I'm really looking forward to watching Saturday's game between the United States and Russia, hoping the Russians continue to use Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, who faced 14 shots Thursday in a 4-2 win against the Czech Republic.
Russia coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov told reporters he wouldn't reveal his goalie choice until the pregame skate. It'll be Varlamov or Sergei Bobrovsky.
I covered the Salt Lake Games in 2002 -- the second of my three Winter Games experience for the dearly-departed Rocky Mountain News -- when the U.S. took a 3-0 lead against Russia in the semifinals and held on for a 3-2 win with Mike Richter in goal. The atmosphere on U.S. ice was electric, which it will be again Saturday with Russia playing at home.
The Americans went on to lose to Canada in the gold-medal game, after which Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky said a Canadian looney had been buried in the ice for good luck. Maybe the Russians have already embedded a ruble in the Sochi ice.
Avalanche center Paul Stastny will be hard-pressed Saturday to match his Thursday performance, when he scored two goals in the Americans' 7-1 win against Slovakia. The Max Pacioretty-Stastny-T.J. Oshie line combined for two goals, three assists and seven shots.
The Cold War is over and the "Miracle on Ice" game happened 34 years ago, but U.S.-Russia hockey games still bring out plenty of intensity and emotion from both sides, including their fans.
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It was good to see Matt Duchene back on the ice Friday, making his Olympics debut for Canada in a 6-0 win against Austria while wearing his familiar No. 9.
The Avalanche center didn't score, but he had four shots on goal and had a plus-1 plus/minus rating in 14:28 of ice time while playing as a winger. He spent most of the game on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf while getting some time on the power play.
Duchene's next chance to play comes Sunday when Canada meets Finland.
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog played his second game Friday as Sweden edged Switzerland 1-0.
Landeskog had two shots on goal in 19:07 of playing time and remained on the Swedes' top line but without center Henrik Zetterberg, who will miss the remainder of the tournament because of a herniated disk in his back. Patrik Berglund replaced Zetterberg on the line, which included Alexander Steen.
Losing Zetterberg is another bad break for Sweden, which already was missing Johan Franzen and Henrik Sedin because of injuries.
Sweden's next game is Saturday against Latvia.