re: TEAM USA WINS GOLD | USA 2 Canada 1 FINAL/OT | Gold Medal Game | Olympic Hockey

Depends how you interpret it I guess... any of them can be the "extra" player.

I thought it was a penalty live, and the American broadcaster in the booth said it was upon reviewing the replay.

Either way, frick Canada.

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Guess he didn't realize Hughes was in the slot?

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Just like none of our guys saw him alone in front of the crease when he won the 4 nations in OT. Seems fitting, honestly.

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On rewatching it it kinda looks like a power play. I count only four red jerseys on the ice and that includes the goalie. Team Canada must have been in a line change when it happened.

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It's 3 on 3 in overtime. They said it at the start of OT.

If you count the white jerseys, you'll see the same thing...

Compare that to Mathews who back checked and made plays in the defensive zone all morning

One final thing I would also add (and I put this in a different thread on the MSB, but probably more fitting here): A goalie being on fire is part of the game of hockey and sometimes fluky… But Hellebuyck has been the best goalie in the world for 5+ years now and was literally the NHL MVP last year (EXTREMELY rare for a goalie to win it. Like a non-QB winning NFL MVP. It almost always just goes to the guy with the most points).

Going into the tournament, goaltending and defensive pairings was considered an American strength, compared to the Canadian advantage at forward. It’d be a bit different if Hellebuyck was just an above average NHL goalie (like Binnington is) and stood on his head.

No baseball fan would call it a miracle/fluke if in a game 7, Team A’s Cy Young winner outdueled Team B’s above average ace to beat Team B’s better lineup. Goaltending is part of the equation, and the U.S.’s was well-known to be superior. It’s not a fluke Hellebuyck outplayed Binnington (who was pretty good today, too).

Do I think Canada generally outplayed the U.S. today? Yes. (Which does NOT mean I think the U.S. didn’t deserve the gold.) But I always find it funny that goalies “steal” games, no matter how good they are. If Connor McDavid had 2G, 2A today and Canada won, no one would say he “stole” the game or it was a fluke. If Tom Wilson did? Sure, maybe fair. But Hellebuyck is elite. He’s the McDavid of goalies.

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One final thing I would also add (and I put this in a different thread on the MSB, but probably more fitting here): A goalie being on fire is part of the game of hockey and sometimes fluky… But Hellebuyck has been the best goalie in the world for 5+ years now and was literally the NHL MVP last year (EXTREMELY rare for a goalie to win it. Like a non-QB winning NFL MVP. It almost always just goes to the guy with the most points).

Going into the tournament, goaltending and defensive pairings was considered an American strength, compared to the Canadian advantage at forward. It’d be a bit different if Hellebuyck was just an above average NHL goalie (like Binnington is) and stood on his head.

No baseball fan would call it a miracle/fluke if in a game 7, Team A’s Cy Young winner outdueled Team B’s above average ace to beat Team B’s better lineup. Goaltending is part of the equation, and the U.S.’s was well-known to be superior. It’s not a fluke Hellebuyck outplayed Binnington (who was pretty good today, too).

Do I think Canada generally outplayed the U.S. today? Yes. (Which does NOT mean I think the U.S. didn’t deserve the gold.) But I always find it funny that goalies “steal” games, no matter how good they are. If Connor McDavid had 2G, 2A today and Canada won, no one would say he “stole” the game or it was a fluke. If Tom Wilson did? Sure, maybe fair. But Hellebuyck is elite. He’s the McDavid of goalies.

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Indeed. Goalies are the key to any Medal, or Cup run. I just thought the US came out sloppy in this game, and played a bit timid. But they came through when they needed to, not just Hellebuyck, but guys breaking up passes to prevent sure fire scoring chances and, of course, putting the put in the back of the net one more time than Canada did. If anything, Canadians should be concerned that they couldn't beat us on a day when we weren't close to our best.

I think a lot of the perceived advantages that people think the Canadians have among their forwards is overblown. They have the better top line, but I'll take our overall depth at forward over theirs. Very comparable, scoring wise, but our guys also get back on defense and play with meaningful physicality (not just gooning it up like Tom Wilson likes to do). Again, not our best showing throughout much of this game, especially when you compare it to how we played them both games at the 4 Nations, but I'm proud of them for staying with it and not giving in.

Now that the gold medal barrier is broken against Canada, I'm excited to see Team USA play with even greater confidence in the years to come.

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Feel gutted for MacKinnon missing that empty net - hopefully he comes back on a pissed heater for the Avs

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As an Avs fan, myself, I'm not too impressed with Nate's postgame comments about Canada being the better team. You had more shots for one game. That doesn't make you the better team. Goalies are part of the team. You lost, Nate. Whining won't change that.

I don't blame him for being upset at losing. I appreciate guys caring. But the whole "who do you think was the better team" stuff is never a good look.

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Leafs fans are to hockey, as Mets or Phillies fans are to baseball. Despite the fact that their franchises usually don't win anything that matters, they all seem to think it's always championship or bust, and they hate just about everyone on their teams, unless they win a championship.

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I love this.