On paper, one would think that Russia had the advantage hands down going into an overtime shootout with the numerous weapons on their roster. The United States had two weapons of their own in the form of Jonathan Quick and TJ Oshie as Team USA cruised to a 3-2 victory in the eighth round of an overtime shootout Saturday.
Oshie scored the game winner as both teams went back and forth forcing round after round. As Russia used Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsuk in the extra shootout frames, head coach Dan Bylsma continued to put Oshie out there as he seemed to have Sergei Bobrovsky‘s number.
“I kept looking back to see if anyone else was going to go and I told some of the boys that I was running out of moves,” Oshie said. “It was a little nerveracking but I got through it.”
The game was sent to overtime after a goal was disallowed toward the end of the third period when Russia thought they had taken a 3-2 lead. The goal was waved off after it was determined the net was dislodged.
“After they called it a goal, I looked back and saw the net was off a bit,” Quick said after making some critical saves down the stretch in the shootout. He had to face Evgeni Malkin, Datsuk and Kovalchuk. “The three guys they used today, I’ve seen them before in shootouts and seen them before shoot on other goalies. But those three are three of the better players in the world.”
Russia got both of their goals from captain, Datsuk while USA got their goals from Cam Fowler and Joe Pavelski.
“We know we can play with these guys, we’ve done it before and we’ve got the confidence,” Pavelski said. “It was intense and it was everything you thought it was going to be.”
As stated in a previous column, the United States proved their superior goaltending and above average defense can overcome any foe regardless of the offensive firepower they are facing.
Team USA will get set to make it a perfect 3-0 Sunday at 7:30 am ET as they take on Slovenia.