RESULTS: Men’s Hockey USA vs Russia
This was the marquee game of Group A. Team USA taking on the host nation, Russia. The history and story lines are well intertwined. From replays of Al Michaels’ Miracle on Ice call, to current story lines of of NHL teammates facing each other and Team USA establishing themselves as a gold medal favorite. The buildup to this game was intense and the match-up did not disappoint.
The first period saw end to end play with both teams getting chances. Both teams seemed to be trying to feel each other out and by the end of the period US and Russian players were flying, but the game remained scoreless. Pavel Datsyuk put the Russians on the scoreboard first at 9 minutes and 15 seconds into the second period, but an Alexander Radulov penalty just six minutes later gave Team USA their opportunity. A shot on net from Phil Kessel rebounded to James van Riemsdyk who slid it over to a driving Cam Fowler. The pass went off his skate and in the net for his first goal of the tournament.
The third period saw Team USA and Team Russia start tied with one goal apiece. Another Radulov penalty gave the American’s their second goal of the game. Patrick Kane put a perfect cross ice pass to Joe Pavelski who had slid to the far post for a perfect back door goal, Pavelski’s second goal of the tournament. Just over three minutes later Pavel Datsyuk scored his second of the game while Russia was on the power play from a bad Dustin Brown kneeing penalty.
Shortly after the Russian power play goal another Russian goal was called off due to the net being displaced. This kept the game tied 2-2 and both teams prepared for overtime.
(via @PeteBlackburn)
Team USA had 29 seconds left on a power play to open the overtime period, but after 5 minutes there was no score from either team. What followed was one of the most exciting shootouts I have ever watched. In international hockey a team can re-use shooters after three different shooters go for the first three rounds. Team USA saw T.J. Oshie score on the first shootout attempt, and then James van Riemsdyk and Joe Pavelski were stopped. Russia’s first two shooters, Yevgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk, were stopped by Jonathan Quick. But Ilya Kovalchuk kept Russia in the game when scored at the end of the third round to bring the shootout into extras.
It took five more rounds of shootout to determine the winner. Russia chose to go first and rotated between Kovalchuk and Datsyuk. T.J. Oshie got all the action for Team USA throughout the extra rounds, scoring three more times and winning the game when Kovalchuk missed on the opening shot of the 8th round. It was thrilling, and although I despise shootouts for determining a winner in tournament games, it was a thrilling end to a perfect game.
Team USA now stands alone at the top of Group A, leading Russia by one point. Team USA faces Slovenia, who defeated Slovakia 3-1 in the early game today, at 7:30 am Sunday morning. A win for Team USA will guarantee them a bye to the Quarterfinal Round.
