US hockey ready for Canada's red-hot passion

Even American hockey players cannot wait to see the passionate atmosphere around their Olympic final showdown with Canada on Sunday, and they are going to be the targets of a hockey-mad nation's wrath.

While some flag-waving US supporters will surely find their way among 18,000 in Canada Hockey Place, it's the red-clad sea of Canada fans whose screams and yells help create an electric atmosphere in the arena - and beyond.

"The arena? Can you imagine what the streets will be like?" US forward David Backes said. "When you get to hockey in Canada, the passion has a whole other level to go. I expect a wonderful environment."

US team general manager Brian Burke, who has the same job for the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs, said he loves the intense pressure being in his role for a Canadian NHL club puts on himself and an organization.

"Hockey is not a sport in Canada. It's a cult. It's a religion," Burke said. "Canadians view this as their game."

That makes the thrill all the more exciting for some US players that have never been in such a situation.

"I don't think anything can prepare you for that," US defenceman Ryan Suter said. "It's going to be a crazy atmosphere and a lot of fun."

"I can't wait to go out there on that ice and see what that's going to be like," US forward Ryan Callahan said.

US goaltender Ryan Miller, who made 42 saves in a 5-3 US preliminary round victory over Canada last week, has been a calming force for the Americans and takes the same attitude to the crowd that will be taunting him.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere but it doesn't change the game," Miller said. "Skates. Puck. Ice. Hopefully I will lace on my skates the right way."

Each side tries to claim an underdog role by making the other the favorite.

"You're going to see a dogfight then," Backes said. "We expect them to come out even harder than last time. We have to raise our game a notch or two."

US defenceman Brian Rafalski sees the game as potentially life-changing for his young teammates.

"They have a chance to set a standard for themselves for the rest of their careers," he said.

Martin Brodeur was the Canadian goaltender for the first US-Canada game but Roberto Luongo will be in the crease for the hosts on Sunday against a US team that has never trailed at Vancouver.

"He's athletic and long and he takes away the bottom of the net," Backes said of the biggest game in his career.

"(We need) players in his eyes, rebound goals and when we get those opportunities, get them to the top of the net.

"We have to be able to stifle the storm early even if they get the lead on us. Who stays on their game the longest is going to be key."

Callahan sees the US key as putting pucks behind Canada's defence and using team speed to out-chase the hosts while defenceman Ryan Suter is prepared to be patient if Canada comes out hard at the start.

"We have to play our game," Suter said. "If things don't go our way, we have to know that it has worked before and stay with it. They are going to come out flying. They will be better. We will have to be better."

While the Americans come off a 6-1 semi-final rout of Finland, Canada had a tense 3-2 victory over Slovakia that went down to the last second.

"Hopefully Slovakia didn't wake the sleeping giant," Backes said.