BEIJING (AP) 鈥� Claude Julien wants his players to have short memories after Canada lost to the United States.
David Quinn hopes the same for his U.S. players now that they're one victory away from an undefeated preliminary round at the Olympics.
The Americans and Canadians go into the final day of group play in very different situations. While the U.S. would win the group by beating Germany or losing in overtime or a shootout, Canada's got some kinks to work out and has only a lopsided matchup against host China left before the knockout round.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for us to learn what we need to get better at,鈥� Julien said after 鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford to have these ebbs and flows in our game. Through adversity, you become better. We鈥檙e hoping (Sunday night against China) we鈥檙e able to show that we鈥檙e going to be a better team from what we鈥檝e lived through today."
Canada might have a goaltending dilemma on its hands after veteran Eddie Pasquale gave up two bad goals to the U.S. Pasquale started each of the first two games with Matt Tomkins backing up and Northeastern University star Devon Levi not in uniform.
Based on his exceptional college season and status as an NHL prospect, it looked before the Olympics like Levi would be the No. 1 goalie. Pasquale's uneven play could open the door for that, unless Tomkins gets a look first.
鈥淚鈥檓 not one to make a decision right after a game," Julien said when asked who would start in net against China. "There鈥檚 no doubt we鈥檙e going to be talking about it, and no doubt we鈥檙e going to make a decision here. ... As far as who it鈥檚 going to be, not sure yet.鈥�
The U.S. has the opposite problem of two goalies on top of their game. Boston University's Drew Commesso wasn't tested much by China but was solid in stopping all 29 shots he faced, while former Michigan netminder Strauss Mann settled in after allowing a soft goal early against Canada and made 35 saves in a tougher matchup.
Barring a regulation loss to Germany, the U.S. will be one of the four teams advancing directly to the quarterfinals and avoiding the qualification round. are already assured of that, and the winner of Sweden-Finland on Sunday 鈥� and both if the game goes to overtime 鈥� will join them.
鈥淲e obviously need to take care of Germany,鈥� said Sean Farrell, who leads the U.S. in scoring with six points. 鈥淏ut our goal from the beginning was to win these three games and now that we鈥檙e kind on to Germany, we can focus on them and keep building on what we鈥檝e been doing and play fast and play hard against them.鈥�
The Americans played fast and hard against Canada to put themselves in this position, but Quinn said it's now up to players to understand they haven't accomplished anything yet. It's a fine line between belief and overconfidence for the youngest team in the tournament.
鈥淚f you can鈥檛 enjoy this, why鈥檇 we come?鈥� Quinn said. 鈥淲e can enjoy this game (and) reset. ... We鈥檝e got to be ready to go (against Germany) because tomorrow鈥檚 game is just as important as the one we just played.鈥�
Canada's next important game will either be in the qualification round or the quarterfinals, depending on how the rest of the action shakes out. With gold medal expectations, perhaps an extra practice game against China wouldn't hurt, because the Canadians have more than just goaltending problems.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely hard,鈥� winger Josh Ho-Sang said. "We are working our best. We are watching video and we are talking to each other a lot. We will continue to get better as the tournament goes on, but that鈥檚 just hockey.鈥�
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Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
