Today’s Results
USA takes down Slovenia 5-1
Ryan Miller got the start in this game, likely his lone start of the tournament, and allowed his only goal with just 17 seconds remaining in the game to earn the Ryan Miller shutout(tm). Phil Kessel scored a hat trick, and ends pool play as the highest scoring player of the tournament with seven points. This game was never really in doubt, and the US dominated straight from the get-go, thus ending pool play in the most anticlimactic, yet satisfying manner.
With the win today and Canada’s ineptitude against Finland, the USA has earned the #2 seed and a trip directly to the quarterfinals, bypassing the next round of games. They’ll play the winner of Tuesday’s match up between Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Austria defeats Norway 3-1
Austria’s first Olympic win since 2002 comes thanks to two goals from Michael Grabner, while Norway’s loss will give them the honor of being the first country to crush Russia’s dreams in the playoff starting Tuesday.
Russia technically beats Slovakia 1-0 in the shootout
The host Russians, who stated that their mission in Sochi was gold-or-bust, needed a second straight shootout to sneak past Slovakia. Russia actually finishes the round robin portion of the tourney as the #5 seed, and will need to beat Norway on Tuesday in order to advance to the quarterfinals, where they would then face #4 seed Finland.
Canada squeaks past Finland 2-1 (OT)
Hockey’s country was forced to play a defensive game by the undermanned Finns, but two Drew Doughty goals led the way in the eventual victory. Thanks to the game going to OT, Canada slipped from the #2 to the #3 seed, and will play the winner of Latvia and Switzerland.