USA in the meantime have stars of their very own, however haven’t got the attacking items of the Canadians.
“The Tkachuk brothers [Brady and Matthew], and Jack Eichel, that attacking line has worked well together,” Bennett mentioned.
“What they have not had is much scoring from captain Auston Matthews, he has not yet taken any of the games by the horns. They are OK, but not more than that.”
However, the Americans have the very best defenceman on the Games in Quinn Hughes, who scored the essential winner towards Sweden.
“He might be the best three-on-three player in the world,” mentioned Bennett. “He loves to keep possession, and is always looking to make an exciting play.”
It units up a mouth-watering finale of an Olympic ice hockey competitors which has benefitted vastly from the return of National Hockey League (NHL) gamers for the primary time since 2014.
The attendance of gamers from the highest North American league was in doubt for a time over considerations concerning the ice high quality at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, however they’ve been a significant boon for the Games.
“This is the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics,” mentioned Bennett. “The NHL players have made it a different world.
“At the final two Olympics, video games have been good however have missed the standard in the final third, the massive moments. Players did not have the skillset to break a sport, so noticed a whole lot of tight, boring video games
“Some of what the players have been doing here has been mind-blowing. One of the goals scored for Canada, McDavid saucered this pass from the back door [behind the goal], it lands as McKinnon is shooting, on the half-volley. That’s when you recognise it.
“I’ve been getting cellphone calls from individuals in the hockey world, all they’ve been saying is, that is so good. There have been durations the place Kent [Simpson, BBC co-commentator] and I’ve simply been sat watching, smiling, laughing.”
Canada have won gold in three of the five Olympics when NHL players have featured and will fancy their chances in a game on Sunday which could be as fascinating in the stands as it is on the ice.
It is highly likely that Canadian prime minister Mark Carney will be in Milan for the game.
Not only is Canada as a country hockey-mad, but so is Carney – when working as governor of the Bank of England, he would play for a recreational team in Haringey, north London.
The huge query is whether or not his American counterpart may even be in Italy.
