| The Men's Ice Hockey opener for the 2010 Winter | | | | Although Ryan Miller didn't have much work facing a |
| Olympics kicked off today and the first match was | | | | total of 15 shots, he did make a couple of key saves |
| between the United States and Switzerland. USA | | | | including a big save that lead to the David Backes rush |
| were able to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first add two | | | | and goal. The one goal he did let in third period was a |
| in the second and skate to a 3-1 win. However the | | | | mistake of his own that he tried to poke check but the |
| team was sloppy through parts of the game leading to | | | | puck bounced over his stick and rolled in on his pad to |
| many odd man rushes that the Swiss just didn't hit the | | | | put the Swiss on the board and ruining his bid for the |
| net on and couldn't capitalize. | | | | shut out. The last Team USA shut out was in 2002 by |
| The Americans did it with their big boys in scoring | | | | Mike Richter against Germany. |
| department, not the guys who you expected to score | | | | Team USA only had one full practice together as a |
| in Zach Parise, Patrick Kane and Peter Stastny but | | | | team and at times in this game it showed. Lucky for |
| literally their big boys with Bobby Ryan, Ryan Malone | | | | them they faced off against the Swiss who aren't one |
| and David Backes applying the goals for the American | | | | of the dominating teams on paper in the tournament. |
| team. | | | | Lack of practice and putting on the Red White and |
| Bobby Ryan got the American squad on the board at | | | | Blue the team showed signs of being nervous. The |
| the end of first with a blazing wrist shot that sailed by | | | | young USA defense turned the puck over too many |
| Jonas Hiller, the two are teammates on the Anaheim | | | | times that lead to odd man rushes. Teams like Canada |
| Mighty Ducks. | | | | and Russian will turn those mistakes into goals. |
| USA took the 1-0 lead into the locker room and put | | | | Next up for the US is Norway on Thursday, another |
| together a good second period. Period two David | | | | game they should win and as these games go by I |
| Backes put on a rush of speed flying around the | | | | believe this group will get tighter and stronger or trouble |
| Swiss defenseman and tucked one in past the pads | | | | lurks ahead. No Olympic games are automatic as |
| of Hiller that was the highlight goal of the game. | | | | every game will be a test, Team USA's biggest test |
| Tampa Bay Lightning power forward Ryan Malone | | | | will be Sunday night in the highly anticipated rivalry |
| would make it a 3-0 game poking in a Suter blast from | | | | match against Canada. |
| the point on the power play. | | | | |