TJ Oshie, USA Defeat Russia In Shootout
It wasn’t quite what Herb Brooks had drawn up 34 years ago, but strong penalty killing and the hands of TJ Oshie picked up the extra point to take control of the group as the United States defeated Russia 3-2 on Saturday morning.
Pavel Datsyuk scored the game’s first goal for Russia in the middle of the second period. Cam Fowler tied the game less than eight minutes later. In the middle of the third period, Patrick Kane put a filthy pass across the crease to Joe Pavelski that the Sharks’ forward finished to give the US a 2-1 lead. But Datsyuk scored again less than four minutes later to bring the score even, and regulation would end that way.
The Russians appeared to take a 3-2 lead, but the goal was disallowed because the US net had come off prior to the shot going in. Regulation would end with a tie score. And the overtime period wouldn’t change things, so the game went to a shootout.
The skills competition went eight innings, with Oshie scoring four times on six shots for the US. Ilya Kovalchuk shot four times and Datsyuk three for Russia. Jonathan Quick was able to make one save more than Sergei Bobrovski in the shootout to earn the victory.
Kane had two great scoring chances late in the game, but wasn’t able to beat Bobrovski. The Hawks forward was one of only three Americans to skate over 20 minutes in the game (20:09), with Ryan Suter (29:56) and Ryan McDonagh (23:39) leading the defensemen. Kane was credited with five shots on net with his assist on Pavelski’s goal, and started the third period in the penalty box.
The United States faces Slovenia on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, Slovenia defeated Slovakia 3-1. Marian Hossa skated 20:26 and was credited with four shots on goal, while Michal Handzus skated 20:54 with two shots on net in the loss.
What an awesome game. Really enjoyed watching the back and forth right down to the end. They showed Putin after one of Datsyuk’s goals celebrating. I kept waiting for them to put the camera on him after the USA scored, but they never did. Kovalchuk had a sick shootout goal. What a game. GO USA
Great breakfast hockey! With games like this, we are going to be in withdrawal come March when it’s back to regularly scheduled NHL! Big win for Team USA and way to come up huge by Oshie, calm, cool, a smile on his face the whole time, just having fun out there!
I thought Quick played well, especially later in the game. Datsyuk is a magician. A little surprised Kane didn’t get a single call in the shootout, but his two chances, one of which was A+, and nothing to show for it may have affected Bylsma’s thinking. Oshie was incredible. I kept waiting for him to be read by the BOB. On his two misses he was still pretty in control. Pretty Amazing.
Listen the rules are the rules, but the disallowed goal by the Russians in regulation was pretty clean. In the NHL that would have been good.
I looked at the replay of the Russian goal that was waved off and it didn’t look like it went in the net.
It definitely went in. That was a pretty poor clearing attempt by JVR that led to that non-goal.
Kane is really good at hockey. He has had so many chances but hasn’t buried them.
I take back what I said about Saad going to the Olympics over Oshie. He kind of won the game.
JS, good call on Oshie, but do you think the staff would take a Saad trade for Wheeler?.? Gets no action and then on his first shift (towards end of the first period) gets called for a penalty. I don’t think he played the rest of the game.
The USA staff made a mistake by picking players like Wheeler, Brown, etc. when there are better guys then that. Unless the Hanson Brothers are going to be in the gold metal game… If they don’t get gold its their fault. They need to have Palvalski/Kessel or somebody on Kaners line.
Its doesn’t matter if they say USA has 5 of top 11 nhl scorers on roster… its the guys playing with the benefish that complete the line.
Who was on Kaners line (even thought it was on a man advantage) when USA scored on PP. Parise & Palvalski.
Do all the teams play after the first 3 games. It might work well that our ‘older’ guys are not playing in all of the games & our younger guys play in all of them.
81, 26, 32
TT- 3 goals this week!
T.J. Oshie = T.J. “Sochi” !!!!!!