*Canada and the United States do battle in the men's ice hockey semifinal of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The following is a completely biased and non-apologetic-for-it LIVE BLOG of the game, from the most recent to my cheeky intro.
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GAME OVER
CANADA WINS. CANADA WINS. CANADA WINS.
How about that?
Victoria, B.C.'s Jamie Benn gets the game's only goal, the winning goal. Anahim Lake, B.C.'s Carey Price gets the shutout. And Canada is moving on to face Sweden in Sunday's gold medal final.
Once again, Canada finds an extra gear against the United States in the Olympics.
The Canadians have faced the Americans in an elimination game three times since the NHL joined the Olympics in 1998, and Canada has won all of them.
FINAL SCORE: Canada 1, USA 0
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Carey Price grew up in Anahim Lake, a B.C. town with a population of 1,500. It's very small, so small that its Wikipedia page doesn't even have a photo.
Now, Carey Price is tending net for Canada into an Olympic gold medal final.
Simply incredible, and pretty darn inspiring.
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Team Canada edges USA 1-0 in Olympic hockey semifinal #WeAreWinter http://t.co/NjD9PwR5cb pic.twitter.com/XFdgDeWhth
— CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) February 21, 2014
That's a shutout win for @CP0031 and Team Canada. #cbcolympics #CANvsUSA pic.twitter.com/l28QPyon73
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 21, 2014
Canada will play Sweden for gold in men's hockey after winning #CANvsUSA semi 1-0. http://t.co/9qQGMlybSU #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/RQRgU5HgTd
— Star Olympics (@StarOlympics) February 21, 2014
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1:50, 3rd period
Time is running out on the United States, and they can barely get over their own red line. This has been a dominant defensive performance from Canada, and everyone is doing their part.
Carey Price makes a big save on Patrick Kane (who else?) and Jonathan Quick is about to leave his net...
Canada 1, USA 0
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6:06, 3rd period
Canada kills its own power play, and the Americans escape the red tide once again...
We know this game isn't over until it's over, which is terrifying.
Jamie Benn, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry have been Canada's best offensive forwards yet again today.
Duncan Keith is having a wildly and quietly incredible game for Canada today.
Canada 1, USA 0
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11:11, 3rd period
Don't go get a coffee. Don't go to the bathroom. There is half a period to play, and Canada has a one-goal lead.
We're officially in the Paul Henderson zone, when heroes are made.
Canada hasn't lost a puck, and Team USA hasn't not blocked a shot.
This game now comes down to Jonathan Quick and Carey Price.
Score stays pat.
Canada 1, USA 0
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15:19, 3rd period
They're saying Canada needs their second goal, so they can take a 2-0 lead. They're calling it an insurance goal.
Unfortunately, that two-goal lead is the most dreaded in hockey. PROOF? Everything that happened yesterday.
Sidney Crosby gets an excellent chance with an open net, but the American defence seems to have found its legs in this third period.
Canada 1, USA 0
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17:27, 3rd period
Drew Doughty is making magic happen in the opposing zone again, making a Russell Wilson-like power move to juke inside and get a nice shot off.
Unfortunately, his Los Angeles teammate Jonathan Quick has been been on his game today. The American tender redirects another one safely out of harm and – this time – out of play.
Canada 1, USA 0
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17:46, 3rd period
Good news, Vancouver Canucks fans: Ryan Kesler is back on the ice.
Bad news, Canucks fans: Kesler plays for the United States.
Canada 1, USA 0
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WATCH: Victoria, B.C.'s Jamie Benn puts Canada ahead 1-0 against the United States
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The moment Jamie Benn scores for Canada in the Olympic men's semi-final http://t.co/Cud3iZTsoe pic.twitter.com/sdAfIubZah
— National Post (@nationalpost) February 21, 2014
Jonathan Quick bailing out #TeamUSA after horrendous turnover from Brooks Orpik in the D-zone. US defense having hard time today vs Canada
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 21, 2014
Canada looks like the better team in so many facets, and the US is one shot from making that not matter.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) February 21, 2014
Shattenkirk finally stretches the ice against Canada with a pass. Novel concept.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 21, 2014
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2nd Intermission
A very solid period for Canada comes to a close.
In games like these, each team is going to get its chances – you can't help it, and you'll do yourself more disservice trying to chase Phil Kessel or Patrick Kane around, same with defending Sidney Crosby or (apparently) Jamie Benn.
But Canada's system is beating America's right now. It's clear, through 40 minutes, that the United States has not seen an attack or a defence like Canada's yet in Sochi.
Carey Price and Jonathan Quick have been been sharp and both have needed to be.
Shots are 28-22 for Canada.
Canada 1, USA 0
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2:11, 2nd period
The Canadians easily kill a penalty served by Chris Kunitz, and the Americans bring some serious pressure after they lose their powerplay.
Sidney Crosby hade a goal-saving slide to break-up a cross-crease pass form Paul Stastny, bound for Max Pacioretty.
He won't get credit for that, but it should definitely be noted.
Carey Price with a couple fantastic saves, as well, keeps Canada in the lead.
Canada 1, USA 0
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6:40, 2nd period
The frame has slowed down since Canada's opening goal, with the red-and-white getting a couple more chances that have either been knocked away or promptly redirected by Jonathan Quick.
The Americans' snipes like Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane have been completely neutralized by Canada's defensive system, and sometimes its defensive stars like Duncan Keith and drew Doughty, who are both quietly having their best games.
Has Dan Hamhuis even touched the ice yet?
Quick robs Jamie Benn with a sprawling glove save – on a Canada one-timer – and the game stays as-in.
Canada 1, USA 0
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10:41, 2nd period
Say what you will about Sidney Crosby's scoring woes, but the guy has been the best player for either team every time he's been out there during these Olympics.
Not scoring, but doing everything he can with and without the puck to create opportunities for others.
Not really his fault that Chris Kunitz has looked less-than-Olympic.
Canada 1, USA 0
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18:19, 2nd period
GOAL - CANADA
Jamie Benn!!!
The Victoria, B.C. has his second goal of these Olympics on a tip-in form a Jay Bouwmeester shot. Canada takes the game's first lead and Benn and Bouw finally factor into a tally.
Everyone has looked in-sync for Canada so far.
Canada 1, USA 0
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19:10, 2nd period
A good chance for Joe Pavelski and Phil Kessel, but it's erased by Canada's Duncan Keith.
CBC has Canada's first period chance at 8, and the Americans with 4.
Canada has looked just as fast as the United States and a little stronger, but Canada is also clearly much more system-oriented.
The United States has scored at least five goals in all their games against, let's say, subpar competition. They scored just two against Russia, winning in a shootout.
Well, T.J. Oshie won in a shootout.
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The L.A. Kings like their Twitter.
With so many #LAKings in this game, it's not a surprise we're scoreless after 1. pic.twitter.com/kSznMDtdmN
— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 21, 2014
Canada 0, USA 0
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1st Intermission
(1:02 left) With the first period just about to end, it's been just what you expected – a breath-to-breath game with each Canada chance matched by an American rush the other way.
Each team has failed on a powerplay, and each team has killed a penalty.
Shots are 16-11 for Canada, and the Canadians have missed a few solid chances, the most noticeable being Chris Kunitz, who had Jonathan Quick essentially 1-on-1 and put a great opportunity over the net from the slot.
For my money, Canada has looked more together and more systematic. The Americans have been the more instinctive team. No surprises there.
Canada 0, USA 0
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If your boss isn't letting you do this right now, he or she is a sick individual:
Watching #CANvsUSA play at work! #GoCanadaGo #@CDNOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/btl74MRFro
— Tresa christy (@TresaChristy) February 21, 2014
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8:48, 1st period
So, my Internet is just terrible right now. It's affecting my stream and affecting my ability to actually updates this baby on a regular basis.
But I know this: Canada is on a powerplay and it's basically dead-even, so far.
Both Carey Price and Jonathan Quick have looked tall in goal. Price has been forced to make better saves, but neither tender has let a rebound go.
It's going to be a long morning, Canada. And, if your screen is as blurred and WiFi-challenged as mine, it could be paused at times, too.
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According to ESPN, if this game was played in the NHL, the Canadians would be massive favourites.
Well, this we know... and that's Canada's problem with the Olympics.
It won't be a miracle if USA beats Canada, but US is a BIG underdog when it comes to NHL prowess. (via @ESPNMag) pic.twitter.com/GssMDYcfUq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2014
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16:08, 1st period
I would love to give you some sort of analysis, but it's been a blur. A blur of stars and stripes and maple leafs, and all I know is what you know, which is that game is about to settle down, at some point.
Canada, in my opinion, is best to take whatever energy the Americans will throw at Canada. And Carey Price – like Roberto Luongo in 2010 – will be the most important player wearing red and white today, even if he only sees a couple critical chances.
For the Americans? Be ready to skate, is all. You'll need to legs to get around Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, or Drew Doughty.
8:55 a.m.
Let's use our women to set the stage for the men...
If everyone in the men's tournament played with the kind of heart, jelly-legged effort, and passion that both the Canadian and American women's ice hockey teams played with yesterday, maybe Russia would have won a meaningful game.
Maybe Canada would definitely beat the United States today.
Now, CBC Sports has suddenly decided not to make most of its YouTube videos embeddable. I guess they got greedy, and a little stupid.
So here's the shot that own Canada its gold in Men's Curling this morning, giving us a double-sweep of the podium in that sport for the first time... ever.
8:51 a.m.
Okay, that was my pessimistic post. That's okay.
Canada has all the tools to win this game and then some. Losing Tavares – who is an absolute stud but, let's be honest and RIP, kind of struggled against Finland and Latvia – may have made them even better.
Canada's defence is by far the best in this Olympic tournament, and Canada's forwards are a Pick n' Chews of high-quality beef. (Gross.)
But I'll say this... how much would you love to have a fourth line of Brad Marchand, Brendan Gallagher, and Milan Lucic right now?
The Americans would be sucking on maple syrup all game long.
8:47 a.m.
Yes, I am terrified. I mean, I fully expect the United States to have all the motivation to win this game. Not only did they lose that OT game against Canada four years ago – which all of a sudden feels like yesterday for us Canadians, just like your 2010 Canadian jerseys feel really old whenever you see someone walking around in a 2014 one – but the Yankees have no doubt been stewing about that loss for half a decade.
Zach Parise. Patrick Kane. Ryan Kesler.
Those three guys were dynamite against the Canadians in Vancouver, and now Phil Kessel has decided to live up to his hype.
The Americans have a lot more to win than Canada and nothing to lose. If the United States beats Canada and then goes onto to beat Sweden, it will inspire a generation of toddlers and teenagers below the 49th to get even better at the game they're probably just discovering.
If Canada wins... well, they're expected to. But so was Russia.
8:44 a.m.
In case you don't know, the winner of this game will face Sweden. Those slick-haired Scandinavians beat their slightly rougher slick-haired (and just as blonde) Scandinavian rivals, Finland, 2-1 earlier on Friday morning.
Erik Karlsson got the winner for Sweden because Erik Karlsson does everything for Sweden.
This is what it looked like:
The Intro
The last time they met, this happened... not to jinx it or anything, but just in case the United States wins, we will always have Vancouver and we will always have Sidney Crosby's 'Golden Goal'.
