Wilbur

I'm not going to throw Lucia under the bus, but why on earth didn't they switch up the powerplay when Russia was going pressure box the entire time? Zero good opportunities on the powerplay at the end when it was the most pivotal. I DVR'd the game and went back and looked at those checking from behind plays again and I'm not sure what the official was looking at. Russia got away with three of them.....stupid.

Yeah, I've got to be a Sweden fan too. Can never cheer for Russa, can't cheer for Canada. Maybe Finland will pull some magic. I guess I'd rather see Russia before Canada....yikes.....sad but true.

And that'll do it. Felt that one coming from the time I saw the U.S. was going to play Russia. And of course the Russians pull that crap at the end. Even their fricken stick guy pulls that bull crap......All because the officials let them do it the entire game and the linesmen wasn't in the right spot after they scored to prevent them from skating right past the U.S bench. Easily the worst officiated game I've seen at the international level from every official on the ice. But the U.S. made up for it by showing nothing after the first period.

Kerdiles got tackled....no call.

Still waiting for even the tiniest push from the U.S. Got to start engaging the d men on the cycle. Five minutes until a flight home.

I think Donnie needs to take a timeout here before the power play. Gotta get some thing going. And Copp just missed an empty net.

Then a facewash by a Russian player in front.....after their goalie covers up. This is the worst officiated international game I've ever seen.

So what is a checking from behind penalty?

The U.S. needs to start taking dives...Why is Kyle Rau not on the team....

PP for Russia. Do they have to fall down every time? Every time?

4-3 Russia after two. Penalties (cough....) hurt the U.S. that period. Get two goals in twenty minutes or I become a big Sweden fan the rest of the tournament.

Agreed on Gilles. Has to make an exceptional save there, but thats why he's in Sweden. PP for USA. Get one maybe before the third period.

4-3 now for Russia. A special thanks can go to the same official who didn't call two blatant checking from behind penalties but called two ticky tack stick penalties.

And another penalty. This isn't looking good....

And its 3-3. Thank you Mr. Official.

And a Russian player falls down with minimal contact.....no.....when has that ever happened. And another Russian falls down with minimal contact.... 5-3 for Russia.

Dirty dirty elbow by a Russian player on Barber. Right in front of the U.S. bench.

How does Russia get away with two checking from behind penalties in one shift? The one on Barber was dangerous because he stopped playing because the whistle had blown. Now the U.S. will get a ticky tack penalty for something borderline.

Cannot let Russia hang around.....absolutely cannot. Sweden learned this earlier in the week. Had chances to go up three or four goals, but didn't bury chances and low and behold Russia was a tremendous deflection away from sending that one to OT where anything could have happened. Finish every check and get the puck deep and work on their soft defensemen. Have to make life miserable for Russia's goalie, or he'll get another player of the game award.

Congrats to all former UND guys who made the squad. The only time I ever cheer against Toews. When he puts on the Maple Leaf...... Love the Oshie pick. Before its all said and done he'll have made a difference for team USA.

I'd personally like to see UND play a team from the CHL. Like maybe play Windsor or the Wheat Kings. It would be a pretty competitive hockey game, and gritty as all heck. Heck, hold a little showcase at the Joe in Detroit. Windsor is right there, London near by.... I'm sure you could throw a Michigan school in there and have two days and four games between two NCAA schools and two CHL teams.

Maybe Princeton could just fly to Grand Forks and the two teams play a pair at the Ralph.

My dad's parents are both born and bred Canadians. I've got a ton of Canadian blood in me but absolutely cannot stand Canadian hockey fans. You win a game you're supposed too and instead of respecting an opponent you pull that crap. Brutal road to the gold medal game for the United States, and I mean brutal. Russia, then likely Sweden, then a probably rematch with Canada as they should glide into the final. Have to beat a pesky pesky Russian squad with a great goaltender. They leave him hanging out to dry a lot, but he kept them in the game against Sweden when it could have been 5 or 6 to 2.

Clearly Lucia's fault they lost this. Clearly...... Canada deserved to win the game. They got rolling and once that happened the U.S. made up for it by taking some bad penalties. You'd like to see Gilles make one of those saves from in close, but you could tell what team wanted to win this game more than the other one. USA will play? Anybody have a run down for me?

3-2 now. Some possible life for the U.S.