I’m sure all of you were as heartbroken as I was last sunday as the U.S. lost to Canada in the Olympic Gold medal game. Although the outcome was depressing for U.S. fans, the game was still one for the ages. After going down 2-0 to the Canadians and battling back to a 2-1 score, it seemed with less than a minute left that the U.S. would surely fall short of the gold. Yet with 24 seconds left in the game, my house and bars all across America went crazy as Zach Parise slammed one in past a shaky looking Roberto Luongo to tie the game at 2.
Zach Parise celebrates as he scores with 24 seconds left to tie the gold medal game 2-2
The goal seemed like a miracle, but you I wasn’t too surprised that it happened since the U.S. had been attacking the Canadians the whole 3rd period paired with Canadian goalie Roberto Luongo’s shaky play. Yet sadly a 2nd miracle on ice was not meant to happen as Canada’s kid Sidney Crosby scored the game winner 7:40 into the overtime period. Even though team USA didn’t win the gold, they still left Canada with a silver medal, which many did not forsee prior to the start of the games. We should be proud of our silver medal and just take our performance at these games as motivation and fuel to win the gold in 2014 in Sochi.
With the olympic games coming to a close on Sunday night, the NHL spared no time in resuming their operations and play with a Monday night game featuring silver medalist Paul Statsny and our Colorado Avalanche. The Avs took on the Red Wings in the first NHL play in over 2 weeks and the this one was a classic Avs-Red Wings match. The wings jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first but as always the Avs played hard and battled their way back. The Avs matched the Wings 2 goal first period with a 2 goal period of their own in the second behind goals from Galiardi and Chris Stewart. Penalties would end up costing the Avs as the Wings scored 2 goals on the power play, including Nick Lindstrom’s game winner with 9:03 left in the 3rd.
Forward Peter Mueller celebrates after scoring a goal in his Avs debut against Anaheim
Wednesday March 3rd not only featured a road contest against the Ducks, but also signified the trade deadline in the NHL. The Avs were among the various teams that were active the day of the deadline as Colorado shipped out goal scorer Wojtek Wolski to Phoenix in return for forwards Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter. At first I was a little shocked and displeased with this trade, but after mulling it over it made some sense. Both Mueller and Porter are great young prospects (21 and 23 respectively) with potential to become impact players, especially in Mueller’s case after having a 22 goal and 54 point rookie season in 07-08. As sad as I am to see Wolski leave, I am twice as excited to see if Mueller can live up to his potential with the Avs that garnered him the 8th overall pick in 06. Let me tell you though, if Wednesday was any indication, im sure Peter will do just fine as the Avs ended the Ducks 11 game home win streak with a 4-3 victory that featured Mueller scoring a power play goal in his Avs debut and the game winner by T.J. Galiardi.
The Avs found themselves on the road the following night for a Thursday night match up in Phoenix against Wolski and his new team the Coyotes. Recently acquired Lee Stempniak(From Toronto) started off the scoring for the Yotes as they took their one goal lead into the 2nd. John-Michael Liles tied up the game in the second for the Avs scoring a goal on the power play. The game would eventually go into the minute of the 3rd still tied up until Wolski enacted his revenge on his former team by launching a one timer past the left side of Chris Anderson to give the home team Coyotes the 2-1 lead with only 23 seconds remaining. Vrbata would eventually tally an empty net goal as well and the game would end as a 3-1 victory for the Coyotes.
Well that’s all for this week, be sure to catch the Avs next week as they begin a 3 game home stand starting this Saturday night against St. Louis at 7pm.
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In response to the Men’s Olympic Gold Medal game…
Funny thing is, I’m not really that into sports, but I always end up at Buffalo Wild Wings on days of huge sporting events completely on accident. The Men’s Olympic game was like the third time it happened, but my brother and I just wanted some wings. In any case, I still like that it turns out that way coincidentally. We got there at the beginning of the third period and got to be there for all the crowd excitement when U.S. scored and tied with 24 seconds left, the “USA!, USA!, USA!” cheers and all that goodness.
I’ll admit, if I was into sports, hockey would definitely be up there.