The NHL never carries that type of intensity. If it does, only in the playoffs. USA’s 5-3 win over Canada in these Winter Olympics was everything a hockey fan (and even those who aren’t) could have asked for and more! Right from the get go the United States went up 1-0. One of my least favorite players in the game, Eric Staal, tied it up 1-1. USA was up 2-1 at the end of the first despite being out-shot 18-6. The crowd for both sides was going nuts, especially during the time the game was tied 2-2. USA was up 4-2 with less than four minutes to play when Canada scored a power play goal on a pass slid into the crease from Rick Nash to Crosby. Even after, it still appeared as though Canada was on the power play. USA skaters seemed very tired. Eventually Marty Brodeur was pulled and Kesler made probably the best empty-net goal I’ve ever seen in my life, though a very ballsy play at the time due to the risk of getting called for a tripping penalty.
Either way, this game had me on the edge of my seat! Certainly when the Bruins make the playoffs I get excited, but I was just as pumped up for this game as I was for any of their playoff games. Going into this break the Bruins were playing pretty well. But it’s still not even close to being on par with a game of this magnitude — USA versus Canada. These are two NHL All-Star teams going at it, except this time it counts! What a game for the world to see!
(Just as a side note, Jack Edwards would actually be the best choice for Team USA play-by-play.)
