The Czechs did it in 2000-01.
The Russians followed that up in 2002-03.
The Canadians had a run from 2005-09, and then went back-to-back in 2022-23.
You’ll notice the United States isn’t mentioned there at all.
Great moments are born from great opportunity.
And that’s what Team USA has earned here tonight.
They finished 4th in 2005.
They got bronze in 2011.
They finished 5th in 2014.
And finished 5th in 2022.
It was a game where Team USA looked a little lethargic all game long.
And that’s where Finland thrives.
If this team can stick around in close games, they are deadly.
They did it to the US in group play.
They did it to Sweden yesterday in the semifinals.
If you let Finland hang around, they’re eventually going to squeak one through.
But this is a gold medal game.
I doubt the word “lethargic” will be anywhere near this US team tonight.
They have a chance tonight to do something that no US team has ever done before.
This is their time.
Now go out there and take it.
Live blog officially activated.
Already, there are some similarities to the last game against Finland.
USA is just a little too weak on the puck in their own zone.
Like every single game in this tournament, the key is to stay out of the box.
USA made the first mistake, andJesse Kiiskenen (DET rights)made them pay on the powerplay.
Which usually results in one too many passes being made.
Sometimes it’s best to just simplify the game.
Pucks on net, crash hard, get a little greasy.
Which is exactly whatJames Hagens (2025 Draft)did here to get the Americans on the board.
There’s a strong chance that James Hagens will be the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft.
But that doesn’t mean he’s afraid to get dirty.
Crashes the net, stays strong on the puck and puts away a huge goal on the rebound.
Uronen had a quick stint with the Ottawa 67’s last year in the OHL.
Not much you might do about that one.
20 minutes down and Finland has clearly been the better team.
Better chances, more shots, and they just seem to be getting to the puck quicker.
Luckily there’s still 40 left to go for USA to find their game.
But Finland is playing extra dangerous tonight.
It was the first time USA has been down by 2-goals this whole tournament.
Meanwhile, the Americans still kept trying to get just a little too cute with the puck out there.
Still making too many passes instead of just getting shots towards the goal and seeing what will happen.
LuckilyBrandon Svoboda (2023 SJS 3rd rd)isn’t trying to be a superstar out there.
A couple lucky bounces later and it’s in the back of the net.
They don’t ask how, they ask how many.
And at this point, USA was only down by 1.
They were just one shot away from tying this game up.
Great rush started off by Zeev Buium (2024 MIN 1st rd).
Great move by Hutson.
Going glove side there is extra cocky.
And what a massive goal before the 2nd intermission to completely steal that momentum heading into the locker room.
Just remember that USA came back from being down 2-0 against Finland in last year’s tournament.
Sending this game into the final 20 minutes tied up was huuuuuuuuge.
Gutsy period there for the Americans, now it’s time to finish the job.
Realistically a bit of a yawner of a period.
60 minutes wasn’t enough to get this one done.
So now it’s onto overtime.
We weren’t ready for this tournament to be over yet anyway.
But let’s not forget that USA has won gold in a shootout before.
So I’ll take 3v3 OT over that any day of the week.
What an unreal 8 minutes of nonstop action we got in that overtime.
USA getting chance after chance after chance after chance.
Leonard had a chance to put the game away.
James Hagens had a chance to put the game away.
Zeev Buium had a chance to put the game away.
ButPetteri Rimpinenkept coming up with ridiculous saves to keep Finland alive.
The puck was on an American’s stick practically the entire overtime period, besides a couple Finnish rushes.
His first goal of the tournament and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Again, that’s just an insane pass to spring him on that break.
Calm, cool, collected, 5-hole, smell ya later.
What a goddamn country.
