Used to be the greatest rivalry in hockey was Canada vs. Tim Brown Raiders Jersey . Russia. When the best players from both countries hooked up for an eight-game series in 1972, a heated rivalry was born. Canada won the famous Summit Series, but the Russians taught them a thing or two about conditioning and team play. Then, in 1980, things changed again when a bunch of school kids did the unimaginable and beat the Russians in the semifinal of the Olympic Games – the Miracle On Ice. Even though that victory wasnt for the gold medal, it is widely regarded as the greatest hockey game ever played and put the American right into the thick of things in terms of world dominance in the sport of hockey. Since then, Canada and Russia has waged a bitter ice war and now, with the Olympic Games being played in Russia, the host country desperate wants to win the gold medal. Thats what makes Saturdays match-up against the United States such an interesting one (7:30 a.m. ET, streaming at cbc.ca/olympics). Team USA lost the gold medal by a goal in 2010 in Vancouver and thoroughly dominated its opening game in Sochi, crushing Slovakia 7-1. Russia, meanwhile, beat Slovenia 5-2, but was not overly impressive. The Americans – pros this time – are influenced by the legend of the Miracle On Ice. Not only that, Team USA star defenceman Ryan Suter is the son of Bob Suter who was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. Ryan was born five years after the stunning win over the best team in the world. On the other side of the ice, Viktor Tikhonov, 25, is the grandson of legendary Russian coach who goes by the same name. The elder Tikhonov is 83 years old. All guns firing The Russians boast a high-power offence featuring the likes of superstars Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Malkin. All three scored goals in the opening victory against Slovenia. Team USA has a few snipers of its own starting with Phil Kessel of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In NHL action this season only Ovechkin, with 40 goals, has scored more often than Kessel who has 30. The speedy right-winger had a goal and three points in Team USAs win over Slovakia. Team USA coach Dan Bylsma has indicated he will stick with Jonathan Quick in goal. Quick, who led the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup two years ago, got the start ahead of Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. Miller almost singlehandedly led the United States to a gold medal in 2010. He was the tournaments most valuable player despite losing the final to Canada in overtime. Lester Hayes Jersey . -- Jermaine Marshall scored eight of his 29 points in the second overtime and Jordan Bachynski blocked T. Howie Long Raiders Jersey . Louis Cardinals have agreed on a four-year contract, giving the All-Star a fresh start after his Biogenesis drug suspension last summer.After both picked up a much-needed victory to begin the week, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames look to come out of the holiday break with a second straight victory on Friday night in the third installment this season of the Battle for Alberta. The Oilers were in the midst of a season-high six-game slide before knocking off the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 on Monday. Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists as Edmonton put the game away with a three-goal third period. Hall set up David Perrons goal with 3:20 to go in the second period that snapped a 2-2 tie and joined Jeff Petry and Nail Yakupov as the third-period goal scorers. Jordan Eberle and Sam Gagner also lit the lamp. The Oilers had scored just six goals and been shut out three times over their losing streak. "We stuck with it and were finally rewarded for our hard work," Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins said of his teams perseverance. "We had a good start and we were able to maintain it." Ilya Bryzgalov made 18 saves in Edmontons first win since Dec. 10. The Oilers have not won two in a row since a three-game run from Nov. 16-21. The Flames brought an 0-2-2 winless stretch to a close on Monday with a 4-3 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues, getting a game-tying goal from defenseman Mark Giordano with 5.1 seconds left in regulation. After St. Louis Patrik Berglund was calleed for roughing, Calgary pulled goaltender Reto Berra and Giordano ripped home a one-time feed from Jiri Hudler. Art Shell Raiders Jersey. "We felt like the last three or four games weve been playing really well, but we havent been getting the results," Giordano said. "Against one of the best teams in the league to come back and win in that way, it leaves a good feeling. Its going to be a nice Christmas break for sure." Hudler and Mike Cammalleri had a goal and an assist each, while Berra ended with 32 saves. Calgary center Matt Stajan did limp into the dressing room in overtime after getting hit and his status for tonights second contest of a five-game homestand is unknown. These two rivals have split two meetings this season, with the Oilers notching a 4-2 victory in Calgary on Nov. 16 before the Flames responded with a 2-1 overtime decision in Edmonton on Dec. 7. Calgary has won 12 of the previous 17 meetings overall and 11 of the last 14 at home. Berra was in net for the first two meetings this season, posting a 1.97 goals against average. Bryzgalov is 10-7-1 with a 2.69 GAA in 18 career meetings with the Flames, while Devan Dubnyk is 5-4-2 with a 2.46 GAA versus them. He started the previous two encounters. It is unknown which goaltender will start tonight as Edmonton is also set to host Bryzgalovs former Philadelphia Flyers club on Saturday. cheap jerseys ' ' '
