Photo: The Blackhawks playing in Vancouver. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Tribune)
VANCOUVER -- In a game that has been building in anticipation since even before the Olympic rosters were announced, the United States and Canada are set to drop the puck Sunday in a preliminary-round game of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Four Blackhawks will face off against each other as country comes before NHL loyalty. Winger Patrick Kane will be on the ice for the U.S. and Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook for Canada.
"It's going to be exciting," said Kane, who will skate on a line with Ryan Kesler and Bobby Ryan. "I'm sure the building is going to be rocking. It's a fun atmosphere, a fun place to play and something you really look forward to. It's something you dream of as a kid to have this opportunity. Hopefully you can make the most of it."
Downtown Vancouver is teeming with hockey fans and tickets are reportedly being scalped for up to $4,000 for a single seat. The outcome will not only yield bragging rights in locker rooms across the NHL, it will also mean an automatic berth into the quarterfinals.
"It's big," said Kane, who had one goal as the U.S. won its first two games. "You don't have to worry about playing in the qualifying round and you set yourself up for a quarterfinal matchup. It's pretty important. If we win (Sunday) we get that bye. It's all in our hands, which is nice."
The Canadians are favored and will have the support of the crowd, which is rabid for a home-country victory.
"The biggest thing is that it's not the individuals over there," said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews, who will cetner a line of Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow. "It's the fact we don't want to lose to them more than anything. We want this for ourselves. We know we have a lot of support behind us. We're going to use that crowd and use that energy and just go out there and let it all out. That's what it's all about."
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