Esche will get chance in goal

By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY

TORINO — U.S. coach Peter Laviolette's desire to keep his goaltending moves secret lost out to Philadelphia Flyers netminder Robert Esche's desire to express his joy about starting in the Olympics.
Admitting he wasn't supposed to say anything, Esche nonetheless confirmed he will play Tuesday against the Russians.

"I don't want to say I want to be here more than anyone else," Esche said. "But I have more of a European attitude about (the Olympics). This is huge for me. It's an honor, and I'm really excited. Everyone wants to be (on) a world stage."

Laviolette was clearly caught off guard by Esche breaking his vow of silence, and he stick-handled around the questions about what the move means looking ahead to the quarterfinal matchup with Finland at 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.

It seems probable that the Americans would come back with New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro against the Finns. Although the Americans have lost back-to-back games, DiPietro has given up only two goals in each game and has looked solid.

By playing Esche against the Russians, DiPietro wouldn't have to play two games within 20 hours.

But Laviolette wouldn't say whether it made sense to rest DiPietro because he didn't want to reveal whom he might play against the unbeaten Finns.

"After the game (against the Russians), we will evaluate Robert's performance, plus what Ricky has done and what Johnny (Grahame) has done and make a decision," he said.

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY

Tuesday's games: Russia vs. USA, Canada vs. Czech Republic.

Top players: Russia's Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk have combined for seven goals.

The skinny: These teams are major rivals. The USA stunned the Soviet Union in 1980 in the "Miracle on Ice" game and beat Russia in a semifinal in 2002. Canada fell to the Czech Republic in a shootout in a 1998 semifinal and lost to the Czechs in the 2005 world championships' gold medal game. Barring a collapse, the USA will finish fourth. Russia's seeding isn't set. The Canada-Czech Republic loser will finish fourth. The winner could finish second.

X factor: The USA has had problems scoring, and Russian goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has a 0.38 goals-against average.

Time, TV: USA-Russia game live at 2 p.m. ET, USA

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie John Grahame started the first game — a 3-3 tie vs. Latvia — and DiPietro has played the other three. Esche has been a backup in two games.

"It's obviously been a frustrating thing to be a backup," Esche said. "On the other hand, there is only so much ice time. I think I handled it the best way I could."

Esche said he believes DiPietro has played well.

"To be honest, I don't think there has been any bad performances by any goaltenders in the tournament," Esche said.

No matter who plays in the net, it doesn't alter the fact that the most pressing concern is the team has struggled to score goals.

"We have 300-, 400- and 500-goal scorers in that dressing room," Laviolette said. "They will get it done."

He said the team's 1-2-1 record doesn't reflect how well his players have performed.

"They are confident and they are mad," Laviolette said.