BEIJING — They'd only just begun to explore their potential when their Olympics ended abruptly, leaving members of the top-seeded U.S. men's hockey team achingly short of what they were sure they could accomplish.
Their stunning 3-2 shootout loss to Slovakia in the tournament quarterfinals didn't seem real to them as they glided off the ice at National Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. A play made more precisely here, a battle won there, and the youngest U.S. men's team since 1994 might have been planning for the tournament semifinals.
Slovakia made those plays, won those battles, tied the game late in regulation after pulling their goaltender in favor of an extra skater and got the lone goal in the shootout. After Peter Cehlarik scored in the fourth round and Slovakia goaltender Patrik Rybar stopped an attempt by U.S. captain Andy Miele, the winners poured off the bench to celebrate their minor miracle.
