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Associated Press

Team USA was perfect in the 2010 Games, defeating all comers all the way up until overtime in the gold-medal match. Having lost on a soft goal after playing as the best team in the tournament, the silver medal tasted more like failure than success. The United States will be playing for redemption in Sochi, looking to take home gold for the first time since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

Strengths

Offense

Just like for Canada, the United States is composed of a veritable dream team of NHL players. Shedding their team names and systems to unite for their country, the Americans will need to overcome strong goaltending—especially from Russia—early and consistently if they stand any chance at a medal.

Guys like Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise, Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, Patrick Kane, T.J. Oshie and Paul Stastny will certainly help in that regard. The game plan will require the forwards to score early and score often while also locking down the defensive end of things.

Defense

The blueliners for the United States will need to be as strong on the ice as they look on paper if the U.S. is to go anywhere. There are a number of guys that will log long minutes, including Ryan Suter—who should be accustomed to this by now—in hopes of keeping the puck at the other end of the ice.



Weaknesses

Goaltending

Depending on the day, the goalie situation for the Americans can be considered a strength or a weakness. Boasting Ryan Miller, Jonathon Quick and Jimmy Howard, one would think that the U.S. is stacked in the crease.

The performance in net remains to be seen, though, as both Quick and Howard have dealt with injury this season, and Miller has been tasked with backstopping arguably the worst team in the NHL. Adversity could work to the advantage of those in net, serving to inspire and motivate. But it could also have the opposite effect, breaking them down early.

The Circus

One look at the fantastic opus drafted by ESPN’s Scott Burnside and anyone can tell that there will be no lack of drama surrounding Team USA this month. An report on the selection process of USA Hockey, the work drew immediate reaction from players, media members and the USA Hockey executives themselves following its release.

With the skill of players in question, the retelling of how dreams played a part in decisions and a few unflattering remarks recounted, Team USA was already apologizing well before the taking the ice. The media circus will continue in Russia and could prove a hefty distraction.