Team USA vs. Team Russia is on NBCSN at 10:15am today.

from Andy Potts of IIHF.com,

It’s a rivalry steeped in history – sporting, cultural and even political – and it’s a game that guarantees a big audience whenever the teams meet.

But while it’s no surprise to see a Russian team line up with several players who ply their trade in America, team USA has seldom called up anyone playing in the Russian provinces. But that’s the story for Dan Sexton, who spent last season in Tatarstan with the KHL’s Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Now he’s preparing for battle against many of the stars he’s been facing all season.

“Playing Russia is always a big game,” he said. “They’re going to be a really strong team. Some of our guys might not know all their players but I know a lot of them from this season. They’ve got a load of great skill players and we’re going to have to be on our ‘A’ game to shut them down.”

Sexton’s KHL experience could prove invaluable, both in terms of second-guessing some of his Russian opponents and getting practice on the bigger ice used in IIHF competition.

conitnued