Exceeding Expectations

Team USA was afforded a silver medal after a thrilling tournament in Vancouver. The red, white and blue skaters were clipped by Canada in overtime, 3-2. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby collected the game-winning goal in overtime for the host country. The closing ceremonies of the 2010 game followed shortly after Crosby beat Ryan Miller at 7:40 in the sudden death overtime. The 22 year old Stanley Cup winner hadn’t scored a point in more than three games, but was a mammoth factor in Sunday’s gold medal game.
The young Americans exceeded expectations at the Olympics. It was a monumental task for the USA to beat Canada twice in the one tournament. Ron Wilson’s American team was the youngest of any Olympic squad and really the surprise story of the games. Goalie Miller was awarded the tournament MVP and the team was 60 minutes from earning their first gold medal since the miracle in Lake Placid. Canada completed a remarkable renaissance of their own. After dropping a preliminary round game to the USA, 5-3, the Canadians surged to the final and capped it off by defeating an undefeated team. The Canadians had to win four games in six days. Sunday, they carried a 2-0 lead eight minutes into the second period. Blackhawks forward, Jonathan Toews, notched the first goal for Canada in the first period. Toews wristed in a rebound off Mike Richards’ shot at 12:50 to put the Canadians on board. Corey Perry followed with a snap past Miller at 7:13 of the second. Perry pounced on the puck intended for the USA’s Ryan Getzlaf. Canada outshot the Americans 10-8 in the opening frame and sustained little pressure through the first two periods.
Patrick Kane bolted toward the goal and flicked a low angle shot past Canada’s Roberto Luongo to trim the USA deficit to one in the third period. Ryan Kesler fed Kane the perfectly placed pass at 12:37 that made it a one goal game. The 21 year old Kane was stellar on defense after solving Luongo. He backchecked Crosby on a loose breakaway in the third period before the game’s eventual hero could fire a shot. The Canadians attacked hard and rattled shots off the post in the third period. The Americans remained aggressive and Miller continued to turn away shots. The Sabres netminder made 33 stops Sunday. Wilson pulled his goalie with 90 seconds to go in regulation. The frantic final minute featured an empty USA goal. Kane whirled a shot from behind Canada’s net that deflected off America’s captain, Jamie Langenbrenner. Forward, Zach Parise jumped on the rebound and found the net with 24 second remaining to tie the game at 2-2.
It seemed like team USA was headed to an outcome similar to 1980’s miracle over Russia. Canada has other things in mind as they outshot the Americans 7-4 in the extra session. Jarome Iginla tipped the puck to Crosby from the corner. The Penguins’ star hit a low and hard shot past Miller to set off a gold medal hockey celebration in Canada. The Olympic champions evaded and held off a fierce and vibrant team USA. They allowed a 2-0 lead vanish but withstood a determined American team. Luongo did not outplay Miller, but the Canadian backstop still made 34 saves and went 5-0 in the tournament. Sunday’s hockey gold was the eighth in Olympic history for team Canada.

Parting Points: Thank you Spartans for beating Purdue. Now, OSU has a shot at the Big 10 title with a victory Tuesday.

Monday tune- A truly American song- Blink 182’s “All the Small Things”

Speaking of small things--Happy St. David’s Day, Canada! (“do the little things”)