Canada-USA in golden hockey showdown

A couple of surprising semi-finals on Friday saw mighty Canada struggle to beat Slovakia 3-2 before advancing and the fifth-ranked US blowout Finland 6-1.

The Americans head into Sunday's game on a high, having already beaten the Canadians once in the preliminary round, 5-3.

"The two teams know each other so there won't be any secrets," Crosby said of the USA. "The first one was really emotional and this one should be more intense."

Finland and Slovakia will play for the bronze on Saturday.

Canada is trying to become the first team to win gold on home soil since the US did it in 1980 in Lake Placid in the match dubbed "Miracle On Ice". It was the Americans second gold at home to go with their 1960 Squaw Valley triumph.

Canada will have to avoid another letdown Sunday like the one they suffered in the third period on Friday. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead then let the underdog Slovaks claw their way into the game with a pair of third period goals.

Canada survived a tense final period as goaltender Roberto Luongo has been unpredictable since taking over the number one job from Martin Brodeur in the preliminary round.

Canada coach Mike Babcock said earlier in the tournament that Luongo is his guy from here on in. Babcock said Friday he's not worried about his goaltender heading into the game against the US, who have the top netminder in the tournament in Ryan Miller.

"We were too easy on Miller the first time. We won't be this time." Babcock said. "I've got three of the best goalies in the world on the team. What you have to do is get your goalie to play better than their goalie for one game."

Most people imagined a Canada-Russia final in Vancouver and not Canada against fifth-ranked USA, who beat them 5-3 in the preliminary round.

This marks the first time since NHL players were allowed to play in the Olympics in 1998 Nagano that there is a repeat team in the gold medal game. The last three Olympic finals before Vancouver featured six different teams.

The USA showed against the Finns that they can score and they are not just a defensive team with a hot goalie that waits for other teams to make a mistake.

"I like the way this team has responded throughout the tournament. No one has panicked," said defenceman Brian Rafalski, who has four goals and eight points to lead the US in scoring.

The US has bragging rights over the Canadians in Vancouver having already taken them down in the first round. As satisfying as it was it still didn't take away the sting of losing the Salt Lake final 5-2.

"Obviously the gold medal game gives us an opportunity to do something we didn't last time," Rafalski said.

Sunday's game will be contested in an emotionally-charged atmosphere at Canada Hockey Place arena. With the US border just an hour's drive from Vancouver there will be many Americans making the short trip by car.

"It is going to be an awesome atmosphere," Crosby said. "If you look at the Canada-Russia game, that was amazing."

The USA is Canada's second biggest rival. American forward Ryan Kesler fanned the flames earlier by saying he "hates" certain things about Canadian hockey.

Ryan Getzlaf, who plays professionally in the US for the Anaheim Ducks, said Canada can't play the same way against the US that they did against the Slovaks.

"We are going to have to tighten up defensively," said forward Getzlaf, who has three goals and five points in six games for Canada.

Canadian forward Patrick Marleau said this is the biggest stage and he can't wait for Sunday to arrive.

"It's probably going to be like winning the Stanley Cup in front of your own fans."

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