Culture

U.S. and Russia Square Off in Hockey and Drinking Contests

Can the Americans defeat the Russians on the ice in Sochi? Either way, people seem to be getting drunk while they find out. 

By Adam Chandler
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This article is from the archive of our partner .

Can the Americans defeat the Russians on the ice in Sochi? Either way, people seem to be getting drunk while they find out.

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Recap: Did the Americans win the gold medal in Olympic hockey this morning? No.

But they did beat the Russians in a tense, thrilling game that ended in a shootout. Cam Fowler and Joe Pavelski scored in regulation for the United States. Goalie Jonathan Quick had 29 saves and knocked away five Russian shots in the shootout. For the Russians, Pavel Datsyuk scored twice; his first goal broke a scoreless after nearly 30 minutes of play and his second one knotted the game at 2-2.

The Russians appeared to score the go-ahead goal late in the late period, but the score was called off after it was determined that the net had been unmoored.

Then came a fruitless overtime, which set the stage for the shootout. T.J. Oshie, the eighth Olympian from the tiny town of Warroad, Minne., took six of the eight American shots in the overtime, scoring on four of them to lift the U.S. team to victory. 

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Update, 10:18 a.m.: The U.S. squad wins in the shootout! T.J. Oshie is the hero.

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Update, 10:07 a.m.: Russia's Alex Ovechkin and America's Patrick Kane both managed to get good looks at the net during the overtime period, but neither scored. We're heading for a shootout.

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Update, 9:53 a.m.: We've got some free hockey. After a Russian goal is disallowed, the two teams are headed for overtime. It's not too late to tune in.

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The hockey game that's being billed (again) as the Cold War is taking place in front of a very raucous crowd in Sochi right now. The game has already featured some scuffling, a few heroic stops, and some moments of high drama as the two teams jockey to make a game worthy of the metaphor. Across the world, fans are watching and, despite the early hour, drinking.

Here is the word from Russia:

Meanwhile, across the pond, bars opened early around the country from Chicago to Atlanta to Boston to show the game:

According to the internet, this is true:

But why? Patriotism, for one:

Sports and patriotism:

And filial love:

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.