Team U.S.A Olympic Hockey Review

     With the Olympic Hockey tournament over and done with for both American squads, - it was disappointing outcome to say the least. Both the Men's and Women's National teams fell short of their goals for Gold- both falling to Canada in heartbreaking fashions.

      As expected, the American Women rolled through much of there competition through pool play and into the Gold Medal Game where they met Team Canada. In the Gold Medal game, USA led Canada 2-0 for most of the duration of the game. For 56 minutes, the United States of America was the better team. Non the less in the final four minutes team Canada notched two late goals and went on to win the game in OT where they scored on a controversial 5-on-3 power play from captain Marie-Philllip Poulin.

     For the American women, it was just a heart -breaking moment. There is nothing bigger in Women's Hockey than Olympic Gold.There is no regular season to turn to after being eliminated nor is there a Stanley Cup playoff chase to embark upon in the coming months. It's just one medal, four years in the making.

     It was a fairy tale ending for the Canadian side, and the repeat of a nightmare for the Americans. While receiving their Silver medals, the Americans were devastated. With tears falling down their faces, they're heads were hung low in disappointment, and had nothing but disappointment going through their heads- the American women will one day realize how proud their country is of them. It's time to start looking forward to the future and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.

      For the Men's side, coming off they're own heartbreaking overtime loss in the Gold medal game four years ago in Vancouver, the mentality of the team was 'Gold or bust'. The team was one of the top five favorites to capture the Gold medal in Sochi, along with Canada, Russia, Sweden and Finland.

     The games began for the United States as any American would hope for. The team cruised by Slovakia 7-1 in its opening match. Two days later they defeated Russia on their own soil in arguably the most exciting and highly anticipated game of the whole tournament. T.J Oshie and his shootout heroics thrusted himself in the USA hockey hall of fame, as he scored four goals in six shootout attempts including the game winner to earn USA a 3-2 victory that over 6 million people watched here in the U.S on a early Saturday morning. It's always a grudge match when the United States and Russia play hockey in the Olympics ever since the famous 'Miracle On Ice' game back in 1980. The result didn't please Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he let his emotions get the best of him by publically calling out the referees and their ruling on a disallowed goal called on the Russians. Beating Russia on they're own soil had the Americans confident and poised, and it showed in the next game against Slovenia, as they won 5-1.

     Going 3-0 in pool play saw the Americans win Group A and a meeting with the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. Team USA once again showed their skill and outplayed the Czech Republic in a 5-2 win, putting themselves in the semi-finals for a battle with Canada to get to the Gold Medal game.

     The Gold Medal game from four years ago had to be on the Americans mind. It would have been perfect revenge to knock out the Canadiens and earn a second gold medal berth in as many Olympics, but unfortunately for the U.S, Canada had different plans. The Canadian defense stifled the American forwards and did not allow any great opportunity's for the Americans all game. None of the American skaters we're able to get any quality shots from the slot, and weren't able to get any rebounds in front of the Canadian net. Team Canada's defense made goaltender Carey Price look like a legend. Eventually, Jamie Benn of Team Canada was able to deflect one by Jonathan Quick, who was keeping the U.S in the game with great save after great save. Unfortunately one goal was all it took, and Canada eliminated the US 1-0 in the Semi-finals, sending them to a bronze medal game and a face off with Finland.

    A Bronze medal is better than nothing, and finishing in 4th in the Olympics is just as bad as finishing last, as the end result is no medal. Non the less, Patrick Kane missed two penalty shots, the defense played terribly, and before you knew it, The game ended 5-0 in favor of Finland.

     Looking back at the Olympics, a major reason why the U.S eventually didn't win gold was the lack of production from some top players. Zach Parise only had one goal in the six games and Patrick Kane was held to 0 goals throughout the tournament. It seemed as if the only consistent offense for team USA stemmed from Phil Kessel and James VanRiemsdyk who combined for 15 points. Unfortunately these 15 points came during the first four games for USA, as the two Maple Leafs were held to 0 points in the semi-final and Bronze medal game.

     Much of the same can be said for both squads. They both had the same goal, neither achieved it. The Women had it right in front of them and let it slip away by letting Canada force overtime and get the win.The Men had all the reason in the world to think they could win Gold, as they should've with the way they started the tournament, but didn't rise to the occasion when it mattered most.

     It is possible that this was the last time we will see NHL players play in the Olympics, and with that we may have seen the best of the U.S.A-Canada Olympic rivalry for the Mens side at least. The girls in four years will once again be co-favorite with Canada for the gold, and will be eager to finally take them down.

It'll be pretty exciting to see what the future holds for Olympic Hockey.