Gold medal game blog

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Game links: Game recap and box score | Photos

Video: Anthem | Trophy | Carlson
Highlights: 1st | 2nd | 3rd | OT | Postgame
ESPN First Take: John Carlson Q&A

What a fantastic game. Team USA wins a thriller and this rivalry just went up another notch. Next year we’ll be in Buffalo to defend the title. Will you?

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Turns out it was Carlson. TIme to celebrate. I’ll be back later with all the details.

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GOAL: Team USA 6 – Canada 5

15:39 – GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL. Didn’t see who scored. It was a 2-on-1 and the crowd is giving a standing ovation.

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15:52 – Schroeder had a shot and missed.

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17:46 – Campbell makes a sliding save. Faceoff in U.S. end now.

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18:33 – No big tests yet for either team. Faceoff coming in Canada’s zone.

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20:00 – Overtime begins. Let’s see if the U.S. can put the end of the last period behind them. It’s crucial that they have a very short memory, especially Campbell. The two goals he gave up would have been very difficult saves and he made several before that were incredible. I’m behind Canada’s goal for the overtime. Hopefully the celebration is in this end of the ice and involving the players in red, white AND blue.

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End of period 3: Team USA 5 – Canada 5

Wow. They did it again. Shocking. Going to overtime again. This time it’s a full 20-minute overtime. The tying goal came off a rebound. The initial save was a good one, but Campbell had to hit the deck to make it and couldn’t recover in time.

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GOAL: Team USA 5 – Canada 4

1:13 – Eberle scores again and the rally can’t be held off.

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2:26 – Just after the goal Canada had another chance and just missed. The loose puck was in the blue paint and the shot went wide.

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GOAL: Team USA 5 – Canada 4

2:49 – Eberle scores on a cross pass and the building erupts. Here we go. Under 3 minutes.

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3:33 – Great diving play by Carlson to deflect a cross pass out of play.

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4:01 – Palmieri slams into Jones and is going off for goaltending interference I think. Power play for Canada. This crowd comes alive to will a goal here. Penalty kill and Campbell face their toughest test of the night.

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4:12 – Amazing kick save by Campbell.

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5:51 – The puck bounced in front when Campbell was behind the net and I think he sprawled to stop a backhand attempt. Could have changed the game if that goes in.

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6:20 – The crowd is begging for shots every time Canada gets in the zone. Campbell had to make a huge save.

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8:46 – A bouncing puck finds its way to right in front of Campbell, but he smothers the puck.

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8:58 – Another Canada turnover becomes a two-man rush for the U.S., but no goal.

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11:15 – Team USA is winning all the loose puck battles now. They stay to the game plan that’s worked all along. Two goal lead, as we’ve seen, isn’t safe.

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13:16 – Allen heads to the bench and Martin Jones replaces him in Canada’s net.

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GOAL: Team USA 5 – Canada 3

13:37 – Allen mishandles a soft dump in and drops it right in front of him. Stepan calmly collects the puck, goes backhand and scores. Big goal by the captain.

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GOAL: Team USA 4 – Canada 3

15:48 – Turnover caused by Kristo and the puck ends up on, guess who, D’Amigo’s stick and he buries it. Big change after the PK.

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16:07 – PK does its job. Canada has all the pressure right now.

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18:08 – Big save by Campbell from the slot.

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18:30 – Canada hits the post, then McRae is sent off for delaying the game as he tried to clear the zone. Early power play for Canada.

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20:00 – Third period underway. Even strength to start. For the most part the officials are keeping their whistles tucked away. We’ll see if that continues in this final frame.

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20 minutes (at least) remain and boy do these teams deliver. Rivals or not, sit back and enjoy this game. The best junior hockey is on display and I hope there are some kids out there across North America inspired by what they see in Saskatoon.

How about Campbell? What were you doing at 17? I certainly wasn’t dropped into the middle of a tied gold medal game with 15,000 fans chanting my name (and not in a positive way).

End of period 2: Team USA 3 – Canada 3

Canada won the shots that period 14-12. The next goal is a big one. Both goaltenders are shutting things down lately.

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1:00 – Shots are evening out and the teams are trading some huge hits. The even matchup we expected is happening.

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4:30 – Both teams are getting chances but no really good shots on net. After a wild half, it’s settled down a bit.

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8:05 – Pressure is high on both ends of the ice. Campbell chants continue.

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10:45 – Penalty over. Campbell came up big there. Big rush from the Canadians.

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12:47 – Tripping penalty on Lashoff and Canada gets its first power play.

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13:25 – Power play over. U.S. is outshooting Canada 23-8.

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15:40 – Campbell replaces Lee in net. Caron off for Canada in the aftermath of a battle in front of the U.S. net. U.S. goes on the power play.

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GOAL: Team USA 3 – Canada 3

16:04 – Another quick answer from Canada. This time Lee had the save along his shoulder and Adam was there to keep the puck moving. It’s credited to Hall though, who took the original shot.

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16:34 – Donovan almost beat Allen and the puck dribbled through the crease.

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18:42 – The U.S. needs to avoid letting Canada get another quick one. The last response came only a minute and a half later and stole the momentum.

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GOAL: Team USA 3 – Canada 2

18:57 – Carlson bombs it in from the point past Allen on the low right post. He scored a big goal against Sweden and shows up again here.

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20:00 – The U.S. will have a minute and 22 seconds of power play to start the period. Special teams (either Team USA’s PP or Canada’s PK) could change the lead yet again.

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50/50 pot is up to $115,000 take home. I didn’t know this until last night, but that’s tax free in Canada.

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End of period 1: Team USA 2 – Canada 2

First one in the books and we’re still tied. Back and forth though and just the type of game we all expected – exciting. The U.S. seemed to be the aggressor that period, outshooting Canada 13-5. Lee let in the backhander when he was probably thinking Adam was going to pass and then was caught when the bouncing puck landed perfectly on the stick of Nemisz. Team USA is on the powerplay to start the period and a quick goal would be nice.

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00:38 – Pietrelangelo took a run at Morin in front of the penalty box and that’s where he’s headed. Power play for Team USA.

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1:15 – Penalty killed.

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3:26 – Penalty on Della Rovere for charging gives Team USA the first power play of the game.

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GOAL: Team USA 2 – Canada 2

3:57 – Quick answer from the hosts. A fluky bounce off a centering pass ends up right on Nimesz’ stick and he beats Lee to the low left post.

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GOAL: Team USA 2 – Canada 1

5:28 – Allen better check his glove for a hole. Schroeder rips it past the glove after a great pass from Bourque. Big play from the all-time U.S. leading scorer.

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GOAL: Team USA 1 – Canada 1

6:04 – Kreider with a sniper’s touch to the glove side corner on Allen. The play started with a neutral zone turnover by Canada.

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6:19 – The fans finally figured out to add Lee’s first name into the chant.

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9:53 – Tyler Johnson showed great speed to get a loose puck behind the defense, but couldn’t get a shot off or draw a penalty. Good effort though.

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11:47 – Team USA knows this is a long game and one goal doesn’t decide the game at this point. Blais is very good at keeping his team’s emotions in check. That is tested even more in the gold medal game.

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15:30 – Every time Canada brings the puck past center ice this crowd goes bananas. You have to believe that the players are fueled by the home crowd.

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GOAL: Team USA 0 – Canada 1

17:20 – One shot, one goal for Canada. Caron fed a pass to Adam who was behind the defense. He backhanded a shot five hole to beat Lee.

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18:34 – Good start for the Americans. Two shots and Allen had to make a good save on that last one as the scramble started in front his crease.

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20:00 – Those seats filled up and the house is rocking. We are underway in Saskatoon. 60 minutes of great hockey await. If you have NHL Network and any friends who aren’t hockey fans, call them over right now. If you needed a hook, this is it.

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I’m set up behind the U.S. net with the benches on my right and the penalty boxes on my left. Team USA has the near bench. As the visitors they have to change lines first and Canada gets the advantage of adjusting. Should be interesting to see how this affects the game.

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Big flag just went over. Didn’t help it again. I wonder what they’ll do in Buffalo next year?

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Ice is cut for the last time. Nets are in place. We’re at 10 minutes until the opening faceoff and there are still some open seats around the rink. I figured people would be in here like sardines before the bronze medal game. It will fill up I’m sure. Just enough time for one more drink.

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20 minutes until USA vs. Canada Round II for this tournament. If it’s anywhere close to (or exceeds) the last two meetings between the teams we are all in for another instant classic.

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Mike Lee will start again for Team USA. His play against Sweden didn’t get noticed as much as the U.S. scoring, but he deserved a ton of credit. Sweden was flying around the zone and crashing the crease (sometimes right into Lee), but he held the line.  The fans are trying to stretch his last name into a taunting chant, but it’s hard with one syllable.

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35 minutes to go. The teams hit the ice with the expected boos for Team USA and roaring cheer for the hometown Canadians. I have to say it wasn’t a very vigorous boo. If you’re looking for TV coverage, NHL Network and FASTHockey.com are your best options. If you can’t watch the game on those sources, follow me live.

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50 minutes until the puck drop. The building is buzzing and the teams are finishing their pre-game routines. The pregame skates are next. Get your predictions in.