Team USA got off to a rough start, dropping their opening game in men’s hockey pool play to Slovenia.
It was all going so well for Team USA through two periods. But a third period collapse has left the American squad with more questions than answers.
Team USA dominated the first period, outshooting Slovenia 11-3. Brian O’Neill finally broke through at the 17:44 mark with the first goal of the tournament for his country. After a great individual effort from Ryan Donato to enter the zone, Garrett Roe picked up a loose puck in the corner and fed O’Neill in the slot. O’Neill made no mistake on the shot, putting it past Gasper Kroselj for the first USA goal of the tournament.
Jordan Greenway made it 2-0 halfway through the second, potting a rebound following an initial shot by Bobby Sanguinetti.
Sloppy play from Team USA led to Slovenia’s first goal of the tournament, a point shot by Blaz Gregorc with traffic in front. That goal gave Slovenia all the life they needed and had USA on their heels the rest of the game.
With two minutes remaining, Slovenia pulled their goalie in an attempt to find the equalizer. They got it off the stick of captain Jan Mursak, who tied the game with 1:37 remaining off a scramble in front.
It took Mursak less than 40 seconds in overtime to win it for Slovenia.
USA goaltender Ryan Zapolski made 22 saves, but the biggest save came from defenseman Noah Welch. Zapoloski made the initial stop on Slovenia, but sprawled out of position, leaving a wide open net for Sabahudin Kovacevic. Welch slid in on his knees, making a glove save on the shot, keeping the game scoreless in the first.
Mursak was the hero offensively for Slovenia, but Kroselj’s 34 saves stole the game for Slovenia
Highlights
https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/963751539969085440
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
2-1! De Slovenen komen in de 3e periode terug in de wedstrijd. Wat gaat hier nog gebeuren? #PyeongChang2018 #OS2018 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/9gHpmEwB5H
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) February 14, 2018
Slovenia ties the game with 1:37 remaining in the third period. pic.twitter.com/UOsZ6EMiN3
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) February 14, 2018
UPSET ALERT: 🚨 Mursak wins it in ooooooooooovertime for the Slovenians!🚨 Slovenia 3️⃣ USA 2️⃣
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) February 14, 2018
Next: Best hockey player from each state
What’s Next?
Team USA will try to bounce back on Thursday night against Slovakia, another team that came back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 in their first game of the tournament. That game begins at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Slovenia will meet a desperate Olympic Athletes of Russia squad, who cannot afford to drop their second game of the tournament.