Thought to be the Olympic underdogs, Slovenia, was unable to gain momentum in the 5-1 loss to the Americans. Now the pressure is on for Slovenia, who has to beat Austria to move onto the quarterfinals.
Slovenia barely managed to get a goal, scoring with only 17.6 seconds left in regulation. The lone goal came from Marcel Rodman– former NHL draft for the Boston Bruins.
Rodman’s goal was not nearly enough to compete against the United State’s team, who were not shy on the scoreboard. Phil Kessel, of the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored a natural hat trick to start the scoring for team USA– getting two goals in the first and one in the second. Kessel’s hat trick was the first for team USA in the Winter Olympics in the last 12 years.
The American hat trick was followed by goals from Ryan McDonagh, of the New York Rangers, and David Backes, of the St. Louis Blues, who furthered the gap to 5-0.
The loss was perhaps more bitter because it was followed by the nation’s first ever men’s ice hockey Olympic win. Slovenia earned the 3-1 win against Slovakia. If they want to move onto the quarterfinals, they will need to play with the same level of intensity against Austria, or else their Olympic run in 2014 will come to end.
Callie Austin
Latest posts by Callie Austin (see all)
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