LIVE BLOGGING: USA VS. RUSSIA
Ryan Callahan gets involved.
1st Period: What a period! As expected the Russians came out flying (especially with those cute little wings on their shoulders). The U.S. went toe to toe but momentum shifted after Blake Wheeler was called for tripping at 10:28. The U.S. killed it off but the Russians were now in control.
Ryan McDonagh has been given the assignment of shutting down the high powered duo of Ovechkin and Malkin with partner Ryan Suter. Thus far those two have 4 shots and no goals. Earlier in the game, Ryan Callahan got involved in a scrum in front, rekindling the old rivalry. Zach Parise centering David Backes and Ryan Callahan was the best line for the Americans. All three players are Captains for their NHL teams so I’ve dubbed them THE LEADERSHIP LINE!
The second period will start with Team USA on a PP!
2nd Period: The “Magic Man”, Pavel Datsyuk split the U.S. defense to give the Russians a 1-0 lead. That goal was a result of skill and beauty but also domination by Russia. American pride however, would show itself as McDonagh, Kesler and Callhan dove in front of Russian shots. Ryan Kesler had to leave the bench for medical attention when he blocked an Ilya Kovalchuk PP blast off his left hand. He would return.
Alex Rudalov would take a selfish and silly penalty with under 5 minutes in the second period. Cam Folwer would tie the game on the PP as he drove to the net to slam home a James van Riemsdyk feed. The puck went off his skate but video review showed no kicking motion, tie game!
The third period will start with Russia on the PP as Patrick Kane took a penalty late at 19:59.
3rd Period: The US would answer another Alex Radulov penalty, as Joe Pavelski would give the US a 2-1 lead midway through the third period. But for those who thought the game was over, was kidding themselves. A bad, bone headed Dustin Brown knee on knee hit, gave the Russian’s a PP chance, and the “magician” answer to the call yet again for Russia knotting it at two.
Russia would get a Fedor Tyutin shot that beat Jonathan Quick high and went off the crossbar and in, but after great investigating, the goal was called off. A close look at it, showed the net was off, and in international competition, if that happens the goal is called off.
The US enters the OT period with 29 seconds of PP time.
Overtime: The overtime period saw Russia kill off the rest of the US powerplay, and as it ended a Datsyuk breakaway was answered by Quick. Patrick Kane had two chances to end the game in overtime for the US, but a big stop by Bobrovsky on a breakaway preserved the tie and allowed this game to head to a shootout.
Shootout: It was the TJ Oshie show, as he went 4 for 6 on his shootout attempts. He scored the big goals wen it counted. It went back and forth for a time between Oshie and a combination of Datsyuk and Kovalchuk. But, after a big stop in the 8th round on Kovalchuk by Quick, Oshie went out and beat Bobrovsky.
The US plays their final round robin game tomorrow at 7:30AM against Slovenia.
Here’s the Round by Round breakdown…
|
ROUND |
SHOOTER |
COUNTRY |
OUTCOME |
|
1 |
Oshie |
USA |
GOAL |
|
1 |
Malkin |
RUS |
WIDE |
|
2 |
Van Riemsdyke |
USA |
SAVED |
|
2 |
Datsyuk |
RUS |
SAVED |
|
3 |
Pavelski |
USA |
SAVED |
|
3 |
Kovalchuk |
RUS |
GOAL |
|
4 |
Kovalchuk |
RUS |
SAVED |
|
4 |
Oshie |
USA |
WIDE |
|
5 |
Datsyuk |
USA |
GOAL |
|
5 |
Oshie |
USA |
GOAL |
|
6 |
Kovalchuk |
RUS |
GOAL |
|
6 |
Oshie |
USA |
GOAL |
|
7 |
Datsyuk |
RUS |
SAVED |
|
7 |
Oshie |
USA |
WIDE |
|
8 |
Kovalchuk |
RUS |
SAVED |
|
8 |
Oshie |
USA |
GOAL |
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