Golden dreams drive Canes

Eric Staal was talking a few days ago about the Vancouver Olympics, about the pride and pressure of playing for Team Canada, of how nothing less than a gold medal would be acceptable in his home country.

"Obviously, our goal is to win a gold, and we'll do everything we can do to that," Staal said. "The pressure that comes with it, you've got to love that."

A few feet away in the Carolina Hurricanes locker room, defenseman Tim Gleason was eavesdropping a little. And grinning.

Gleason is a member of the U.S. Olympic team. Let's just say the expectations aren't quite the same for Team USA as for Staal and those who will wear the red maple leaf on their sweaters.

Gleason's smile had a little of the "ain't-no-pressure-on-us" feel to it, but Staal wasn't buying it.

"That's part of their little scheme: to try and make themselves the underdogs," Staal said. "They've got a ton of skill. They've got a great goalie in Ryan Miller.

"I don't think they're underdogs by any means. Maybe they're trying to play that role so they can sneak up on everybody."

And Gleason doesn't deny it. The Americans, who open play today against Switzerland, do like to point out the hockey team is their youngest ever in the Winter Games.

Look at all the young twentysomethings: Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Jack Johnson, Bobby Ryan, Jonathan Quick.

Asked if Team USA would be "flying under radar," Gleason said, "Yeah, I think that's what you'd call it. You've got the big-name teams like Canada and Russia. They're supposed to be at the top of the bracket. We're just going to compete and work as hard as we can."

Many believe the Russians, with the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk, are the favorites to take gold. They do have a dynamic lineup.

"The Russians have won back-to-back world championships," Staal noted.

But let's not forget that Sweden is the defending Olympic champion. Or that Finland took the silver in the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy, losing to the Swedes 3-2 in the gold-medal game.

Canes defenseman Joni Pitkanen and forward Tuomo Ruutu were selected for the Finnish team in 2006 but missed the Games because of injuries. This time, they will be in the lineup and looking to make a difference.

"We're definitely not the favorite in the tournament, but anything can happen," Ruutu said. "It can come down to one game, and whoever plays well ...

"We came close to the gold last time. I think we have a good chance of going all the way, but we know we have to play our best game."

The Finns, who open play Wednesday against Belarus, have three established NHL goaltenders, all capable of stealing wins: Niklas Backstrom, Miikka Kiprusoff and Antero Niittymaki. Kiprusoff, from the Calgary Flames, will be the starter.

In 2006, Niittymaki was the hero. With a 5-1-0 record, 1.34 goals-against average and three shutouts, the Tampa Bay Lightning goalie was voted the tournament's most valuable player.

"It's not like a seven-game playoff series," Pitkanen said. "In an elimination tournament like the Olympics, you get good goaltending, good defense, a little bit of luck and you can win.

"I think there are probably six teams capable of winning. A good start is important. We did that in 2006."

The Canadians, who face Norway today in their opener, would rather forget 2006. After winning gold at Salt Lake City in 2002, they did not medal in Italy and have lived with that stigma for four years.

Staal, a non-playing reserve for Team Canada in 2006, said his parents and his wife's parents will be in Vancouver. Not so, however, hockey-playing brothers Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Marc Staal of the New York Rangers.

"They will be on a beach somewhere, hanging out," Eric Staal said, chuckling.

But the eyes of Canada will be on Staal and his teammates like never before. Every game, every play by every player, will be heavily scrutinized.

"We're the home country, and we want to take advantage of that," said Staal, expected to play the wing in the Olympics. "It will be intense. There will be some nerves.

"But I think as any athlete you welcome that. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

And if he finds, say, Gleason waiting for him, in a corner, in front of the goal?

"Oh, I'll make sure I'm physical with him," Staal said.

Which caused another Gleason smile.

"There will be no open ice for that guy, believe me," Gleason said. "No ice at all."