Olympic Ice Hockey

The United States men's hockey team is officially in the win column at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and it can thank Ryan Donato. 

After losing a 2-0 lead and dropping their first contest to Slovenia, the Americans bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Slovakia in a Group B game that aired live in the United States on Thursday night. Slovakia was unable to maintain its momentum after stunning the Olympic Athletes from Russia in its first game.

Donato scored both goals for the United States, the second of which broke a tie in the third period.

Dangle. Celly. @donatoryan puts @usahockey in front in the 3rd! #WinterOlympics https://t.co/zLZMW4PPYO pic.twitter.com/SWEQkYSWLi

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 16, 2018

Slovakia pulled goaltender Jan Laco in the final minute and didn't capitalize with the additional skater in the closing stretch.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, the Americans controlled the majority of the contest with their speed. That allowed them to win races to the puck, create scoring opportunities in the attacking zone and draw five penalties on the overmatched Slovakian side.

As a result, the victors enjoyed a 31-22 advantage in shots on goal, per NBC Olympics, which took some of the pressure off goaltender Ryan Zapolski. His counterpart was tested much more and stood strong against many of the United States' additional chances but ultimately couldn't turn Donato away on the power plays.

Donato wasted little time getting on the board with his first power-play goal just more than seven minutes into the contest.

Troy Terry sliced through the Slovakian defense and laid a perfect drop pass for the forward, who buried the wrister from the center of the attacking zone:

Ryan Donato with a LASER! He gets @usahockey on the board against Slovakia. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/zLZMW4yf7g pic.twitter.com/WtDYlAta0A

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 16, 2018

The Americans appeared to have some much-needed early momentum as they attempted to put their disappointing start to the tournament in the rearview mirror, but it was fleeting as Slovakia scored a mere 25 seconds later when Andrej Kudrna redirected a pass along the goal line past Zapolski.

Even with the goal, Slovakia had its back against the wall for the majority of the proceedings with the Americans finishing with an overwhelming 44-16 advantage in faceoffs, per NBC Olympics. That, along with their speed in the neutral ice, allowed them to continue generating chances.

The United States couldn't capitalize on two power plays in the second period, but it was just a matter of time before it broke through with so many opportunities with a man advantage.

Donato did just that after the Red, White and Blue won a faceoff in the attacking zone, found him near the crease and watched him go five hole for what proved to be the winning goal.

It was a critical play in the third period, especially after the United States allowed Slovenia to dominate the final 20 minutes in its first game as it blew a two-goal advantage. It also turned things around for the worse for Slovakia after it scored the winning goal against the Russians in the third period.

The Americans will look to build momentum with a win on the board in their next matchup against the Olympic Athletes from Russia. Slovakia now turns its attention to a showdown against Slovenia as group play continues.

Thursday was a fantastic day at the Pyeongchang Games for hockey fans, with a number of men's teams making their debut and the much-anticipated showdown between the United States and Canada in pool play going down as well.

Below, we'll break down all the day's action.

          

Men's Tournament

Finland beats Germany, 5-2

The Finnish men were clinical with their chances on Thursday, scoring five goals on just 20 shots in a 5-2 win over Germany. 

Finland's Eeli Tolvanen, an NHL prospect, was superb, leading the way with a goal and three assists.

"The young kid was awesome, he was leading the way," Finnish captain Lasse Kukkonen said of Tolvanen, per Jennifer Hoffman of NBCOlympics.com. "It is always exciting to see young players coming up and taking the next step."

Sami Lepisto, Mika Pyorala, Lasse Kukkonen and Jonas Kemppainen also scored for Finland.

            

Sweden beats Norway, 4-0

Swedish goaltender Viktor Fasth pitched a shutout on Thursday, stopping all 17 shots he faced from Norway en route to a 4-0 win.

Par Lindholm, Anton Lander, Dennis Everberg and Mikael Wikstrand all scored for Sweden in the dominant win. 

          

Czech Republic beats Republic of Korea, 2-1

Cho Min-ho's early goal for the underdog Koreans nearly inspired a remarkable upset that would have sent the host nation into a frenzy. Instead, the favored Czech Republic answered, coming away with a tight 2-1 win that left little doubt the Koreans belonged in this tournament.

Jan Kovar and Michal Repik had immediate answers to Korea's early tally, notching first-period scores of their own. From there, the Czechs held on for the win, with the Koreans scrapping late but unable to find an equalizing tally.

           

Canada beats Switzerland, 5-1

The Canadians opened their Pyeongchang Games with a decisive 5-1 victory over Switzerland.

Rene Bourque and Wojtek Wolski were the stars for Team Canada, registering two goals apiece, while Maxim Noreau also scored and Derek Roy notched three assists.

🏒Rene Bourque scores his second of the game🏒

3-0#PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/PxDUlLouSD

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 15, 2018

With the United States and Olympic Athletes of Russia losing on Wednesday, Canada's victory was hardly assured on Thursday in a tournament that has already been turned on its head.

And Switzerland was hardly a pushover, outshooting the Canadians, 29-28. Canada was far more clinical in its finishing, however, a trait shared by the women's team in its crucial win earlier in the day.

                      

Women's Tournament

Canada beats United States, 2-1

In the biggest matchup of the day, Canada once again bested the United States, 2-1, despite being outshot 45-23 in the contest.

"We buried the chances we had," Canadien forward Meghan Agosta said, per Dan Wolken of USA Today. "Do I think we have another level? Of course."

Agosta and Sarah Nurse each scored for Canada, while Genevieve Lacasse registered 44 saves in an impressive showing, holding strong as the United States peppered her net late in the game. Kendall Coyne scored the long goal for the United States.

GOAL! Sarah Nurse with an absolute snipe to put 🇨🇦Canada up 2-0 on the United States 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tHNJtEsz7M

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 15, 2018

The Americans weren't without their chances. Hilary Knight couldn't capitalize on a breakaway in the first period, while the United States had a penalty in the second period, though Jocelyne Lamoureux's effort was denied.

The result likely won't matter in the long run, as both teams are prohibitive favorites to meet in the gold-medal game. But the mental edge goes to a Canadian side that has won the past four gold medals. 

Canada now awaits the winner of Finland vs. Sweden in the semifinals, while the United States await the winner of Switzerland vs. the Olympic Athletes of Russia.

           

Finland beats Olympic Athletes of Russia, 5-1

Finland came out of the brutal Group A in third, beating the Olympic Athletes of Russia, 5-1, behind two power-play goals from Michelle Karvinen.

Riikka Valila, Pera Nieminen and Minamarri Tuominen also scored for Finland in the victory, while Anna Shokhina scored the Russians' first goal of the tournament in the loss.  

No Sidney Crosby. No Connor McDavid. No problem for Canada. 

The Canadian men's hockey team cruised to a 5-1 victory over Switzerland in its 2018 Winter Olympics opener Thursday at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in South Korea.

After the United States and the Olympic Athletes from Russia were upset during Wednesday's action, the Team Canada triumph brings a sense of normalcy to the tournament, which is being contested without most of the world's best players due to the NHL's decision not to attend the Pyeongchang Games.

Rene Bourque led the offensive charge for the Canadians with two goals. Wojtek Wolski also found the net twice, including an empty-netter, while Maxim Noreau added a goal and Derek Roy tallied three assists.

Losses by the Americans and Russians yesterday provided a wake-up call to the event's other usual suspects, including Canada, Sweden and Finland. It showcased that the margin for error during the preliminary games was thinner without their typically star-studded rosters.

Team Canada head coach Willie Desjardins told Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press (via The Star) before the tournament he didn't expect the team's style of play to change without Crosby, McDavid and Co.

"It's an aggressive style, but with good discipline," he said. "I've always liked to play fast, and I think this group's been put together so we can play that way."

The Canadians lived up to those expectations Thursday as they came out flying. Bourque opened the scoring just under three minutes into the contest, and they never looked back.

Roy was particularly impressive throughout the opening game. The former NHL center, who currently plays for Linkopings in Sweden, showcased much of the same burst and playmaking ability he did with the Buffalo Sabres when he scored at least 60 points in four straight seasons during his prime.

Brady Jones of CIHT-FM joked about Canada's successful makeshift roster:

Tip: If you squint really hard, Derek Roy and Rene Bourque kinda look like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. #Olympics

— Brady Jones (@BradyJonesRadio) February 15, 2018

Simon Moser scored for Switzerland midway through the third period to avoid the shutout, but it was too little, too late as Canada earned all three points for the regulation win.

CBC Olympics‏ highlighted the team's postgame celebration handshake line:

Canada wins their first game of #PyeongChang2018 against Switzerland

🇨🇦5-1🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/GayQEQOAvW

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 15, 2018

Looking ahead, the Canadians will return to action Saturday afternoon (Friday night at 10 p.m. ET in the U.S.) for their most difficult test of the group stage when they take on the Czech Republic.

The Swiss must prepare for what should be a raucous home crowd as they battle host nation South Korea in Saturday's second Group A tilt.

The Olympic men's hockey tournament featured some unexpected twists during the first set of games in pool play, especially in Group B.

Slovenia, who knocked off the United States in overtime Wednesday, is looking to throw another wrench in the competition with a win over the Olympic Athletes from Russia, who entered as the gold-medal favorite.

In Group C, two of the other picks to win the tournament should continue their dominance ahead of their meeting.

The Canadian men also take the ice for the second time during Friday's busy slate of matches that also features a playoff-round game on the women's side.

                

Friday Olympic Ice Hockey Schedule

Men's Group B: Olympic Athletes from Russia vs. Slovenia (2:40 a.m. ET) 

Men's Group C: Finland vs. Norway (7:10 a.m. ET) 

Men's Group C: Sweden vs. Germany (7:10 a.m. ET)

Men's Group A: Czech Republic vs. Canada (10:10 p.m. ET; game occurs on Saturday, February 17, in Pyeongchang, South Korea)

Women's Quarterfinals: Olympic Athletes from Russia vs. Switzerland (10:10 p.m. ET; game occurs on Saturday, February 17, in Pyeongchang)

All games can be live-streamed on NBCOlympics.com.

                  

Can Underdog Slovenia Win Again?

Slovenia caught the world's attention Wednesday with a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States, which served as one of the biggest shocks of the Olympics.

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Jan Mursak scored the game-winning goal to put Slovenia in the win column in Group B.

On Friday, the task becomes greater for Slovenia, with the Olympic Athletes from Russia on the schedule.

Slaying a second straight beast was already going to be a difficult task, but to make the challenge even more difficult, the Russians enter Friday with plenty of motivation to correct their mistakes following a 3-2 defeat to Slovakia.

The key for Slovenia is to use the confidence gained from the third period and overtime against the U.S. to play a hard first period against the Russians.

If Slovenia hangs with the Olympic Athletes from Russia for the opening 20 minutes, it could set the tone for the contest and open the door for the Cinderella team to earn its second victory of the tournament.

However, there is a possibility the Russians, who are led by former NHL stars Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, take their frustration out on Slovenia and blow the underdogs away.

For the sake of neutrals, the hope is Slovenia can at least hang for the majority of the contest.

                

Finland, Sweden Looking to Continue Group C Dominance

Finland and Sweden wasted little time making statements in their respective Group C openers.

The Finns took care of business with a 5-2 win over Germany, while Sweden blasted Norway 4-0 Thursday morning.

Expect similar results from the duo Friday ahead of their clash with each other to conclude group action Sunday.

Eeli Tolvanen was the star in the opener for Finland, as he scored once and provided three assists for his teammates in a game in which five Finns found the back of the net.

Look for Finland to clean up its defense against Norway after conceding two goals on 24 shots against Germany.

A solid defensive performance against their northern European rivals would help the Finns' goal differential in case they need to use a tiebreaker to get a higher seed in the elimination round.

Sweden played a near perfect game against Norway, as it held its opponent to 17 shots in a shutout victory.

The Swedes' goals were scored by different athletes, with Dennis Everberg being the only player to record more than one point.

Sweden should wreak havoc on Germany's defense as they assert their dominance and search for the best position possible in the elimination round.

Both Sweden and Finland could benefit from the mess created in Group B by Slovakia and Slovenia's victories, as each team might end up with a bye into the quarterfinals no matter what the result of their head-to-head showdown is.

                

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Olympic.org.

In perhaps the best Olympic rivalry this side of Michael Phelps against Chad le Clos, Canada beat the United States 2-1 in a group-stage matchup in the 2018 women's hockey tournament, which aired live Wednesday night in the United States.

Canada received second-period goals from Meghan Agosta and Sarah Nurse, which was enough of a cushion for goaltender Genevieve Lacasse. In her first start of the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Lacasse proved to be the difference as she turned away all but one—Kendall Coyne's wrister in the opening minute of the third period—of the Americans' 45 shots on goal.

The Americans unleashed a number of desperation shots in the closing seconds, but Lacasse blocked them all to preserve the heart-pounding win.

Both sides were 2-0 entering this much-anticipated showdown in what was likely a medal-round preview given the history between the two sides.

Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted the 2006 Games were the only time the Americans and Canadians didn't play for gold at a major tournament since the start of the IIHF Women's World Championship in 1990 and the start of women's hockey in the Olympics in 1998.

Team USA is the four-time defending world champions, but Canada is seeking a fifth straight Olympic gold.

"It's just a preliminary round game in the Olympic tournament Thursday, but it's like having Ali and Frazier fight on the undercard when everybody knows they're going to meet again in the main event," D'Amato wrote.

The tension at the end was far more fitting of a championship bout than an undercard matchup.

The United States drew a penalty with just more than three minutes remaining and then pulled its goaltender down the stretch to create an additional advantage. Still, it couldn't find a way to get the puck past Lacasse a second time, which was fitting given how the game played out.

The Americans won plenty of races to the puck to maintain possession and consistently create offensive opportunities in the attacking zone, leading to a 45-23 advantage in shots on goal, per NBC Olympics.

However, Lacasse was brilliant in the face of the building pressure and outshined her counterpart, 20-year-old Maddie Rooney.

It looked as if the United States would answer after falling behind 2-0, as Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson was given a penalty shot when Canadian defenders covered the puck in the crease. Lacasse had other ideas, however, and blocked her backhanded attempt. She then stood strong against a power play less than a minute later.

Dan Wolken of USA Today reflected on the Americans' missed scoring chances:

My goodness, the US team has had some Grade A scoring chances in this game and just hasn't been able to bury anything.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) February 15, 2018

While Lacasse was largely the story, Canada needed multiple head-turning efforts to beat Rooney on the other end.

Agosta buried a point-blank shot from the slot on a power play after Natalie Spooner fed her with a perfectly placed no-look backhanded assist through American defenders. Ian McLaren of the Score summarized the beautiful dish:

https://twitter.com/iancmclaren/status/963989199845314561

Nurse then took things into her own hands and flicked a wrister into the top shelf for the second goal and additional breathing room for Lacasse. While replays showed Canada may have been offside before the goal, the United States did not challenge the ruling.

The Americans did benefit from the officiating in the third period, though, when Haley Irwin's goal was overturned because she kicked it. The ruling maintained the drama in the contest after Coyne dashed through Canada's defense and beat Lacasse through the five-hole to trim the deficit to one:

Good things happen when you don't stop moving your feet! Kendall Coyne's goal brings Team USA within one. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/nwo2NhgSpK pic.twitter.com/ihEYeL9CBM

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 15, 2018

Ultimately, Coyne was the only one who bested the Canadian goaltender, leading to the United States' first loss of these Olympics.

Luckily for the Red, White and Blue, it was just a preliminary-round game in Group A.

NBC Chicago noted both sides already clinched their spots in the semifinals but acknowledged the Americans "will be lined up to have a tougher semi-final matchup, as they will take on the winner of a game between Switzerland and either the Olympic Athletes from Russia or Finland" thanks to this loss.

The team hoping to channel the spirits of the 1980 United States Olympic men's hockey team fell victim to an upset the ultimate Olympic underdogs would have been proud of if it didn't happen to the Americans.

The American team full of college and AHL players lost to Slovenia, a team that lost in the quarterfinals in 2014 in its only Olympic appearance, in overtime to kick off its Olympic campaign in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Rebounding from defeat in a game they were supposed to win will be the first true test for the Americans, who didn't expect this much of a challenge until the final game of pool play versus the Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Slovakia enters its matchup with the Americans on top of Group B after it knocked off the Russians 3-2 in its opening game in Pyeongchang.

An American win would burst the group wide open heading into the final set of games, which right now is the best possible scenario for head coach Tony Granato's squad.

      

Date: Thursday, February 15 (Game takes place on Friday, February 16 in Pyeongchang, South Korea)

Time: 10:10 p.m. ET 

TV: CNBC

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Odds to win tournament (via OddsShark): United States (+900; Bet $100 to win $900); Slovakia (+6,600)

         

How Do Americans Bounce Back from Slovenia Loss?

Let's start with the positives gained from the loss to Slovenia because there were plenty of them, at least through two periods.

The Americans amassed a 2-0 lead after two periods behind goals from Brian O'Neill and Jordan Greenway and came up with a few solid defensive plays to preserve the shutout.

Granato effused praise about his team's play in the first and second periods on Wednesday but was critical of the third-period performance, per USAHockey.com.

"I thought we played two great periods," Granato said. “We were on our heels in the third at times and they took advantage. Give them credit. All-in-all, I liked the way we played. We've got a terrific group and we'll be ready to play Slovakia."

The key for the Americans going into Thursday's game with Slovakia is to use the experience from the first two periods to keep up confidence while correcting the mistakes that occurred in the third period and overtime.

O'Neill said after the loss that the team, who hasn't played much together, will use the Slovenia game as a learning experience, per AP's Stephen Whyno.

"We'll learn from this," O'Neill said. "We haven't played a whole lot of hockey as a team together. So it's good for us to learn from that third period."

Getting out to a fast start is imperative for the Americans as they need to thwart the momentum Slovakia carries into the contest following its win over the Olympic Athletes from Russia.

If the Americans let the loss to Slovenia linger, it could spell bad news for a team that can ill afford another headline-making defeat at the Olympics.

      

Slovakia Searching for Another Surprise Victory

Slovakia threw everyone's predictions into the trash with a 3-2 victory over tournament favorite Olympic Athletes from Russia on Wednesday.

Peter Ceresnak scored the game-winning goal in the third period for Slovakia to top Group B after one set of contests.

Ceresnak told reporters after the game that the victory is just the first surprise in a tournament full of the unexpected, per Reuters' Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber.

"This will help us win the next matches," Ceresnak said. "This is a tournament of big surprises."

With confidence at an all-time high, Slovakia is out to prove the win over the Russians wasn't a fluke and that it can be a surprise medal contender.

Veterans Peter Olvecky and Martin Bakos scored a goal each in the first period of Wednesday's win, and they'll be two of the players the American defense has to keep an eye on as Slovakia attempts to get out to another fast start.

If Slovakia has the same effectiveness in the first period against the Americans as it did in its opening game of the competition, it could jump out to an early lead, possibly one of the multiple-goal variety.

Conversely, if the Americans limit Slovakia's production in the attacking zone for the first 20 minutes, we could be in for a defensive stalemate.

     

Pick

United States 2, Slovakia 1

Putting faith in the United States after the loss to Slovenia is a risk, but look for the Americans to rally around each other and pull off a victory with first place in Group B in sight.

      

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Olympic.org.

The opening day of men's hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, was highlighted by a pair of upsets Wednesday.

Team USA blew a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to Slovenia, while the Russian hockey team also failed to take advantage of a 2-0 lead, losing 3-2 to Slovakia in regulation.

Both games were part of Group B action, and the group table looks far different than most would have expected, with Slovakia on top and the Russian team at the bottom.

Here is a closer look at how the men's hockey action played out Wednesday in Pyeongchang.

         

Slovenia 3, USA 2 (OT)

The United States entered the 2018 Winter Games with plenty of uncertainty due to a roster made up of AHL, college and European league players.

That uncertainty remains present, as Team USA fell 3-2 to unheralded Slovenia in overtime.

The Americans were in ideal shape through two periods, as Brian O'Neill gave them a 1-0 lead in the first, and Minnesota Wild forward prospect Jordan Greenway made it 2-0 in the second.

Team USA seemingly went into a defensive shell in the third period, however, and it cost them.

Goals by Jan Urbas and Jan Mursak forced OT, and Mursak scored his second goal just 38 seconds into the extra session to give Slovenia the shocking upset win.

Matthew Bove of WKBW put the loss into perspective for the Americans:

USA loses to Slovenia, a country the size of New Jersey.

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) February 14, 2018

Although there are no current NHL players competing in Pyeongchang, most of the United States' team is made up of players who played in the NHL at one time.

By contrast, Slovenia has almost no former NHL players.

John Wawrow of the Associated Press cracked a joke about Team USA that fans of struggling NHL teams will appreciate:

Given USA’s lineup against Slovenia, they’re clearly tanking for the No. 1 pick.

— John Wawrow 🤷‍♂️ (@john_wawrow) February 14, 2018

The loss was a devastating one for Team USA, since beating Slovenia seemed like the one virtual guarantee for the Stars and Stripes entering the tournament.

Now the Americans must face a Slovakia team that upset the Russians before taking on what figures to be an angry Olympic Athletes from Russia squad.

Every team advances to the knockout stage, but Team USA is in danger of a difficult first game in the knockout round if it can't right the ship after Wednesday's loss.

           

Slovakia 3, Olympic Athletes from Russia 2

The Russian team were considered heavy gold medal favorites entering the Olympics, but that may no longer be the case following a surprising 3-2 loss to Slovakia.

Like the Americans, the Russians jumped out to a 2-0 lead and appeared likely to cruise to victory.

Vladislav Gavrikov and Wild prospect Kirill Kaprizov both scored early in the first, but Peter Olvecky and Martin Bakos erased the deficit with goals late in the first.

After a scoreless second, Slovakia took advantage of a Russian delay of game penalty in the third, and defenseman Peter Ceresnak pumped a slapper past OAR goalie Vasili Koshechkin for the lead.

The Slovaks managed to hang on for the win, and by virtue of winning in regulation, they are all alone atop Group B.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun tweeted about how unpredictable the men's hockey tournament is in Pyeongchang without NHL participation:

Tournament favorite Russia loses opener to Slovakia. USA loses to Slovenia. That's all you need to know about the men's Olympic hockey tournament this year. Sure looks like a wide-open tournament!

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 14, 2018

A lack of NHL players was supposed to give the Russian team a sizable advantage.

Former NHL players Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk anchor the team along with many of the top players from the KHL, which is widely considered the No. 2 professional league in the world.

The Russian team lost regardless, and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports noted how teams representing Russia have struggled mightily at the Olympics for many years:

Russia hasn't won hockey gold since 1992, any medal since 2002. With no NHLers this time they have big advantage. Open with dreadful 3-2 loss to Slovakia anyway.

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) February 14, 2018

The Russians have major question marks on defense and in goal, but they still have the most talented group of forwards in the tournament.

That makes OAR a serious threat to win gold despite the opening loss, provided it can get back on track against Slovenia and the United States to close out Group B play.  

The Russian men's ice hockey team suffered a shocking defeat in its opening game at the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, as it fell 3-2 to Slovakia at Gangneung Hockey Centre in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Slovak defenseman Peter Ceresnak broke a 2-2 tie with 11:30 remaining in regulation by blasting a slapshot past Russian netminder Vasili Koshechkin.

Olympic Athletes from Russia outshot Slovakia 22-19, but Slovak goaltender Branislav Konrad made 20 saves in the upset.

The Russian team appeared destined to be on the positive side of a rout in the early going, as Vladislav Gavrikov scored less than three minutes into the game, and Minnesota Wild forward prospect Kirill Kaprizov followed with a goal just over one minute later to make it 2-0.

Although Slovakia managed just four shots in the opening frame, it managed to even the score prior to the first intermission.

Former NHL forward Peter Olvecky scored on a weak shot with less than four minutes left in the first, and Martin Bakos followed that up with another goal at the 17:55 mark to make it 2-2.

James Ellingworth of the Associated Press noted that the Russian team's aura appeared to take a major hit during Slovakia's late-period comeback:

https://twitter.com/jellingworth/status/963756909000978432

The second period was essentially a holding pattern, with neither team managing to generate many quality scoring chances.

Ellingworth joked about the decidedly KHL flavor of the game since both the Russian team and Slovakia featured many players from the Russian league:

https://twitter.com/jellingworth/status/963760391284076545

A major miscue by Russian forward Ivan Telegin led to what was eventually the game-winning goal for Slovakia in the third period.

With the puck on edge, Telegin attempted to clear it from his own zone, but he instead fired it into the crowd, which warranted a delay of game penalty.

Less than one minute later, Ceresnak scored on the power play to put the Slovaks ahead for the first time.

Ellingworth was blunt about the Russian team's fall from grace at that point:

https://twitter.com/jellingworth/status/963777167250268161

Despite having a ton of firepower and several former NHL players, including Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, the Olympic Athletes from Russia could not find an equalizer.

Russia has underachieved in men's hockey at the Olympics for more than two decades, but OAR entered this year's tournament as a significant favorite.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports pointed out that the Russian team were still unable to take advantage of the low level of competition born from the NHL's decision not to participate:

Russia hasn't won hockey gold since 1992, any medal since 2002. With no NHLers this time they have big advantage. Open with dreadful 3-2 loss to Slovakia anyway.

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) February 14, 2018

TSN's Pierre LeBrun expressed excitement over what Slovakia's win means in terms of unpredictability in Pyeonghchang:

Tournament favorite Russia loses opener to Slovakia. USA loses to Slovenia. That's all you need to know about the men's Olympic hockey tournament this year. Sure looks like a wide-open tournament!

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 14, 2018

While OAR's skill level up front is undeniable, the defense corps is questionable, and the goaltending may be its Achilles' heel, as evidenced by Wednesday's loss.

There is still plenty of time to rebound, though, and the fact that every team advances past the group stage means the Russians are far from out of it.

The Russian team will look to get back on track Friday when it faces Slovenia, while Slovakia will take on the United States on Friday as well.

The United States men's hockey team blew a 2-0 third-period lead to open the 2018 Winter Olympics with a 3-2 overtime loss to Slovenia on Wednesday at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in South Korea.  

Brian O'Neill scored the Americans' first goal late in the first period. Jordan Greenway also found the net for the United States. But Slovenia stormed back with two goals in the final 15 minutes to force overtime, where captain Jan Mursak played the hero with the game-winner.

Team USA, as well as the event's other top contenders, had its roster pool weakened by the NHL's decision not to participate in the Pyeongchang Games. So the U.S. is attempting to win gold without the likes of the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews.

United States captain Brian Gionta had expressed optimism to Amy Moritz of the Buffalo News about the team's talent level heading into the Olympics despite the lack of high-end star power:

"It's a highly skilled bunch of guys that will be in the Olympics. I know there's been some talk that not having the NHL guys in means you don't have your highest-skilled guys. I think that's a bad representation of the people that are going over there to compete in these games. There's a lot of great hockey players and I like the makeup of our team personally, but I think the competition is going to be extremely tough."

The U.S. pushed the pace against Slovenia, the most unheralded team in Group B, which also features the Olympic Athletes from Russia and Slovakia. It outshot the European squad 11-3 in the opening period, and O'Neill struck with just over two minutes left.

NBC Olympics highlighted the Jokerit forward's tally off a feed from Garrett Roe:

The @usahockey men's team has its first goal of the #WinterOlympics! https://t.co/snOfK8WaVF pic.twitter.com/Y7v0IO3p1c

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 14, 2018

Ryan Zapolski made a couple of key saves early in the second period to keep Team USA in front. Greenway then scored midway through the frame to give the Americans more cushion.

The Boston University standout, who's the first African American player to represent the U.S. in men's ice hockey at the Olympics, found a loose puck amid a scrum in front of Slovenian netminder Gasper Kroselj and tapped it home to make it 2-0.

Jan Urbas trimmed the United States' lead back to one early in the third period. The Americans struggled to maintain consistent puck possession with the Slovenians increasing their forecheck, and the additional zone time paid off for the underdogs.

The trend continued until Slovenia scored the equalizer with 1:37 remaining as Mursak capitalized on the team's relentless pressure by beating Zapolski, who was under siege throughout the third period and OT.

Greg Wyshynski‏ of ESPN commented on the U.S.' blown lead:

You could feel that Slovenia goal coming from across the oceans.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 14, 2018

Mursak added his second goal of the game 38 seconds into overtime to complete the comeback win. It capped a disastrous finish after two strong periods by the Americans.

ESPN's Chris Peters‏ analyzed the Jekyll-and-Hyde performance:

Been trying to collect some thoughts... Based on how good Team USA was at the start, have to figure a lot more emotion/adrenaline coming into play. Everything clicking and it just kind of gradually melted as the game wore on. Then the mistakes come in and blammo, you're toast.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) February 14, 2018

The United States will return to action Friday afternoon in South Korea (Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET in the U.S.) against Slovakia. That contest will be another tough test after the Slovakians pulled off their own upset Wednesday with a 3-2 regulation win over the tournament favorite Olympic Athletes from Russia.

The most important Olympic ice hockey matchup in pool play takes place on Wednesday night between the two dominant powers of the women's game.

The unusual format of the Olympic tournament has put the United States and Canada in the same group before they are split up in the elimination round to set up a potential collision course for the gold-medal game.

Both teams cruised through their first two Olympic contests with an eye on Wednesday night, which will serve as a litmus test for the gold-medal hopes of the North American rivals.

If you want to know why the stakes are so high, Canada is the four-time defending Olympic champion, while the United States has won the last three IIHF Women's World Championships.

             

Date: Wednesday, February 14 (Event occurs on Thursday, February 15 in Pyeongchang, South Korea)

Time: 10:10 p.m. ET

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Odds to Win Tournament (via OddsShark): United States (-120; Bet $120 to win $100); Canada (Even)

             

Canada Embracing Underdog Role

It's hard to believe the team entering Wednesday with a 22-game Olympic winning streak is seen as an underdog, but that's the situation Canada is in.

The team has experienced a good amount of roster turnover since the 2014 Sochi Games, which included head coach Laura Schuler stepping in behind the bench.

The Canadians came into the Olympics as a slight underdog to the United States because of the youth on their roster that is unproven in the Games.

Regardless of what experience they have, the Canadians are using the underdog tag as a motivating tactic, as team general manager Melody Davidson told Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star before the tournament began.

"We love being the underdog. We'll take that any day," she said.

Canada knocked off the Olympic Athletes from Russia in its opener before dispensing with bronze-medal contender Finland on Tuesday.

Meghan Agosta, who is one of the leaders of the squad, is happy with the way her team has played in Pyeongchang, South Korea, per the Canadian Press (h/t Yahoo Sport).

"We've started something really good here," she said. "And we're looking forward to continuing on this journey and this mission that we're on."

Just like their American counterparts, Canada is able to strike through a wide range of players, with Melodie Daoust its leading scorer through two games with three goals.

The United States will also have to keep an eye on Agosta and Marie-Philip Poulin, who has scored the game-winning goal in each of the last two gold-medal games.

            

United States Enjoying New Style of Play

The major adjustment made by the United States following Sochi was the adaptation to a new style of play instituted by head coach Robb Stauber.

The results have been good so far for the Americans, as they pulled out a 3-1 win over Finland in their opener before overpowering the Olympics Athletes from Russia 5-0 on Tuesday.

The possession-based style of play brought into the team by Stauber has earned solid reviews, as forward and assistant captain Brianna Decker told Matthew Futterman of the New York Times.

"We're playing more of a flow game," she said. "It makes it special and allows us to be hockey players."

While showing off their new brand on the Olympic ice, the Americans have played their part in creating tournament history.

Forward Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored the fastest two goals in succession at the Olympics, as she found the back of the net twice in a six-second span against the Russians.

NBC Olympics provided us with a glance of both tallies, including an incredible fake at the net to set up the second goal:

.@usahockey's Jocelyne Lamoureux has made Olympic hockey history by scoring two goals in just six seconds! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/q75WUVWI8y pic.twitter.com/mhQojGRf9m

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2018

Lamoureux-Davidson was one of four scorers in the victory over the Olympic Athletes from Russia, as Gigi Marvin, Hannah Brandt and Kacey Bellamy also found the back of the net.

Three other players put themselves on the scoresheet in the opener against Finland, as Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Dani Cameranesi and Kendall Coyne beat Finnish goalie Noora Raty.

With a plethora of scorers on the roster, the United States should be able to get a goal or two past the Canadian defense since its opponent won't be able to contain every attacker, but the same can be said about Canada's forwards.

Regardless of who steps into the spotlight on Wednesday, the gold-medal game preview is expected to be decided by the smallest of margins. 

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Olympic.org.