CANADA 3 – 2 USA in Overtime
Photography content provided by Matt Curtis
On February 28 2010, when Sidney Crosby scored 7 minutes and 40 seconds into overtime in the gold medal game to win the men’s ice hockey gold medal, a nation erupted in celebration and that moment will go down in Canadian and Olympic history. That goal gave Canada a record 14 gold medals in the XXI Winter Olympics Games. The previous record for gold medals was 13 set by Norway in 2002 and the Soviet Union in 1976. It was an unbelievably tense game against the mighty sporting nation of the USA and it will always be remembered for Canadians, and anyone else who watched it in Vancouver Canada, as a “where were you when?” moment.
In the overtime period, the Canadians were cycling around the left boards when Crosby pushed the puck down to the low left boards for Jarome Iginla. Iginla fed the puck back to Crosby as he was being checked to the ice, Crosby went hard to the net and threw a quick shot on target that beat the tournament MVP Ryan Miller five hole for the 3-2 win.
"It doesn't even feel real; it feels like a dream." Crosby said afterwards before accepting his gold medal.
Jonathon Toews, named forward of the tournament, and Corey Perry scored a goal each in regulation for Canada, which took home its 8th gold medal in Olympic hockey and the first since the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. Roberto Luongo, who took over from Martin Brodeur after he was lit up by Americans the previous Sunday, stopped 34 shots for Canada. Zach Parise and Ryan Kesler each had a goal for the Americans and Ryan Miller stopped 36 shots for the USA in the loss, but was superb for the USA throughout the tournament.
The USA had a good forecheck going on early in the game but could not generate any decent opportunities as the Canadians blocked the majority of their shots. With 7:10 left in the first period Canada took the lead: a turnover deep in the American zone saw the puck come out to the right circle where Mike Richards threw a turnaround shot on net. Miller made the stop but the rebound kicked out straight to Toews who wristed it home. Scoring first was a huge boost to the team and they continued to generate chances, Luongo made 8 saves in the opening period to keep the Americans off the board and the Canadians went into the first intermission with the lead.
After each squad had a power play opportunity in the 2nd period, the Canadians took a 2-0 lead: Ryan Getzlaf skated down the left side and chucked a back hand pass to the slot where Patrick Marleau was charging hard to the net. The puck deflected off the stick of Ryan Whitney and landed on the stick of Corey Perry who shot the puck past Miller. Jonathon Toews was called for tripping shortly after the goal to give the USA its second power play of the game. The Canadians worked hard on the penalty kill and kept the chances away from Luongo. The Americans did beat Luongo with 7:15 left in the second period. Ryan Kesler charged into the Canadian end through the middle of the ice and sent the puck over to Patrick Kane who's shot was tipped by Kesler past Luongo.
With a one goal lead the Canadians put pressure on the Americans over the first few minutes of the 3rd period but they were unable to take the lead after unluckily hitting the post twice. Miller kept his team within one goal with a spectacular save on Danny Heatley from the left side with about 10:30 left to play in the game. American Brian Rafalski had a chance to tie it up when he wristed a loose puck from the right circle but Roberto Luongo was there to make the save with 5:05 to play. Sidney Crosby looked to have a great breakaway opportunity with about three and half minutes to play but Patrick Kane raced back down the ice to poke the puck away just in time to keep it a one goal game. That play by Kane would prove crucial as the Americans pulled Ryan Miller from his net with about 2 minutes remaining for the extra shooter.
After several shots on net, the Canadians were reeling when Kane threw a shot that deflected off the skate of Jamie Langenbrunner to Luongo. Bobby Lou stopped the deflection but the rebound came out to Zach Parise and he jammed home the puck with an agonizing 24.4 seconds to play in the game. The Americans showed great perseverance in not quitting and it must be said that the Canadians were on the back foot for the last half of the third period; rather than playing to win the game it seemed they were playing more not to lose. As an anxious nation watched it was only a matter of time before the Americans scored and what a deflating goal it was for the Canadians to give up when the big prize was so close.
As the overtime period started, a number of people nationwide must have been thinking that if it goes down to a shoot out it’s anyone’s game. Thankfully, for Canadians anyway, Crosby rose to the challenge and did not let the immense pressure that was on him or the team affect their play. The CTV and Rogers consortium that broadcast the game said that 91% of Canadians watched at least part of that gold medal game on Sunday afternoon. As the NHL contemplates letting it’s players participate in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi Russia they should take into account how huge the television audience for this tournament was, not only in Canada, but the USA as well. The players, the fans and Olympics want them to be there. There is no bigger stage for ice hockey between nations than the Olympics; let’s hope Canada will be permitted to defend its gold in 2014.
