[discostu]

I always think in competitions structured this way it’s better to get the bronze than the silver. You win your last game to get the bronze. You lose to get the silver. Everybody would rather win the last game, even if it’s for a “lower” prize.

[Alberta's Child]

Interestingly, the U.S. has never won a bronze medal in hockey since they ditched the old round-robin format in favor of a bracketed medal round.

In international hockey circles, it’s pretty much understood that modern U.S. hockey players are sore losers on the international stage — so if they lose in the semifinals, they basically just go through the motions and mail it in for the bronze medal game.