Warroad, Minn., gets new Olympic hero with TJ Oshie’s shootout goals

SOCHI, Russia — Three days ago, T.J. Oshie watched his first full Olympic hockey game in person: a USA-Canada women’s match.

His first thought was, “Everything seems a lot quicker.”

Three days later, the 27-year-old from Warroad, Minn., became an American hero in one of the most anticipated matches of the Sochi Games: The U.S. versus Russia.

Even Vladimir Putin was in the house, but the Russian president was powerless at the Bolshoy Ice Dome on Saturday night when Russia scored what appeared to be a third-period goal to give the home team a 3-2 lead, but the goal was ruled invalid because the net was dislodged, and — after a scoreless overtime with the score tied at 2 — Oshie dominated the shootout.

Oshie took six of the eight U.S. shots and scored on four of them to give the U.S. a 3-2 win to remain undefeated in pool play.

“I kept looking back seeing if anyone else was going to go,” Oshie said. “I told some of the boys on the last couple (shots) ‘I’m running out of moves here.’”

“I’ve never seen anything quite like that,” said U.S. defenseman Ryan McDonagh, of the strategy to keep using the Olympic rookie.

“I was just nervous for him,” said U.S. captain Zach Parise. “He always went in the same way from right to left, and maybe that started to get into the goalie’s head a little bit.”

All Oshie could think was: "Just score goals, as many goal as you can. Keep the ’tender guessing.”

Meanwhile, Ilya Kovalchuk took four shots for Russia, alternating with Pavel Datsyuk, who took three.

And when Kovalchuk’s final shot missed, Oshie became an instant celebrity.

A humble one.

“I couldn't do it without Quick shutting the door there,” Oshie said, referring to U.S. goalie Jonathan Quick, who made three saves in the shootout and earned a silver medal in Vancouver four years ago.

Quick’s Russian counterpart, goalie Sergei Bobrovski said, “Of course it’s disappointing when the same person scores four goals on you. But what can you do? Today he won, tomorrow will be a new day.”

Yet Saturday will be long remembered.

“I think you are going to see T.J. Oshie be a household name after that display,” said forward David Backes said. “Kids will be on the pond, probably in Minnesota right now, throwing a five-hole on the goalie three or four times in a row.”

Meanwhile, team Russia remained peeved by its disqualified goal at 2-2.

“I don't know what happened there but it was definitely a goal,” said Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin. “Nobody (from Russia) touched the net, but the (U.S.) goalie touched the net so that the net moved (off its mooring). The referee had to see it. He should have given him (a penalty of) two minutes.”

“If this is a mistake of the judges, there are people that will find it,” said Russian head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov. “It’s very sad that the referees didn’t count it, but the referees looked at the video and made this decision. What can I do?”

“It is the second time we have lost in a shootout in the Olympic Games,” Ovechkin said. “I hope it will mean that we will have good luck later."

On Sunday, Russia will meet Slovakia and the U.S. will face Slovenia in the final Group A preliminary-round action. 

Asked about the pressure and playing in front of President Putin, Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said, “I was in what I would call a working ecstasy. I wasn't shaking. As for Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin), I only found out after the game” that he was here.