Written By: Alex Patt
This year, the competition was predicted to be fierce, with powerhouse teams such as Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden and Finland. Canada had the job of defending their gold title, while the USA wanted to avenge their gold metal loss in overtime in 2010 to Canada. Russia had the pressure of being the “host” team, wanting to win for Mother Russia.
While Canada accomplished their mission by winning the gold again, the United States and Russia fell into a pit of disappointment, not even meddling in a competition many expected them to.
Russia didn’t even make the semi-final, after being eliminated in the quarter final game at the hands of the Finnish, by a score of three to one. The country was in shock and dismay, as disappointed and sad fans filed out of the stadium after the loss, all capped by a slouching and sad President Vladimir Putin sitting in his box seats, looking as if he just got fired from his job. Russian head coach, Zinetula Bilyaledinov, was so upset he just said to the media, “Well then, eat me alive right now-eat me, and I won’t be here anymore.” Many people compare this heartbreaking loss to when the Soviets lost to the United States in the “Miracle” game back in 1980, and will certainly take time for die-hard Russian hockey patriots to overcome.
Meanwhile on the American side, the United States, in preliminary play, had three wins in three games with eight total points which included a historic game in which they defeated the Russians in a three to two shootout victory, led by USA’s T.J. Oshie’s repetitive shootout goals. America was riding high and clinched the bye for qualification round, with a win against Slovenia, and things looked bright for the United States. The quarterfinal game was a nice five to two win over the Czech Republic, and needed one more win to reach the gold medal game. Standing in their way, their rivals to the north, Canada. The United States faithful felt there was a good chance they could win, seeing as Canada barely defeated Lativa two to one in the quarterfinal game. The Canadians frustrated the United States with a one to nothing shutout victory as Canadian goaltender Carey Price stopped 31 shots, while USA goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 36 of 37 shots.
The United States could not win the gold, but could win the bronze medal with a victory over Finland. However, no such luck as the United States got hammered five to nothing by the Finnish ending an Olympic run in heartbreak fashion.
Meanwhile the Canadians defeated Sweden three to nothing to clinch the gold once again in Men’s Olympic Hockey. Sweden would go home with the Silver medal and Finland would win the bronze. Though disappointment rains down for American and Russian fans for the time being, the sting will hopefully go away now that the NHL season is back, and the focus goes back to the players’ teams and the Stanley Cup in the minds of many.
