Click here for Canada vs. Sweden Men's Hockey gold-medal game at Sochi Winter Olympics 2014.
Update: Canada defeated the United States 1-0 at the Olympics Men's Ice Hockey game on Friday, February 21. Jamie Benn scored the game's only goal (Watch Replay Video) in the second period and earn a spot in the gold-medal game for Canada.
Canada will face Sweden on Sunday while the USA will play Finland for the bronze medal on Saturday.
Orginal Story:
Four years ago, U.S. men's and women's ice hockey team both lost to Canada at Vancouver Olympics, sparking hopes of besting Canada in the rematch at Sochi 2014 (Information on how to watch internet live stream online can be found below).
While USA aimed for two gold medals, one wing was struck down when U.S. women suffered defeat Thursday when Canada overturned U.S.'s 2-0 lead by scoring 3 consecutive goals during the third quarter.
After U.S. women's loss, fans may pout and stop watching the Olympics coverage altogether, but they better keep watching since U.S. men and Canada men hockey will square off Friday in the semi-finals. And the winner of the U.S. vs. Canada match will move on to the finals to play against the winner of Sweden vs. Finland.
This Wednesday, U.S. men defeated Czech Republic 5-2, and the players were finally able to figure out how to play with each other in harmony.
"I think we were destined and on a crash course for each other," said center David Backes, who struck forceful plays with Dustin Brown and Ryan Callahan. "It happens to be in the semifinals instead of the finals, like Vancouver.
"I think both teams will be very excited to play each other and will need no motivation, and it's going to be some great hockey played Friday night."
Meanwhile, U.S. goalie Jonathan Quick blocked 21 shots from Czech, keeping the Americans in the competition and securing the rematch against Canada.
"(Canada) got a good team. They've got a lot of skills. They've got speed. Great goaltender, great defenseman," he said. "You make it to the semifinals, you expect to play these kind of teams. So it's nothing that we weren't expecting. We definitely have a lot of preparing to do to be as ready as we can."
With less than a day left, the players on the U.S. and Canada teams must find ways to bolster their team chemistry. The U.S. vs. Canada men's ice hockey match will pit NHL teammates against each other. According to Chicago Tribune, U.S. winger Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks against Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews; the King's Brown and Quick against teammate Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter; and U.S. defenseman Cam Fowler of the Ducks against Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
What's even more interesting is that U.S. coach Dan Bylsma will try to shut out Sidney Crosby, his franchise player with the Penguins.
In Wed.'s game, neither the Americans nor the Canadians went with their goalies who had played in the USA vs. Canada match in 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Instead of Ryan Miller, Team USA had Quick start as the goalie. The Canadians also went with Carey Price instead of Roberto Luongo.
In that previous match, Luongo helped the Canadians beat Miller and Team USA in an overtime.
U.S. vs. Canada men's ice hockey match will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET or 8:30 a.m. PT, and NBC is scheduled to broadcast the game on NBC Sports Network and online through free live stream, which can be accessed through NBC Olympics Live Extra or at nbcolympics.com.
According to NBC, Wednesday's U.S.-Czech Republic game was the second-most streamed sporting event in NBC Sports history, after the 2.1 million for Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012. They are expecting an even higher number of views for the U.S. - Canada game on Friday.
