FEBRUARY 22, 2010 -- Thirty years later, do you still believe in miracles? Coming into this Olympiad, the Russians and Canadians were the teams to beat, while the Czech Republic was considered second tier.

Brian Rafalski: 2 goals  plus assist on game-winner vs. Canada

As for Slovakia and a young, inexprienced Team USA?  Well, they will play hard and give it their best shot, but no real threat, many critics argued. 

However, things have changed dramatically, as the preliminary round, now concluded, proved. 

Slovakia beat Russia, and the USA beat Canada.  Everything is up in the Olympic air now as the medal round begins.

The Russians have suffered from a curious lack of goal scoring (lost 2-1 in OT shootout vs. Slovakia), despite controlling play most of the time, and enjoyed a convincing edge in scoring opportunities.  The Russians almost seem overcoached, but did score 4 goals in a later win over the Czech Republic. 

Sweden and Finland, 2006's gold and silver medalists, respectively, will not go down without a fight.

Team Canada had a most difficult time with Switzerland, the Swiss actually took the heavily favored Canadians to an overtime shootout before losing. Switzerland is by no means a powerhouse, and has exported much more great milk chocolate than great hockey players.

Team Canada faithful considered that game an aberration.  Then came the Sunday showdown with Team USA.   It was an instant classic in which the Americans scored first and never trailed en route to a 5-3 victory in front of a stunned, mostly pro-Canadian crowd in Vancouver, BC.

Veteran USA defenseman Brian Rafalski scored the first of his two goals only 41 seconds into the game and Team USA never trailed. Rafalski later assisted on the game winner by Jamie Langenbrunner. So great was the disparity in talent, that this is being called the greatest Winter Olympic upset since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.  While the disparity in talent during the Communist era won't be seen again, the Americans of 2010 still had a gulf of ability to overcome to defeat the Canadians in the preliminary round.

Looking forward to the medal round, one has to wonder if another miracle is brewing. American goaltender Ryan Miller has been rock-solid, and USA coach Ron Wilson has his team functioning very well as a unit, and as a result, playing great hockey.

As for Team Canada, the road got a lot bumpier with last night's loss as they will now have to play an extra qualifying game and most likely face Russia in the quarterfinals of the medal round if they can top Germany beforehand.

On paper, Russia and Canada still have the most talent, but as long as the Americans keep in mind that each game is a hockey game, and not a skills competition, they do have a legitimate shot. The last Miracle on Ice was on February 21st, 1980.

Ice hockey is the consummate team sport, and each member of Team USA will have to prove himself the consummate team player in order to pull off this most unlikely upset, as they cannot win on talent alone.

Though it is going to take a lot of character, however, if Team USA stays focused, they will be draped in gold on Sunday February 28th, 2010.
 

Contact Charles: Charles@officialinsidesports.com

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