MONTREAL -- The United States enters the Canada Cup hockey tournament with a counterpunch that rivals the best in the world. It's the punch itself that poses a problem.
General manager Lou Nanne considers this squad the best the U.S. has ever brought to the six-nation event. His defense is probably better than that of Team Canada, his netminders are NHL All-Stars and there is solid muscle up the middle.
'I like the way (Coach) Bob Johnson has been bringing them along,' Nanne said. 'We could arrive at our peak at just the right time.'
The U.S. defense is anchored by Norris Trophy winner Rod Langway. Phil Housely, Mike Ramsey, Chris Chelios and Gordie Roberts provide a strong blueline corps while the goaltending chores will be handled by Vezina Trophy winner Tom Barrasso and Glenn Resch.
Down the middle, Nanne's squad includes center Bryan Trottier, a veteran of four Stanley titles with the New York Islanders, Neal Broten, Brian Lawton and Bobby Carpenter, and high-scoring sharpshooters in Pat LaFontaine and Joey Mullen on the wing.
But the team lacks the grinders who often help decide close contests and the offensive spark does not rival the arsenal assembled by Team Canada or the Soviets.
'We've got more firepower than we've had but we do lack strength on the wings,' Nanne said. 'That concerns us because we have the narrow surfaces in North America and we're going to have to be on the boards more than on wider rinks.'
'We've got great skating ability, but when we have to get in the trenches for the puck, we don't come out as successfully as we'd like to.'
To improve on their 2-2-1, fourth-place finish in the 1981 Canada Cup, Team USA will have to foresake any thought of individualistic effort, and come together as a group, said Chelios.
'I know we have to play defensively if we are going to do well in any games,' he said. 'We don't have the big names like the Canadians so we have to play well as a team to win.
'But I think we have a lot of team players on the club,' added Langway. 'Every time we come on the ice, we work hard.'
Most of that hard work is a direct consequence the disciplined approach Johnson has brought to the team, Langway said, and it should result in some surprises for their principal opponents -- Canada and the USSR.
Langway said those two teams have to be considered the pre-tournament favorites, but he isn't ready to concede the championship.
'If we keep their big guns off the scoreboard and counter-attack, we'll beat their defenses,' he said. 'We have speed up front and we move the puck pretty well, so if we can catch them going one way and counter attack, we're going to score a few goals.
'You look at the talent we have, we have guys who can finish the play. We're going to score four or five goals a game, if we can keep it down to three, we have a helluva shot at winning this thing.'
After a 1-3-1 record in four exhibitions against Team Canada, the American team blasted the Swedes 9-7 in their final exhibition Tuesday, the team they will open the series against Saturday in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Whether or not Team USA is around at the end will depend on a lot of factors, Nanne said, not the least of which is avoiding injuries.
As the series opens, Lafontaine still suffers from a stained knee, while Chris Nilan (torn ligaments) and Mike Eaves (separated shoulder) will be forced to watch from the sidelines.
'I still think we're a darkhorse team,' said Nanne.
