Technical Wizard

What happens when Milwaukee meets Moscow: 

say STRAZ-vooey-tye to Alex Galyenchuk

Team USA has always needed snipers, and this year's WJC entry has found one. A Moscow accent in R, W and B with classic Russian skills; in Eastern Europe they call it being "technical."  For the first time in memory USA has a technical wizard, a "malcheek" named Alex Galchenyuk. Born in Milwaukee, raised in Moscow, loyal to the U.S. of A. His Russian may be better than his English, but he prefers to forget his native tongue. 

How good is Glachenyuk? The Montreal Canadiens drafted Alex third overall last spring, coming off a season that saw him play a mere two games due to injury. Now he's back, leading the vaunted Ontario Hockey League in goals, and on Thursday wowed his former country with a goal that left the scouts, fans and GM's in awe among his 3 points in USA's 8-0 demolition of Germany.

On Friday, Team USA and Russia face off to determine who is a contender and who is the pretender in the B-group, and this ex-pat who could have played for either nation will be the crucial chess piece.  For the first time in history, Russian forwards are suffering from "stick envy." The prodigal son returns to Mother Russia. NHL Network, live pre-dawn with a replay in prime time.