Posted on 02/22/2010 8:15:37 AM PST by outpostinmass2
VANCOUVER - The Americans didn’t believe in miracles. They just believed.
And they pulled off the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the Miracle on Ice, stunning Canada 5-3 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals of an already mixed-up tournament.
Brian Rafalski scored two goals, Ryan Miller held off a flurry of shots and the Americans quieted a raucous, pro-Canada crowd that came to cheer its dream team, only to see it upstaged by a bunch of unproven kids.
One day short of the 30th anniversary of the country’s greatest hockey victory — the unfathomable win over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid — these underrated Americans were faster, more disciplined and more determined than Canada’s collection of all-stars.
Better, too.
"We know we can beat anybody now," Rafalski said.
Canada outshot the United States 45-23 yet couldn’t badly dent Miller, the goalie the Americans felt could best stand up to all of Canada’s might. He did just that, making 42 saves in the victory of a lifetime.
"It’s probably one of the biggest games I’ve ever played," Miller said. "When things happened we responded. We didn’t get nervous or anxious. We kept playing."
When Ryan Kesler scored in the final minute, the few U.S. fans who managed to get seats proudly waved their American flags, all their red, white and blue suddenly visible.
"You look up and everything’s red and white — so few American flags" at the start, said U.S. coach Ron Wilson, who also led the 1996 team that upset Canada in the World Cup. "We expected a hostile environment. The intensity of the game helped, too."
When 2006 gold medalist Sweden beat Finland 3-0, the United States was assured of being top-seeded in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, something almost no one predicted when the tournament began.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
Canada will always be Ole Miss to America’s Mississippi State.
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I looked for the game on TV but didn’t see any team wearing American uniforms.
The put it on MSNBC. Figures
“And they pulled off the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the Miracle on Ice..”
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Oh come now.
A bunch of college kids against the seasoned pros of the Russian Red Army team, versus the current system?
There are talented NHL professionals on both sides, and the Canadians have not exactly rolled through the tournament thus far.
The Russians, Czechs, Swedes and Finns along with the US and Canada all have a shot.
They said “since”. And you are correct but the current U.S. team on paper does not come close to matching Russia and Canada on paper. This was huge especially since all of Canada was watching the game.
I can’t even read about it without my heart rate rising..What a game...what heart!
MSNBC never gets turned on in my house. I sometimes forget it’s even a real news channel. Only thing that makes me remember they exist is Free Republic. lol
I unfortunately gave them some ratings last night though so I could watch that AWESOME display of hockey.
USA! USA!
But NBC did interrupt their regular broadcast with the last few minutes of the game. Quite exciting! But no where near the 1980 miracle. After all, it’s NHL allstar team vs. NHL allstar team.
I had to search around and find MSNBC. I don’t think I have ever turned on that station.
Pretty incredible. USA has won a lot more medals than anyone expected? Who is the powerhouse in hockey left in it? Sweden, Finland or Russia?
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Yes, I noted there was agame on MSNBC but did not see any team with American uniforms.
Russia is scary good. They dominate all facets of the game.
“I’M MIKE ERUZIONI,AND I PLAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!” See you at Santarpio’s!
Oh were then NHL stars? Not the same as 1980. I hate all that NBA Dream Team crap in the Olympics. A bunch of NBA pros playing Europeans or Russian teams. The whole thing was a joke.
The Olympics this time around have been dirtied by the presences of Maddow, Mathews et. al. I keep the remote handy so I can mute them. Just need to ignore the fecal matter while we enjoy the efforts of our favorite athletes.
I had to dig up MSNBC for one night and added it to my favorites. Once the game and some of the post-game commentary was over I deleted it.
I believe Canada is in the final 12 also, they simply will not have a bye.
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