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U.S. Hockey, Connecticut Players Shut Out In Olympic Hockey

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- The U.S. men’s hockey team, and its three players with Connecticut roots, came up empty in its bid for a medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, losing Saturday to Finland, 5-0, in the bronze-medal game.

Ryan McDonagh, #27, of the United States falls on Kimmo Timonen, #44, of Finland in the first period of the Bronze Medal game Saturday at the Sochi Olympics.

Ryan McDonagh, #27, of the United States falls on Kimmo Timonen, #44, of Finland in the first period of the Bronze Medal game Saturday at the Sochi Olympics.

Photo Credit: Sochi2014.com
Finland's Kimmo Timonen, #44, loses his helmet against Zach Parise, #9, Jonathan Quick, #32, and Ryan McDonagh, #27, of the United States in the first period of Saturday's game.

Finland's Kimmo Timonen, #44, loses his helmet against Zach Parise, #9, Jonathan Quick, #32, and Ryan McDonagh, #27, of the United States in the first period of Saturday's game.

Photo Credit: Sochi2014.com

The U.S. failed to capitalize on a pair of penalty shots in the first 40 minutes. 

At 13:40 of the first period, Team USA was awarded a penalty shot after a player from Finland swatted a broken stick at a U.S. player. Patrick Kane of the U.S. aimed too far right on his backhand. Minutes later, Max Pacioretty, a New Canaan native, shot wide after gaining a step on the Finland defense.

Finland took a 2-0 lead with goals 11 seconds apart early in the second period by Teemu Selanne and Jussi Jokinen.

Finland sealed its victory with third period power-play goals at 6:10, 9:06 and 13:09 by Jusso Hietanen, Selanne and Olli Maata.

Jonathan Quick of Milford made 22 saves on goald, while Rask had 27 stops for Finland.

Greenwich native Kevin Shattenkirk is also part of Team USA.

The U.S. team finished in fourth place and posted a record of 4-2 at the Olympics:

  • Feb. 13: Win , 7-1, over Slovakia
  • Feb. 15: Win, 3-2 (shoot-out), over Russia
  • Feb. 16: Win, 5-1, over Slovenia
  • Feb. 19: Win, 5-2, over Czech Republic (quarterfinals)
  • Feb. 21: Lost, 0-1 to Canada (semifinals)
  • Feb. 22: Lost, 0-5 to Finland (bronze medal game)

Canada, which won gold in 2010 in Vancouver, will go for a repeat as it takes on Sweden at 7 a.m. Sunday in the final hockey match-up of the Sochi Olympics. 

Quick slammed the performance of the U.S. team, including himself, in the Saturday loss. Read his comments here at NBCOlympics.com

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