BEIJING — The NHL opting out of the 2022 Winter Olympics gave several elite prospects across the world an Olympic opportunity, as well as the chance to show off the future of the sport.
It appears to be in good hands, but the veterans provided the difference as the U.S. men’s hockey team defeated Canada 4-2, the Americans’ first win over the Canadians at an Olympics since 2010, in a fast-paced contest Saturday at National Indoor Stadium.
Four of the top five picks in the 2021 NHL draft played in the game (three for Canada). Team USA improved to 2-0 in Beijing; they defeated China 8-0 on Thursday.
Captain Andy Miele, 33, led the way with two points (one goal, one assist),
“The kids can play, I think it’s safe to say, obviously,” said Kenny Agostino, who scored the United States’ fourth goal. At 29, he isn’t one of those “kids,” especially by this roster’s standards. “It’s clear we’ve got a lot of speed and a lot of talent. But I think this was a man’s game tonight.
“I think the future of the game is in safe hands. I think if anything, the last few years have shown that age in terms of youth is irrelevant at this point. If you can play you can play. You see it in the NHL. You see it in a tournament like this on the big stage.”
Canada needed 1:24 to score the game’s first goal when Mat Robinson’s shot from the right boards squeaked through traffic and then by Mann.
“I thought that was some good adversity for us,” forward Brian O’Neil said.
The Americans needed only 70 seconds to equalize, though.
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Canada tried to counter the Americans’ speed with a more physical style. But coach David Quinn’s team didn’t back down.
“We want to let them loose a little bit and play to our strengths,” he said. “That’s our strength – our ability to skate, stay on top of people, (without) putting ourselves in a position where we’re overthinking the situation.”
University of Michigan forward Brendan Brisson scored for the second consecutive game. Goaltender Strauss Mann, a 23-year-old former Wolverine who now plays in the Swedish Hockey League, made 35 of 37 saves in the win.
Two of Brisson’s teammates at Michigan, wearing the (black) maple leaf were Canada’s Owen Power (picked first overall by the Buffalo Sabres last year) and Kent Johnson (fifth overall, Columbus Blue Jackets).
“Kent and Owen, I felt like, played really good,” Brisson said. “I noticed them a lot out there. It’s not weird because you play against them every day in practice, but it felt good to come up with a win over them.”
Also on the ice were 2021 second overall pick Matt Beniers (Michigan, Seattle Kraken) and third overall selection Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks).
Brisson was a first-round pick himself (29th overall in 2020 by the Vegas Golden Knights). USA teammate Jake Sanderson, making his Olympic debut after COVID-19 protocols delayed his travel to Beijing, was taken fifth by the Ottawa Senators in that draft.
“There was a lot of good skill out there,” Bri added. “But what I noticed the most was the guys who played in the league (already).”
In the second, Miele took a pass from O’Neil at the blue line, streaked up the ice, and found the back of the net with an elevated backhander to make it 3-1. The momentum shifted back toward the Americans.
Sean Farrell, coming off a five-point hattrick, hesitated in front of the net to shift the defense before dishing it to Ben Meyers for a point-blank shot to make it 2-1 with 1:16 to go in the first.
Brisson’s goal came after Canada goaltender Eddie Pasquale mishandled a puck behind his own net. Nathan Smith provided the pressure, and Nick Shore wound up with the puck. All Shore had to do was pass it to a wide-open Brisson.
The weight of the moment – the Olympic spotlight, playing Canada – wasn’t lost on Brisson.
“You grow up watching the Olympics, just imagining scoring goals and winning games here,” he said. “It’s just been amazing so far.
“Any time you can help your team win it’s a great feeling. It felt a little bit better playing against Canada.”
But disaster stuck for the U.S. on a power play later in the period. Canada’s Daniel Winnik found Corban Knight on a 2-on-1. Knight beat Mann stick-side, and the Canadians controlled play for the rest of the period.
In the third, Miele lost the puck but remained aggressive on the forecheck. He won the puck and then left it for fellow veteran Kenny Agostino, who fired. Pasquale made another fatal error and allowed Agostino’s slapshot to trickle through for a key insurance goal. The U.S. had to kill two late Canadian power plays, including 31 seconds of a 5-on-3 disadvantage.
The U.S. will finish group play Sunday night (8:10 a.m. ET) against Germany, the defending silver medalists.
“Just as important as the one we just played,” Quinn said.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
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