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...ready, because they want to beat them. They can't go forever being the top team." But while Canada's rivals are feeling motivated, they also are coping with some key losses. A leg injury suffered by Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek in the team's opener against Germany prompted NHL vice president Bill Daly to withhold the league's commitment to the Games beyond the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. Other top players who are out: Swedish forward Markus Naslund, Czech forward Patrick Elias and Finnish goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff...
Hockey players from the NHL know a thing or two about pressure. But how do they stay cool when the reputation--even the identity--of their country rests on their shoulders? The solution, say Canadian hockey stars at the 20th Olympic Games, is to seek out the mundane. As the Olympic hockey tournament began its march toward the grand finale at the Torino Games this Sunday, Canada's finest sought out a little normality by hitting Torino's shopping malls and gorging at local ristoranti. Some players were "itching to play cards--friendly games," says defenseman Adam Foote...
...Other adjustments will be needed. Because the dimensions of Olympic hockey don't match the NHL's standards, the Canadians have to get used to a somewhat different game. With the Olympic rinks 4 m wider than those in the NHL, goaltending and special teams--power play and penalty killing--become even more critical. "Bigger ice surface, totally different game," says Finnish star Saku Koivu. "The NHL guys that are big and strong in front of the net and good in the corners in the NHL don't matter so much here...
...Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland. Team USA and Switzerland are both regarded as dark horses, while Russia--a longtime nemesis that hadn't been expected to be a threat--has been playing in Torino as if it has nothing to lose. The Russian team is young, assembled by former NHL star Pavel Bure and led by rising players, including NHL rookie-of-the-year candidate Alexander Ovechkin. That can't be reassuring for the Canadians. In Olympic history, Canada's record against Russia (and the former Soviet Union) is one win and six losses. The Russians don't seem intimidated...
...female player in college hockey. Canadians embrace the sport more fervently and play it more aggressively than any other nationality does. "They're gritty, feisty, cocky at times in a way where they carry an aura," says Granato, who will be part of NBC's Olympic and NHL broadcasting crew. "They get under your skin...