Goaltender Strauss Mann made 34 saves and came within 45 seconds of leading the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team to a berth in the medal round, but the Americans allowed the tying goal and then fell in a shootout to Slovakia by a 3-2 score on Wednesday morning.
Mann, a Greenwich, Conn., native and former University of Michigan captain, played well in the loss, but the U.S. was unable to score when it could have put the game out of reach. The Americans couldn’t capitalize on an advantage in early play, and were denied on several prime scoring chances early. As was the case in their previous two games, they got into an early hole, giving up the first score to Slovakian top draft prospect Juraj Slafkovsky. Harvard forward Nick Abruzzese would tie it on a Matty Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) pass with 45 seconds left in the first on a backhand shot along the ice through the five-hole on goaltender Patrik Rybar.
The U.S. took the lead in the second period on a Sam Hentges goal, but that was it offensively despite a good push at the end of the second frame and some quality scoring chances in the third and 3-on-3 overtime periods after Slovakia tied it with less than 44 seconds left in regulation.
It was another reminder — amid Team USA’s gold-medal drought that dates to 1980 — that once the games go to single elimination, anything can happen. Slovakia, which has an intriguing mix of veteran pro experience and several high-end younger players, got it done along with a fine performance in net from Rybar. After falling behind 2-1, he stopped everything else including all shootout attempts he faced, securing the major upset and sending the U.S. home without a medal.
With the Americans now out of contention for the medal round, let's take a look at five takeaways from their quarterfinal loss.
1. New England goalies did their job
Goaltending was the least of the USA's problems.
Although coach David Quinn (Cranston, R.I.) could have gone with Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) as the starter, he rewarded Mann’s strong play against Canada, and it was a rolling rebound during 6-on-5 play that proved to be the dagger, tying a game that the U.S. was in a position to win.
Mann’s athleticism and competitiveness were on display throughout much of the game. The Americans didn’t lose because their goaltending let them down.
Slafkovsky’s goal was an absolute rocket from the slot, his tournament-leading fifth goal occurring when the defensive pairing of Brock Faber and Aaron Ness seemed to lose track of him and allow him to find quiet ice in the grade-A scoring area. He showed why he’s climbing on draft boards across the NHL, as he wasted no time unloading a heavy bullet of a shot past Mann.
2. Special teams the difference
A pivotal turning point in the game that gave Slovakia hope was when the U.S. team had a 5-on-3 power play early in the final frame for 1:23 after Rybar got hit with a delay of game penalty for freezing the puck outside the crease.
Slovakia’s penalty killers were patient against the veteran power-play unit consisting of mostly veteran pros in captain Andy Miele, Kenny Agostino, Steven Kampfer and Ness. Ben Meyers was the lone collegian on the unit, but Team USA missed the net on several one-timers they set up with the two-man advantage, and it came back to haunt them. They also failed to convert another power-play opportunity in the final five minutes of regulation that could have put the game out of reach.
The U.S. went 0-for-4 with the man advantage, while not taking a single penalty during the contest. Slovakia’s penalty killers, led by Rybar, were perfect.
3. Offense couldn’t close the deal
The U.S. won a lot of faceoffs and generated some quality scoring chances throughout the game, but clinging to a one-goal lead late, they weren’t able to prevent the comeback. The inability to pot an empty-net goal was just one factor in a forward group that was unable to capitalize on some glittering chances.
Beniers, who played a strong overall game, hit the post on a big shot in the third period after he walked down from the high slot.
Sean Farrell (Hopkinton, Mass.), who put up five points in the opening win against China and added a helper against Canada, was held scoreless against Germany and Slovakia.
The USA lost a key forward in the second period when former Yale star Brian O’Neill blocked a shot off the foot and left the game.
4. Key play
Slovakia pulled its goaltender with 1:25 left in the game, and the U.S. nearly cleared their zone after some sustained zone time and puck movement, but defenseman Michal Cajkovsky ranged over to the blue line and kept the puck inside the offensive zone. Moments later, he got the puck back and launched a shot from the point that got through traffic in front of the net. Captain Marek Hrivik, who's played 24 career NHL games with the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames, swept the rebound into the net past Mann, setting the stage for the upset.
5. Final call
Quinn and his staff got a lot out of a youthful team without as much international or pro experience as a lot of the other teams. There’s a lot to like, even if the 2022 Olympics ended in disappointment.
Beniers and Farrell look like future NHL prospects, and the goaltending duo of Commesso and Mann showed well in an undefeated preliminary round.
The U.S. was the better team, but when faced with some key opportunities to close out Slovakia, they were unable to do so. That’s the danger of having a younger skill team, but in fairness, the coaches put the game in the hands of the veteran power-play units in the final period, and they were unable to generate much in the way of scoring chances.
