Monday, February 22, 2010

Olympics: Canada vs USA

Canada vs USA was the headliner of what was dubbed "Super Sunday". There was a lot of hype going into this game and was expected to be a close game after all the trash talk between the two nations. Canada at home was the obvious favorites but the US had gotten off to an impressive start. The game started off quick, especially for the US who jumped ahead not even 50 seconds into the game by a goal from Brian Ralalski. Canada started turning on the pressure and battled it out and ended up tying the game up. The US quickly responded again with yet another timely goal by Brian Rafalski on a major fluke from Martin Brodeur who attempted to hit a homerun, that ended up on the stick of Rafalski. Dany Heatley scored early in the 2nd to once again even things up with a typical Heatley style goal. At the end of the second another American veteran got on the board with a goal ahead goal from Chris Drury. The Canadians had clearly been out shooting the US almost by a 2 to 1 margin but it was the Americans getting all the breaks. The US got another goal mid 3rd period and Sid the Kid managed to make things close with under 4 minutes remaining. Martin Brodeur was called to the bench to get the extra attacker on the ice and Canada proceded to work over the US. They held the zone for almost a minute before the Americans got the puck out and it was a foot race by Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry. Perry has the puck in reach and for whatever reason didn't make an effort to atleast push the puck into the corner was bested by Kesler who dove and swept at the puck and scored on the empty night to ice Canada's hopes at a bye. Canada could have been successful if they stayed out of the box and pulled Martin Brodeur after an awful star by the veteran netminder. Needless to say martin Brodeur and Corey Perry share this games honors in being the busts. Martin Broduer for several weak ones and Corey Perry for the bad penatly that caused the go ahead go and the weak effort all game long. On the flip side of things American veteran Brian Rafalski had yet another great game and continues to carry this US team. It's also very hard not to mention Ryan Miller who stood on his head the entire game and came up with some incredible saves late in the 3rd period to hold on.

To win the Games the Canadians are going to have to get more out of their veterans. Guys like Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, and Joe Thornton have to get going or get out of the way of the young Team Canada members. The US got goals from all three of there key vets, why cant the Canadians? Pronger looked like a Hal Gill out there, I mean a pilon. My big question to Mike Babcock would be where has Jarome Iginla been? He should be there goto guy when the going gets rough not Dany Heatley or Rick Nash. Iginla knows what it takes to win and he has better odds of getting a clutch goal than Corey Perry whose been coasting so far.

1st Period
Goal 1 - Brian Rafalski - Ryan Suter, Jaime Langenbruner
Goal 1 - Eric Staal - Brent Seabrook, Jonathan Toews
Goal 2 - Brian Rafalski
2nd Period
Goal 2 - Dany Heatley - Jonathan Toews, Shea Weber
Goal 3 - Chris Drury - David Backes, Bobby Ryan
3rd Period
Goal 4 - Jaime Langenbrunner - Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter PP
Goal 3 - Sydney Crosby - Rick Nash, Duncan Keith
Goal 5 - Ryan Kesler - Zach Parise EN

In Net
United States - Ryan Miller
Canada - Martin Brodeur

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