Canadian hockey stars win 14th gold for their nation

The Russian fans can at least be proud that their team was beaten by the Olympic champs as Canada outplayed the US 3-2 in overtime of the Vancouver Games hockey final.

This was the very last medal put on line at 2010 Winter Games, and both teams started cautiously, knowing the high cost of a mistake in a deciding game, but it was the Olympic hosts who won the battle for the initiative in the middle of the first period.

he Canadian pressure resulted in the opening goal at 13th minutes. Jonathan Toews was first on the rebound after Mike Richards’ shot to beat US keeper Ryan Miller and give his team the lead, 1-0.

It was the first goal of the tournament for the talented 21-year-old player. He had 7 assists in the bag before the game.

The Maple Leafs doubled their lead on the 8th minute of the second period when Corey Perry found himself unmarked in front of the goal after the puck ricocheted from the American defender’s stick, 2-0.

Only afterwards did the Americans remember how they topped Canada 5-3 in the group stages.

Ryan Kesler, who was constantly booed by the crowd for saying he hates the Canadian team in a pre-match interview, got one back for the US, correcting the puck after an effort from Patrick Kane, 2-1.

In the third period, the Americans had troubles in creating anything dangerous in front of the Canadian goals playing five on five, but they succeed when they replaced their goalie with a field player at the very end of the third 20 minutes.

US forward Zach Parise silenced Canada Hockey Place just 25 second from time and sent the Olympic final to overtime.

The Maple Leafs, supported by fans shouting “Go! Canada! Go!”, went looking for the win in overtime, locking the Americans on their half of the rink.

The Canadians had 6 shots on goal before their biggest star, Cidney Crosby, sent the puck between the legs of the US keeper to make it 3-2 and give his country the much anticipated win.

Canada has triumphed in the Olympic hockey tournament for the 8th time in history, and they also grabbed their 14th gold medal in Vancouver as Canada became the nation to grab the most golds at these Games.