In a run of dominance we all hoped for but secretly did not believe could happen, the United States hockey team came into their semifinal game against Canada with redemption on their mind and a thirst for vindication surging through their veins. In any game where the winner would be vaulted into the gold medal game, intensity would be high. The fact that USA's opponent in this game would be Canada only hiked that intensity up to an even more astronomical level.
“The intensity is going to be in my opinion just as high as if it’s a gold medal game,” USA forward Zach Parise said prior to the game.
19 times now these two teams have met in Olympic play and in each of the 18 games before the one today, there has always been a certain kind of rivalry, built on the sorrows of defeat and a general dislike for the other team that is unanimous throughout each lockeroom. Going back, through the last 15 years alone, the USA and Canada have met twice in gold medal games. Each time Canada has won.
But in 2014, things had been a little different. This United States team had made some of the best in the tournament look foolish as they not only roller over teams like Slovakia, Slovenia and Latvia but also demolished the now gold medal game bound Swedish team back in group play. And yet, perhaps their biggest, most stunning wins came in a shootout deemed by many as one of the best in the history of hockey. Riding TJ Oshie's clutch scoring, the United States ousted the home team Russians late in an 8 round shootout.
Coming into their semifinal game with Canada, the United States had outscored their opponents 20-6 an had been explosive in literally every single facet of their game and with the exception of the Russia game had never really struggled to churn out a win.
Canada however had taken a path to this semifinal game that involved much more nail-biting and frustrated yelling for its fans. This team that was laden with the scoring talent of some of the best players in the league had just barely got past Latvia in its quarterfinals game. Through their group and quarterfinals play had scored just 13 goals. Statistically speaking Canada was underperforming.
Fact is, USA was favored by many to win today and when they did not, there was disappointment back home. Though they were not out-shot by that big a margin, the United States lost focus, got too caught up in the revenge factor and in the end seemed to kind of give up.
In what would eventually turn out to be an intense goaltending battle, Johnathan Quick simply made 1 less save than Cary Price and that was the difference in this game. Midway through the 2nd period, Jay Bowmeister took the puck off the boards just behind the top of the circle and fired a pinpoint wrist shot slightly to the left of Quick. If the puck stayed on its course, the shot would rattle wide of the net but as Quick committed to trying to glove it, Jamie Benn stuck a tremendous tip in the puck and spiked what would be the game winning goal into the back of the net.
From there, Cary Price stood tall and simply stopped pucks. 38 minutes after the goal, the game was over and so, the United States will be forced to settle for bronze at best.
Though a medal of any sort is still something to be celebrated, winning a bronze like they likely will tomorrow against Finland will feel more like a consolation prize rather than a major achievement.
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