They are the clear underdog. The Canadian team is basically the "all-NHL" team.

GOAL!!

Sweet!!!!! Now it's a game again.

game on

Oh man, did we need that! The US picked up the intensity a level after the second Canadian goal and here's the reward!

SI

Great tip, nice goal.

Sweet deflection.

Hell of a play by Keslar there. Now the US needs to keep momentum.

I think I'm tainted but not watching but knowing we beat them last week.

Now that we know the US was offside on their goal, maybe we can consider the officiating even. The refs are biased toward Canada, and the linesmen are biased toward the US. We cool now? :)

What's the penalty if every time a goalie felt a threat he knocked the goal out of place?

Depends on who wins the game.:)

Not sure if this is a serious question, but that would be a delay of game.

Both goalies are playing beautifully right now. Full credit to Miller for battling through a lot of (what look to be) great screens and not even give up rebounds for the most part thus far.

No it was serious. Ive always wondered what would happen if a goalie decided to "accidentally" knock the goal out of place when he was feeling over threatened.

By accidentally I mean falling into it or not making it look obvious.

The ref can also award a penalty shot if the puck was headed toward the goal when the net was intentionally dislodged.

Didn't want to see any goals after questionable calls. If it's any consolation it was a close play at least (not one that was blatantly an obvious miss) as it took a slow motion replay to show it.

And to use the NFL holding non-call justification, the player in question had no affect on the play. ;)

Wow, just missed.

Luongo looks a little flustered now. Here's the best chance for the US.

Shoot it!!! Why didn't Kane shoot that instead of passing all the way back out to the blue line?

Team USA is playing like rabid wolves now.

VOTE CANADA

Just the kind of game I wanted to see. Barring a Canadian goal before he end of the period the 3rd period should be very intense.

Has Ryan Whitney even seen the ice since Canada's second goal? I hope they glue him to the bench in the third period.

The last 10 minutes of the 2nd quarter both teams picked it up a notch so now I would say this its close to an "awesome" game. Canada controlled that 1st quarter IMO. The USA is finally starting to make some things happen.

Man I hope there's no shootout, though. I want to see OT, but at the same time I don't because this ending in a shootout would be, uhm..shitty?

4 on 4 OT with these two teams would be insane.

I'm glad to see NBC has got a clue. Game is live on the west coast.

Quarter? Some Canadian you are. ;)

It's actually not a quarter, the hockey term is period.

Ok, time to fire up the grill so that by the time the third period is over, I can put the steaks on

SI

USA the better team in the 2nd. I think Canada's forward's are to blame for that. They need to play a smarter game in the offensive zone, and to a better job of defensive zone coverage.

He thought I was insane after the first quarter for not thinking it was an awesome game at that point so I figured I would use that point in the game as a reference.

lol, I get what you mean now. and Canadian?

Glad it's only halftime right now! What a game!!

Personally I'm looking forward to the 3rd inning... ;)

How can you eat!!

I think i'm gonna vomit :D

Where's Pete Townshend's bare stomach?

Is SI that bad at grilling?

Here, maybe this will calm your nerves:

Quarters? Oh dear. Get out now.

What sucks is, it's about to be 4 more years until the next winter olympics... :(

AHAHHA...Beleive it or not my neigbhor just dropped off some t-bell for me and my wife.

Great sign held up by the canadian forces in Khadujar

Canada/USA brothers in arms

Not on ice

This could be the greatest period of hockey we will ever watch.

And there'll still be one more to go!

OH COME ON

Well played.

As any goallie would say about a puck that hits the post...

"That means I had it played perfectly."

It's just amazing. And Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry on this ice, too. Young and great, all of them. Even as the Ducks lose older guys like Teemu and Nieds, with this line and Hiller, they still have a tremendous base to build on.

X2

Whitney's inconsistency (along with Niedermayer, strangely enough) is one of the primary reasons the Ducks are fighting to make the playoffs. Well, that, and the Ducks play in the Western Conference, which is awesome, unlike the weak sauce Eastern Conference. :)

Canada is buzzing this period, not a good sign for USA.

Good job protecting the puck by Nash, he must have been pressing the A Button.

I haven't seen much of Whitney since he went to Anaheim, but his problem in Pittsburgh was that he always thought he was a forward. He wasn't just an offensive defenseman. He really played like a forward and completely neglected the blue line at times. You can get away with that at times, but it was essentially his MO. I couldn't believe it when he got named to Team USA.

I'm only giving them partial credit. They never should have put themselves in this stupid position in the first place.

Nice save by Miller there, that was huge.

breath....

This is going to be a hell of a finish.

Here we go...

SI

Couldn't ask for much more thant this. What a way to end the games.

i just shit my pants

got a feeling canada's gonna take this

Let's hear more about this.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

ARE YOU KIDDING ME:?!?

SI

PARISE

Wow...Parise

YES!!! YES!!!

FUCK ME!!!! WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWw

Sweeet!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a game!!!!

WOW.

I don't know if I could handle being a hockey fan. I'm stressing out ;).

OMFG

HOLYSHITFUCKYES!

Suddenly the number of people in the thread went from like 12 to 28

SI

OT is gonna be epic

can someone explain the OT rules here ? Sudden death ? (german commentators normally explain everything 3 times, strangely not this time)

Yes. 20 minutes on the clock, sudden death. If nobody scores in 20 minutes, they go to a shootout.

Yes, sudden death, but only until time runs out. If neither team scores by the end of the period, it goes to a shootout (please don't happen.) Also, each team only has 4 skaters on the ice which opens things up more.

Fresh Ice, 4 on 4 for 20 minutes. Does the younger, hungrier USA team have an advantage?

10 minute 4 on 4 sudden death.

10 minute sudden death OT, follow by shootout if still tied

This game will be over in the first 5 minutes...

20 minute for the final? cool.

nope, only 10 minutes in the Olympics

I have not been able to stand the Devils for a couple decades now, but I have to say, got a mad man crush on Parise. That kid's amazing.

Well, it seems like the US defense, which is their strength (not named Miller) is going to have less ice time so I'm not sure how much that helps them.

That's kindof a point to speak to: I remember the US team was slammed for the defense selections but they really have come through.

SI

They said 20 earlier... *confuzzled*

Niedamayer should never have been on the ice there

Did Roenick just say Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight?

It's 20 minutes of overtime for the gold medal game.

Speaking of important questions to speak to: do I throw the steaks on the grill now (I'm a medium to medium-well guy so mooing steaks are not an option) or should I just let the coals ash some more for 15 more mins of sudden death?

This 10 minute vs 20 minute thing is important!

Because there's no way I'm leaving the tv during this... (tho I can see the grill and tv both from the front door if I'm really crafty)

SI

first to score wins, right?

Dola

I'd take the more talented home team over the young hungry guys any day. From my admittedly unhockified analysis, Canada has dominated this game and the US has had to scratch and claw for everything.

Yes.

And now we're up to 37 in the thread

SI

I disagree to an extent. Not with the point that the defense has played well, but that this doesn't help them. It's a different game, four on four. Defensive skills that aren't matched by as much speed and offensive skills (qualities usually shown in defensmen) aren't as valuable here. Speedy, good puckhandling offensive guys, with at least some defensive ability, are more important here. So guys like Parise, Langenbrunner, Ryan, Kane, these are good players for this situation. Also, Erik Johnson and Rafalski are good defensive players for this situation.

Canada won't be able to march out older guys as much in a speed game, and big guys like Pronger are less effective.

Not that Canada doesn't have some great options in this setting either of course. They have some of the greatest players in the world, who are perfect for this.

No way do I see this going the full 20 with 4 on 4. I would rather see 5 on 5 in this tournament though. 4 on 4 changes the game a bit too much. Granted, it beats deciding on penalty shots though, which I don't see this getting to.

It's called "okay, now what do I do for 20 minutes?"