Today marks the 30th anniversary of the United States biggest hockey win ever, the day that they beat the Soviets in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Yesterday the Americans possibly posted the second biggest win in the history of U.S. Hockey. The Americans went to Vancouver expected to finish third or fourth depending on which analyst you listen to. This team didn’t have a real practice until the day after their first game against the Swiss. They all came to the games from their respective NHL teams and essentially just hopped on the ice, not to say that the Canadians (the only other Olympic team comprised of only NHL players) didn’t have to do the same thing, but they are much more experienced and proven in the league.
The United States opted to go younger this year and they have comprised a team of the best young talent possibly in the world. These guys are playing great, playing together and most importantly playing with pride. This pride was most evidently exposed on Ryan Kesler’s open net goal to give the Americans a 5-3 lead with 45 seconds to play.
If you didn’t see this goal you would rightfully think that he just put the puck in the net, but Kelser outskated a Canadian defensemen that was skating back to retrieve the puck, then dove to the defensemen’s left side sweeping the puck with a one handed shot and sent it across his body into the net. Most players would have just retreated back on defense to make a last stand against another Canadian push but Kesler dug deep in the final minute of the game and added the insurance goal and gave the Americans the number 1 seed heading into the tournament part of the Olympics.
It was uncertain if this younger American team would be able to play with some of the top teams in the world comprised of some older players who have been on the Olympic scene before, but youth can’t be underestimated.
Had this been in a medal game the game would have been much bigger but even though it was the prelim portion of the games, it was still a huge game. These players on both teams all know each other, some are normally teammates while some do not like each other based on NHL play.
The crowd, while on TV looked to be mostly Canadian, was loud for both teams and anytime I hear fans chanting U.S.A. it is bone chilling. How the U.S. team responds from this huge win and continues will be huge, but not having to play an opening round game will surely benefit this team. The players are all in the middle of an NHL season and any amount of rest of will be beneficial. If they keep playing the way they did last night this team could have a few more upsets in them and could possibly be listening to their national anthem at the medal ceremony.
