OT~ USA vs Russia hockey game

[HercDriver]

I have to disagree with all the references to the Miracle Game in 1980. This was NOTHING like that. We had no chance in that game…it was like a college team playing the Stanley Cup Champions. The US had no business being in that game, let alone winning it, then following it up with another big win for the Gold against Finland. The Soviets had already won games by scores like 16-0 (I'm not kidding). Only a few of those American players went on to play in the NHL, Neal Broten being the most notable.

And by the way, that game was against the Soviet Union, which today today is Russia plus a bunch of other countries. It was the best hockey players from a huge swath of the Earth's surface, who played together as a professional team. It still boggles my mind we won that game. I was babysitting for my neighbor that day, watching by myself as the kid slept…I'll never forget it!

Today's game was more like an NHL All-Star game. Awesome to watch, and a great win…but no miracle.

Cheers,
Geno

[howard38]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

I have to disagree with all the references to the Miracle Game in 1980. This was NOTHING like that. We had no chance in that game…it was like a college team playing the Stanley Cup Champions. The US had no business being in that game, let alone winning it, then following it up with another big win for the Gold against Finland. The Soviets had already won games by scores like 16-0 (I'm not kidding). Only a few of those American players went on to play in the NHL, Neal Broten being the most notable.

And by the way, that game was against the Soviet Union, which today today is Russia plus a bunch of other countries. It was the best hockey players from a huge swath of the Earth's surface, who played together as a professional team. It still boggles my mind we won that game. I was babysitting for my neighbor that day, watching by myself as the kid slept…I'll never forget it!

Today's game was more like an NHL All-Star game. Awesome to watch, and a great win…but no miracle.

Cheers,
Geno

I agree. Great game but nothing like the 1980 contest. It's also worth noting that the Russians may well have won the game had they not had a goal disallowed on a technicality.

[sycks22]

Minnesota has the most players on its roster including Oshie. State of hockey is representing. Love it how they kept throwing him out there time after time.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by sycks22

Minnesota has the most players on its roster including Oshie. State of hockey is representing. Love it how they kept throwing him out there time after time.

Hey Pete, I don't know if you go back to the 1980 game, but Minnesota was represented then as well.
Nine of the 20 players played at the University of Minnesota:
Two more played at the U of Minnesota Duluth:
A 12th had played high school hockey in Minnesota, but went to the U of North Dakota;
and of course the coach, Herb Brooks, coached at the University of Minnesota.

[sycks22]

Originally Posted by Sean

Hey Pete, I don't know if you go back to the 1980 game, but Minnesota was represented then as well.
Nine of the 20 players played at the University of Minnesota:
Two more played at the U of Minnesota Duluth:
A 12th had played high school hockey in Minnesota, but went to the U of North Dakota;
and of course the coach, Herb Brooks, coached at the University of Minnesota.

Oh I remember. Big win

[Joem36]

I was 10 and playing hockey when USA won the gold medal in 1980. I will never forget it.

[brookdodger55]

It's nice to see the U.S.A play Russia with pros on both team, not like in 1980. We one anyway. Go U.S.A.
Mike

[Sean]

Originally Posted by howard38

I agree. Great game but nothing like the 1980 contest. It's also worth noting that the Russians may well have won the game had they not had a goal disallowed on a technicality.

This was a great game, but the 1980 game was an event. As a previous poster pointed out, we were way overmatched against the Soviets.
And the political climate made it even bigger. The Soviet Union was our enemy at that time.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

I have to disagree with all the references to the Miracle Game in 1980. This was NOTHING like that. We had no chance in that game…it was like a college team playing the Stanley Cup Champions. The US had no business being in that game, let alone winning it, then following it up with another big win for the Gold against Finland. The Soviets had already won games by scores like 16-0 (I'm not kidding). Only a few of those American players went on to play in the NHL, Neal Broten being the most notable.

And by the way, that game was against the Soviet Union, which today today is Russia plus a bunch of other countries. It was the best hockey players from a huge swath of the Earth's surface, who played together as a professional team. It still boggles my mind we won that game. I was babysitting for my neighbor that day, watching by myself as the kid slept…I'll never forget it!

Today's game was more like an NHL All-Star game. Awesome to watch, and a great win…but no miracle.

Cheers,
Geno

I agree that this is nothing like the 1980 game where a group of college players and college graduates played what was essentially a professional team (Soviet Red Army). This game was just another game of NHL All Stars from one country playing the NHL and International All Stars from another country. A good game, but not the overhyped bull fed by the knuckleheads at NBC.

Oshie was picked to be the shooter after the first three shots as he leads the NHL in shootout goals this year with 7. His varied shot selection is what got him chosen.

I would guess that most people here are not hardcore Olympic fans. I happen to be one. Not just every two years, but every day, every year there is something Olympic related for me. This happens to be the FOURTH time that the United States and Russia have met in Olympic ice hockey competition since Russia or the Russian Federation reentered the Olympic Family as a separate nation. 1994 was the first time they competed as a nation since last competing in the 1924 Summer Games in Paris.

The U.S. lost to Russia 5-4 on February 21, 2006 during the Torino Olympics. The U.S. team included: Doug Weight, Keith Tkaczuk, Mike Modano, Bred Hedican (Mr. Kristi Yamaguchi), Bill Guerin and Chris Chelios. The Russian team included: Darius Kasparaitis, Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Yashin, Zhukov and Kozlov.

During the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City the two teams tied 2-2 on February 16 and the U.S. beat Russia 3-2 in the Semi Finals on February 22. The U.S. team included: Tony Amonte, Tom Barrasso, Chris Chelios, Roenick, Hull, Leetch, LeClair, Dunham and Guerin. The Russian team included: The Bure Brothers, Fyodorov (improperly translated as Federov), Kasparaitis, Khababulin, Kovalchuk, Yashin and Samsonov.

These stats do not include the game they played against the Unified Team, technically Russia, on February 1, 1992 during the Alberville Olympics. The Unified Team beat the U.S. 5-2 in the Semi-Finals.

Geno, I completely disagree with your statement that Neal Broten was the most notable player to come out of the 1980 Squad. Ken Morrow-4 Stanley Cups, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Broten - 1 Stanley Cup, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.