Pure unadulterated awesome

So I've tried to write a good intro for this post at least six different times now and I can't manage to do it. How can I, a lowly hockey blogger, begin to describe the sheer awesomeness that was the USA-Canada gold medal game?

It's not even hyperbole when I say that this was one of the best hockey games I have seen. One for the ages. Those who tuned in just for the Olympic game, as much as the NHL needs your viewership you might as well stop watching. You're not going to see another game like this for years.

I mean, it is scripted like it was some kind of Disney sports movie. Favored home team that was beaten early in the tournament is rematched with the same opponent again for the final game. The bulk of the game is close - nothing like the blowouts either team had previously put up in the tournament. Just when it looks like Canada is going to win it, Zach Parise ties it up with 24 seconds left to send it into overtime. Overtime is again well fought by both teams, but the winning goal is knocked in by the superstar Sidney Crosby.

I mean, seriously. If this was a movie script at that point the producer would step away and shake his head. There's no way that, in reality, the superstar would score the goal to bring the gold medal to his home country on home ice, right? That's just too cheesy, too unbelievable.

But it happened. Sidney Crosby is proving that he is all that he's cracked up to be. Canada takes home the gold, winning the game 3-2.

This is by no means a defeat for the Americans. This is a team who no one thought would be in this position - no one thought they would have beaten Canada once, let alone have won all of their games in the Olympics except for this one. Winning a silver sucks, but at the same time it is an accomplishment that should not be easily tossed aside.

This game was pure, unadulterated awesome. This game pretty much summed up everything that every hockey fan loves about the game. If you think that hockey is confined to be a niche sport, please please watch this game again. There is no way that any sports fan, any person couldn't feel the enjoyment of watching this game. The fun of watching, of cheering, is what has spawned crazily loyal hockey fans like myself.

And, hey, uh, the Canes play the Leafs tomorrow. So maybe watch or listen or something? I promise, it'll be just like the gold medal game - it'll be two teams fighting to the death on ice for... the number one draft pick.

Man, it was nice to cheer for a winning team for two weeks.

Olympic Update - T-minus 1 hour

I'm doing another Olympic hockey recap for my college radio station, so I'm recycling the outline again. I'd feel worse about this, but there's actually some thought put into the recap (unlike the normal rambling posts) so I hope my loyal readers will let me slide. And, hey, if you want to listen, the link's up on Twitter.

Canada - USA

• Team USA won this game 5-3
• Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur - normally a stalwart in goal - had an absolute meltdown, making blunders that led directly to 3 USA goals
• USA also scored the first goal :41 seconds into the game, which did a lot for taking the rabid Canadian fans out of the game early

This game left USA, Russia, Sweden, and Finland as the teams with the bye to the quarterfinals, although in the next round there were no upsets. This set up the expected gold-medal matchup of Russia-Canada in the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals
- Russia - Canada

• Unexpected blowout, Canada beating Russia by the score of 7-3 - might I remind you that Russia was supposed to be the favorite in this tournament.
• Alex Ovechkin was a non-factor in the game, although almost all of Team Russia barely showed up to this game.
• Mike Milbury, the outspoken NBC anchor, even went as far to say that Russia brought their "Eurotrash" game - when you can make Jeremy Roenick speechless, I do believe you've crossed a line.

- USA - Swiss

• USA won 2-0 over the Swiss in a well-played game

Semifinals

- USA - Finland

• Complete blowout
• Miikka Kiprusoff was horrible - 2:04 into the first period he makes a very poor play on the puck that turns it over straight to Ryan Malone who hit it into an empty net. Needless to say, the Finns never recovered.
• Kiprusoff was pulled after the fourth goal only ten minutes into the first period, but that was too little too late - the final tally 6-0 after end of the first
• Final score was 6-1 after Finland scored one late in the third period. With this game, the USA advance to the GOLD MEDAL ROUND

- Canada- Slovakia

• The Canadians controlled most of this game, the score being 3-0 at the end of the second, outshooting the Slovaks 21-9.
• Slovakia made it interesting with two late goals in the third period and a good last minute rush at the net - Pavol Demitra had a chance to tie up the game in the waning seconds but missed the net. Canada escapes with a 3-2 win to propel them into the Gold Medal Game

Bronze Medal
Finland-Slovakia

• Finland wins the bronze medal after a 5-3 match.
• Slovakia's special teams kept them in this game, as they did for most of the tournament. Slovakia's first two goals were scored on the powerplay, and their third was a shorthanded goal.
• Unfortunately for the Slovaks, the Finns came back and scored four goals in the third period, wrapping up their bronze medal run

So that leaves today's game, the game of games, the USA-Canada contest for the gold. Can the Americans pull off another upset? Or will Canada manage to pull through and win it all on home ice? I expect a tight game - can you imagine this game being otherwise?

Either way, though, the Americans come home with a medal which is more than many (including myself) expected and that in itself is a victory. But gold would certainly look nicer...

Team USA is awesome!

The USA-Canada game on Sunday was some of the best and most entertaining hockey that I have seen in a very long time.

Yes, that might be because I'm a Canes fan, but nevertheless, this game was excellent.

The USA managed to pull it off, winning 5-3 over the heavily favored Canadians. Martin Brodeur was the factor in this game, although not for the normal reasons. Brodeur played an absolutely horrific game, his puck-playing blunders leading directly to 3 USA goals.

USA scored the first goal in the game :41 seconds in, which set the tone for the remainder of the game - nothing like a quick goal to take the home crowd out of it.

With the win the USA earned a first-round bye into the quarterfinals, where they will have the benefit of a day off before playing Switzerland, a team they already beat 3-1 earlier in the Olympics.

Interestingly enough, Eric Staal actually played a very good game against the USA, scoring 1 goal and having one of the few positive plus/minuses on the team. Staal also had 3 assists in today's game against Germany to advance Canada into the quarters.

In bad news on the Canes front, Joni Pitkanen was suspended for one game after checking Patric Hornqvist in the head in his game against Sweden.

The Americans play the Swiss tomorrow! U-S-A! U-S-A!

Olympic Update

The first week of the Olympics has passed, and there has definitely been some exciting hockey to watch.

First and foremost, of course, is Team USA, which beat Switzerland 3-1 on Monday. They then beat Norway 6-1 on Wednesday. Tim Gleason unfortunately didn't make it on the scoresheet at all.

The interesting games so far have been the same Swiss team which USA beat forcing Canada into overtime and a shootout, although ultimately losing 3-2. Sidney Crosby scored the winning shootout attempt, although it is obviously that any team can be carried by a hot goaltender - Jonas Hiller obviously held his own extremely well.

Another team who ran into a hot goaltender was the favorite Team Russia - they lost to Slovakia and Jaroslav Halak 2-1 in another shootout.

Let's just say that either of these teams having trouble in these rounds is extremely surprising, as they were both expected to be head and shoulders above anyone else.

For Caniacs, Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen both scored goals in the 5-0 Finnish victory over Germany. Pitkanen also had a point in the 5-1 win over Belarus. Eric Staal made it on the Team Canada scoresheet in the 8-0 victory over Norway.

Tomorrow is the game of games, USA v. Canada. Believe it or not, the USA is currently on top of the Group A standings, due to winning both of their games outright (the Olympic standings give 3 points for regulation wins and 2 for OT/SO wins). This game will be important to determine who may get a first-round bye for the quarterfinals.

Big Ultimate Mega Recap!

I'm really sorry for not posting this past week, but unfortunately this whole "college" thing isn't going away. A lot of stuff has happened, so I think it's time for a...

Big Ultimate Mega Recap!!!!

The Canes played 4 games over the past week, coming out with a 2-2 record, which isn't too shabby for this season.

They lost to the Oilers, which is pretty pathetic although it does help their quest for the lowest pick. (Which, by the way, the Canes are losing, allowing the Maple Leafs and Edmonton to slip between them and the bottom.)
They lost to the Flames.
They managed to win against Buffalo.
And they won against the Islanders - Justin Peters started his first game in that one - good for him to notch his first NHL win!

And through all this Erik Cole still hasn't managed to play a game! Are they keeping him in a storage shed a la Mike Leach?^†

Tim Gleason was named to Team USA (which should have happened in the first place, not as an injury replacement... but whatever). The Canes Twitter feed provided this photo, which is absolutely amazing. Now I have a favorite player to cheer for on the team!

The Canes also traded the Secret Weapon, shipping Niclas Wallin and a fifth round pick to San Jose for a second round pick. A shame, because Wallin was always an asset in the times it mattered most (check the nickname), but I'm not overly surprised because Wallin had been in trade rumors for the past bazillion years. Hope San Jose goes well for him.

Cam Ward is out with some kind of back injury. Which is, y'know, just what you want your franchise goaltender to have. We'll get to see more of Justin Peters, which is nice, and this is making the Legace signing look a bit better.

I think that's all the news that has gone on over the past week... This is the last week of games before the Winter Olympic break - and I cannot wait until that begins!

^†... too soon?