United States Hockey Team Beats Russia 3-2 In Dramatic Overtime Shootout
The United States has defeated Russia 3-2 in a hockey game reminiscent of the historic 1980s Miracle on Ice at the Sochi Olympics.
It took Team USA 65 minutes to take the game in a dramatic eight inning shootout, with T.J. Oshie for the United States and Pavel Datsyuk for the Russians facing off.
One of the most highly anticipated hockey games at the Sochi Olympics, and frankly any time these two teams meat, it’s inevitable not to look back at the Miracle on Ice of 1980 even if the situation is completely different.
But the United States re-wrote history on Saturday and beat a very strong Russian team on their own turf on the shoulders of Oshie, who carried not only the hopes of his teammates, but those of the whole nation.
Congrats to Team USA on a great shotout victory over Russia. Our hometown favorite @OSH74 put the team on his back!! pic.twitter.com/M7iQpsoDhP
— Rawlings Sports (@RawlingsSports) February 15, 2014
Team USA wins in a shootout against Russia. #TeamUSA Final Score: USA 3, Russia 2 pic.twitter.com/HeCrxZ0JA2
— Naples Daily News (@ndn) February 15, 2014
The United States victory renews the fierce rivalry with Russia and even though there was no medal in contention this time the win gives the US a lead in their Group A and taps into that national pride that always rises whenever the two countries meet.
The presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the game was a sign of just how much the result of the game really mattered.
United States player T.J. Oshie — from the St. Louis Blues — was chosen to be the man who would define the game and he came through with four out of six attempts in the critical final shootout.
Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks) and Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) each scored for the Unites States during regular play and goalie Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings) made an incredible 29 saves during regulations, plus five more during the shootout.
On the Russian side Pavel Datsyuk opened the scoring midway through the second period and scored again on a power play later sliding the puck in between Quick’s legs.
Speaking to NBC after the dramatic match United States hero T.J Oshie said the game was “a little nerve racking”, but “a lot of fun,” he added that he was “running out of tricks” to get past Russian goalie Sergei Bobrovski, who made 31 saves.
And so the Men’s Olympic Hockey team has written one more chapter in the enduring rivalry between the United States and Russia.
[Image Via sochi2014.com]
