Jonathan Quick will get the U.S. hockey team’s first start instead of Ryan Miller, USA Hockey announced on Wednesday. The United States faces Slovakia tomorrow.
Even in a quick tournament like the 2014 Olympics, head coaches reserve the right to rotate goalies, so this doesn’t guarantee that Dan Bylsma is going with Quick over Miller in the grand scheme of things. Still, plenty of people will read it as such.
Slovakia’s most dangerous forwards include Marian Hossa, Richard Panik and Tomas Tatar. Quick will also need to deal with Zdeno Chara’s record-breaking slappers.
Miller, 33, put together an MVP performance in the 2010 Olympics to guide the U.S. to a silver medal. Quick, 28, won the Conn Smythe Trophy on his way to a Stanley Cup victory in 2011-12. As far as this season goes, Miller has the better individual numbers while Quick holds the superior win-loss record.