Scott Niedermayer: Canada didn't buckle under pressure against USA

From Ryan Bangs, Sportsbeat, in Vancouver

CANADA ice hockey captain Scott Niedermayer insisted his side did not buckle under the pressure after they lost on home turf to fierce rivals the USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: A disappointed Canada captain Scott Niedermayer insists his side did not crumble under the pressure against the USA and will come back fighting at Vancouver 2010 (Getty Images)

A stunning goal from the USA's Ryan Kesler, who plies his trade for the Vancouver Canucks, killed off a Canadian fightback and sealed a 5-3 victory after Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby had made reduced to deficit to one late on.

Canada were sluggish out of the blocks - the occasion of their first meeting with the USA since the 2002 Olympic final in Salt Lake City, where they ran out 5-2 winners, seemed to get the better of them.

The hosts did outshoot their opponents 45-23 but the USA were ruthless in front of goal and it was only in the final few minutes, after Crosby's goal brought the 18,000-capacity crowd to life that Canada really threatened.

But Niedermayer, who will be forced to lead his side into an extra knock-out match in order to reach the quarter-finals, remained adamant his side didn't melt on the ice.

"I think we just need to try and get our game up. We were a bit jumpy with things but managed to settle that down and we had some dominant stretches of the game," said the Anaheim Ducks defenceman.

"We did everything we could. There was no anxiety and no pressure. Our start probably wasn't how we wanted it to be.

"We laid it all on the line and now we have to do it all again. We didn't plan to go behind but that was what we were dealt and we rallied back to get it even but we couldn't get that lead and we can do better.

"We will work at it tomorrow and just do better next time."

The USA, despite being outshot by a ratio of nearly two to one were well worth their victory and it was Detroit Red Wings' Brian Rafalski who led the way, notching two goals to take his tournament tally to four.

He opened the scoring and while Eric Staal equalised for Canada the 36-year-old scored again. Dany Heatley levelled again for Canada but Chris Drury and Jamie Langenbrunner gave the USA a 4-2 lead.

Crosby piled on the pressure with a fine strike late on but Kesler slid onto the ice to sweep home, after Canada goaltender Martin Brodeur had been pulled, to settle matters.

As the USA bid for their first Olympic title for 30 years, general manager Brian Burke has put his faith in youth, selecting just three players on his 23-man roster with any Games experience.

Rafalski is one of those and he believes he is playing his best hockey for nearly a decade.

"The atmosphere was great, the odds were stacked against us but we went out there and did our job and this will give us a real lift," added Rafalski.

"When we got that first goal Canada came out and pushed hard. I think we had a really good second period and out shot them and could have easily scored more.

"We got the power-play goal and just played solid. They put a lot of pressure on us and obviously the crowd were getting behind them, but we had a lot of fans cheering us too.

"I would say the last time I was in such good form was in 2001, I am playing well and I am enjoying it at the moment.

"And I think winning a big game like this early on will give the young guys a lot of confidence."

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day ten of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

 

 

IN PICTURES: The men's ice hockey clash between Canada and the USA