After One Period, USA Needs To Generate More Offense

The USA hockey team wasn't built to be able to completely control the offensive side of a hockey game. With an elite goaltender in net and a balanced defense that emphasizes hard work and aggressive checking, they were built to contain the elite offenses that they'll face in this tournament.

Canada is one of those offenses, but the one goal they scored in this game so far developed from the kind of hard work that the Americans need to display to win this game. Mike Richards battled with the American defense, earned the puck along the boards, and ultimately it found it's way into the back of the net when Jonathan Toews scored off of Richards' rebound.

That one goal aside, the Americans are doing a good job of limiting Canada's time and space in the USA end. Canada hasn't been able to generate many scoring chances despite controlling the puck for most of the first period. The United States are going to have to spend more time in the Canadian end if they want to win. After all, you can't score from the

Overall, the teams look hesitant to take many chances. The Americans are a team that thrives on taking risks and playing aggressively, and they'll need to stop squeezing their sticks so hard as the game continues.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.