Brody's Scribbles... USA Hockey Team Grinds Out 5-3 Win Over Canada

~SIGH~

By Brody Levesque (Bethesda, Maryland) Feb 21 | Well, I just finished watching the game on the live CTV feed and sadly will simply repost this end-of-game report from my hometown paper, The Globe & Mail on this 'Black Sunday:' 

"Just as Sidney Crosby had cut the U.S. lead to one goal, American Ryan Kessler scored an empty-netter to regain it as the U.S. chased down its first Olympic men's hockey victory versus Canada since 1960 by a score of 5-3.

With the victory, the Americans win Group A and earn the automatic berth to the quarterfinal round. Canada finishes second in the group and must now play Germany on Tuesday in a qualification game.

Earlier in the third period, Jamie Langenbrunner tipped a Brian Rafalski shot past Martin Brodeur to give the U.S. a 4-2 lead at the Vancouver Olympics.

Chris Drury ended the second period by batting a rebound past a sprawled Martin Brodeur to put the U.S. up 3-2 .

Earlier in the second period, Canada's Dany Heatley banged in his fourth goal of the Games to tie the contest 2-2.

Rafalski had scored two goals for the U.S. to give the Americans a 2-1 lead going into the dressing room after the first period.

Rafalski's second score interrupted the roar of Canadian fans still cheering for a goal scored by Canadian Eric Staal, which tied the game 1-1 just 22 seconds earlier. Brent Seabrook took a shot from the point, which was tipped by Staal past U.S. goalie Ryan Miller.Rafalski' s opener came on a slapshot from the point past Brodeur just 41 seconds into the first period. It interrupted the first 'Go Canada Go' chant that boomed from the crowd to open the game.

The atmosphere is booming, fitting for a rivalry game of this magnitude. The U.S. team hasn't been greeted so politely at Canada Hockey Place although the booing was gentle considering how high emotions are running. 

There is a sprinkling of U.S. jerseys and flags around the arena, including two large Stars and Stripes that are being held right behind the Canadian bench. On Beatty Street, outside the arena, scalpers were asking for $2,500 per ticket to sit at centre ice."