Michigan State University Athletics
2010 Winter Olympics Hockey Update
2/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Vancouver 2010 Official Hockey Page
AP Olympic Hockey Coverage
Team USA Statistics/Results
Team Canada Statistics/Results
Ryan Miller Olympic bio
Duncan Keith Olympic bio
Sunday, Feb. 28
The game lived up to the hype.
The US-Canada gold medal game had everything - drama, intrigue, and a nailbiter of an overtime period. Sidney Crosby scored at 7:40 of the extra frame to give Canada a 3-2 victory. The US trailed 2-0 in the game but clawed its way back, netting the equalizer with 25 seconds remaining in regulation to force the extra period.
Ryan Miller was spectacular, making 36 saves; he ended the tournament with a U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team record for best goals-against avg (1.35). He was named the MVP of the Olympic hockey tournament, and also the best goalie; US blueliner Brian Rafalski was the top defenseman. Canadian Jonathan Toews was named the top forward.
Duncan Keith played more than 21 minutes on the Canada blueline, and had an assist on Corey Perry's goal in the second period.
Box Score: Canada 3, United States 2 (OT)
Friday, Feb. 26
Both the US and Canadian contingents took care of business on Friday, starting with Team USA against Finland. This sets up a much-anticipated rematch between the US and Canada for the gold medal at 3 p.m. eastern time.
The Americans made things pretty easy for backstop Ryan Miller, scoring six times in the opening period and cruising to a 6-1 win. Miller played 48:29, stopped all 18 shots he faced, then made way for fellow Michigander Tim Thomas (Flint). Miller was sharp when he had to be, and gave Team USA all it needed to get into Sunday's gold medal game.
Box Score: United States 6, Finland 1
Canada appeared to be settimg themselves up to cruise again, staking a 3-0 lead in its game with Slovakia. The Slovaks, however, had different plans, rallying to score twice in the third period to make life interesting. Duncan Keith led all players in icetime, skating more than 21 minutes.
Box Score: Canada 3, Slovakia 2.
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Both the Canadians and Americans advanced to the semifinals on Wednesday.
In the first game of the day, Ryan Miller recorded the first shutout for the US in Olympic play in 2002 in a 2-0 victory over Switzerland. Miller made just 19 saves, but it was a 1-0 game until the waning moments when Zach Parise netted his second of the night into an empty net. The US outshot the Swiss by a 44-19 margin, but goalie Jonas Hiller was once again outstanding to keep the Swiss in the game. The US will play on Friday at 3 p.m. eastern, against Finland.
Box Score: United States 2, Switzerland 0
The Canadians continued their scoring onslaught by jumping out to a commanding lead and never looking back, eliminating the Russians with a 7-3 score. Duncan Keith had another two-assist night for Team Canada, which will play Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday (9:30 p.m. eastern).
Tuesday, Feb. 23
This was not a day the Canadian fans would have expected to see their team play, but after a loss to the US and a shootout win against the Swiss, Team Canada faced off against Germany in the playoff qualification round. The Canadians scored three times in the second and added another four in the third to post the 8-2 victory over the Germans. Duncan Keith assisted on Joe Thornton's first-period tally which got the Canadians going, then added another helper on a Crosby goal early in the third period. Team Canada advances to play Russia in the quarterfinals.
Box Score: Canada 8, Germany 2
Sunday, Feb. 21
It was a much-anticipated matchup that had all the excitement necessary to live up to the hype - and along the way, history was made.Ryan Miller stopped 42 of the 45 shots he faced to backstop Team USA to a 5-3 victory over Canada on Sunday night. The United States earned its first victory over Canada in Olympic competition since 1960, when the US won gold in Squaw Valley. Downing the favored Canadians in front of their home crowd, the US finished preliminary round action with a 3-0 record.
Blueliner Duncan Keith logged 24 minutes of ice time for Team Canada.
Thursday, Feb. 18
Both US and Canada posted victories in their second preliminary games of the tournament, setting up the showdown between the teams at 7:40 p.m. on Sunday (Live, MSNBC). The US team got a flurry of late goals to down Norway, while the Canadians had a fight on their hands from the Swiss, eventually capturing a shootout victory. The US sits atop Group A with six points (two victories), while the host nation earned just two points in the shootout wins and has five points overall.
In the matinee, Ryan Miller became the first US goaltender to record an assist in Olympic play in a 6-1 victory over Norway. Detroit blueliner Brian Rafalski blew open a 3-1 game with a pair of goals late in the third period for Team USA, which improved to 2-0 in the tournament. Miller stopped 10 of 11 Norway shots in the game.
Almost immediately after the game, the team was peppered with questions about its upcoming showdown with Canada. During Thursday's game, Canadian joined fans in Norway sweaters with vocal support of the underdog Norwegians. "Ha!" Miller said with a laugh. "There had to be a few Canadians in there. That's fine. The whole house will be against us on Sunday."
In the second men's game of the day, the Canadians had their hands full with the Swiss, and had to settle for a shootout victory after 65 minutes of action found the teams deadlocked at 2-2. Switzerland battled back from a 2-0 deficit despite being outshot in the game, 47-23. Anaheim netminder Jonas Hiller was outstanding in the Swiss crease. Sidney Crosby was the only Canadian to score in the shootout, and he, too, missed as the first shooter - after Hiller stoned Jonathan Toews and Ryan Getzlaf, Crosby finally got one past Hiller. Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur stopped all four Swiss shootout attempts.
Box Score: Canada 3, Switzerland 2 (Shootout)
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Former Michigan State All-American and 2001 Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Miller is expected to earn his second-straight start in goal as Team USA takes on Norway Thursday at 3 p.m. EST in another Group A Preliminary Round game in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Thursday's USA-Norway game will be televised live by USA Network.
On Wednesday, Team USA head coach Ron Wilson told reporters that he plans to start Miller in every game.
"I don't worry about that," Miller said. "I expect when Ron (Wilson) taps me on the shoulder, I'll be ready to play."
 Ryan Miller (left) celebrates Team USA's 3-1 win over Switzerland with defenseman Jack Johnson.  | |
Box Score - USA 3, Switzerland 1
"The boys did a good job in a tight first period," Miller said. "Both teams were feeling it out. We created really well in the second."
Former Spartan defenseman Duncan Keith logged 16:25 of ice time and finished +2 in Team Canada's 8-0 victory over Norway on Tuesday.
Box Score - Canada 8, Norway 0
Keith also returns to action on Thursday as Team Canada faces Switzerland at 7:30 p.m. EST.
A much-anticipated matchup between Team USA and Team Canada is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7:40 p.m. EST.
"I think it just comes down to you really want to be the top team," Miller said. "When you get down to it, it's a respect thing. You respect them (Canada), so you want to beat them."
