Canada beat the U.S. men 1-0 in Olympic hockey Friday, winning a tense game that saw strong goalie play and stout defensive work. Despite numerous chances, the Americans weren't able to challenge Canadian goalie Carey Price.
The game was a rematch between two teams that played for gold at the Vancouver 2010 games. That contest went to overtime before Canada's Sidney Crosby scored an artful golden goal that dashed the Americans' dreams of repeating as gold medalists - something they haven't done since the famed 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympics.
It will be Team U.S.A. vs. Finland in Saturday's bronze medal match; Canada will play Sweden for the gold Sunday morning. Sweden presents an imposing challenge: the team was unbeaten in group play, and scored more points than any other squad in the Olympic tournament, with 12.
Update at 2:15 p.m. ET: Reactions From Players
"It seems like we had a tough time sustaining any pressure in their end," America's Ryan Callahan said immediately after the match. Despite some U.S. chances, he said, the Canadian defense was able to adapt.
"They're a talented group. You see the skill they have."
Canadian forward Getzlaf says, "We were just playing hard."
Getzlaf, who was part of an imposing line that produced the game's lone score, said he and teammates such as Jamie Benn and Corey Perry quickly grew into playing together in Russia. The result, he said, was better passing and puck handling.
"Tonight, we were able to hang onto it and make some plays," Getzlaf said.
Adding that goalie Price's strong play calmed the Canadian team, he added, "He controls the whole pace of the game."
Sidney Crosby, noting that both the U.S. and Canadian teams have speed, said the Canadians' strategy was simple: "Try to play in their end."
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The U.S. fell behind in the second period Friday, after Canada scored on a deflected long shot in traffic by defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Forward Jamie Benn got his stick on the puck, and it eluded U.S. goalie Jonathan Quick.
That goal came during an American power play, exposing a weakness that troubled the U.S. team all game. Despite a 3-1 advantage in power plays awarded in the first two periods, the U.S. had nothing to show for it.
The Americans also went through weak defensive stretches, failing to disrupt a Canadian attack that rifled shots at Quick - and often collected the rebounds to send more shots at the net.
By the end of the second period, Canada had taken more shots than the U.S., 28-22.
Interest in this game has been building all week, particularly after the U.S. women lost to Canada in an overtime shocker Thursday. And with host Russia's ouster at the hands of Finland earlier this week, the gold medal seemed to be within the grasp of either North American team.
The atmosphere in the Bolshoi Ice Palace Friday was like that of a title game, with loud cheering and Russian star Alexander Ovechkin looking on. But despite that air, the Canadians will have to contend with Sweden for gold on Sunday.
Behind 1-0 in the third, the Americans played with energy and intensity, moving the puck into the Canadian end. But they weren't able to finish those chances.
Perhaps due to an increasing sense of desperation, the Americans seemed to fall into a pattern of launching the first available shot at Canada's net. By contrast, the Canadians looked at ease in sharing the large Olympic ice, with sharp passes and quick changes of direction that probed the U.S. defense.
The Canadians had a chance to add to their advantage on a two-minute power play that began with around 10 minutes left in the game. But the Americans withstood that challenge, despite Ryan Callahan playing part of the time without a stick - he dropped it after it shattered.
Despite a feverish finish that included two tense trips to the American end with an empty U.S. net, the Americans weren't able to even the score and force overtime.
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