Finland routs Team USA in bronze-medal game

By Michael Caples –

Team USA was the highest scoring team during the preliminary round of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

In the two games that mattered most, however, they struggled to find the scoresheet.

A day after being shut out by rival Canada in the semifinals, Team USA was held scoreless by Finland in the bronze-medal game.

In a span of 48 hours, they went from being a favorite for gold to leaving Sochi without a medal.

Finland beat the U.S. 5-0 in the consolation game Saturday, thanks in large part to two goals in 11 seconds in the second period.

From there, Finland had seized control, and the Americans looked visibly frustrated and unmotivated.

The Finns received two goals from Teemu Selanne, who was playing in his final international contest after being a staple of Finnish hockey for more than two decades. Jussi Jokinen, Juuso Hietanen and Olli Maatta also scored for Finland to help them secure bronze.

Patrick Kane missed on two different penalty-shot opportunities in the contest.

Livonia native Ryan Kesler was held off the scoresheet, recording only a single shot. The Vancouver Canucks star won 57.14 percent of his face-offs during his 20:25 worth of ice time.

Farmington native Cam Fowler recorded three shots on goal, but finished -1 in his 17:40 time-on-ice.

The U.S. coaching staff opted to play goaltender Jonathan Quick on back-to-back days, which meant that East Lansing native Ryan Miller once again did not get to play. Miller finishes the Sochi Games with a perfect 1-0 record.