Team USA Upsets Canada 5-3

The Americans managed to steal a win from Team Canada Sunday night, riding a two-goal performance from Brian Rafalski.

The young Americans got their first four goals from a trio of golden oldies — Brian Rafalski, Chris Drury and Jamie Langenbrunner — as they beat the Canadians 5-3 before a stunned crowd at Canada Hockey Place. Rafalski, who scored the last two goals in Thursday’s 6-1 win over Norway, scored the first two against Canada. Drury broke a 2-2 tie at 16:46 of the second period and Langenbrunner added a power-play goal in the third.

Langenbrunner’s goal proved to be the winner when Sidney Crosby deflected home a pass by Ryan Getzlaf for a power-play goal with 3:09 remaining. That triggered a barrage of shots by the Canadians against Ryan Miller, but Ryan Kesler iced the win by diving to swat Zach Parise’s dump-out into the empty net with 44.7 seconds remaining.

Miller, perhaps the NHL’s best goaltender so far this season, was brilliant in making 42 saves while outplaying Canada’s Martin Brodeur, who stopped 18 shots.

The victory, the third in as many games for the Americans (3-0-0-0), gave them first place in Group A and a bye through to Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Canada (1-1-1-0) will have to play Germany in Tuesday’s qualifying round.

It was the first meeting in Olympic play between the North American rivals since Canada’s 5-2 victory in the gold-medal game at Salt Lake City eight years ago. The Americans hadn’t beaten Canada in Olympic play since the 1960 team won 2-1 at Squaw Valley on the way to the gold medal.

The Americans came out flying — and turned that energy into a goal just 41 seconds into the game. Langenbrunner’s forechecking got the puck to Ryan Suter at the left point. Suter fed Rafalski at the right point, and Rafalski waited what seemed like an eternity before shooting. His slapper wasn’t a rocket, but it hit Crosby and deflected into the net to give Team USA a quick lead. {NHL.com}

Miller was outstanding in this game, turning away 42 shots from the Canadians. This win is the first time the Americans have beaten the Canadians in Olympic play since 1960. Now, the US has earned a preliminary round bye, while Team Canada will have to play Germany on Tuesday.

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