The U.S. hockey team begins Olympic play against Finland tonight. So — in this day and age of taking it "one game at a time" — why is the buzz about Saturday night's game?
Simple. The Americans are playing the Russians.
You may remember the last time the two met in the Olympics on U.S. soil — the Americans stunned what might have been the best U.S.S.R. hockey team ever assembled in the Miracle on Ice classic game in Lake Placid.
The Cold War is over, but memories of the longtime, bitter rivalry have definitely been revived.
"It's still U.S. vs. Russia," said U.S. forward Bill Guerin, who was 10 when the Americans last won gold in 1980. "I think fans will enjoy that more than any other, and I think the players will too."
And if history repeats itself, the winner of Saturday's 9:30 p.m. game will earn the gold medal. Check out this interesting coincidence — the country (counting Russia as the old Soviet Union) that has won this contest has gone on to win the Olympic tournament every single time.
Since the U.S. pulled off its 1980 shocker, the Soviet Union defeated the Americans in 1988 and the Unified Team toppled Team USA 5-2 en route to gold medals. The golden Soviets also downed the U.S. in four straight Olympics between 1964-76 and in '56.
The Americans pulled off another but less-publicized miracle in 1960, when they upset the Soviet Union to win the USA's first gold medal in hockey.
In Thursday's games: Switzerland beat Austria 4-1 in a contest to decide 11th and 12th place.
KEEPING A SECRET: Who'll be the United States' starting goalie — Mike Richter, Mike Dunham or Tom Barrasso? And who'll be teamed up on the lines? Tune in Friday night to find out — mum's been the word so far about those intriguing points of strategy.
U.S. assistant coach Lou Vairo wouldn't comment on the goaltending situation, though the more-experienced Richter has been speculated as the starter.
The U.S. players didn't know what coach Herb Brooks had in mind, though they more than likely found out Thursday night when the team practiced for the first and only time at Acord Arena in West Valley City.
"I'm not sure what Herb's got in store for us," said Guerin at a news conference Thursday morning at the Main Media Center. "But there won't be a bad linemate on that team."
TOUGH CHOICE: The question — Would you rather win a gold medal or the Stanley Cup? — was posed to both NHL players at Thursday's news conference.
"I don't want to put one above the other," Guerin said. "This is a special opportunity that doesn't come around often. I want to grasp it."
