USA brings effort to hockey loss

As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games came to an official close on Feb. 28 in Vancouver, all eyes were on the hockey rink for the Games’ final event. Team USA and Canada faced off for the second time in the two week stretch of the Olympics.

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However, the second battle between the two countries held more than just bragging rights; the gold medal for the men’s hockey competition was on the line.

Canada, the gold medal favorite from the beginning of the games, was looking for revenge on team USA after being upset, 5-3, in preliminary round play exactly a week prior to playing for gold. A match that has since been dubbed the biggest Olympic hockey upset, since the “Miracle on Ice” – when team USA beat the heavily favored Soviet Union team, in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
Team USA went undefeated in the preliminary rounds, beating Switzerland 3-1, Norway 6-1 and finally Canada 5-3. This undefeated streak earned team USA a number one seed in the tournament and a sight at Olympic gold.

In the quarterfinal round, team USA faced Switzerland. American goal tender Ryan Miller recorded his first shutout in Vancouver, saving 19 of 19 shots taken by the Swiss; which was complemented by Zach Parise’s two goals.

The semifinal round allowed team USA to show the world that they were legitimate contenders for the gold. Facing off against Finland, who had previously dropped only one game, to Sweden in the preliminary round, looked to be a good match up on paper.

However, on the ice, team USA came out of the gate firing, scoring six unanswered goals in the first period, including two from Patrick Kane. That was all team USA needed, essentially winning the match in the first period, with a final score of 6-1 and a gold medal match berth.

With Canada fighting off Slovakia in the second semifinal match, the stage was set for a USA: Canada gold medal match. Arguably one of the most anticipated hockey matches, at least in this country, since the 1980 gold medal match in Lake Placid. Canada approached this match with vengeance, as team USA approached with confidence knowing it had already beaten the tournament favorite.
The first two periods were filled with huge hits and intense battles, but it was Canada who found a way around eventual tournament MVP Ryan Miller with two early goals. Team USA orchestrated a desperate comeback, with a goal by Ryan Kesler in the second period, and then with a mere twenty five seconds left in regulation, the extra attacker for team USA proved beneficial as Zach Parise scored. Sending the match to sudden death overtime, for the first time since the NHL allowed players to compete in the Olympics in 1998.

The most watched hockey game in thirty years went to overtime, and as Sidney Crosby scored the game winning goal, 7:40 into the extra period, it was the United States viewers who were left heart broken.

Though not expected to even contend for the gold medal in Vancouver, team USA battled through adversity to challenge this star studded Canadian team. Yet in the end, it was the favorite and host country that provided a fairy tale ending to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The pride and passion shown by team USA, in a losing effort, are irreplaceable memories from these Olympic Games.
Team USA allowed a country to re-establish the same pride and passion as “Miracle on Ice.”