Olympics: U.S. Men Plummet From Hockey; Hall, Goepper Boost Medals

The Olympics medal race didn’t move between days fourteen and fifteen, as Norway stayed at the very top. The ROC and Germany followed up with 2^nd and 3^rd place, and the United States stays just out of the top three, ending the day in 4^th place.

Thus far, 25 countries out of the 91 competing have won medals. Poland brings up the rear with just one bronze medal as Norway continues its run at the top with 13 golds.

Only Norway and Germany have double-digit gold medal counts, as Germany has ten. The U.S.A. follows with their eight gold medals.

U.S. Men lose quarterfinal to Slovakia

The United States men’s hockey team was upset on Tuesday night by Slovakia in a shootout. Slovakian goalie Patrik Rybar put together a good performance in net, only allowing two goals from the United States over three periods, and stopping each penalty shot that came his way.

The United States came into the game as the only undefeated team from group play and expected to make a run for gold. Their dreams came to an end when Slovakia found the back of the net on their fourth shootout attempt. Neither team was able to make any of their other shots as the game finished 3-2.

Slovakia will play the ROC Thursday night, with the ROC coming off a 3-1 victory over Denmark. The United States has one more chance at Olympic gold tonight when the women’s team plays Canada in the final.

Looking at Day 15

The United States struggled early Tuesday night, as they weren’t able to put together a strong performance in curling, falling to Canada 7-6. They also lost to Japan 10-7 the next morning.

Skiing followed up as Americans Alex Hall and Nick Goepper proved to be the heroes of the evening. The duo placed in the top two podium spots in men’s skiing slopestyle; unfortunately for their delegation, the U.S. didn’t win any other medals in skiing that evening. Clement Noel of France won the men’s slalom, while Guangpu Qi won the men’s aerials. German’s Katherina Hennig and Victoria Carl won the women’s cross country team spring, with Erik Valnes and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway on the men’s event. Lastly, Sweden won the women’s 4x6km relay in the biathlon, ahead of the ROC and Germany.

In skating, South Korea’s Choi Min-Jeong won the women’s 1500m race. Additionally, Canada took gold in the men’s 5000m relay ahead of South Korea and Italy.

Going into Day 16

The United States starts off the action Wednesday night with a men’s curling game against Denmark at 8:05 p.m. The semifinal of the contest comes at 7:05 a.m. Thursday; the United States moves on with a win against last-place Denmark.

Skiing follows up with the women’s halfpipe qualification round at 8:30 p.m., the men follow up at 11:30 p.m. The women’s combined holds its competition, starting with the downhill at 9:30 p.m. and the slalom at 1:00 a.m. Likewise, women’s ski cross starts with qualification at 10:30 p.m. and finishes with the final at 2:10 a.m. the men’s nordic combined rounds out skiing, with the ski jump event at 3:00 a.m. and cross country at 6:00 a.m.

Skating finishes the day, with women’s 1000m at 3:30 a.m., while women’s singles awards a medal with free skate at 5:00 a.m.