USA Falls Short, Canada Works Overtime for Gold
by David Oleksy on Feb 28, 2010 7:38 PM EST
in Olympic Hockey Coverage
16 comments
Two weeks ago we all thought Canada would win gold medal and Russia would be playing alongside them. Nobody expected the United States to earn a medal, never mind take the best hockey team in the world to overtime in the gold medal game. The United States went further than anyone could have predicted but in the end Sidney Crosby beat Ryan Miller to give Canada the gold medal that everyone expected they would earn.
Last Sunday the United States scored less than a minute into the game and they never looked back in their upset of Canada. This week they played more tentatively and it was Canada that struck first. In fact Canada scored the games first two goals before the Americans scored on a deflection by Ryan Kesler.
The Americans carried the momentum into the third but Canada had a perfect game plan and limited the United States chances. It looked like Canada would take home gold before the extra session was needed but the Americans started putting on pressure in the final two minutes. When Miller went to the bench for a sixth skater they increased the pressure and Zach Parise made Americans throughout the country collectively jump out of their seat. Parise scored with 24.4 seconds left in regulation and gave the Americans a chance.
The overtime seen both teams play not to lose instead of playing aggressively. It is a smart tactic when playing 4-on-4 but the best chance for the USA was to pressure the Canadians and they didn't. In the end the Canadians took advantage of an American miscue and Sidney Crosby became a Canadian hero.
My Personal Disappointment
I told myself that I would not be disappointed if the United States fell short of winning the gold medal. After all, the Canadians were the favorites and beating them twice would be nearly impossible. Despite my best efforts, it was impossible to not become emotionally submersed in the game.
When all was said and done, I was equally disappointed after this loss as I was when the Sabres lost in game seven against the Canes or game six against the Dallas Stars. It was a gut-wrenching loss that I and many other Americans will not soon forget.
Was This Game Good for the Popularity of Hockey?
I'm personally tired of hearing about what is good and not good for hockey. I don't think it is an easy task to turn non-hockey fans into hockey fans and I'm okay with that. Hockey fans are a different breed and most are as passionate about the game itself as their favorite team. It is difficult to find that in many sports.
With that being said, this game was not good for the popularity of hockey. It was exciting because of the score and many non-hockey fans were probably highly anticipating the outcome but that was because it was the USA vs. Canada. Those people have already forgot about hockey.
The game was exciting because of the score but beyond that it was dull. It was a poorly officiated game that ended with the best cheater winning. That was not meant as a knock on Canada but rather the referees. They called almost nothing despite a game that seen more hooking and holding than any other in the tournament. The Canadians deserved the win but a more wide open game would have been exciting for the non-hockey fans in the world.
Miller MVP
The media selected Ryan Miller as the tournament MVP and deservedly so. It was a fun two weeks of hockey and Miller was a big part of that. He was outstanding the entire tournament and that was never more evident than the Americans upset victory over Canada last week.
The other members of the tournament all-star team were Zach Parise (USA), Shea Weber (Canada), Pavel Demitra (Slovakia), Jonathan Toews (Canada) and Brian Rafalski (USA).
0 recs |
16 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Well said
I agree with everything you said and, despite the gut-wrenching loss, I have a good feeling when thinking about this underdog USA team.
The players of this team were not even in the conversation when commentators, even my buddy Don Cherry, discussed the gold medal beforehand and if anyone was even remotely close to Canada, talent-wise. Russia and Sweden, perhaps, could upset this team, labeled “the great Canadian Olympic team ever” by our neighbors up North, but Team USA? Who?
Well, the upstart Americans did pretty darn good. It tied Canada for the overall best record, split head-to-head with them and outscored them by a goal overall. All of this, by the way, as the youngest team in the tournament AND playing every game like a road game, with the fans mostly cheering against us. Yeah, Canada had six home games; the USA had six away games……and we basically played the overwhelming favorites dead even.
This team – and props to the coaching staff, too – did the USA proud.
I agree this game will not win over non-hockey fans in America. One thing we HAVE to have for that to happen is positive and frequent exposure from ESPN. It’s tough to make inroads when all the ESPN stations talk basketball all day and ignore hockey.
Hopefully, though, some people woke up and saw what a great sport this is and I hope; the hockey media and fans in Canada have gained some respect for American hockey. (Winning the Juniors doesn’ t hurt, either.)
Great job, Ryan Miller and Team USA!!!!
A wrapup that was more... down... than it should be.
First, the referees called it even. Not with other games, but for both teams. Can’t fault them. Rather than calling Canada the “best cheater” I’d prefer calling them the “one that adapted”.
Second, while I agree with you that this won’t help win over any new hockey fans, I have a very hard time with the words and tone of what you say. I get that you are personally tired. I suspect that a part of that is (yet again) following a team that caught your emotional soul – only to fall a game short.
All told this was a VERY good game to watch. This wasn’t a damn “dream team” with in-your-face attitudes months before any games were played. This was a 6th ranked team who took a “dream team” to OT when it mattered. I said it in the game thread and I’ll say it now: I’ proud of how the entire team played. On and off the ice.
If I’m reading you right D.O., you’re leaving this tournament with bittersweet emotions. Sorry to hear that. I’m feeling quite the opposite.
Miller played, well, exactly what I expected. If he plays like this for another 3 months we’re celebrating. No doubts on that. Why? Because no NHL team can fielda team like he faced twice in 8 days. Not for 3 games, and certainly not for 7.
It’s time to get back to business. A very tough month is about to start. Followed by 5 games in 11 days in April, four of which are on the road. The last two weeks really have me wanting to see what Miller can do with the team he’s used to in front of him come springtime.
If I’m reading you right D.O., you’re leaving this tournament with bittersweet emotions. Sorry to hear that. I’m feeling quite the opposite.
That is a fair observation. I am extremely proud of how well the Americans played in the tournament but I am disappointed with the way it ended. This team was easy to fall in love with and it hurt to see them fall short.
Seeing Ryan Miller at the closing ceremonies made the disappointment subside a bit. That was a great moment seeing him in awe of walking into the stadium. I hope he uses the disappointment as momentum for the Sabres.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Feb 28, 2010 11:15 PM EST up reply actions
The more i think about it. The more I hate Crosby. I can’t say I’ve ever hated him before… I never really liked him but I definitely didn’t hate him. Now… I despise him. I hate the fact that he can just be such a non-factor all tournament (aside from the SO goal) and then come up with this shit! Kaleta and Goose need to sandwich him along the boards on Tuesday.
I don't know what to say.
I wanted to support Miller and Kane, but I didn’t want to watch the games. When the US beat Canada 5-3, I was scared because I knew it would be Canada vs USA in the gold medal game, with Canada winning. I called it. It happened. Like Dave said in the article, it’s that same gut wrenching feeling that Sabres fans know all too well.
Crosby – Is this a nightmare? Am I going to wake up from it? I never hated Crosby, I’m not one of those d-bags who hate him because he’s good. I definitely hated the fact that he gets so much PR that he gets mentioned in games that he’s not even playing, but I didn’t hate him. Then he goes on to score the game winning goal against the Sabres in the shootout at the Winter Classic and they talk about him non-stop. Now the seeds of disliking him have been planted. Then he goes on to be a non-factor in the playoffs and ends up lifting the Stanley Cup. Now I really don’t like the guy very much. Then he scores a hat trick on Miller before the Olympics. Now I don’t like the guy at all. Now this…..
Of all people, why him? I remember breathing a sigh of relief everytime I saw him go to the bench. I figured, “Anybody but Crosby scoring the GWG”. What do you know, Crosby doesn’t do dick the whole time, even puts the puck in his own net, then comes out to put a shit, I repeat, SHIT GOAL past Miller. I mean, does God hate Buffalo and US Hockey? Of all 20 players on team Canada, it had to be Crosby at that exact spot at that exact time. What are the odds of that? 5%? This is an exact repeat of the Winter Classic! The guy has a game winning shootout goal in the Winter Classic, the Stanley Cup and now a gold medal. We’ll never hear the end of this! Ever!
Now onto the game. Miller played great, but let in that horrible horrible game winning goal. I destroyed everything I could get my hands on. My roommates and I TRASHED the f**king apartment in blood thirsty anger. It’s just a game, right? Wrong. I’m sure some of you know exactly what type of thoughts and actions the Canadians have displayed towards Americans on and off the internet during these Olympics. Canadians heckled Americans in Vancouver, including some with families.Then they BURNED AN AMERICAN FLAG after the 5-3 loss:
(look halfway down the article)
Then I’m sure most of you know exactly what Canadians have been saying all over the internet about the US. How our total medal count doesnt mean anything because the only thing that counts is the gold medals. Or how the US has 10x the population of Canada, so our medals dont count. Or how Americans suck at hockey and how 2nd place is the first loser. I mean, we have to listen to these pricks tell us all NHL season long that our players come from Canada so they really arent “our” players, and now these arrogant assholes are going to be rubbing this Olympic gold crap in our faces for YEARS TO COME! Then add the cherry on top with Crosby scoring the overtime game deciding goal? What a nightmare!
I agree 100%, this has not been good for the game of hockey! All those smug elitist stereotyping anti-American trash talking Canadians DESERVED TO LOSE. They actually WERE the bad guy! Almost the entire country of Canada and the action of it’s people were the perfect definition of “The Bad Guy”. They deserved to get their fat mouths shut, and instead they won it all and are now gloating and taunting and kicking us when we are down and will continue to do so for years to come. We can never live this down, it’s a national embarassment. I dont give a damn about the silver medal, just like I didnt give a damn about it in Salt Lake. We just got owned. Even the US players dont give a damn about the silver, they know the bad guy just won. They bad guy always wins, don’t we know that all too well in good ol’ Buffalo, NY? Arrogant Dallas Cowboys winning ring a bell? Arrogant Dallas Stars winning ring a bell? Ignorant racist filth in Carolina with maybe 3,000 fans winning ring a bell?
I don’t think I can ever look at the game the same way. Dave was right, this is just as sickening as 99 or 06. I dont think I can look at the Canadian players on the Sabres team the same way again. I saw that gut wrenching look in Millers eyes after that Crosby goal, I don’t think he’s going to be the same this season. I cant even look at the game of hockey the same way anymore. We’ll never be as good as Canada and they will never let us forget that. It’s like this hopeless feeling, no matter how hard the northeast US works to produce hockey talent (cause the weight of the whole nation is on our shoulders in the northeast because the rest of the country has it’s head up football’s ass), no matter how much talent we produce, we’ll never be as good as Canada. All of Canada seems to be online and mocking us right now, I cannot believe some of the disgusting foul crap I am reading. Game threads with 3,000 comments each with Canadians gloating and telling us we suck. I never hated Canada, I’m part Canadian myself, but these Olympics have opened my eyes to their vile anti-American attitudes and their disgusting gloating. I am ashamed to be part Canadian, I hate them.
I don’t even want to lace up and get out onto the ice, I think I’m going to put all my hockey gear up for sale. I am so disgusted that I cannot even look at it.
@Jflaskey2
So you are generalizing based on the act of few thousand Canadian idiots over the internet? Let me tell you this. THE AMERICANS DID AS MUCH AS TRASH-TALKING AS CANADIANS DID IF NOT MORE. They rambled on about how small Canada is, how weak her military is, how gayass Canadians are, or how Americans rule the entire world, or how Americans are superior human beings compared to Canadians or other nations. The point is every nation has their share of idiots and you are wrong to think all Canadians are that way. And u saying US never win gold? THEY WERE ONE GOAL AWAY FROM DOING JUST THAT. IF YOU ARE A TRUE HOCKEY FAN, THEN KEEP YOUR FAITH BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN ON THE ICE. Anyway the game was one of the best hockey I’ve ever seen. Both teams played fantastic. One had to win and the other had to lose. That’s simple as that. For the U.S, athletes and fans alike should just move on and be grateful, it is not the end of the world.
by MetallicIronDeth on Mar 1, 2010 1:40 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Outstanding reply
As I read this I had every intention of deleting the comment above that was made to obviously bait someone but because of the reply I will leave it.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
When you win, do it with class. Act like you’ve been there before.
And when you lose, do it with class. I mean, it’s not like your child died – no, it really is just a game.
I’m waking up this morning, drinking my first cup of coffee, reading a few blogs, and headed to work. Just like I would be doing had the USA won. Am I a bit disappointed? Sure. But that’s a far cry from calling an entire country my enemy, or expressing hatred for a player who was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
The truth is, I’m feeling a TON like I did in ‘99 or ’06 right now. A ton like I was in MARCH of those seasons. Excited. Anticipation. Pride. Hope. Buffalo has one of the best goalies in the league. He just won MVP, and he acts like it’s not going to his head. At all. We have him under contract for a few more seasons too.
No, I’m not turned off by hockey right now. Compared to how the Sabres made me feel the last two seasons with their play? The only thing that comes to mind is… I can’t wait.
by dfderie on Mar 1, 2010 7:11 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on Die By The Blade
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which Canucks' Ryan Kesler annihilates us in NHL 2K11
- Tampa goalie Dan Ellis leaves Twitter, and it's for the better
- Video: Patrick Kane on Blackhawks' summer of change, trick-shots, 'Twilight' books and Jonathan Toews
- Video: Sidney Crosby homers out of Pittsburgh's PNC Park
- Fantasy Hockey Philosophy: Rob Higgins vs. unbearable expectations
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
