00:00This is Outperformed Yesterday, presented by Kayaks.
00:04All right, we've got ourselves some winter-go-home hockey out in Milan.
00:08Team USA is set for what people are calling its hardest game of the Olympics
00:12against Sweden in the quarterfinals.
00:15Jim Cerny, executive editor of Forever Blue Shirts,
00:18is on to talk about the pressure for Team USA to advance against Sweden.
00:24Jim, thanks for hopping on with us.
00:27Let's get straight to it because puck drop is in a couple of hours.
00:31Team USA absolutely ran the table in the round robin.
00:35Sweden is by far the toughest team that they're going to face up to this point.
00:40How does Team USA avoid the upset and keep things rolling?
00:45One thing's for sure.
00:46You use the word upset.
00:47It wouldn't be a massive upset if Sweden wins this game, right?
00:51You know, they're chock full of NHL talent and NHL stars,
00:55just like the United States is.
00:57But I get the point.
00:59The United States is favored.
01:00You know, they didn't have to play the qualifier game that Sweden did.
01:04So I think the key here for the United States is jump on Sweden early.
01:09You know, Sweden played yesterday.
01:11The United States is the better-rested team.
01:13Hop on them.
01:14Be physical, but be smart.
01:17Stay out of the penalty box because the Sweden power play can crush you, right,
01:21with all that talent, but be physical because we saw in the prelims
01:26when Sweden lost to Finland, the big reason why they lost
01:29is because Finland was so physical against them.
01:33So skill and physicality are key for the United States,
01:37but be smart.
01:38Stay out of the box.
01:39I mean, like you say, it's going to be a competitive one.
01:42It's probably going to go down to the end.
01:44These type of games and high-pressure moments,
01:48the margin for error is super thin.
01:50So who do you think on Team USA needs to really step it up this game?
01:56Wow, great question.
01:58I'm going to give you a little coach speak here.
02:00I'm sure Mike Sullivan would say, you know who needs to step it up?
02:04Every single guy that's in uniform.
02:06So the 20 skaters and the two goalies, everybody needs to step it up
02:10because guess what?
02:11The United States hasn't played their best game yet.
02:14Because they haven't had to.
02:15In the prelim round, they were so vastly superior to the three teams they played.
02:21And that includes Germany, which had Leon Dreisaitl and Tim Stutzla.
02:25You know, those teams couldn't compare to the depth and skill
02:29that the United States throws at you.
02:31So I don't think the U.S. has come anywhere near playing their best hockey yet.
02:36They are going to have to be at that level here against Sweden.
02:39Sweden is that good.
02:41They are, in fact, right in line with the United States, I think.
02:45So I think the simple answer is exactly what Coach Mike Sullivan would tell you.
02:51Everybody needs to step it up here.
02:53I will say that if Matthew Kachuk breaks through and scores a goal,
02:57that could be an inspirational lift for the United States.
03:00So if you're looking for one guy who could set the tone physically,
03:04and then if he could pop his first goal of this tournament so far at the Olympics,
03:10Matthew Kachuk would be my one guy.
03:12But the real answer is everybody needs to be at their best against Sweden
03:16because they haven't had to be yet.
03:18Well, we could always rely on one of the Kachuk brothers stepping up big in games like this.
03:24But who do you think will be this game's hero?
03:29That's another great question, Brandon.
03:33Let's start with Sweden.
03:34I think if Sweden wins, here's a little bit of an underrated guy,
03:38even though he leads Sweden in scoring in this tournament, is Lucas Raymond.
03:43When you think of Sweden, you think of maybe some of the bigger names.
03:46Lucas Raymond's a pretty darn good young player.
03:49He's got eight points in four games, but only one goal.
03:52But he just creates for his line mates.
03:54He's a guy to really watch there.
03:57If they're going to have a hero, he might be it.
03:59I think on the United States side, I think that line of Jack Eichel flanked by the Kachuk brothers,
04:06I'm going to cheat here and I'm going to call them the heroes.
04:09I think they need to be the top line.
04:12The focus is going to be on Austin Matthews and his line.
04:15But I think if the Eichel and the Kachuk brothers can kind of take over this game,
04:20I think they could be the heroes on the U.S. side.
04:23If you want a little bit of an underdog pick, keep your eye on Zach Gorenski, United States defenseman.
04:28He's been creating a lot of offense, scored a big goal against Germany.
04:32He's a guy, too, at an elite level from the defense position that I think could be a hero for
04:37the United States.
04:38You mentioned Mike Sullivan earlier.
04:41So now that you've got your Mike Sullivan coaches hat on, do you see him coaching this team, Team USA,
04:46differently than the way that he coaches the Rangers?
04:50So, yeah, I mean, there are a lot of similar structures that he brings here to the table.
04:59The big difference is look at the talent he has at his disposal here.
05:04You know, it's a lot different with the Rangers.
05:07Just take this as an example.
05:08With the Rangers, you know, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocek are top six forwards on the New York Rangers,
05:14as well they should be.
05:15On Team USA, they're fourth line forwards.
05:18Trocek's playing less than 10 minutes at night.
05:21You know, he's a specialty guy.
05:22Win face-offs, be on the penalty kill.
05:25Same thing with J.T. Miller.
05:26But that speaks to not the level of player Trocek or Miller is and are.
05:33It speaks to the depth of talent that the United States has.
05:37So I think you can coach a little bit differently when you have that much skill, you know, at your
05:42disposal.
05:43All right, back to USA Sweden.
05:44We need your prediction, Jim, and why?
05:48Another tough question.
05:49So I think the United States is good enough to win here.
05:52I think not having to play the qualifier game that Sweden had to play yesterday is an advantage.
06:00I think the United States needs to jump on Sweden early.
06:03I think it's going to be a one-goal game.
06:04I really like the Swedes.
06:07The difference to me is I think the United States is better in goal.
06:12Conor Hellebuck has been better in the tournament.
06:14He's got a better history.
06:17You know, you would argue even though he hasn't had a great season in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets,
06:21he's had the better career than anybody that Sweden can put between their pipes.
06:26I think at the end of the day, the United States wins this one 4-3.
06:31Awesome.
06:31Well, Jim, thanks for hopping on with us.
06:33Puck drops in a couple of hours.
06:35It's going to be a great one.
06:36Yeah, enjoy it, Brandon.
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