Closing Ceremony Monday

Americans,

I am blogging to you right now and I am upset. I am upset that the Olympic hockey season is over. There is no greater thing for the sport of hockey than having the greatest players in the world unite under their own flags in hopes that their nation’s anthem will be played at the end of the two week tournament. As in blogs past, I will keep this one in chronological order, building up to the coup de grace, the men’s gold medal game. Let’s begin, shall we?

Thursday February 25

The women’s bronze medal game took overtime to decide. Big sister Sweden got upended by little sister Finland 3-2. This game was really not worth watching, but it was still good nonetheless.

The women’s gold medal game came down to the two teams that were supposed to be there: USA and Canada. Canada would win this one 2-0 and take gold away from the Americans, who played a phenomenal game regardless. However, it was not the game itself that got the headlines. In celebration of winning the gold medal, the Canadian women’s hockey team came back out onto the ice with some Molson Canadians and victory cigars. The fans were gone, but some media was still there and snapped some shots. You know what that means in today’s world: “outrage.” The IIHF was outraged, the Associated Press was outraged and moms and dads around the world were outraged. The reason is that the drinking age in British Columbia, Canada is 19 and there are a couple of girls on Canada’s team that are 18. My opinion: “They won a @#$%^&* gold medal for their country on home ice, let them celebrate.” In arguably the most glorious situation in their lives, I think a minimum of one beer on the house is entitled, if not a case. It would be different if these were pee-wee players, but they’re grown women.

Friday February 26: Semifinal Friday

The men’s tournament continued on Friday with the two semifinal games.

Finland v. USA

Finland was looking for some magic out of Olympic hockey point record holder and Anaheim Duck Teemu Selanne, but the United States would prove far too much for the Finns. The United States came out on fire and the Finns simply could not put it out. The USA scored 6 goals in the first period, forcing Miikka Kiprusoff to resign after 4 goals on 7 shots. Niklas Backstrom replaced Kiprusoff and gave up 2 more, but only 2 more. Goals in the first period for the USA came from Pittsburgh native and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ryan Malone, New Jersey Devils’ Zach Parise, St. Louis Blues’ Erik Johnson, 2 from Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane and one from Colorado Avalanche’s Paul Stastny. Scoring stayed pretty much silent for the rest of the game, even though the United States continued to dominate the physical play. Finland got a lone, late goal off the stick of Minnesota Wild’s Antti Miettinen, but since it did not count as 6, it would basically be useless. The game ended up 25-25 in shots, but the USA dominated every facet of the game. 6-1 was your final and the United States moved on to the gold medal game to be played Sunday at 12:00 PM, PST (3:00 PM, EST). Finland would move onto the bronze medal game Saturday at 7:00 PM, PST (10:00 PM, EST).

Slovakia v. Canada

Perhaps the dark horse of the tournament was Slovakia. The Slovaks edged past the defending champs in the quarterfinals, and now face the home team and heavy favorite, Canada. The Slovaks put up an honorable fight, but the Canadians’ national sport is hockey, and they overcame the adversity to pull out a 3-2 victory. Canada came out with 3 unanswered goals over the course of the first two periods. San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau and Dallas Stars’ Brenden Morrow tickled the twine in the first period, giving the Canadians a 2-0 lead after one. Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf put one home in the second to push Canada ahead 3-0 through two periods and Canada was in control of the game. Slovakia did score two goals in the third period to get back into it, however. Edmonton Oilers’ Lubomir Visnovsky and L.A. Kings’ Michal Handzus had the tallies for the Slovaks. In the end, it was not enough to pass the home team. Canada moved on for a rematch with the United States on Sunday for the gold medal and Slovakia would meet Finland on Saturday for the bronze.

Saturday Febrary 27: Bronze Medal Day

Slovakia v. Finland

Slovensko and Suomi would prove to show the true meaning of any Olympic medal. If you were not previously informed, you would swear this one was for the gold medal. Both teams came out flying and playing their hearts out. Sometimes we forget how much winning an Olympic medal of any ore is. It means that you were a part of one of the top 3 teams in the world. This game was for bronze and it was also one of the more entertaining games of the tournament. Vancouver Canucks’ Sami Salo opened scoring for Finland in this game at 18:50 in the first period and the Finns had a 1-0 advantage after 1. The second period was all Slovakia. The Slovaks scored three unanswered in the second, coming off the sticks of New York Rangers’ Marian Gaborik, Chicago Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa and Vancouver Canucks’ Pavol Demitra. Slovakia now had the lead 3-1 after two periods. This game would turn out to be a marathon and not a sprint. Finland scored 4 unanswered in the third period. Goals came from Calgary Flames’ Niklas Hagman, 2 from New York Rangers’ Olli Jokinen and one from Detroit Red Wings’ Valtteri Filpula. Finland wins another medal as they defeat Slovakia 5-3. Slovakia has no reason to hang their heads, however. Their nation’s team continues to get better and made it to the bronze medal game. It was definitely a respectable tournament for the squad. On Finland’s side, this just adds to their rap sheet, taking home bronze in men’s and women’s hockey this year and gives Teemu Selanne another medal to put in his already historic Olympic cabinet. Congratulations to both teams.

Sunday February 28: We Go For Gold

USA v. Canada

I said in a blog last week that if you missed the USA v. Canada matchup, shame on you for 4 years. If you missed this installment of the rivalry, add another 10 years of shame. This game would prove to be another one of the greatest games in hockey history. Canada comes in looking for a second gold medal in their national sport to go with their women’s gold that was won just days earlier and looking for vengeance for the loss to the USA earlier this tournament. What came out of the hype was a phenomenal hockey game.

This was a hard-fought, defensive game through and through. All players were finishing their checks and mucking it up in the corners. Nobody was above hard work. Scoring opened at 12:50 for Canada off the stick of Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews. The USA allowed Philthadelphia Flyers’ Mike Richards to walk out of the corner to take a shot and their attention, leaving Toews by himself to put home the rebound. Canada comes out of the first period with a 1-0 lead and momentum. In the second period, Canada added another off the stick of Anaheim Ducks’ Corey Perry with assists from fellow Duck Ryan Getzlaf and Chicago Blackhawks’ Duncan Keith. Even though Canada was up 2-0 at this point in the game, Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks) was showing confidence issues by leaving fat rebounds and juggling the puck. The USA answered to the tune of those confidence issues when Vancouver Canucks’ Ryan Kesler tipped a Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) shot that snuck under the right arm of Robero Luongo. After two periods, this game was closer than all of Canada would have liked.

It continued to be a “grind it out” kind of game through the third period with both goaltenders turning away all shots they faced. Blocked shots and missed passes defined the third. Several near misses by the USA and a huge shot off the post by Canada kept the game at 2-1. With about 1:00 to go in regulation, the USA sent goaltender Ryan Miller to the bench for the extra attacker. Coming into the zone, the puck came around the net and Canada could not clear. New Jersey Devils’ Jamie Langenbrunner retrieved the puck below the goal line to Luongo’s left and attempted a centering pass that was deflected. The loose puck came to the stick of Patrick Kane. Kane reeled it in and fired a shot to the chest of Luongo, and a rebound dropped right at his feet where Zach Parise slammed it home to tie the game at 2-2 with just 24.5 seconds to play. This one was headed for overtime.

The overtime period would prove to be just as exciting as regulation. End-to-end, intense hockey was played for 7:40. The USA was having trouble getting the puck into the Canadian zone at first, but began getting penetration with speed through the neutral zone. The Canadians stuck with their strategy of attacking the USA defensemen directly. At approximately 7:30, your Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby came busting into the USA zone, taking on all who would oppose him, just like he does in his NHL games. He would draw the attention of two USA players and Crosby would slide the puck into the corner where Calgary Flames’ Jarome Iginla would take control. Feeling the pressure, Iginla executed a classic give-and-go with Crosby, who then got off a quick snap shot that beat USA goaltender Ryan Miller through the 5-hole before he could get his paddle down. If anyone could end it for Canada, it should be the face of hockey, right? Sid gave Canada the win 3-2, the gold medal and the outright title of best hockey country in the world. Ryan Miller was named Olympic MVP for his performance in the tournament and the USA took home a silver medal, after being mostly an afterthought in the eyes of the Olympic community. Like I said before, Olympic hockey is one of the best things that happens for the pure sport of hockey. If you are upset at the result of the tournament, don’t be. The USA showed great skill and heart in their run in this tournament and earned the right as second best team in the world. It took extra time for Canada to win this one, which was unheard of in the minds of most of the hockey world. The way I see it, Canada won gold, USA won silver, but the real winner was the sport of hockey.

The NHL resumes this week, tonight with a matchup between Detroit and Colorado. The Pens resume their season tomorrow night at 7:30 pm when they welcome Olympic MVP Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Banana Slugs to town. With a 20 game sprint left to get to the playoffs, the Pens are sitting at second place in the Atlantic Division with 76 points and tied for third place overall with the Ottawa Senators. Only 5 points separate slots 6-11 so every game matters. The blog will be back to NHL style on Thursday.

U-S-A,

B Brog