Mens US Hockey News - U.S. hockey ties Latvia

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American goalie John Grahame reacts as the Latvian players celebrate a goal by teammate Herberts Vasiljevs during the second period. The U.S. and Latvia game ended in a 3-3 tie.

U.S. hockey ties Latvia in tournament opener
Gionta, Conroy, Leopold score goals in disappointing start for Americans

TURIN, Italy - John Grahame watched the movie “Miracle” almost 100 times during the NHL lockout.

The way the U.S. hockey team played against Latvia in the Olympic opener, Grahame and his teammates might need another miracle for history to repeat itself.

Jordan Leopold scored early in the third period, and the American team with a roster full of NHL players only managed a 3-3 tie against the underdog Latvia.

When the final horn sounded, the Latvian players raised their arms in triumph while the Americans slowly gathered around goalie Grahame.

“We were not expected to win or even get the tie,” said former NHL goalie Arturs Irbe, who made 39 saves — 18 in the third period — for Latvia. “We were big-time underdogs in this game in everybody’s eyes except our own people.

“You can say that this probably means more to us than to the American team.”

Latvia, with only two current NHL players, rallied from an early two-goal deficit and proved U.S. coach Peter Laviolette had every reason to be worried about this opening matchup in Olympic Group B.

Latvia had the luxury of playing mostly as a team in recent weeks, while the U.S. squad was scattered around North America. Only two American players were in Italy by Monday and the team had just one practice before hitting the ice Wednesday night.

On the flip side, their opponents — who finished ninth in Salt Lake City four years ago — had practiced together since Feb. 5.

“A lot of guys just got off the flight yesterday. There’s no excuses but that’s the reality,” Grahame said.

The United States will play Thursday against Kazakhstan. Latvia will face Slovakia.

Latvia’s biggest offensive star was Anaheim defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, who had two assists in his first game since November. He was sidelined by a knee injury and then was in the league’s substance-abuse program until being reinstated Tuesday.

“I was pretty excited,” he said. “Just the usual feelings.”

The Latvians had a chance to win the game in the third when Mark Parrish took a 4-minute high-sticking penalty, but their power play was cut short by a penalty. Then they just had to hang on as the United States charged.

“The game was going full speed, and they turned up all cylinders,” Irbe said. “It was very hard for us to survive a game like that, but that’s why there was good news that there were only three periods.”

Grahame, who made 22 saves, got the start despite not being invited to the Americans’ orientation camp in September.

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Brian Gionta of the U.S. celebrates his goal during the first period of their men's ice hockey game against Latvia.

All seemed right for the United States early when Brian Gionta scored a power-play goal 9:44 in, and Craig Conroy doubled the lead and made Irbe look bad just 54 seconds later.

Atvars Tribuncovs cut Latvia’s deficit to 2-1 with a power-play goal in the first period, and Latvia took over in the second. Poor defensive coverage by the United States yielded numerous odd-man rushes.

Grahame was forced to dive on his stomach in the crease to grab the puck and stop the pressure with just less than 6 minutes left in the second period. Brian Rolston was sent off for tripping, and Latvia — in the Olympics for just the third time — took advantage.

Dressed in road whites, the Latvians moved the puck from side to side high in the United States zone. Tribuncovs finally slid a shot past heavy traffic and under Grahame to tie it.

That sent the Latvian fans into a frenzy as they rose en masse behind each goal. They were still standing 40 seconds later when their team took the lead.

“We’re not happy with the outcome, obviously,” Grahame said. “We’re just going to keep playing. We’re trying to stay positive.”

The 1980 U.S. team also started its run to the gold medal with a tie, against Sweden.

The Associated Press