Flyers pulling for native countries

The Flyers are caught up in the drama of Team USA vs. Team Canada in today's Olympic gold-medal hockey game.

The players and coaches are pulling for their native countries - even if it means rooting against the Flyers' Chris Pronger and Mike Richards, who are playing for Canada.

Flyers winger Ian Laperriere used reverse psychology in predicting today's winner.

"I'll say the States, because everything I've said so far has gone the other way," he said after yesterday's practice in Voorhees. "I said Russia was going to beat Canada. I thought Finland would beat the U.S., and I thought Canada would beat the U.S. [the first time]. Now I'm saying the U.S., and, hopefully, Canada will take it."

Laperriere said Ryan Miller makes Team USA dangerous. "He's been the best goalie in the tournament," he said.

Naturally, Americans Matt Carle, James van Riemsdyk, and coach Peter Laviolette are rooting for Team USA. Earlier in the tourney, the United States defeated Canada, 5-3.

"In an international tournament, especially one of this magnitude, it's tough to beat the same team twice . . . but I have to go with the States," van Riemsdyk said.

Carle, who nearly made the American team, said, "You just hope for a good game."

With the game in Vancouver, center Claude Giroux and defenseman Ryan Parent like Canada's chances.

"We're at home, so we have a pretty good advantage," said Giroux, who could be playing for Team Canada in four years.

"I think Canada will win," Parent said. "Having lost that [preliminary] game I think is going to help motivate them."

The Americans and Canadians are the only teams composed strictly of NHL players.

"I'm pulling for the U.S., of course, but Canada has played really well the last two games," said Laviolette, a Massachusetts native who coached the Americans in the 2006 Games.