With high expectations, the United States Hockey teams only collected one medal; the women’s team took home silver while the men’s team lost their bronze medal match.
The men’s team started their Olympic campaign winning three straight, including victories over Slovakia, Slovenia and the host country Russia. In these three games, the men’s team tallied 20 goals while only surrendering four.
The high point for the American men came against Russia; the men’s team earned the shootout 3-2 victory, propelling the men to win Group A.
After tying the first three rounds of the shootout, American forward T.J. Oshie took the next five shots, making three to collect the victory.
According to international hockey rules, after the initial three rounds, a player can retake each penalty shot. U.S. head coach Dan Blysma sent Oshie, who had made his first shot in the initial three rounds. Oshie ended the shootout, making four of his six attempts.
The American men’s hockey team then faced their rival Canada in the semifinals after earning a bye in the quarterfinals.
With a chance to get to the gold medal game, the United States was held scoreless for the first time in the tournament, sending the men to the bronze medal game against Finland.
The men fell flat in the bronze medal game, losing to Finland 5-0.
The Americans amassed 27 shots, but Finland goaltender Tukka Rask followed in the footsteps of Canadian netminder Corey Price, shutting out the Americans for the second straight game and sending them home without a medal.
The American women’s team was just as dominant as the American men through their first three games, winning two and losing one. In those games, they scored 14 goals and only gave up four, three in their first loss to Canada.
In the semifinals, the women trounced Sweden 6-1, setting up a rematch with their hated rival, Canada, after falling to them 3-2 in the preliminary round.
Leading late in the third period, the United States seemingly had the gold medal in their grasp, but that was not the case. Canada connected twice against the Americans to force overtime and collected the overtime victory.
The U.S. will have a chance at revenge in the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.