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‘Tremendously Tremendous’: U.S.-Canada Produces No Miracle, Just a Classic

Feb 22, 2010, 3:15 AM UTC

â†µâ†µ“This has been tremendously tremendous,” NBC color commentator Ed Olczyk said. The statement came after Ryan Kesler scored an empty-netter, but it could have come after Sidney Crosby scored a goal to draw Canada to within one goal of the United States late in the third period, or after either of Brian Rafalski’s goals, or in praise of any of many fantastic Ryan Miller saves. And absurd as it sounds, no matter when it was uttered, no one would have disagreed. Well, no one south of the U.S. border, at least.â†µ

â†µâ†µCanada and the United States played a classic tonight.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Americans’ 5-3 win doesn’t shift the course of these Olympics as seismically as the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” did. As this was only a preliminary round win, the U.S. still has to win three more games to win gold, and Canada can still ultimately triumph with four wins. â†µ

â†µâ†µIt also wasn’t as huge an upset as the 1960 upset of Canada in Squaw Valley was, despite being the first U.S. win over Canada in Olympic play since that victory. Both of these teams are stocked with NHL talent, and each was considered a threat to win a gold medal; if this was an upset, it wasn’t unfathomable.â†µ

â†µâ†µThat’s a good thing. It was because the talent disparity wasn’t enormous that an even better outcome was possible.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd, luckily, it happened.â†µ

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This was game played by athletes at a top gear few ever reach. It had skill, intensity and emotion rarely seen on any playing surface, and the give-and-take of a prize fight.â†µâ†µAmerican goalie Miller left a dent resembling his head in his crease, stopping 42 of 45 shots, while Canadian legend Martin Brodeur let up four goals, three on uncharacteristic errors. Rafalski scored the first two U.S. goals -- his second multi-goal game of these Olympics -- and had the game-winner from captain Jamie Langenbrunner go off his skate. In between those goals, Chris Drury found magic at another huge moment, scoring the goal that gave the U.S. a lead they would not relinquish.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut Canada never yielded. Again and again they surged, barraging Miller with shot after shot, rallying to tie the game twice, and reigniting a stunned crowd on Crosby’s goal with 3:09 left in the third period. It was only over with 45 seconds left, when Kesler, who could not have been more candid before the game, flicked in a final empty-net goal.â†µ

â†µâ†µWrap all of that athletic greatness in the respective national colors, and you have the formula for one unforgettable sporting contest.â†µ

â†µâ†µIn the wake of this game, Canadians are left to wonder what went wrong, while Americans gaze in wonderment at the newest magical moment in U.S. hockey history: a minor upset against a team with marginally better talent more remarkable as an announcement of arrival than a reminder that anything is possible.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe operative question tonight isn’t “Do you believe in miracles?”â†µ

â†µâ†µBut tomorrow, expect to hear a lot of “Did you see that GAME?”â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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