the world of jim

Well this was quite a day.  It started out quietly with a quick pre-game lunch at a little spot close the hotel – the Olympian Restaurant – nice little spot – the closest thing we’ve found to a diner in the downtown core.  A little colder today but still pleasant.

But before we get to the main event we must talk briefly about Game 1.

Big Swiss upset against the Slovaks.  For sure most of us thought the game would be close but everything indicated a Slovak win but the Swiss jumped into the game quickly and never gave up.  It was a great game – much closer than I thought it would be and the Swiss goaltender once again was amazing.

Game 2 – the main event.  Canada vs. the US.  The building was hopping and the noise level incredible.  Unfortunately our boys were in trouble early and while the shots on net remained pretty even throughout the game, none of their usual tricks were working and the Americans simply out skated and out played us for about 50 minutes of the game.

Somehow though, our boys came back.  Scoring short-handed certainly helped (after the Americans did it twice to us) and suddenly they seemed to have more focus and did more things right than wrong.  There was the goal that wasn’t (called back very questionably) and then when we tied it, well once again the crowd went berserk and the noise level off the charts.  Regulation time came to an end  and Canada clearly dominated in the 4 on 4 overtime.  They looked like the unbeaten team we’d seen before.

Then the dreaded shoot out.  I hate shoot outs.  And it just had to come down to the last shot.  It was a great win but it sure could have gone the other way.  I suspect we’ll see the Americans again.  Or the Swedes.