave-ho after they've been working
for several months.  But you really have to go with the best you can get, and
once Delguidice became available, I guess Peterson had no other choice but
to take him.  I think that he and Stauber will wind up in Albertville, and
the third goaltender is anyone's guess.
 
 
- mike