The Game

The game is about to begin and the preparations here at El Casa Móvil De Pennington are nearly complete.  We have only to choose our beer, pour it, cut the cigar, and all that.  Nothing else needs be done.

We've been watching the odds and ends of the build-up to this game on MSNBC and the thing that stuck with us was a quote from a Team USA player:  "EVERYTHING we do is focused on one end: beat Canada."  Ooh.  This is gonna be GOOD!

Update:  Our beer choice, in honor of today's game...

Go Ladies!  USA!  USA!

Update 1642:  Canada on the PP, no dice.  USA PK was excellent.  Jenny Potter on a breakaway for USA immediately after, stoned.  Fast paced game, no obvious butterflies or other negatives.

Update 1646:  Canada on the PP again... on a blatant dive by Canada.  One worries about the officiating.

Update 1649:  USA on the PP...  and now a  5 on 3!

Update 1655:  Canada goalie Shannon Szabados made magnificent saves.  And then Canada (Poulin-Nadeau) scores! 1 - 0 Canada.

Update 1701:  Oh Shit, Oh Dear.  Canada scores during a 4 on 4.  2 - 0 Canada. 

Update 1706:  End of the first... Canada 2, USA 0.  Shots: 8 - 7 in favor of Canada according to the NBC web site, more in favor of USA according to NBC announcers.  Two obvious Canada offsides NOT called by refs.  But it is what it is...

Update 1727:  Canada takes not one but TWO delay of game penalties for shooting the puck over the glass.  USA on a 5 on 3 for over a minute... 

1731:  USA fails to convert; Canada PK awesome... not to mention Szabados is spectacular in goal.

1737:  Cahow off for high-sticking, USA NEEDS to stay out of the box!  The game is getting pretty physical... 

1742:  Ruggiero off for "interference," aka roughing.  These women are tough.

1745:  USA successful on the PK; Canada (Engstrom) penalized for a dive, USA on the PP. 

1750:  End of the second.  USA puts tremendous pressure on to no avail.  Still 2 - 0, Canada.  Szabados is the difference in this game so far.  Shots 21 - 18 in favor of the US.

1818:  Half of the third period is gone.  Up and back, excellent chances on both sides but no goals.  Tick tick, tick tick. 

1820:  Vetter out of her net for an audacious poke check, my heart leaps into my mouth... but she gets away with it.  Omigawd. 

1829:  2:44 to go and I think I see the moving finger on the wall...  Dang.

Update last:  It's over... Canada takes the gold.  Excellent goaltending and stifling defense were the keys to this game.  GM Place is rockin', and rightly so.  Congrats, Canada.