Four reasons why Team USA can't beat Canada in gold-medal game

The United States and Canada will be playing for gold in the men's Olympic hockey tournament on Sunday, and it is a big opportunity for the U.S. team to win its first Olympic gold since the 1980 Lake Placid games. We already looked at four reasons why the United States is capable of winning. There are also some obstacles they have to clear that could prevent them from winning.

Let's talk about those. 

Canada has the top three players

In the five previous Olympics that have featured NHL players, Canada has won gold in three of them, including each of the past two at the 2010 and 2014 games. They won the 4 Nations Face-off a year ago. They won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Their roster is always loaded and always looks to be the best on paper. 

While the United States has significantly closed that gap, Canada still has arguably the three best players in this game in Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche). Add in rising superstar Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks) and the potential return of captain Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and some of the biggest impact players on the ice will be wearing a Team Canada uniform. 

Will the United States score enough goals?

The biggest thing that always hurts the United States in these medal-round games against the top competition is that their goal-scoring always seems to abandon them. A lot of that has been due to simply not having the talent pool to pick from in the past.

Sometimes it is their own decision-making when it comes to assembling the roster.

While the decisions to leave top-scorers Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars), Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens) and Alex DeBrincat (Detroit Red Wings) at home were controversial, it has not yet hurt them in this tournament. Is this the game, against by far the most talented team they have played so far, where it bites them?

Canada has been tested more, and always seems to have edge

Both teams have been dominant so far in the tournament, but Canada has been tested slightly more so far with its level of competition and has had to face way more adversity with a pair of come-from-behind wins against Czechia and Finland. 

While the United States had to play an extremely tough quarterfinal game against Sweden, it had by far the softest group schedule in the field among gold-medal contenders and also caught a break in the semifinals with Slovakia sneaking through. 

Canada has also historically been able to come through in the clutch in these games. There is definitely a "prove it" expectation with the United States team where they have to actually show they can beat Canada when the chips are on the table. 

Canada's power play looks unstoppable

The United States has been nearly flawless on the penalty kill so far in this tournament, but they have not faced a power play anywhere near as talent as Canada's. Given the way the United States likes to play physically, there is always that fine line you have to walk to avoid staying out of the penalty box. 

Taking penalties against this Canadian team is a losing proposition, as so many teams have found out already. Including Finland on Friday in the semifinals.