Staple's analysis: Hard-working U.S. moving up in the respect department

The greasy kids won it.

Canada brought all the heavy hitters, the bigger names from the goal on out. And the U.S. men's hockey team, young and unknown and, finally, committed to a physical two-way game, gave the Olympic hosts a historic case of angst.

The Americans' 5-3 win last night was more than a symbolic victory. The team can rest until Wednesday's quarterfinals, when it will play the winner of Belarus-Switzerland after earning the No. 1 seed.

Canada, with only five of a possible nine points in the preliminary round, has to play Tuesday against Germany and Wednesday (if it wins), most likely against Russia. People predicted that matchup as the gold-medal meeting, but Canada may be headed for another dreaded quarterfinal exit, just like 2006.

For a U.S. team that relied so heavily and smartly on the Sabres' Ryan Miller - who was as strong in goal as Mike Richter was back in the World Cup final in 1996, the last time the Americans beat the Canadians in international play - the extra day of rest will be huge.

This was Miller's moment. He was incredible time and again with 42 saves, seizing the mantle from Henrik Lundqvist as the hottest goaltender in the tournament. The Americans will go as far as Miller can carry them.

And Chris Drury . . . Well, what can you say about the Rangers' captain? Still doing the most with the least ice time, Drury had the eventual winner last night, the third of the Americans' greasy, gritty goals, as unpretty as you can find in a tournament of the world's best.

Drury has two such goals in three games, plus his superb defense and his crucial penalty- killing late with Rangers teammate Ryan Callahan.

He's showing his younger teammates the right way to play, the only way to play in these Olympics, and last night was just another example of why being hard on the puck and taking the body is the only way to succeed in Vancouver. And it was Drury, along with Canucks two-way center Ryan Kesler, who took the key faceoffs in the final 3:09 after Canada pulled within a goal.

U.S. coach Ron Wilson didn't like the effort of some of his more skilled forwards in wins over Switzerland and Norway, but he found the right combinations against Canada. Patrick Kane, lost in the first two games, meshed well with Kesler and Dustin Brown. Jamie Langenbrunner brought some jam to the top line with Zach Parise and Paul Stastny, helping create Brian Rafalski's goal 41 seconds in that set Canada back on its heels.

Canada's decision-makers have only themselves to blame for this disappointment. Martin Brodeur is 37 and still commanding the No. 1 spot on sheer reputation for the most talented team in the Olympics. He was sloppy on the first three U.S. goals, and now Canada will have to turn to Roberto Luongo, who hasn't played since the opener, or Marc-Andre Fleury, who hasn't played at all.

The preliminary round was almost perfect for the Americans, led by Miller and Drury, who hasn't exactly had a stellar season with the Rangers. He proved again that he's one of the game's great leaders by example. Seeing him and Callahan throw their bodies around to block shots during Canada's final onslaught is why Team USA - on whom "no one in Vegas bet a nickel" before the Games (in GM Brian Burke's words) - now is one of the favorites in Vancouver.