Armstrong (38) is one of the classy forwards in the Canadian team which leads the three-match series that concludes at the Dunedin Ice Stadium tonight.
He played 600 games in the North American National Ice Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings from 2001 to 2009.
Canada leads the series with a 5-4 win at Auckland and a 7-3 margin at Christchurch. The series is decided by goals scored over the three games and the United States would need to win by five goals to take the honours.
"Canada walked all over the United States in game two," promoter Craig Douglas said.
"I have talked to members of the US team and they are unhappy about that result and want to settle score tonight.
"The Canadian team has impressed in the first two games with their team work. They came here well prepared."
The most experienced member of the United States team is Aaron Miller (39), who had a 14-year career in the National Ice Hockey League and won a silver medal in the Unite States team at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
He is a talented defender who played 677 games in the National Ice Hockey League.
The United States goaltender is John Grahame (35), who was a member of the Unites States team at the 2006 Olympic Games.
Ice hockey is a rich sport and in 2006 Grahame signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes for $US2.8 ($NZ3.1) million.
Most of the players in tonight's game have past their best but they will still produce a higher standard of ice hockey than has been seen in New Zealand before.
It will be a transformed Dunedin Ice Stadium tonight with a grandstand brought south from Christchurch to seat a 1000 people. The total capacity is 3508. It has been erected over the curling rink and will give spectators a close-up view of the game.
The stadium will have all the atmosphere is typical of big ice hockey games played in North America. This includes a big-screen television. There will be 11 television cameras focused on the game.
Douglas said it "will be screened live to the United States and will be available for international television".
The series will be screened for New Zealand audiences on Sky Television on August 14.
There have been sell-out crowds at Auckland (10,441), Christchurch (9100) and tonight at the Dunedin Ice Stadium (3500). Dunedin Ice Stadium manager Neal Gamble said it would be the first sell-out crowd at the stadium.
"It will be a great introduction to ice hockey for those who have not experienced the sport live before," he said.
"The series has been good for New Zealand ice hockey. I have encouraged the event from the start."
The game starts at 6.45pm.
