Image courtesy of NYDailyNews.com
It came down to special teams, an obscure non-goal call, and a lengthy shootout, but the United States of America edged out Russia for a 3-2 win this morning in Sochi. T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Quick led the Americans with impressive displays in the shootout, as Oshie scored on four of his six shootout attempts and Quick only allowed three goals on eight shots in the skills competition. The Los Angeles Kings' netminder also stopped 29 shots in 65 minutes of action.
For Russia, Pavel Datsyuk had a pair of goals in regulation and added on a shootout tally, while Ilya Kovalchuk potted two of his four shootout attempts. Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves during regulation and overtime in the loss.
Oshie and Quick are two players on U.S.A. that have received a lot of criticism during these Olympics. Many felt others Americans, like Bobby Ryan or Brandon Saad, should have made the team over Oshie, while some are questioning Dan Bylsma's decision to start Quick over Ryan Miller, who lead the team to a silver medal 2010. Both players seemed to have proved those who doubted them wrong.
The defining moment in the game came in the final minutes, as it seemed that Fedor Tyutin had released the game-winning shot from the point to put Russia ahead 3-2 with just minutes left in the tilt. However, due to the left post being just slightly out of position, the goal was disallowed. In the NHL, since Quick was the one that accidentally knocked the net out of place, the goal would have most likely counted. In international play, however, a goal cannot be scored when the net is off its pegs.
Along with that unique play, special teams played a huge role in the game, as three of the four goals in regulation came on the power play. U.S.A. scored on two of their four power-play chances, while Russia converted on a pair of their five power-play opportunities. When you consider the skill of Russia's power-play unit, America's penalty kill was a huge reason why they were able to keep the game close throughout.
After dictating play in the first period and the opening part of the second period, Russia finally found a way to beat Quick with a snipe from Datsyuk.
Thanks to a long stretch pass from Andrei Markov that went from Russia's defensive zone to the United States' blue line, Datsyuk was able to split the defensive pair of John Carlson and Brooks Orpik before ringing one off the inside of the post to beat Quick with 10:45 left in the middle stanza.
The Americans responded with under four minutes left in the period to tie the game at one thanks to a power-play goal from Cam Fowler
Dustin Brown goaded Alexander Radulov into a penalty to put U.S.A. on a power play late in the second period. On a rebound in front Fowler was able to crash the net and had the puck bounce in off his left skate to beat Bobrovsky. Since Fowler didn't put it in with a distinct kicking motion, the goal stood to equalize the game at one with 3:26 left in the frame.
In the third period, Patrick Kane provided a beautiful cross-ice pass to Joe Pavelski, who beat a sprawled out Bobrovsky to make it 2-1 for the United States with 10:33 left in regulation.
Datsyuk struck again for Russia, as the host nation converted on their fifth power play of the game to tie it late.
With Brown in the box for kneeing, Datsyuk was able to beat Quick under his left leg pad to tie the game with only 7:16 left in the contest.
Kane and Pavelski nearly converted a few more times late in regulation and overtime, as Kane had a clear breakaway stopped and also set up Pavelski for another chance that the San Jose Shark just missed wide from in close.
After 60 minutes of regulation, five minutes of overtime, and eight rounds of the shootout, it was the United States of America that came out on top. America will take on Slovenia tomorrow morning to finish the preliminary round.
Notes: With an assist on Pavelski's goal, Kane now has three assists these Olympics…Shattenkirk now has two assists in these Olympics with the secondary helper on Pavelski's goal…Phil Kessel recorded his fourth point of the tournament and James van Riemsdyk recorded his third with the assists on Fowler's goal…Kessel is tied with Olli Maatta, Patrick Marleau, and Sami Vatanen for most points in the Olympics at the moment with four…Alexander Radulov took two minors this game, which resulted in America's two power-play goals…Markov had two assists for Russia in the loss…U.S.A. now leads Group A with a record of 1-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) for a total of five points. The United States also has a plus-7 (10-3) goal differential…Russia is second in Group A with a record of 1-0-1-0 for four points overall. They have a goal differential of plus-2 (7-5)…Russia's final game is tomorrow against Slovakia at 7:30am.
