The United States men’s hockey team was defeated by Slovakia

The United States men’s hockey team was defeated by Slovakia

The United States men’s hockey team was defeated by Slovakia:

On Wednesday, the United States men’s hockey team was defeated in a penalty- shot shootout, resulting in a crushing defeat. Team USA was one minute away from qualifying for the Olympic semifinals, but Slovakia rallied in the last minute of regulation to force overtime.
“It’s fairly hard to describe right now,” American captain Andy Miele said of the defeat, recalling his youthful team’s chances of continuing their run at the Beijing Olympics.
With an average age of roughly 25, the US team, which, like other countries, is devoid of NHL stars, is the most youthful the US has sent to the Olympics in decades. Its members are all current or past collegiate athletes, with more than half of them still enrolled in school.

Winning Formula:

The United States, on the other hand, rapidly discovered a winning formula, finishing unbeaten in group play (including a victory against Canada) and qualifying for the playoffs as the top seed. It was all due to their excellent teamwork. Consider the following Olympic analysis of their early equalizer in Wednesday’s back-and-forth game:

“Kenny Agostino does a great job up the right sideboards, and Steven Kampfer gets the ball back. Matty Beniers receives a silky centering pass, which he directs to his left.

“Nick Abruzzese adds the finishing touch with a fast stick deke through the goalie’s five-hole. Great play, and a magnificent team goal.”

After grabbing the lead in the second period on a goal by Sam Hentges, a standout at St. Cloud State University, the United States tried to hold on for the win in the quarterfinals.

Slovakia Victory:

With roughly 1:30 left in the game, Slovakia withdrew goaltender Patrik Rybar, and 45 seconds later, they tied the game, prompting a frantic but scoreless overtime, and finally the shootout.

Strauss Mann was relied upon by the US to make a variety of saves, and he came through time after time. He blocked 13 of 13 shots on goal in the second period alone.

Neither Mann nor Rybar blinked over the first three rounds of the shootout, keeping the score 0-0. In the fourth round, though, Peter Cehlarik, a former Boston Bruins forward, beat Mann. For the United States, Miele took the final shot, but he was unable to score.

“It’s a shame it’s finished,” Miele expressed his disappointment. “My stay was pleasant. Just grateful to be here, grateful to have had this chance, and grateful to lead that team; they’re a terrific bunch of people, and we’re trying to make the most of the time we have together here.”

Marek Hrivik of Slovakia, whose late goal forced extra, described the game as “amazing.”

“The game was fantastic. It was most likely one of the best roles I’ve ever had “According to Hrivik. “We knew how terrific of a team they have and how hard they fought out on the ice, so we tried to match that and just grind it out, and it worked.

Related: The United States men’s hockey team was defeated by Slovakia