Live Game Blog vs. Japan

Final, USA 6-0.

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With one minute remaining, I must be off to perform media duties. I hope you enjoyed the blog! Team USA ahead, 6-0, with 63 seconds left!

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DESCRIPTION: Another neutral zone turnover turns into pay dirt for Team USA. Nikko Landeros used his huge frame to fend off a defender, put the puck to his forehand and fire a shot low and to the back of the net. You have to feel good for that man, who let out an audible cheer above the crowd upon scoring his first career goal. He is the only rookie on Team USA.

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6:06 GOAL!!!!!! Nikko Landeros! USA 6-0

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6:18 An offsides call eliminates another U.S. two-on-one chance.

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6:58 PENALTY OVER Adam Page gets caught on a partial breakaway, but still musters a tricky left-handed shot that nearly escapes new Japan goalie Shinobu Fukushima.

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Chants of NI-PON!! are loud here at the UBC Thunderbird Arena. (That’s JA-PAN! in English.)

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9:00 PENALTY: USA’s Tim Jones off for interference.

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DESCRIPTION: Howard was due. He was sprung free just inside the Japan blue line and was free and clear. Instead of trying to be too cute, he simply reared back and fired a shot high over Nagase’s blocker from between the rings. Nagase’s night is done.

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10:50 GOAL!!!!! Joe Howard! USA 5-0

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Steve Cash, in 120 minutes played so far, has stopped all 16 shots faced.

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Mike Blabac between the pipes. It’s his first CAREER IPC action, and first Paralympic action.

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GAME ON! Team Canada has just arrived for its game tonight against Norway… they are watching along the glass.

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Five minutes to puck drop! For those interested in the identity of your humble blogger, feel free to click on the “About the Author” link on the right side of your page.

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Apparently I missed a concert by The Weakerthans up at Whistler last Sunday. Dang it!

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END OF PERIOD 2, USA 4-0. Shots were 7-1 in that period, 13-5 now overall.

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DESCRIPTION: Taylor Lipsett and Taylor Chace broke in on a two-on-one from just inside the offensive blue line. This time, the defenseman opted to take away the passing lane. Lipsett passed the puck under his sled to his left hand and shuffled a shot past Nagase’s blocker side.

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0:57 Joe Howard ROBBED by Nagase on a breakaway.

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1:38 GOAL!!!! Taylor Lipsett! USA 4-0

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2:30 Adam Page hits the crossbar! One more pipe to go!

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3:00 Emmerson hits the pipe! PING!

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Brad Emmerson is very good about protecting the puck and maintaining possession under pressure.

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Japan’s trying to spring that breakaway now, leading to a breathless pace.

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5:30 PENALTIES OVER

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DESCRIPTION: Alexi Salamone used his usual shiftiness to deke around two defenders, slip through traffic to the slot and fired a shot high over Nagase’s glove.

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7:37 PENALTY: Japan’s Naohiko Ishida called for holding. 4×3 USA Power play.

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8:24 PENALTY: Japan’s Satoru Sudo had to interfere with a speedy Bubba Torres to prevent a breakaway.

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8:33 PENALTY: Taylor Lipsett in the box for charging.

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8:40 Cash stops a pure breakaway by Japan’s best, Daisuke Uehara. Team USA’s defense surrounds him to thank him.

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9:47 GOAL!!! Alexi Salamone! USA 3-0

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10:18 Joe Howard floats another backhand into Nagase’s chest from the same spot as two minutes ago. He shakes his head in disappointment.

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11:03 PENALTY Japan’s Naohiko Ishida called for hooking.

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12:00 Big chance for Joe Howard at the left side of the cage, but he can’t elevate the puck over Nagase.

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13:05 PENALTY OVER

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For those requesting video, it appears that ParalympicSport.tv is now showing this game on tape delay beginning at 10:30 p.m. PDT. Disappointing news for us all.

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14:40 GREAT chance for Japan’s Takayuki Endo, but he fans while wide open between the rings.

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Annnnnnnnnnnnd we’re off!

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Shots were 6-4 in favor of the U.S. in the first.

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90 seconds to go!

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While the U.S. has a healthy rivalry with most of its opponents, a certain friendship and mutual respect exists between Team USA and Japan. Their coaching staffs even teamed up to play against referees on an off day at the 2010 Japan Para Ice Sledge Hockey Championships last January.

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The crowd is packed in tight once again tonight. While many U.S. hockey teams are used to chilly receptions from fans at tournaments held in Canada, the fans here have been great. While the cheers for Japan do ring a bit louder, this humble blogger suspects that comes from the natural inclination to root for an underdog. Players, coaches and staff alike have felt at home here with our neighbors to the north.

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END OF PERIOD 1, USA 2-0. A big save by Cash as the horn sounds! He made four saves in the period, the most of any period so far this tournament for him.

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1:30 PENALTY: USA’s Taylor Chace whistled for elbowing.

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DESCRIPTION: Taylor Lipsett intercepted a pass at the U.S. blue line and broke out on a two-on-one with Greg Shaw on his flank. Lipsett slipped a pass to Shaw when the defenseman engaged, and Shaw buried the breakaway chance on the forehand.

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2:59 GOAL!! Greg Shaw! USA 2-0

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4:00 Andy Yohe sneaks wide open at the side of the net and then opts to pass to Josh Pauls at the top of the circle. A miscalculation that leads to an easy save for Nagase.

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6:50 PENALTY OVER. We’re already seeing that Japan has more skill and more creativity than the United States’ previous opponents at this tournament.

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Great forecheck by Greg Shaw keeps the puck pinned in Japan’s zone for over 45 seconds.

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8:20 A puck bounces off of Jimmy Connelly’s sled and NEARLY slides in past Cash.

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8:59 PENALTY: Adam Page is going off for hooking.

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9:51 Team USA is doing a great job of keeping the puck deep. Greg Shaw attempts a wraparound but is stuffed by Nagase.

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12:05 A 3-on-2 rush by Team USA goes awry when a pass for Alexi Salamone slides a bit too far.

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DESCRIPTION: After captain Andy Yohe held the zone, he skated to the top of the right circle and fed a pass to Page in the high slot. Page fanned on his first one-timer attempt, but slid a second effort to the far post and past Japan goalie Mitsuru Nagase.

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13:55 GOAL! Adam Page! USA 1-0

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You know where you are? You’re in the JUNGLE, Baby! GAME ON!!! (Game on!)

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Three minutes until puck drop! A huge Japanese contingency here. Vancouver has a very large Asian population, and games featuring Japan and South Korea have been well attended.

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In earlier action today, the Czech Republic jumped out to a 4-0 lead over South Korea before finishing with a 4-2 win, its first of the tournament. Meanwhile, Sweden edged Italy, 1-0. All four of those teams will be squaring off in relegation games beginning tomorrow.

VANOC did a fabulous job of filling this building for day games during the middle of the work week. Solution? Allow local schools to buy cheap ticket packages. Attendances in the high 4,000s made for great atmospheres in potential dog games. Plus, the kids were eager to cheer for anyone and everyone.

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It looks like ParalympicSport.tv is now airing the game on tape delay… so stick here for live updates from the game!

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While you’ll surely want to keep checking back to this blog for “witty commentary” and “brilliant insights”, this game is scheduled to be Web cast live at ParalympicSport.tv. Check it out!

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40 minutes to puck drop! Team USA is in its blues and ready to take the ice for warmups.

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Welcome to the live game blog for the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team’s final preliminary-round match-up against Japan. Puck drop is slated for 5 p.m. PDT. Drop by 30 minutes before the start of the game to get all the latest updates!

Remember, the most recent posts will appear at the top.