By Kevin Oklobzija
SOCHI, Russia — One day they were an unstoppable powerhouse, a grunting, snorting bull in a Russian tea room.
And then, just like that, they were house cats, tamed first by Team Canada and then by Finland.
The charter flight can’t leave soon enough from Adler Airport for Team USA.
“With a medal on the line, you get blown out, it’s unacceptable,” captain Zach Parise said after Saturday’s 5-0 loss to Finland in the bronze-medal game of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
“To leave on this note,” Parise said, “is pretty ugly.”
Rather embarrassing, too. After scoring 19 goals in their first four games (the shootout vs. Russia not included), the Americans were shut out for their final six periods: 1-0 by Canada in the semifinals, and then the five-spot trouncing applied by the Finns with bronze on the line.
“If we’re honest about the last two games, we had better performances (still left) in the tank,” center David Backes said.
They generated very little sustained offensive-zone pressure against Canada in Friday’s semifinal. On Saturday, they dominated the first period but couldn’t score.
Then, when Finland’s Teemu Selanne and Jussi Jokinen scored just 11 seconds apart in the second minute of the second period, the bags were packed.
“They open the period up with two quick goals, and it seems like we just couldn’t get going again,” winger Ryan Callahan said. “It’s frustrating, disappointing. We didn’t do what we needed to do.”
What Team USApreached doing since it arrived in Sochi was getting better ev- Finland United States First Period— No scoring. Penalties—Teemu Selanne, Finland (Tripping); Max Pacioretty, United States (high sticking); Kimmo Timonen, Finland (throwing a stick or any object); Sakari Salminen, Finland (Tripping). Second Period— 1, Finland, Teemu Selanne (Mikael Granlund, Lauri Korpikoski), 1:27. 2, Finland, Jussi Jokinen (Jori Lehtera, Petri Kontiola), 1:38. Penalties—Leo Komarov, Finland (slashing); David Backes, United States (Tripping). Third Period— 3, Finland, Juuso Hietanen (Tuomo Ruutu, Sami Lepisto), 6:10. 4, Finland, Teemu Selanne (Mikael Granlund, Lauri Korpikoski), 9:06 (pp). 5, Finland, Olli Maatta (Jori Lehtera, Jussi Jokinen), 13:09 (pp). Penalties—Patrick Kane, United States (Tripping); T.J. Oshie, United States (interference); Ryan Suter, United States (high sticking); Patrick Kane, United States (slashing). Shots on Goal— Finland 8-12-9—29. United States 12-10-5—27. Goalies— Finland, Tuukka Rask. United States, Jonathan Quick. Referee— Konstantin Olenin, Russia; Tim Peel, United States. Linesmen—Chris Carlson, Canada; Ivan Dedioulia, Belarus; Alexander Sergeyev, Russia; Alexey Vasilyev, Russia. ery game. The team did just that during the three group-play games, and it kept improving during its 5-2 quarterfinal victory over the Czech Republic. And then? It regressed. “In the ones that counted, we need to do more and didn’t,” Callahan said.
Team USA managed to produce just 10 shots on goal in the second period against goalie Tuukka Rask and had just five in the third period when the Americans mentally were in running-time mode.
“We took a step back the last two games,” winger Dustin Brown said. “We were getting better and better, and then we took a step back.”
No kidding. If this had been the Summer Olympics, Team USA may have won the long jump.
“It’s a little embarrassing,” Parise said. “With what was on the line the last two days, and for us to not play well, that’s something that will frustrate all of us for a long time.”
Especially Patrick Kane. The man with the hands accomplished virtually nothing in the two most important games. He had four assists in the Olympics and may forever be remembered as the guy who failed to score on two penalty shots in the same game.
“Yeah, it was a frustrating night, probably one of the most frustrating games I’ve been a part of,” Kane said.
“No excuses; (I) wasn’t good enough, wasn’t good enough to help the team win a medal. I was expected to do a lot more.”
Finland, meanwhile, did plenty. Never considered a favorite, they have won silver once and bronze three times since the NHL began taking part in the Winter Games in 1998.
“Nobody ever picks us to win anything, and we always find a way to get something,” Rask said. “Hopefully someday it (the medal) can be brighter.”
Selanne scored twice in the game, adding another during Finland’s threegoal third period. The oldest player ever to win an Olympic hockey medal at 43 years, 234 days, his farewell to the Winter Games was storybook-like.
“Twenty-six years ago I played my first game for the national team,” he said. “I’ve been carrying this jersey with a lot of pride and love. Winning this game, I’m so happy.”
Meanwhile, for Team USA, there was nothing to bring home from Russia but bad memories.
“It feels like we played this tournament for nothing,” forward Paul Stastny said.