Team USA defeated Russia 3-2 in dramatic fashion in the preliminary round at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The game ended in an 8-inning shootout, with the U.S. coming out on top.
Russia's Pavel Datsyuk scored the game's first goal in the 2nd period, beating USA goalie Johnathan Quick with a glove-side wrist shot.
Minutes later, Cam Fowler put USA on the board with a power-play goal. The score was knotted at 1 after two periods.
Joe Pevelski gave the U.S. the lead on a power-play goal midway through the 3rd period. Russia answered three minutues later when Pavel Datsyuk found the back of the net again, evening the score at two a-piece.
The game went to "sudden death" overtime, but neither side was able to put the puck into the net.
In the shootout, each side got three shots. Each team scored one, so the shootout continued until the tie was broken. The two sides went back and forth, with Russia's Ilya Kovalchuk scoring right off the bat with a sweet wrister.
Team USA decided to go with T.J. Oshie for their remaining shots in the shootout.
According to the Star Tribune, unlike the NHL, players are allowed to shoot more than once in the shootout if both teams are tied after the initial three shootout shots.
Oshie — who plays for the St. Louis Blues in the NHL — buried 4 out of 6 shootout shots, including the game-winner that gave the U.S. the victory.
U.S. goaltender Johnathan Quick was outstanding in the game, tallying 29 saves in regulation and overtime.
The U.S. will complete preliminary-round play on Sunday against Slovenia, which on Saturday recorded its first-ever Olympic triumph with a 3-1 victory over Slovakia.
Team USA will take on Slovenia on Sunday, according to the LA Times.
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