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Quick and Oshie are the Heroes in U.S. Shootout Win Over Russia |
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Wow.
Just...wow.
If you didn't get up to watch that one like I did at the crack of dawn, or if you didn't DVR it...I am sorry.
In the wee morning hours on the West Coast I am sure many like myself huddled around their T.V's and computers to watch what has been advertised as the premier group stage matchup between Team USA and Team Russia.
And boy did it not disappoint. The U.S. took it 3-2 in a eight-round shootout, with St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie scoring on four of his six attempts against Sergei Bobrovsky. Quick on the other end stopped five of eight Russian attempts from the likes of Malkin, Datsyuk and Kovalchuk. The latter two combined for seven of Russia's eight attempts. The penultimate stop on Ilya Kovalchuk by Quick was a pad stacking doozie that had me recalling the wild card days of the notoriously unorthodox goaltender Dominik Hasek.
If some of you are confused, in IIHF shootouts if the initial three shooters go and the game is still tied any shooter can be used as many times as needed. Thus leading to the dramatic six attempts by T.J. Oshie.
The game itself was also a battle filled match, full of intensity, strong play, and of course a little bit of drama.
Quick, who made 29 saves on 31 shots, was matched by Sergei Bobrovsky who made 31 saves on 33 shots. After a scoreless first the two teams traded blows in the second on goals from Cam Fowler and Pavel Datsyuk. The U.S. benefited from several undisciplined penalties by former NHL bad boy Alexander Radulov, who was in the box for both U.S goals. Joe Pavelski gave the Americans a 2-1 lead on the PP in the third as he tucked home a one-timer in the low circle off an impossible cross-ice feed from Patrick Kane.
However, it was again the leader of Team Russia in Pavel Datsyuk who evened the score.
Then of course you get to the dramatic stuff. Late in the third period with 3:26 remaining, Fedor Tyutin scored what Team Russia thought was going to be the game clincher. However, after reviewing the play the officials realized that the net had been knocked off the moorings by Jonathan Quick in a previous front of the net scramble. The goal would have counted under NHL rules, but not in the world of international hockey. The goal was disallowed and it remained 2-2.
Kings player Slava Voynov was a little suspect of the play involving his teammate in net. TSN reporter Dmitry Chesnokov caught this blurb from Slava post game.
WOW Slava. Wow! Easy buddy.
I'll forgive him though, as should many others. In an intense game like this, RIGHT after the game...I mean what do you expect. Sort of a Richard Sherman thing to a lesser degree. Put a mic in a guys face seconds after a super emotional and intense game, it's going to happen. I am sure in a few weeks time they will be laughing about it in the King's locker room. Still pretty interesting jab there by Voynov.
Back to the game though, the U.S. defense did a pretty masterful job of keeping Team Russia's big stars quiet all game. Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin were fairly locked down all game with only a few attempts coming from the pair. On one such occasion, the dreaded Ovechkin weak-side one timer was blocked fearlessly by Ryan McDonagh. That alone sums up Ovechkin's game. He got very few looks and when he had them he had a U.S. player right in his face. Also on the vein of Ryan Kesler, oh my that shot block he had in the first off the hand looked painful. Credit the Vancouver Canuck center though, with taped up fingers he continued to play.
Cue overtime, where the wide open four on four play produced few chances except for a grade-A clean breakaway from center ice by Patrick Kane. Kane was stopped as he attempted to go five-hole on Bobrovsky. With it knotted up the game went to a shootout.
The rest is history.
While I am not a fan of such high pressure games decided by shootouts, and I would have loved to see this decided in a 20-minute overtime...this was a shootout for the ages. Most of the media pundits and even a few players chimed in with a similar feeling.
That really sums it up well and I feel the same way. Also what to say how classy it was that Oshie after scoring the game clincher immediately pointed down the ice to his netminder. Team chemistry.
This one was a game for the ages. While I may remain weary-eyed the rest of the day I don't think I'll ever regret getting up to watch that one. Huge win for Team USA who now look poised to get a bye into the quarterfinals. However, they still have to take on a Slovenia team who is coming off a tremendous upset over Slovakia 3-1.
I think I'm just going to sit and look out the window all day and reflect on that game.
Lastly, some of the better more humorous pictures on twitter from the game. Thanks T.J. Sochi!
Ah hockey. Thanks. Love ya.
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Side note, Anze Kopitar scored his first ever Olympic goal and Slovenia recorded their first ever Olympic win against the reeling Slovaks earlier in the day's action.
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