Always Room to Evaluate and Improve

It wasn't quite the "Miracle on Ice," but Sunday's USA Olympic hockey victory over Canada - the first such win since 1960 - ranks just a notch or two below it in the country's history in the sport.

Though the U.S. team is comprised entirely of NHL players just like Canada's squad, most observers gave them only an outside chance of making the medal round at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Almost to a man, Team USA is younger and less well-known than its neighbor to the North.

That may be changing after a dramatic 5-3 win over Canada and stellar play by USA goalie Ryan Miller. After Sunday night in vancouver, some regard him as the best goalie in the world.

Now, thanks in large part to Ryan Miller's efforts, Team USA finished the preliminary round as the No. 1 team, edging Sweden on goal differential. The top finish means USA will advance directly to Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

And while it's good to win games, USA goalie Ryan Miller said, the Americans need to keep feeling as if they aren't one of the tournament's top teams. As Team USA Coach Brian Burke insisted Tuesday, Russia, Sweden and Canada haven't yet played their best games.

Ryan Miller's comments after Sunday's victory provide great insight on how there is always time to evaluate and improve, even when things seem to be hitting on all cylinders.

"The confidence, each game it gets a little better, but we have to keep that little bit of paranoia there, too," Miller said. "It's only been three games together and we went through a tight battle with Canada and that should help us grow, but now the games count for more than just bragging rights. It's elimination time."

"We need to evaluate our game, look at it honestly and see what we need to improve on and hold on to some of that excitement and keep building," Miller said.