Finland Gets USA Gold Rushed

I am probably the biggest fool in the world right now because I actually thought that today’s game between USA & Finland was going to be competitive. I could not have been more wrong. In all actuality, what I saw was the real Mikka Kiprusoff show up, who chokes and plays poorly in big games and boy did he ever have a melt down today. At just 2:04 into the game, Kipper came out to play a puck but the US was pressuring, so he froze and turned the puck right over to Ryan Malone, leaving the net wide open for the games first (and only needed goal).

After that, it was all over for Finland because I guess misplaying that puck got into Kipper’s head and he was just letting everything in after that. Granted Team USA was applying tremendous pressure on him in front of the net (which he has always struggled with) but he was also out of position on all of the goals. The next goal came just 4:18 later on a power play when New Jersey’s own Zach Parise had a gorgeous roof top goal. Bam! Just like that it was 2-0. At this point I was very happy and thought “a two goal lead for Ryan Miller? Looks like we got this one already”. Well we definitely had the game but it wasn’t secured because of Miller, who barely saw any action today, but because of the unrelenting offensive pressure from the Americans.

By the 13:00 mark of the first period Team USA had a commanding 6-0 lead. After they had their fourth goal, Mikka Kiprusoff pulled himself in favor of Niklas Backstrom, who did not fair any better in the period, giving up two goals on 4 shots. Patrick Kane had himself a game with two goals. Former Devil Brian Rafalski also added to his Olympic leading points total with two helpers. As far as current New Jersey Devils, Parise finished with a goal and an assist and Captain Jamie Langenbrunner got an assist of his own on Paul Stastny’s goal.

So after the first period it was 6-0 Team USA and they never looked back. The rest of the game was just finishing it out for them and not embarrassing the Fins anymore. Tim Thomas made his Olympic debut in the third period to give Ryan Miller rest (as if he needed it), which is nice to see when anyone can get an opportunity to experience the Olympics. He did however spoil the shutout giving up a goal, but in his defense it was an impossible deflection off of a slap shot that I don’t think any goalkeeper could have stopped.

This game was in all honesty a surprise to me. I was not surprised at how the Americans had faired so far in the tournament up to this game. I was, however, expecting today to be a competitive match up as the Fins are usually always up to the challenge. I can’t help but feel bad for Teemu Salanne, who is the all-time Olympic leader is goals, because of how he is leaving his last Olympic experience. Perhaps bronze will make him feel better when they face-off tomorrow against Slovakia (whoops, or Canada – yea right).

Now, it all comes down to this. On Saturday the world will be watching as Team USA will face-off against the heavily favored host nation, Canadians. It will be Luongo, on his home ice in Vancouver going against Ryan Miller, the unsung hero gaolie for the Americans (the best USA has seen since Mike Richter). The veteran grit of Thornton, Iginla, Heatley, Niedermayer, and Pronger against the upstart American Stars like Kane, Parise, Kessel, Pavelski, and Brown. It should be one for the ages. The last time Canada won the gold was in Salt Lake City in 2002 against Team USA, but that US team was very different than this one. It should be an epic game. GO USA!