Rangers' Drury shows he belongs on USA team

Chris Drury's selection to this U.S. men's hockey team was questioned around the hockey world, given Drury's rough season so far with the Rangers.

After scoring the go-ahead goal in the Americans' 5-3 win over Canada that helped the United States to the top seed heading into the quarterfinals Wednesday, Drury is still the same: unassuming, deflecting of any compliments and oblivious to any criticism.

"Motivation for me is looking across the ice and seeing a different jersey," Drury said Monday during a conference call from Vancouver, where the U.S. team had the day off. "If I need motivation from what people say or write, I probably shouldn't be playing anymore."

It's everyone else that's either confirming their thoughts about the Rangers captain, or revising them. Jeremy Roenick, NBC hockey analyst and former U.S. Olympic teammate of Drury's, backtracked from his pre-Olympic comment that Drury didn't belong on the team. "I'll eat crow when it needs to be eaten," Roenick said on WFAN Monday. "This is my national apology to Chris Drury."

U.S. coach Ron Wilson, who put Drury on the ice for much of the crucial last 3:09 of the Canada game after Sidney Crosby cut the Americans' lead to 4-3, made a very timely comparison after the win.

"He has those - well, I'll say it - Mike Eruzione-type qualities," Wilson said. "[He's] diving in front of shots, blocking them, winning big faceoffs, doing a lot of dirty grunt work that often gets overlooked. But not by coaches."

Drury sounds as if he's enjoying this Olympics more than his previous two. Perhaps, at 33, he realizes this is his last go-round, after a silver medal in Salt Lake City and eighth place in Turin four years ago.

"They've been three very different experiences," he said. "From Salt Lake, when I wasn't even married, to leaving my wife and kids at home four years ago to having my wife and two of my three kids here now. It's a nice transformation of how I've been able to enjoy this experience."

Drury's ice time isn't what he'd like - a little more than 10 minutes a game - but he's making the most of it.

Rangers teammate Ryan Callahan, David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Kesler and Bobby Ryan have also shined, along with goalie Ryan Miller, the star of the win Sunday.

Drury, an underdog to even be on the team, doesn't feel being the top seed means the United States is now a favorite.

"I would say we're still underdogs, just from the lack of experience," he said. "And now, the seed doesn't really mean much."

U.S. general manager Brian Burke went a step further, saying on USA Network Monday: "I'm not thrilled with how we played. We need all the hands on deck. We had half the hands [Sunday] night. But I like our leadership."

Another endorsement of Drury, who didn't show up just to take an Olympic victory lap.