Sidney Crosby, The Overtime Hero: Canada Golden In Men's Hockey

USA Should Be Proud Of Silver

Casey Richey, SBN's writer at Winging It In Motown, thinks that Team USA should be proud of their silver medal.

There's not much that I can say about this game that hasn't been said. It lived up to every billing it was given and the hype was well deserved. Despite the outcome being a loss for the United States, I was very proud of the effort put forth by the Stars and Stripes. Far be it from me to take any credit from Canada as they played a great game and in turn took home the gold on home ice. Good for the Canadian people after an exceptional turn as hosts of the Winter Olympics.

Even though the United States took home the silver instead of the gold, this was a tremendous day for hockey in the US. I couldn't count how many people I know that normally care the least bit about hockey but found themselves enthralled in the battle with the Canadians. It may not inspire every kid to pick up a stick or every father to build a rink in the back yard but it could go a long way towards putting hockey back on television on a season long basis. It could boost ticket sales or bring former fans of the game back to the sport they once loved. 

In the end, I'm proud of what the US achieved in these Olympics. Not many pegged them to do anything even close to this but they came out and put in exceptional effort from the puck drop against Switzerland on opening day to the final goal horn in the gold medal game. Nothing can, or should, be taken away from this American squad and the effort put forth and competitiveness of the games will do wonders for hockey in America.

A Shift-By-Shift Breakdown Of The Gold Medal Game

Scott Reynolds, a writer over at SB Nation's Edmonton Oilers site, The Copper & Blue, has a breathtaking analysis of Sunday's 3-2 Canadian victory. Aside from a lot of pro-Canadian (Edmonton, remember) sentiments, the amazing detail comes from a shift-by-shift breakdown of the entire game for the Canadian side.

Here's some of that detail:

21-87-12 and 02-08 OZ FO
10-51-24 and 27-06 DZ FO
15-19-11 and 20-22
21-87-12 and 02-07 OZ FO
15-19-11 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 02-08 OZ FO ends in Cdn. GOAL

10-51-24 and 20-22 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 02-08 DZ FO
15-19-11 and 02-08 ends in US penalty

10-51-24 and 20-27 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 22-06
21-87-12 and 22-06 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 02-08 penalty ends

15-19-11 and 02-08
61-16-18 and 27-07
10-51-24 and 20-22
21-87-12 and 02-08 OZ FO
61-37-16 and 27-06 DZ FO with 37 taking FO
61-16-37 and 27-06 DZ FO with 16 taking FO and 37 to bench on clear

The numbers represent each player, 'DZ FO' means defensive zone face off and 'OZ FO' means offensive zone face off. For the rest, head over to C&B.

Ryan Miller Named MVP Of Men's Hockey Tournament

It's no gold medal, but it's something: Team USA goalie Ryan Miller was named MVP of the Olympic tournament, a very, very small consolation prize to go along with his silver.

Miller, who started all six games for America, was the best netminder throughout the Olympics, allowing eight goals, and posting a 5-1 record. His Save % (94.56) was tops in the games, and his 1.35 GAA was second only to Sweden's Henrik Lundqvist.

He was one of the main reasons that Team USA was in Sunday's gold medal game, if not the reason. Unfortunately, though, his 2010 Olympic experience came to an abrupt, and disappointing end, thanks to Sidney Crosby.

When Crosby's winning shot found the back of the net, Miller dropped to a knee and then fell forward. He stayed down for several moments until it was time to head to the bench.

Miller, the tournament MVP, graciously accepted the silver medal around his neck, but the disappointment was easy to read on his face.

A couple of costly mistakes in front of Miller by his typically sure-handed defensemen led to shots that gave the rock-solid goalie little chance to stop.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

USA Fights Hard, But Canada Wins Gold In Overtime

Canada had won seven gold medals in men's ice hockey, but none of them had ever come on home soil.

That all changed today.

Sidney Crosby beat Ryan Miller along the near post to send an entire nation into a complete frenzy. From Halifax to Montreal, from Toronto to Calgary, from Edmonton to Vancouver, the Canadians are gold medalists.

It wasn't easy, though. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry, but the Americans responded. After a deflection goal by Ryan Kesler made the score 2-1, the Americans really turned up the heat. All of the energy they displayed earlier on in the tournament came out. They stopped playing hesitantly and they really put the pressure on the Canadians. As the third period went on, the same thing continued.

The Americans pressed, the Canadians fought them off. It would take 19 minutes, 35 seconds before a crack would show. Roberto Luongo misplayed a puck in front and Zach Parise sent the United States into a frenzy, putting the puck through the Canadian goalie and tying the game just within the nick of time.

In overtime, the game was pretty even. Both teams had chances, both teams made big defensive stops, and in the end, it was the game's most recognizable face who would end it. Crosby just took an quick, innocent little shot to beat Miller on the short side. Canada, Olympic champions.

It's a painful loss for the Americans, who were large underdogs heading into this tournament. They were picked by most to leave Vancouver without a medal, and with that, winning a silver is an unbelievable accomplishment. But when you're as close as USA was to winning gold, there's no doubt that it stings. A lot.

This American team is the product of the next generation of USA hockey. General manager Brian Burke proved that he knows how to put a strong hockey team together, and with the youth on this club, the Americans will be a force to reckon with in the Olympic games should the NHL decide to continue sending players. This is just the tip of the iceberg. 

For now, though, Canada celebrates. They struggled at times in this tournament, but in the end their talent and hard work paid off. It's rather fitting that the final anthem played at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is "Oh, Canada!"

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

VIDEO: Sidney Crosby's Gold-Winning Goal Against Team USA

Here's video of Sidney Crosby's game-winning -- and gold-winning -- goal against Team USA on Sunday.

(via Jose, of course)

VIDEO: Parise's Game-Tying, Third Period Goal

(H/T Jose3030)

Zach Parise Scores With 24 Seconds Remaining; Gold Medal Game Headed To OT

Zach Parise is the next great American hockey star. He just proved it with the most clutch goal of clutch goals, perhaps the biggest one he will ever score in his hockey career.

With 24 seconds left and Ryan Miller pulled in favor of the extra attacker, the puck bounced around in front of the Canadian net. Roberto Luongo made an initial save, but just a slight bobble was a big enough mistake for Parise, who knocked the loose puck into the back of the net.

24 seconds left. One nation engulfed in pandemonium, the other in shock. Both will be engaged in suspense as overtime begins after a full 20 minute intermission. The ice will be resurfaced and the teams will play a full four-on-four overtime period. If the game isn't decided after that, the game will be decided in a shootout.

Who will be the hero?

Americans Surge After Goal, Need To Continue Applying Pressure

It had been almost 80 minutes since Team USA had scored a goal, dating back to the first period of the semifinal round against Finland. But after Ryan Kesler's goal on Patrick Kane, the Americans really turned up the energy and the hustle.

As a result, the Americans are alive in this gold medal game. Still, they are down by a goal and the next one scored in this one will be gigantic, perhaps decisive. If the Americans come out in the third period with the energy they displayed in the latter portion of the second and they can beat Roberto Luongo again, they could ride the wave all the way to the gold medal.

If Canada comes out, clamps down and retakes control of the hockey game, they could easily put another one past Ryan Miller to take the wind out of the American sails. We're going to learn a lot about how the rest of this game will go in the way each team reacts right off the opening third period face off.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

Kesler's Deflection Puts USA Within One; 2-1 Canada

Just make him work and good things will happen. Roberto Luongo hasn't been challenged much in this hockey game, but with Ryan Kesler crashing the net, Patrick Kane just threw the puck in front. Kesler got a piece of it, it changed direction, and slipped under Luongo's arm.

The Canadian goaltender should've made the save, but it was certainly tricky. 2-1, Canada still has the lead.The Americans look to have more jump now that the lead is cut in half and they are on the board though. They'll need to keep challenging Luongo to get the game tied.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

Corey Perry Beats Ryan Miller; 2-0 Canada

After successfully killing off a USA power play, Canada quickly regained offensive control of the puck. Entering the American zone, the Canadians just stuck to the basics. A little cross-ice pass, a quick shot on goal, and a rebound came right off of Ryan Miller into the front of the net. Falling right on Corey Perry's stick, he easily tossed it up top over Miller's shoulder.

2-0 Canada. The Americans still need to generate more offense and force Roberto Luongo to work.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

After One Period, USA Needs To Generate More Offense

The USA hockey team wasn't built to be able to completely control the offensive side of a hockey game. With an elite goaltender in net and a balanced defense that emphasizes hard work and aggressive checking, they were built to contain the elite offenses that they'll face in this tournament.

Canada is one of those offenses, but the one goal they scored in this game so far developed from the kind of hard work that the Americans need to display to win this game. Mike Richards battled with the American defense, earned the puck along the boards, and ultimately it found it's way into the back of the net when Jonathan Toews scored off of Richards' rebound.

That one goal aside, the Americans are doing a good job of limiting Canada's time and space in the USA end. Canada hasn't been able to generate many scoring chances despite controlling the puck for most of the first period. The United States are going to have to spend more time in the Canadian end if they want to win. After all, you can't score from the

Overall, the teams look hesitant to take many chances. The Americans are a team that thrives on taking risks and playing aggressively, and they'll need to stop squeezing their sticks so hard as the game continues.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

Toews Picks Up Juicy Rebound; 1-0 Canada

A defensive mistake by the Americans has put them in a 1-0 hole.

Mike Richards fired a shot a few feet away from Ryan Miller. The USA goaltender kicked it away and three defenders swarmed around Richards, failing to see Jonathan Toews sneaking in along the goal line. Toews picked up the puck and buried it, unchallenged behind a sprawling Ryan Miller.

Canada leads 1-0 in the first period.

Follow along with other fans in SB Nation's live game discussion thread.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.

Don Cherry's Suit Can Be Used To Clean Vinyls

Here's CBC Olympic hockey commentator Don Cherry just before Sunday's USA-Canada ahockeylypse. Don Cherry's suit is made out of the material they use to make Crown Royal bags.

Don Cherry's suit is useful for keeping your record collection in tip-top shape. Don Cherry's suit was borrowed from the personal wardrobe of either Rod Steward or Boz Scaggs. The color of Don Cherry's suit is appropriate given that his name is Don Cherry. I think that Don Cherry's suit looks quite nice on him. Don Cherry's suit was made by ripping out the floorboards of a 1992 Buick and sewing them together. Don Cherry's suit is really something else! Don Cherry's suit is good for brushing lint and cat hair off of suits, which is ironic given that it itself is a suit. Don Cherry's suit is [Editor's note: Jon Bois has now been fired. We at SB Nation apologize for his insufferably stupid commentary.]

CHAT: Discuss The Game With Other Fans

If you’d like to follow today’s game with other fans from around SB Nation, head on over to our open game thread where people are beginning to gather prior to the game.

Click here to join in.

USA Vs. Canada: Winner Takes Gold, Continental Bragging Rights

Today's game will be broadcast in the United States, live coast-to-coast at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM ET on NBC. In Canada, the game will be broadcast live on CTV. Puck drop is at 3:15 PM ET / 12:15 PM PT.

At each Canadian hockey game during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, there have been several signs in the crowd proclaiming that 'Hockey Is Canada's Game.' With a victory today, the Americans can prove that to be false, at least for the next four years.

In Canada, however, the sport is still a source of national pride and a major factor in their national identity. Winning gold on home ice in men's hockey is the only thing that truly matters to Canadians at these Winter Olympics. If you were to ask 100 Canadians if they'd give up the other 13 gold medals their countrymen have earned thus far in Vancouver in favor of just the one men's hockey gold, they'd likely take the offer in a heartbeat.

There's no doubt that Canada has the more talented team, either. The roster is literally stacked from top to bottom, but there's the perennial question of whether or not the most talented team is better than a team that plays cohesive, sound team hockey. In their five wins in this tournament, that's what the Americans have done.

They started slow in the preliminary round against Switzerland but eventually ramped things up. Now, as the gold medal game is set to begin, they're playing sound team defense in front of an unbelievably hot goaltender. The offense is clicking too, with the top players scoring as well as the secondary players, who were the biggest question for Team USA before the tournament began.

Canada has gone through some struggles in the tournament, despite all of their talent. Future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur has been relegated to the bench in favor of Roberto Luongo, perhaps the change of an era in Canadian hockey. Sidney Crosby, the poster boy for the Canadian team, has not played his best hockey in the tournament. They seemingly fell asleep in the third period on Friday night in the semifinals and Slovakia came daringly close to making them pay for that.

They also lost to the Americans, who overwhelmed them early and often a week ago in a preliminary round game.

Still, they have a ton of talent. They'll have 16,000-plus fans behind them in the arena today as well as millions across their country. Hard work, not talent, wins hockey games. Because of that simple fact, today's game is a toss up. Canada has talent, but they'll have to outwork the Americans if they want to hear "Oh, Canada!" at Canada Hockey Place later this afternoon.

This is for gold.

Follow along with other fans in SB Nation's live game discussion thread.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.