VANCOUVER, B.C. – The 2010 Winter Olympic Games closed out with a classic hockey battle between rivals U.S. and Canada and when it was all said and done, Sidney Crosby and his team sat at the top podium wearing gold.

A late goal by U.S. player Zach Parise with just 25 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 2-2 and forced it into overtime. With  host country Canada sitting at the edge of their seats, Pittsburgh Penguins player Sidney Crosby netted the winner in OT sending the arena and country into a frenzy.

The 3-2 victory marked the first time Canada has won gold on their home turf but it did not come easy. The overachieving U.S. team behind the stellar play of netminder Ryan Miller had upset the Canadians earlier in the competition and again showed up to play.

Miller was named the MVP of the tournament after setting a U.S. Olympic record with a 1.35 GA average. Jim Craig held the previous record of (2.14 GA) during the team’s 1980 Miracle On Ice gold medal run.

“It was tough to lose that way in overtime, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the team,” said US head coach Ron Wilson. “Their character was great throughout the tournament. It was a great game today and hockey in general wins.”

Canada jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews and Anaheim Ducks Corey Perry but the Americans fought back finally tying the game with 25 seconds left with Miller pulled for a 6th attacker.

The silver medal is the 11th medal for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and brought the final tally of U.S. medals in these Vancouver Winter Games to an Olympic-best 37. After never winning gold on their home turf, Canada took home the most gold with 14.

Note: Parise (4g-4a) and Red Wings player Brian Rafalski (4g-4a) led the U.S. scorers with eight points each.

GAME SUMMARY & STATS

Scoring By Period

CAN 1 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 3
USA 0 – 1 – 1 – 0 – 2

First Period – Scoring: 1, CAN, Toews (Richards), 12:50. Penalties: USA, Ryan (tripping), 14:02.

Second Period – Scoring: 2, CAN, Perry (Getzlaf, Keith), 7:13; 3, USA, Kesler (Kane), 12:44. Penalties: USA, Malone (high-sticking), 2:33; CAN, Staal (interference), 4:41; CAN, Toews (tripping), 8:25.

Third Period – Scoring: 4, USA, Parise (Langenbrunner, Kane), 19:35. Penalties: None.

Overtime – Scoring: 5, CAN, Crosby (Iginla), 7:40. Penalties: None.

Shots on Goal 
CAN 10-15-7-7- 39
USA    8-15-9-4-36

Goaltenders
CAN Luongo, 36 shots-34saves
USA Miller, 39 shots-36 saves

Power Play:CAN 0-2; USA 0-2
Penalties: CAN 2-4; USA 2-4

Officials: Referees-Bill McCreary (CAN), Daniel O’Halloran (CAN); Linesmen-Stefan Fonselius (FIN), Jean Morin (CAN)
Attendance: 17,748

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The men’s U.S.A. Olympic hockey team hasn’t claimed a spot on the gold podium since the incredible 1980 Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid, N.Y. but after blowing out Finland 6-1 this afternoon, they find themselves just one win away from gold.

The U.S. will meet the Canada-Slovakia winner and hope to return the favor if Canada advances to the gold medal game to be played on Sunday in Vancouver.

The last time the U.S. was represented in the finals was at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games when Canada edged the guys in red, white and blue on their home ice, stealing the gold from the Americans. If Canada advances, the U.S. team hopes to return the favor.

The game was a mismatch from the start with the Americans jumping out to a 6-0 first period lead. Finland goalie Miikka Kiprusoff barely had broken a sweat when he pulled himself from the game at 10:08 of the first period after letting in 4 goals on just 7 shots.

The Americans have been riding the back of their goaltender Ryan Miller throughout much of these playoffs but got charged up offensively, allowing Miller to relax and leave the game early for a little extra rest. Coming in for Miller, back-up net minder Tim Thomas saw his first action in these Winter Games.

Thomas allowed a goal to Antti Miettinen with 5:14 left to spoil the U.S. bid for consecutive shutouts after a 2-0quarterfinal win over Switzerland on Wednesday.

Finland, the silver medalist at the 2006 Turin Winter Games, still has a shot at the bronze.

U.S. fans sensing a Canada/U.S. rematch started chanting “We Want Canada” and “U-S-A” as the final minutes melted off the clock.

Chicago Blackhawks player Patrick Kane lead the American charge with two goals. Kane from Buffalo, New York had scored only once in the tournament before today and his back-to-back goals were just 2:33 apart.

Sunday’s gold medal game can be seen at 3 pm EST on Sunday on NBC.

Copyright 2010 Sports Climax™