Big opportunity awaits USA hockey team Sunday

This Sunday represents a huge opportunity for an upset for the USA men's ice hockey team in the 2010 winter olympics. The team plays Canada and is likely to be a huge underdog. Canada boasts a formidable lineup with NHL all-stars Rick, Nash, Sidney Crosby, and Jarome Iginla leading the way for a team that has to be the odds on favorite to win the gold in Vancouver. Not only that, but Canada should also have an energized crowd behind them being the host nation. Nonetheless, I believe team USA has a good chance to pull off an upset Sunday night for a couple of reasons. Although the US struggled against team Norway a couple of days ago before before using a 3 goal third period to surge to a 6-1 victory it should be noted that Canada also did not completely blow out Norway until the final period. In addition, Canada seemed to struggle in Wednesday's 3-2 shootout win over Switzerland, a team the US beat rather easily at 3-1. And, like the men's team dubbed the 'miracle on ice' 30 years ago, this US team is led by a bunch of nondescript players. Don't get me wrong, this could end up being a huge blowout for team Canada. But that is what they said about the Russian team 30 years ago. While a US win Sunday might not have the magnitude it did in 1980 in Lake Placid, it would still have to be considered one of the biggest upsets of the 2010 games.