Can There Be Two Winners From Sunday...?

You'd like to think so, but some of us at the HQ will remain cynical toward the strides the sport may make after one of the best games the sport has seen in a five-ringed circus venue...

The Canadians think the sport of hockey and winning every event associated with the sport is their birthright. Anything less will be a national catastrophe...

And the maple leaf almost had that happen in the gold medal game Sunday at Canada Hockey Place.

Roberto Luongo had been shaky handling the puck all afternoon, and as the game got later he was even more shaky holding on to any shot put on him.

Team USA goalie Ryan Miller was still stellar in net, but a rebound and a bad turnover by Ryan Whitney created a 2-nothing hole before the Stars and Bars got it in gear. A deflection went under the arm of Luongo to make it 2-1, and two guys who work together normally- Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner- worked it again with the extra attacker to tie the game at 2.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King actually had this on his Twitter feed...
"Anyone else have a feeling Zach Parise's going to make a big play in the last 7 minutes?"

With 24.4 left in regulation, those two tied it and took the air out of an entire country... and the biggest question brought up was who would be the next "Paul Henderson" or "Mike Eruzione" in the history of their sports...???

The HQ knows you're thinking... Paul Henderson...???
Yep, Summit Series... look it up...
((HT: Youtube/hockeybooks/CBC))


If we have to post Eruzione...
Ah, the hell with it...
((HT: ABCSports/USOC/sakicnut))


Turns out it would be Sidney Crosby, the golden child... and the entire host nation can breath once again... fitting, but too much for one individual...

((ed.note- By the way, TBH was not a happy camper. Once the goal was scored, she uttered two words. One was "Well" followed by a bodily function... Crosby scoring made it worse... she digs Ovechkin and Sid's teammate Evgeny Malkin long before Crosby. TBH thinks Sid is the NHL version of Sergio Garcia- too much talent, too much mouth...))

The fact that the "gritty, gutty, underdog" Americans hung with, and knocked off, the Canadians should bode well if they keep the front office together for 2014. Ron Wilson and Brian Burke proved that they can put a team together that can challenge the big kid on the block.

Now, if only the fans in Toronto would see what was done in Vancouver and have the patience for the Leafs...

Will the momentum carry over for America and fans of the NHL...???

Yes, if they can remember the look on a face like Parise's during their medal ceremony. He really was not happy about finishing second- think Tanner Boyle in "The Bad News Bears." Puck Daddy's Twitter feed brings this quote from Number 9: “It sucks. It sucks being that close and then losing in overtime.”

Remember what Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks told Sportsnet's Ian Mendes: "It sucks that we have to wait another four years for an opportunity like this."

Remember what the Kings' Jack Johnson told The Hockey News' Craig Custance: "You win a gold. You win a bronze. You lose a silver."

Ryan Miller, the tourney MVP, wanted to be anywhere but answering questions. Remember what he told Richard Deitsch of SI:

"It feels like shit."

These guys don't want to be treated like a hemispheric little-brother...

So, carry with you one of the best games you'll ever see and one of the funniest Closing Ceremonies you'll ever see- putting the five-ringed circus in its place as they hit the door...

If you don't like what you saw on Sunday afternoon, you'll never like what you see in that sport... and don't think for a minute that The Bettman will get his way in Sochi. If they don't have Ovie on their ice, it WILL be an international incident...

30 Years Later, Another Big Upset On Ice

It wasn't quite 1980 and the whole "Miracle on Ice" thing playing the Soviet Union, but this qualifies in a lot of circles as the third-largest hockey upset in the history of USA Hockey.

The irony of Vancouver Canucks winger Ryan Kesler not withstanding, Ryan Miller stood on his head saving 42 of 45 Canadian shots and Team USA knocks off the hosts 5-3 at "Canada Hockey Place" Sunday night. Normally, the building would have its automotive sponsor during the rest of the time, but it doesn't apply during the five-ringed circus.

Brian Rafalski of the Detroit Red Wings scored twice ((running his streak to four consecutive at the time)), Jamie Langenbrunner screened teammate Martin Brodeur for one, and Chris Drury scored the fifth goal.

"We were a little jumpy with things," Team Canada captain Scott Niedermayer said. "We settled that down, had some dominant stretches, but did everything but score.

"There are things we can do better," Niedermayer said. "Just go out and lay it all on the line."

Team Canada is going to have to do that. They now have to win four games for a gold medal instead of the three the US has to win- the Stars and Stripes earning the day off winning their group.

It comes on the heels of this, from thirty years ago...
Which, obviously, is number one...
((HT: ABC Sports/USOC/IOC/Youtube-al5u4x))


Happy Anniversary, America...