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Gold medal game at the Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament

The Canadian team celebrating after winning the gold medal
1 2 3 OT Total Canada 1 1 0 1 3 USA 0 1 1 0 2
Date	28 February 2010
Arena	Canada Hockey Place
City	Vancouver
Attendance	17,748

The 2010 Men's ice hockey Olympic gold medal game was the final championship game of the 2010 men's ice hockey Olympic tournament, played between Team Canada and Team USA. It would be the second time the two nations met in the gold medal game since the introduction of an elimination bracket at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, the first being the 2002 Salt Lake gmaes. The game was a tournament rematch after the US beat Canada 5-3 during the Group A round-robin.

Canada would beat the USA in overtime with a goal from Sidney Crosby in overtime. This would be Canada's 8th ice hockey gold medal and the USA's 8th silver medal. The game was the most watched events in Canadian television history.

Background

Canada and the US both have long histories with Olympic hockey, having won the 1st and 2nd most medals in men's Ice hockey Olympic history. The two teams faced each other in the 2002 Salt Lake games and at the first Olympics in 1920, with Canada winning both of the games, also marking the only times the countries faced each other in elimination games. Prior to these games, the teams head-to-head record was 10 wins for Canada, 2 wins for USA, and 2 tied games, with the US only beating Canada in 1956 and 1960.

Path to the game

Canada

Team Canada played Slovakia in the semi finals, winning 3-2 on route to the finals

A perenial contender for gold medals, Canada was predicted amount many to win tournament given their then 2nd place rank in the IIHF rankings (behind Russia). Placed in Group A, Canada's tournament started with a resounding 8-0 victory over Norway, with Jerome Iginla scoring Canada's first tournament goal. Switzerland proved to a tougher opponent, dragging Canada to a shootout that Canada would win, after team captain Sydney Crosby scored the lone goal. In a reflection to come, Canada's final groupstage game was against the United States with the American's taking the game 5-3 after an empty net goal with 45 seconds left by Ryan Kesler. This loss would finalze Canada in 2nd place in Group A and thus start their playoff run in the Qualification stage.

Canada's play off run would start with an 8-2 trouncing of Germany. Next would be the world #1 Russians, who the Canadian's swept aside with ease in a 7-3 beating. For the semi-finals, Canada would face Slovakia, with Canada starting the game with a 3-0 lead that Slovakia nearly clawed back in the third period, leaving Canada with a 3-2 win onto the gold medal game against the USA.

USA

Jamie Langenbrunner of the USA celebrates securing a 2 goal lead over Team Canada

At the time of the 2010 Olympics, the USA was ranked at #5 in the world rankings, in part due to poor finishings at the 2006 Turin Olympics (8th), and the last 3 IIHF World Championships. Placed in Group A as well, the US started their tournament against Switzerland, winning a 3-1 game, with Bobby Ryan scoring their first tournament goal. Next was a much more dominant showing against Norway, sweeping them aside with a 6-1 win. In their final group stage matchup, with a Quarterfinals spot on the line was against Canada, whom the Americans beat 5-3, securing a direct quarter finals spot.

In the quarters the USA would face off against Switzerland again, with the Americans winning 2-0 in the rematch after back to back Zach Parise goals in the third period. Next was Finland, which the American's put aside with ease in a 6-1 win, scoring all their goals in the first period and securing the USA a finals apperence.