U.S. vs. Canada Olympic Hockey

There was something special about this game.

It wasn’t for a gold medal. It wasn’t for a bronze medal. It wasn’t even a final round game. It was just a preliminary round game.

But it wasn’t just a preliminary game. A quarterfinal bye was on the line. The big game feel was there.

It was one of those games that got people watching: the diehards, the casual hockey fans and those who best know ‘icing’ as a sugary sweet cake frosting.

The game had an excitement about it from the first minute with Brian Rafaski’s goal. And it continued to crescendo throughout the game. The diehards were watching from the beginning but the people who don’t watch too much hockey were even drawn in, like my grandma, who couldn’t stop watching.

This game had a little bit of everything, something for everyone…

Doc Emrick making it impossible to study with his excited play-by-play. Just as I would look down and start to write a notecard, I’d hear Doc scream “CENTEEEER BY CROSBY” or “OHHH, WIIDE.”

Stars all over the ice, especially on the home country’s squad. Crosby, Heatley, Pronger, Iginla, Nash, Getzlaf, Brodeur.

The performance of goalie Ryan Miller. His 42 saves were thrilling to watch. The final five minutes were nerve-wracking to watch, as the U.S. could not clear the puck and Miller stood on his head. And how about Miller’s incredibly cool mask?

Then, there was the capper. When Canada pulled Marty Brodeur, you couldn't help but think we were in for a finish like the Game 7 of the '09 Stanley Cup Final, when Marc Andre Fleury had to hold Detroit down 'til the very final second. But then Brad Kessler found a way to get it into the empty net. Game.

The home crowd. A sea of red filling the stands, Canadian flags all around, and the U.S. defeating not only the men on the ice but the crowd's collective spirit, as the final score stood, U.S. 5, Canada 3.

The U.S. team has plenty of games left to play if it hopes to be atop the medal stand, if it hopes to have gold around its necks.

Tonight’s game wasn’t the one that decided the gold. But it was an Olympic classic. No matter what happens from here on out, it’s one we’ll be talking about tomorrow and at the end of the Games and when Socchi rolls around in four years. It’s why we watch the Olympics.