Canada vs USA
February 28, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles
Kan-Am Musings and In-Game Scribbles
My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).
Canada versus USA (Gold Medal Final)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Missed the game? Musings and In-Game Scribbles are typed during the game then edited and posted. Usually the RDS telecast of the game. Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, less waiting than for a looping highlight and good with morning coffee.
Olympic Dawg (watching)
Nothing so pretty as a Canadian game face on a self-ordained mission. Keep your missile(s) to yourself.
Everything we hate about the USA, everything that is resented (and secretly admired) in living rooms across the nation is what we have become. It’s nothing new. Little brother gets his Lego invaded again. So he, and she, are loudest when the car drives away farthest (but you can still hear the shrill voice within).
Jacques, Joel and Alain have a young francophone guest on their panel and the love-in is apparent there as well. Au moins que c’est en Francais. But leave off, it’s another dark day for elite hockey as both teams are grunge and crunch, long shots and tip-ins. Crash and bang hockey burns yet another day.
To me the Olympics should be a measure of craft, of skill. And moreso for the amateur players. Yet in gold medal hockey, the sole measure is victory. And in North America this is accomplished by dint of intimidation, force of will and good ole fashioned “guttin’ it out”. All tromboned by the fetid sonics of fervent nationalism gone wrong.
The cigars smell bad.
Both teams are structured along the lines of three yards and a cloud of dust. The Ditkas trudge on ice.
In hockey the forward pass was first legalized in the early thirties. In Canadian football, the forward pass was legalized in 1929. Both sports were modeled to some degrees after rugby, a game of laterals. Even when the forward pass was instituted, it took decades in both sports for the tactic to be used regularly. And it was forever criticized by those who refused to change. It was sissified.
Imagine watching a game of laterals only. Not for me, anyway.
Chantale suggests that this is the best possible final and Alain Crete, following his usual sound journalistic instincts, says that a better final would have been Canada and Russia. He’s right but the Russians turn-it-on, turn-it-off approach to the tournament led to a 7-3 mauling by an overmatched but spirited Canadian team. Crete adds that you can’t go wrong with a USA-Canada final, however. The two hatreds; commies and the yanks.
Oh there are others, I know.
The rink is a giant frat house and it’s ugly. I can’t help but think of the Japanese internment of World War II. They’re good neighbours as long as they don’t date our children, challenge our views or ask for the same size piece of pie.
First commercial.
Roberto Luongo will start again for Canada and the cheery, beery good feeling for Martin Brodeur is gone. He was a seven, anyway. Luongo has had some good moments since his installment as the number one but has had some ugly moments as well. He is still realizing his potential and I wonder if he will ever reach it.
Ryan Miller is the opposition goaltender. The USA blue is the blue I’d like to see on the Montreal uniforms.
First Period
Bill McCreary is the best-known referee tonight. There are some internationalists in his crew, too.
Canada’s Jonathan Toews and Paul Stastny face off.
Canada wins the faceoff. Shea Weber has it outside the blue and drops it for Neidermayer.
USA repels and gains control.
Jamie Langenbrunner is on for USA.
Play stops and lines change.
Ryan Kesler wins the faceoff against Sidney Crosby.
First incursion is by Crosby but a down-the-middle attempt is stopped. About a three-on-three.
We are shown some keys to the game. Three boring, general points.
Faceoff is to Miller’s left.
USA wins it.
They exit. Right side. Dump-in.
Luongo plays it with one hand behind his net.
Cross-check is ignored. Getzlaf. A light one.
Puck is sent to the slot. No American sticks are there.
Canadians are down now. In the corner. Bad angle shot.
Canadians retain for eight seconds. Then they dump it back in. No forecheckers are there.
USA gets a small presence and control under the end-line.
Heatley line is on.
Houde says that the checking is increasing in frequency and power.
Crowd is in waiting mode. They begin a chant
Zach Parise enters for USA. Fires inside the blue. It goes wide and Luongo traps it off the bounce-back from the end-boards.
Toews versus Stastny to Luongo’s left. Toews wins it but it’s held along the boards.
Canada breaks out. A three-on-two becomes a four-on-two. This is the kind of situation that Canada has become very dangerous. The transition break-out. Excellent spacing but Neidermayer’s shot is wide. Off a drop pass.
America responds. Wide shot.
Canada drives.
Drew Doughty is in nearly alone. Can’t get enough on the puck and the backhander is stopped by Miller.
To the other end. Luongo makes a slot-save. Both goalies are playing well early.
Getzlaf. Long shot. Deflects. Goes high over the net. Dangerous.
Neutral zone exchanges. Luongo sweeps it again from behind his door. Dustbin puck.
The action is just at the level where teams begin to get sloppy and turn it over. It’s first period near-desperation from both countries. They are playing, both, with a mind to creating but with defensive awareness. Turnovers are low yet spaces are tight. It’s good hockey.
Button break.
USA head coach Ron Wilson is smiling a tight nervous smile. Mike Babcock is issuing smart-looking directives.
USA has it. They are able to get a pass to the point. Long shot. Goes out of play. It’s the first point pass of the game.
Rafalski stays on the ice with his linemates Langenbrunner and the other dude.
Toews is asked to leave the circle. Getzlaf wins the faceoff in his stead. Canadians exit but are stripped of the puck as they enter the US zone.
USA has some trouble with the Canadian forecheck but despite some falling and near interceptions slops it out.
Cans are back in. And out.
Thornton line is on. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau with Dany Heatley.
They get good control. Shot attempt by Thornton is followed by two shots by Nash. Second one is from the off-slot and is middled by Miller. I dunno. Went to his knees and caught in his middle. Faceoff follows.
Eleven minutes in the first period.
Gleason lobs it high off the glass and it goes to the neutral zone.
Shea Weber handles it for Canada in the defensive zone.
Moments later Miller handles a harmless puck and holds it for a faceoff.
The USA hits aren’t resulting in possessions.
Chance in front of Luongo. He is spread coin on the ice. Splayed. Jam and another. Another jam after the whistle. Refs cool it off. Luongo is tall.
We resume. Patrick Kane has it. He remains an x-factor; a player who could break out at any moment. He is still finding his identity in this international situation.
Canadians move it out with short passes. Heatley line is back on.
Kessell moves it up the right side. Sends it down. And it’s out again. America retrieves it and another puck leaves the ice surface for a faceoff.
Canada’s captain-in-spirit Jarome Iginla gets a chance in front. Houde’s voice rises quickly. Nope. Neidermayer is the official team captain.
Heatley is relieved of the puck as he moves along the left side.
America nearly gets an opportunistic break from the neutral zone but is tied up. A small rush occurs. But not much else. Faceoff to Miller’s right.
Canada wins it. America bungles with the exit. Puck is taken. Shot. Rebound. In. From Miller’s left. Sharp angle. Jonathan Toews. Initial shot by Mike Richards.
Canada 1, USA 0
Crowd starts a go-something-go chant.
America responds with a possession. Goes about eight seconds with two wide shots and a stoppage in play.
Faceoff is to the left of Luongo. Canada wins. Crosby is taken down in the neutral zone.
Whistle. Tripping. Bobby Ryan of the USA is called. He tripped Heatley. Brunet calls it a dangerous takedown. And it is. Ryan’s continued shoddy play in this tournament puts Canada in a man-advantage situation with about five and a half minutes left in the first period.
Getzlaf is briefly at the left point as Canada produces one shot on the first sequence. Neidermayer had moved in deep. Puck is moved out and then a whistle occurs as the puck goes out of play.
Second wave. Crosby line is on.
Staal is sent in on a sharp angle on the right side by Crosby. Some good stick work and a backhand shot. Stopped. Staal’s stickhandling has improved.
USA gets the puck out. They halt Canada twice on the exit attempt and three blue jerseys are in at one point. Penalty ends.
Neidermayer gets the puck behind his net. Nash now has it. Shoots from the circle after a bend and look move to the outside. Shot is from the inside. Very skilled big man. Shot is stopped.
Gleason starts America. To Ryan Whitney. USA is repelled at the blue line.
Kane is on now.
Down the right side. Does some fancy work and has the puck go off his stick. Too much Hollywood.
USA is late on a line change and a long cross-ice pass finds Staal going down the left side. High shot by Staal is mittened by Miller.
Stastny beats Crosby on a faceoff to Miller’s right. On the other end, Luongo makes a save on a mild but tricky shot.
Faceoff is to his right.
Patrice Bergeron loses it to Stastny.
Over a minute left. Weber muscles his way to the puck and sends it along the left side.
Both teams’ desperation levels have reduced.
Another faceoff.
Nash gets a rush off it. Ends quickly.
Puck is in the Canadian corner. Luongo’s left.
That lasts about six seconds.
Neidermayer has it behind our net. Moves it to the right. And another stoppage in play. Players are emotionally gassed, both, it seems. Second wind is next.
Each goal is an emotional inferno. How much fuel is on each woodpile, I wonder.
America creates a decent chance for itself. But they can’t get sticks on it and the period ends. Callahan was involved for America.
Now a little melee. Jack Johnson is involved for the USA. Yeah, that’s his name. He is smiling as he is led away from the group. Houde says we will sort out the penalties, if any, after the pause.
Shots are 10-8 in favour of Uncle Sam.
First Intermission
Canada 1, USA 0
Chantale says the game has been tight but intense as she sends us to the big desk with Jacques, Alain and Joel.
Bouchard comments on the good work of the younger Canadian players in the first period.
We see Staal’s nice short pass that set up the good backhand chance.
Joel’s red tie is a bit thick.
RDS guys are wearing ordinary suits. Are they wearing wild outfits elsewhere? Candycane Canada. Touch o green on yer flag?
Both teams are playing a clean, intense game. Not the greatest skill level but that’s what happens in championship games. It’s hard to relax and play pretty. The NBA Finals are an exception and I pause to consider why basketball can retain that element better than the other sports. The only thought that comes to mind is that, as shooters they are trained to stay relaxed and they transition from defence to offence frequently enough over such a long season that they have more deeply developed skills at creating in pressure situations. Just a guess. Free throws come to mind as well. The same relaxation is required to hit them.
Reggie Miller said once that the key to hitting the big shot is not putting pressure on himself. He hit 45 of 46 free throws in his only appearance in the NBA Finals (1999-00 versus LA Lakers).
RDS interviews Jarome Iginla. Nothing interesting.
Second Period
Canada 1, USA 0
Toews and Stastny. Stastny wins it.
Long pass from Ryan Suter goes off a stick and into the stands.
Steve Yzerman is so coddled. How did he get that job? What a joke. No experience. Just good feelings. Maybe I should work on being loveable instead.
Canadians are not working as hard on the forecheck. Americans are playing carelessly.
Unimpressive.
Puck is stopped by Luongo. Mild save. Whistle. Neutral zone faceoff follows.
USA keeper Ryan Miller has an intensity that reminds me of someone.
Morrow shows some good speed as he goes around Gleason. Or is Gleason just slow?
Long shot from Erik Johnson is stopped.
Delayed call. America is going to the box. Malone. What a stupid penalty. I have no sympathy.
Deserved call. Shot to the face. Malone was standing still and hit his target high.
Thornton line is the first wave.
From the hash from Thornton to Shea Weber.
US coverage is not good. An advancing Weber is ignored as the puck is in the corner. USA is lucky the puck didn’t get to the slot.
Puck goes out of play.
Kesler wins a faceoff. Brief American exit. They are snowed down.
Canada resumes the power-play. They have a nine-second control. Out and back in. Staal line is on. Doughty and Boyle are on the blue line. Crosby has it. In the corner. It goes to the point. Shot. Miller is way out. I’m impressed. Sign of high confidence.
Penalty is killed. Team USA owes a lot to Ryan Miller. Like him or not, he is the best.
Yeah. In the world.
Staal takes an unexpected penalty. Disappointment is on his face as he sits in the box.
First wave features Dustin Brown for America. What an offensively depleted roster. But hey, they’re in the final. Does that justify it all? Is Trent Dilfer one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time? Is Brad Johnson? Is Sean Salisbury?
Canadians keep neutralizing the US attack. Some poor puck handling by America adds to the situation. Two clears. Two cheers.
Penalty is killed.
Nicely done.
Perry is in. Three-on-two with a third American close behind. Pass and pass. Shot. Just high. Miller looked beaten. USA clears it out.
And now Miller is beaten for real.
Canada 2, USA 0
Let the avalanche begin.
Corey Perry. Plugger goal high to Miller’s glove side. Perry was alone in the slot.
Which teams can best withstand a two-goal deficit in this situation? My three picks; Slovakia, Norway and USA.
Two-on-one. Should be a goal. Miller. Left pad. Quiets the crowd. But they are not going to sit on their hands like they do at Saddledome. This crowd is off it.
Faceoff.
And a whistle soon after. Toews for tripping. Ouch. Hard two-hander across the ankles. Legit call.
First segment ends quickly.
America’s lack of a playmaking centre is killing them.
Gomez could have done. Should have done. But. So what if a guy’s having a bad season? Contexts change behaviour.
Canada is defending well. Two push-outs.
Now a chance in the slot. Crowd. Reds, blues and mob.
Refs settle it down. Two jams. Parise and Langenbrunner got the wood.
Faceoff to Luongo’s right.
Stastny wins yet another faceoff.
Along the boards. Weber is not afraid to get right in there. America’s lack of speed and puck control allows that kind of aggression. America is pressing hard. Canada finally gets the puck out and the penalty is killed.
America is turning it on. Luongo makes a good save on his side, stacked pads.
Crosby on the other end. Wide.
The hitting resumes. It feels like early first period again.
Crowd. Iginla. Miller. Reaching. The puck is free. He gets it. Other Americans push the net off. It’s close but not call-able. Yeah, it’s not a word. But hyphens forgive much.
Ad.
Miller takes a brief skate-around before the faceoff.
America is one of the worst teams in the tournament at protecting the puck.
Hockey … hockey … uh …. Hockey. And on it goes.
I’m glad I’m not watching this in a bar. Or worse, at the arena. It’s hard to analyse in those situations.
Kane shoots from the right side. How did Luongo drop it? He let it get past him. Kane shot it from his off-wing. Kesler deflected it. Brunet is quick to talk about the deflection. Fact is, Luongo, from Montreal, should have had it.
Canada 2, Amerika 1
I don’t like any of the three Canadian goaltender choices but there were none better. Each has weaknesses that aren’t flattering in a tournament of this scale. The ideal Canadian goalie? All time? Probably, like him or not, Patrick Roy. There’s Dryden, too. Tony Esposito, sure. I don’t think we’ve had a nine goalie. Some eights. But no nines. Tretiak and Hasek are nines.
Fleury is too young. Brodeur is not as good as everyone thinks he is. Luongo is just not at the peak of his powers. He never has been. I wonder if, he too, is overrated. Great physical specimen, no doubt. He’s a bit like the Eric Lindros of goaltending. Strictly on abilities, I mean. Very different personalities.
Just under five minutes.
Again, the action has frayed. Here’s where the pluggers make a difference.
Canada gets a good muck-em Adams type of possession. Adams Division. Point pass. Weber. Through gloves, hats and a crowd of sticks.
Miller extends. Full stretch left glove. Beauty.
Save. Whistle.
Faceoff to Miller’s left.
Kesler. Buddy is asked to leave the circle. Canadian. Getzlaf wins it, I think.
Canada controls along the boards. One thing about all the pluggers; you don’t have to trick them into working in the corners or along the boards. As you might have to with Christopher Higgins. Or Matt D’Agostini.
Puck goes high. Millering about. One white jersey. A shot. Two jerseys. Three. Shots in the slot. Sprays of steaming snow. Rings and things cross the replay redactor. Miller did hold strong.
Faceoff.
Canada controls again.
America does not have the puck controllers.
Slot pass. Shot. How did that not go in? Did Miller stop it?
USA briefly sends it out. They seem doomed.
Marleau and Thornton appear highly skilled playing against this American shift. They’re not.
Replay shows that Miller was beaten and that Richards fanned on a sure goal. That goal would have pushed the abominable snowball back up the Vancouver mountain. Instead we watch more Adams division grinding. Controlled on the boards by Canada.
USA clear-out is waved off.
Now Staal is in. Alone. He missed the net. Havlat wouldn’t have.
The play is getting stick and wood bound. Refs close their eyes to a few slashes. American slashes.
I like the red shoulders on the Canadian uniforms and Luongo’s lower mask goes well with it. The full Leaf looks too Bazooka Joe boring. Get us into this century.
Second Intermission
Canada 2, USA 1
Patrick Kane says that the team is giving up too many odd-man rushes and that they’re not satisfied with what’s happening. Kane is outspoken. And unapologetic. I like it. Natch.
Luc is out of his element perhaps, eh? Forced to do two English interviews in a row. Now there’s one advantage to not having any Quebec players around today. Just one.
We’ll be back to seven Pouliot interviews to one Gionta interview in short order.
Canadiens resume play on Tuesday. And I can feel normal again.
And hopefully never have to cover NHL embossed international pro hockey again. At least in this format.
I find myself wondering if Sundin really is done deal. How can you go from something to nothing so quickly? You can’t. His last season in the pros, with Vancouver, was decent. He can still play. But Sweden didn’t name him and he is out of the headlines. Probably for good.
Third Period
Canada 2, USA 1
Kane line is on. Staal opposite. Crosby easily beats Kesler on the faceoff. What a useless effort from Kesler.
USA enters. High shot from Kesler. Goes out of play.
What is Luongo wearing under his jersey? Looks like another country’s flag? Reminds me of Germany or something.
MJ and his shorts.
Nash line hops on. Pass from behind the net. Shot by Canada. Off the post. Hard shot.
America exits. Langenbrunner works against Getzlaf to Luongo’s right in the corner. Canada emerges.
Teams can’t control for long periods. Puck goes out of play.
Replay shows that Miler was beaten.
Pronger hits a post now. About a thirty-five foot shot.
Canadians retain. Work the boards. Getzlaf. Perry supports. Finally the US exits. Kesler. Long shot. Wide. Canadians regroup. Pronger starts the team from behind the net.
Camera angle decision is bad. They fix it.
Americans are chasing. Ryan makes another mistake. Turnover. Canadians exit. Heatley is on the off-wing. Fires. Misses the net. How.
We continue. It’s sloppy. Long passes missed. Mucking on the boards. Ugly dump-ins. Canada’s kind of game and they are superior to the USA along the boards. How did the USA make it to the final. I mean, really.
Well, the same could be said about the Red Leaf guys.
Morrow to the slot. Perry. Bang. Boof. Miller stopped it. Miller’s how.
In Canada’s case, a post saved them. Slovak ting.
Fifteen minutes in the third.
Nash exits.
Lob-down. Miller stops it behind his net. USA sends it down. Maybe they should illegalize the forward pass, after all. All these dump-ins are graceless. And the USA is unable to capture on them, either.
Canada’s breakout is short passing and skating. Significantly better than the US. How much of it is Babcock’s work? Lemaire’s?
Canada’s game is much improved over the course of this tourney.
Can you imagine a team coached by Babcock and Lemaire for 82 games? You can wipe the 77 season off the books. Seventy wins? Well, I’m assuming they’d be allowed to build.
Play resumes and stops again quickly. Inconsequential whistle. Crosby line is on.
Canadians are in control again. Not necessarily of the puck but of the mood. Suter enters nonetheless and shoots down the middle. Blocker stop by Luongo.
Crosby is on the other end. Works it. Miller has the angles.
On the other end Luongo gloves a puck.
One incursion, one shot and c’est tout. Canada’s coverage is excellent. Bergeron is on now. Oh, ok. One French dude. And Luongo. Good for RDS in choosing to interview Kane.
The flow is becoming a bit bituminous.
Perry line leaves. Langenbrunner line hops on for USA. Action quality should improve.
It stays on the boards. Nash along the left. High shot. Miller stops it. Rebound. Nothing else.
Duncan Keith commits a rare third-period Canadian turnover.
Suter is face-punched as he comes in on the left side. Not called.
Play is stopped.
Miller takes some water.
Faceoff to Luongo’s right.
I’d rather have seen a Russia-Slovakia final. Way more entertaining. Fluid offence versus flex defence. Halak does Dallas. Uh. Or something like that.
Centre ice faceoff.
We see a shot of Crosby. Brunet says it hasn’t been a big game for Crosby. True but he has nobody on his line at his level.
Crowd starts cheering harder. We’re at the halfway point. Canada responds. They nearly score. Hockey is such a mercurial game. Emotional imprints are dropped furniture in pools of silver liquid. A forever temporal splash.
USA matches.
Crowd eases off. Play subsides.
America is getting dressy. Torn threading and shorn pucks. Their denim game is what got them here. It’s what will save them. And Miller’s the back patch embroidered black-jack secret.
Whistle. Luongo traps the puck.
Miller’s mask is new. His pads are Sabrous.
USA wins the faceoff. Langenbrunner at the end line. Passed to Parise. In the slot. Nope.
Canada creates some frighteningly awkward space to Miller’s right. But a US stick prevents danger.
Just over eight minutes left in the game.
Expect Kane’s line to double shift or split shift. Same with Langenbrunner’s line.
US controls.
They exit. Jack Johnson exits and moves the puck like Bourque for a few odd moments. Didn’t know he could skate and stickhandle like that. US enters offside on the incursion.
Just over seven minutes left. US wins another faceoff.
Kessel enters high on the left and stops for a controlled wrister. Puck goes out of play again.
Babcock maintains his even keel throughout. Thoughtful concern.
US controls another faceoff.
Kessel is on the right. Shoots wide.
Doughty beats Kessel underneath. Takes it out. US stops the rush and return with a chance.
Six minutes.
Devil line is on for the US (Langenbrunner, Parise). I haven’t seen or heard of Drury so far. I assume he’s out and that’s a big hole in the American lineup.
Kesler is down the right side. Pronger gets a sneaky stick in and out. Enough and under the radar. US still gets a puck jam and a circle shot. Luongo is on it.
A win today will be good for his NHL confidence.
Just under five minutes.
Canada comes in offside. Thornton line. Natch.
Ad.
Faceoff. Thornton against Langenbrunner. Langenbrunner wins it. Sends it to the defensive. US struggles to exit. Finally they manage a dump-in and are unable to hold it at the end boards. But they stop it at the blue line. Shot. Weak. Gloved. Faceoff.
To Luongo’s left.
Toews wins this one.
America chases an iced puck.
This one is to Luongo’s right.
Paul Stastny loses it to Toews. Impressive.
US chases it. Just over four minutes.
Canada is happy to run-run-punt for the rest. Three-deep zone. But it’s hockey.
It’s the final.
Crosby gets free on a breakaway. American about three feet behind. Kane catches up and gets a stick on it. Brunet expresses admiration.
Houde compliments the Americans’ resilience in not giving up despite an early 2-0 deficit. Houde’s voice and choice indicate that he needs to get a few positives in before the arena pours into the rink.
America has nobody to save their offensive eggs. No Superman. And only one or two Batmans. The one guy, the X-factor is your buddy Kane.
He’s on the bench for now. Langenbrunner line is on. Just under two minutes. Mucking along the Canadian boards.
Puck is flooped out. US regroups.
Ryan Kesler. Moves it in.
Net is empty.
Puck is in the slot.
Pause and control. And a shot. Too crowded.
Play is stopped. Timeout is called. Yzerman takes a sip of water and says “come on”. He can’t wait for the laurels. A win legitimizes everything.
Lindy Ruff talks with Team Canada. He is also an assistant.
Wilson makes his comments known to Team USA.
We resume to Luongo’s right.
Getzlaf versus Kesler. Getzlaf wins it.
Puck is sent down. Everyone is standing says Houde.
Another stoppage.
Getzlaf. Against Langenbrunner. Timeout. This one called by Canada.
Tortorella looks on as Wilson discusses things with his notepad out.
Outdoor shot. Crowd from a blimp. Or something.
Gretzky’s helicopter.
America gets a brief control off the faceoff. But they are chased out.
Kane has it up top. He is ridiculously calm. He has it again from the side slot. Shot. Rebound. Shot in. Parise.
Blue celebration. Parise is overjoyed.
USA 2, Canada 2
Get ready for elephants against Sasquatch.
Kesler beats Crosby on the subsequent faceoff.
America is awake. Canada will match the intensity. Two big hits. One by either team.
Period ends. We go to overtime. Brunet and Houde both compliment the American team. They are somewhat subdued about it but a fair tone.
In the final, the ice is cleaned for a full twenty-minute OT period.
Third Intermission
Canada 2, USA 2
Crete names the passengers; Staal, Thornton, Marleau and Heatley.
Overtime
USA 2, Canada 2
It’s four-on-four for twenty minutes. Rare.
America gets the early control. Canada interrupts and gets a brief possession. One goal wins it.
Crosby is in. Puck is taken from him.
Langenbrunner leads a rush. Nearly creates a chance.
Faceoff after a Canada entry to Miller’s right.
Parise is on. Next out is Brown.
Takes it down the right side. Brakes. Up along the boards. Turns. Finally they lose the puck.
Canada drives it in. Orpik gets it in the corner.
US moves down the right side. Shot. Luongo stops it and holds it.
Toews wins the faceoff.
Canada controls. Nash. Uses his size and moves. Shot wide from the off-slot.
Out and back in and then a shot from Toews goes off a stick and up into the crowd.
Babcock checks his notes.
America wins the faceoff.
Drury is on the ice. So he’s around. Another passenger?
Drury loses the puck on a deep possession.
Nobody can use the extra space. It still looks like five-on-five.
Miller plays it behind his net.
Pass to the slot suddenly. Miller stops Iginla.
Another Canadian rush. Marleau. Keeps it. Shot is stopped by Miller.
Langenbrunner shoots from the right side on the return rush.
It’s sloppy and tight. Yup.
In the corner. Stastny gets it up for Suter. Rebound is controlled by Canada.
Getzlaf tries to create down the middle. Puck is taken away.
Miller plays it behind his net.
Nash gets it now. Shot. Miller saves it but looks behind him.
American backcheck is better now.
Dan Boyle has it for Canada behind Luongo.
Staal gets it. Big circular. Drops it for Pronger. They exit. Now Staal has it down the right side. To Richards on the boards. To the point for a long shot that goes wide.
American response is neutralized by Neidermayer. He gives it away. High awkward shot. Luongo stops it.
On the other end. Iginla. To Crosby. Shoots. Scores.
Canada wins gold.
Canada 3
USA 2 (OT)
HDS Stars: Ryan Miller, Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby
RDS Stars: None named
Good, clean, rugged win by Canada. Adams Division style. Tuesday Montreal plays Boston.
Five hole goal from the side. They shake hands. Kane is sullen. Miller is saddened. And Luongo looks relieved. Where’s Ovie? Let the jingo jig begin.
Lemaire is as happy as I’ve ever seen him. Good to see.
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