U.S. Hockey Victory Clinches Gold Medal Match

The United States hockey team dominates team Finland to go to the Gold Medal game.

 After defeating Switzerland in a tough battle, Team U.S.A had one more roadblock before the Gold Medal game. That roadblock Finland appeared to be far more formidable than the Swiss. But in the end the U.S. dominated.

As the game started it was all U.S. in the 1^st period with goal after goal.

Beginning of the 1^st period, Finland had the puck mostly in the U.S. zone, but all of a sudden Erik Johnson stole the puck in a breakaway, Finnish goalie Mikka Kiprusoff came out of the goalie box to block the puck, and Ryan Malone rebounded it and scored. 1-0 U.S.A.

Then four minutes later Janne Niskala was called for interference, giving the U.S. a power play opportunity.

Then 23 seconds later, Zach Parise scores on a pass from Paul Stastny. U.S. up 2-0

Just 40 seconds after the goal, Finland’s Toni Lydman was called for a boarding penalty, and of course the U.S. was able to cash in on it. Erik Johnson scored on a deflected shot from Joe Pavelski. 

U.S. 3-0 would certainly not be the end of the scoring.

Then 10:08 into the first period the U.S. scored its four goal from Patrick Kane to make it 4-0.

With the fourth goal allowed, Kiprusoff was pulled from goal, to make way for Niklas Backstrom. This would not make a difference in the scoring.

Another two minutes later Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the game, to put the U.S. ahead 5-0.

Then 15 more seconds later Paul Stastny added another goal via pass from a rebound from Parise to Langenbrunner back to him. U.S. winning an amazing 6-0.

All six of goals where within the first 12:46 of the game, in fact they were all in a ten and half minute span.

The second period would be the polar opposite of the goal scoring first period. The Finns had seven shots on goal and the U.S. had nine but not one would go into the net.

With victory virtually clinched in the third period, Miller was pulled for defending Vezina trophy winner (best goaltender in hockey in 2009) Tim Thomas, ending another shutout for Miller, and giving Thomas his first action of these Olympics.

As Thomas was put in, the U.S. shutout over Finland would end with a power play goal from Antti Miettinen, but that will be all from Finland.

Team U.S.A. wins 6-1.

This game will known for the great games from Patrick Kane (2 goals), Zach Parise (goal and assist), and other Team U.S.A players, as well as the continued dominate play of Ryan Miller in net.

 With the victory the U.S. clinches at least a silver medal if not gold medal if they win.  Before the Olympics not many people expected the American’s to medal but they proved people wrong.

In the Gold Medal game the U.S. will have to play the winner of Canada vs Slovakia game Sunday at 3pm.

Go Team U.S.A.