Amid the flurry of patriotic pride that we gained through the Olympics, I have tried to over look the one disappointment, but I can’t. The U.S. men’s hockey team failed to medal. Not only that, but in the bronze medal game they were absolutely picked apart.

They lost to Finland 5-0, failing to put up even the slightest bit of a fight. The game was only close through one period, when both teams failed to score a goal. The Americans just looked completely dead, no energy, no fight, and no sense of pride. Given they were facing a phenomenal goalie in Tukka Rask, but knowing that ahead of time, they should have had way more than just 27 shots on goal. To think they only lost to Canada by one goal is absolutely astonishing, but that game was far from perfect for the U.S.

Although it was a one goal, Canada absolutely out skated and out played the U.S. in that game as well. The U.S. was shutout in this game as well, but goalie Carry Price was standing on his head all game long. Saving all 31 shots the Americans put on net. That being said, the U.S. was not shooting with the accuracy and power that they had been up to that point in the tournament. The only real bright spot in the Americans’ tournament was the Russia game.

The game against the Russians was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak Olympics for the US men’s team, but even that win came on a technicality. The Russians scored with under two minutes remaining in the 3^rd period. The goal ended up being called back because the net had been knocked off by Quick when he slide across to attempt to save the shot. In the NHL, that goal would have counted. Thankfully they play by international rules in the Olympics. After the called back goal, the game went into OT, and then into a shootout – the shootout that brought TJ Oshie into the spotlight and elevated him to American hero status.

Unfortunately, this game was played in the group play, ultimately it meant almost nothing. The Russians in fact might be the only team that disappointed more than the US when they failed to reach the medal round. So although the US was not the most disappointing team in the tournament, they do come in a close second. The only player I’m not disappointed with is TJ Oshie, he’s an American hero.