VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The coaches of Team Canada and Team USA offered a glimpse into some of the tactical gambits they will try ahead of their clash in the Group A men’s hockey finale on Sunday at Canada Hockey Place.
Ron Wilson, the United States coach, said he would unveil a new line combination intended to generate scoring against the tough Canadian defense: Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler and Bobby Ryan.
“We’re going to change things up a bit and see if we can take advantage of Patrick’s skills,” Wilson said late on Saturday afternoon. “He needs to have the puck a lot, and (Bobby) Ryan does a great job of finding holes for the guys he plays with.”
Kane, a Buffalo native who plays for the Chicago Blackhawks, is the youngest player on the United States roster and the N.H.L.’s points leader among Americans this season. Ryan,
from the Anaheim Ducks, has as many goals this season as any American, and Kesler, who plays for the Vancouver Canucks, is No. 4 in scoring among his countrymen.
Wilson said he had not assigned any particular forwards or defensemen to mind Sidney Crosby, Canada’s top scoring threat.
“We’re confident that all our players, and in particular our defense, are capable of handling anyone,” Wilson said. “I don’t think we’re going to get into matchups, at least for this game. I’m not even sure who gets the last change tomorrow.”
Mike Babcock, the Canada coach, said he would try a new left wing on the line that includes Crosby and Rick Nash, the third one he will try at this tournament: Mike Richards of Philadelphia Flyers. Richards replaces Jarome Iginla, who skated on the right side while Nash shifted to the left.
“The thinking there is getting Nash back on right wing where he’s most comfortable,” Babcock said.
Babcock expressed more certainty on defense, where Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators has gotten the most ice time, and where the Blackhawks pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook has been broken up for good.
“The guy who’s probably been steadiest is Weber, to tell you the truth,” Babcock said, who also singled out Keith and Drew Doughty — the youngest Canadian player — for praise. “I thought Doughty and Keith picked up their games last game, maybe because they were relaxed more.”
The Americans won their first two games, by 3-1 over Switzerland and by 6-1 over Norway. Canada beat Norway, 8-0, but needed a shootout to edge Switzerland, 3-2. That result put them behind the United States in the group standings.
The winner of the Canada-United States game will finish atop Group A and earn a bye into the Olympic quarterfinals as one of the top four finishers of the first stage. The loser will almost certainly have to play an extra qualification game against one of the lower-seeded teams in the tournament.
But win or lose, both Canada and the United States will advance. The players and coaches from both teams said they considered the game important, but not life or death.
“It’s not the biggest game of our lives,” Wilson said. “It’s a game to decide who wins the group.”
Ryan Miller will play goal for the United States, and Martin Brodeur for Canada. Brodeur’s teammate with the Devils, Zach Parise of Team USA, was asked if he had tipped off his teammates about Brodeur.
“I only shoot on him in practice,” Parise said to reporters’ laughter. “Marty’s probably told the other Canadians about how to stop me.”
Wilson said he would try to cut down on the odd-man rushes the Americans have allowed by leaving a third forward high against Canada.
“I think we’ve been a little young at times versus Switzerland and Norway,” he said. “I don’t have a problem with that. I’m not sitting here with an iron fist and squeezing the life out of our players.”
Wilson also said he had already picked out the shooters he will use against Brodeur if the game goes to a penalty shootout. He said he based his decision on who has had the most success against Brodeur in N.H.L. shootouts.