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LIVE GAME BLOG: USA vs Canada

By USAHockey.com, 12/30/12, 12:45AM EST

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Read live game blog updates from Team USA's 2-1 loss to Canada

Game Links & Downloads

TV Information: Game will be re-aired live on NHL Network-U.S. Full TV Info

Webcast: A live webcast is available on NHL.com

Live Stats: Full live stats are available on IIHF.com

Follow the live game updates below and join the conversation to the right on Twitter or via the comments field.

Be sure to tune in to NHL Network-U.S. to watch the action live and then follow us for post-game recaps, photos and videos.

Live Game Blog

Final score: USA 1 - CAN 2

With Gibson out of the net the U.S. had three chances to tie the game, but nnothing got past Subban. Tough pill to swallow after so many near misses and the rash of penalties in the last 10 minutes. Tomorrow's game against Slovakia is now a must-win for the Americans to make the medal round.

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Jones shot redirected just wide

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Subban smothers a shot by Galchenyuk with Miller in front. That line stays out

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The Russians just started a USA, USA chant. Now a Shaibu chant

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1:37: Nugent Hopkins takes a run at Sieloff next to the Canada bench and he gets a boarding penalty. USA takes a timeout before a powerplay

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Nugent Hopkins  misses an open top half of the net just as the powerplay ends.

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Jones makes a diving play to clear the zone off a faceoff

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55 seconds left in the 5-on-3 power play. It's Bardreau, Jones and Murphy out there

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Save by Gibson and Canada's Huberdeau takes a whack at Gibson's chest and then Trocheck knocked him over so they are both sent off

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4:10 - The penalty ends and now Hartman gets caalled for another hit to the head so the U.S. is on the penalty kill again. Trouba was also called for tripping. another 5-on-3

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5:04 - 30 seconds left in the kill. So far a very strong effort for the U.S. They are clogging passing and shooting lanes and staying aggressive

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back to 5-on-4

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6:30 - The worst case scenario now for Team USA, Biggs called for goaltender interference so a 5-on-3 for 36 seconds

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Two clears, 1 minute left in the penalty

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Gibson makes a save on a long wrist shot.

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7:54 - McCabe is called for a hit to the head so Canada goes on the power play. He gets a 2 minute penalty plus a 10-minute misconduct

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Hartman and Jones nearly tie the game, then Jones barely misses the top corner. The Russians seem to be behind the Americans, cheering wildly

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USA 1 - CAN 2

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8:58 - GOAL! Trouba bats at a loose puck that finds its way into the net. Cross ice feed from Galchenyuk and Trouba bobbled the puck, but got enough on it to beat Subban five hole

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Two shots from the top of the faceoff circle are saved by Subban

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10:09 - Strome called for knocking the puck out of play. Delay of game penalty. USA back on the power play. Grimaldi, Miller, Gostisbehere, Gaudreau and Jones on the PP unit

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10:23: Last second shot at the end of the power play and no one can slip the rebound past Subban.

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McNeill lays down and blocked a Jones slap shot, that had to hurt. Canada clears twice and the first minute of advantage is gone.

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12:25 - Tripping call coming on Subban and the U.S. gets a power play, big chance for Team USA

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13:40 - Bad pass back to the point sails all the way into the U.S. end, then Bardreau flicks a shot on Subban who holds on. Faceoff coming to his left

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USA is active but not getting shots as of yet this period

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17:08 - Icing call on the U.S. Canada is weathering the storm again

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U.S. has the same jump it showed at the start of each of the last two periods

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20:00 - We're off! Hartman Bardreau and Pietila on the ice to start

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Second intermission almost over, what are the keys to U.S. rally in your opinion?

End of Second Period: USA 0 - CAN 2

No goals that period even with each team on the power play once. The U.S. seemed to limit its turnovers and turned on the offensive pressure, outshooting Canada 14-8 in the frame.

Be back in a bit to answer any questions from the comments field so submit any you have about the game, city or tournament.

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Subban leaves another big rebound, if the U.S. can get someone in position in the slot they will have some golden opportunities to score

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Final minute of play and two big saves by Gibson to keep it 2-0

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Grimaldi with another shot. He's collecting chances for sure

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2:41 Puck goes out of play in the Canadian end. Faceoff coming to Subban's right

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4:39 - U.S. has 13 shots so far this period

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Back to full strength

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U.S. breaks up the PP a couple times and heads the other way, now Canada cycling. Very active sticks by the defense keep the Canadians from any good passes.

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US is sending two forecheckers in the zone on the Penalty kill, very aggressive play

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Murphy, Pietela McCabe and Trouba on the PK

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7:49 - Slashing call on Jones and Canada is going on the power play

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Pietela floors Nugent-Hopkins near the Canadian bench

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Penalty ends. The U.S. started and finished the advantage strong, but in the middle was not connecting on passes

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10:25 - Subban covers up a reboun. He's giving those up, but the U.S. hasn't been able to get a stick on the loose puck yet

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First minor penalty ends

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One minute expired so far in the advantage.

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Jones shoots and Grimaldi takes about three whacks at the rebound but Subban holds on

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Housley sends out Miller Jones GostisbehereGaudreau and Grimaldi

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13:08 - Another close call goes through the crease in front of Subban but somehow deflects away. Reinhart called for highsticking on the play. 4 minute double minor. USA gets the long powerplay.

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14:43 - Trouba saves the day on a rebound, lockiing up Camara on the doorstep

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Murphy tries to keep the puck in the zone and shoots the puck in the process, the puck went in the Canadian  net and sparked a little after whiste activity. No penalties

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Gaudreau fed Miller in front but Subban holds up, then Gibson smothers a shot from Scheifele at the other end

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Miller, Gaudreau and Grimaldi match up with Drouin, MacKinnon and Strome

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17:45 - USA has the jump again so far, pressing Canada in the offensive zone, but can they capitalize on the momentum?

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Shots were 11-10 in Canada's advantage in the first period

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Canada back at full strength

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20:00 - USA has 20 seconds of power play remaining, the next goal is huge to say the least.

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The Nugent-Hopkins goal was exactly what the U.S. didn't want to happen. Canada won a faceoff and had the time and space to find a wide open Nugent-Hopkins at the top of the faceoff circle with a screen set up in front of Gibson.

The second goal was a product of getting better position on the U.S. defensemen and capitalizing on the space. Strome was inbetween Jones and Gibson and had a perfect lane to collect the pass and get off the shot.

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USA coaches have to be feeling a sense of deja vu from the Russia game. For spurts the U.S. controls the play and looks on the verge of scoring. Turnovers are haunting them at the moment though and Gibson has come up big once again.

End of First Period: USA 0 - CAN 2

At the buzzer the U.S. had a huge rebound that Barber collected in what would have been a goal, but the horn just sounded as he reached the loose puck.

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Offsides call. After a good start this power play has stalled

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Subban save deflects high in the air and Miller hand passed the puck to a teammate

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Galchenyuk fires just wide after a deke found space above the right faceoff dot

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Interference call against Strome so the U.S. goes on the man advantage to end the period

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3:06 - Gibson has to save another breakaway, this one by Drouin. Gibson with another huge save, now on Scheifele who collected a pass from the side of the net and was wide open. A Jones turnover started the scoring chance. Canada's forwards are casing some problems for the American back end in both zones.

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USA 0 - CAN 2

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5:16 - GOAL. Wraparound by Ritchie connects with Strome in front of the net and he puts it top shelf. Strome had the inside position on Jones.

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Penalty ends, Galchenyuk, Grimaldi and Kuraly out looking for the tying goal

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Jones, McCabe, Hartman and Lucia on the PK

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Pietila taps a pass across the point and clears the puck.

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Gibson with two saves in the first minute of the PK, one a diving effort with the stick

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8:45 - U.S. going on the penalty kill after a slashing call on Barber

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9:00 - Gaudreau gets a breakaway and tries to slide the puck five hole but Subban makes the save

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Big save by Gibson! A scoring chance for Team USA ended up with a rebound sending Canada on a 4-on-1, but Gibson made the save

USA 0 - CAN 1

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12:47: GOAL. Off the faceoff Canada gained the puck in the U.S. zone and Canada's captain Nugent-Hopkins beat Gibson from the inner right circle to the far post stick side.

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Bigson saves a wrister by Brett Ritchie. Faceoff in U.S. end. Canada's top line out against Gaudreau Miller and Barber

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13:10 - Hartman barrels into Subban at the side of the net and gets a warning from the official. So far the U.S. has looked sharp, and has had the jump on Canada offensively.

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14:19 - Trouba's blast is hung up in Subban's padding, but the goalie looked around unsure of where it was.

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Reilly shot deflects out of play. Grimaldi, Galchenyuk and Kuraly to take the O-zone draw. Housley mixing things up looking for a spark perhaps

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15:31: Barber makes a nice spin move to avoid a defender in the neutral zone, but then ices the puck

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Miller, Gaudreau and Barber (new line combo) on the ice

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Gibson makes his first save of the game through traffic. Another icing call on Canada

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Huberdeau tipped away a pass in the defensive zone but couldn't catch up to the breakaway chance

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17:50 - Biggs, Trocheck and Vesey out to face Danault, Rattie and McNeil, icing on Canada sends the puck back in Canada's zone

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18:38 - Trouba pinches in and gets off a good slapper that Subban fights off

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Couple good hits by both sides in the first minute, no shots yet.

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20:00 - We're underway! Housley sent out Hartman, Bardreau and Pietila

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USA is the away team so Canada gets the last choice on line changes, we'll see how Canada coach Stephen Spott matches what Phil Housley puts on the ice

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Canada takes the ice to a big cheer then the U.S. comes to the ice to a small spattering of boos but also a good burst of applause.

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Starting lineups just wrapped up.

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10 minutes until puck drop. A decent crowd has already found their seats and more are coming in. Good turnout for an afternoon game given the weather outside. I'm coming to you live from Ufa Arena, where are you at in the world? What did you do to stay awake if you're in America?

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Warmups come to an end and we're just 20 minutes away from puck drop. If you've stayed up late or woken up early thanks for joining us for what should be another classic game between these rivals.

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What does everyone think will happen today? Will the U.S. snap a streak of preliminary round losses? Will the game go to overtime? Share your answers in the comments section to the right.

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In goal for Canada is Subban

Defense pairings: Harrington/Hamilton, Ouellet/Reinhart, Rielly/Wotherspoon Murphy as the 7th defenseman

Forward lines: Nugent-Hopkins/Huberdeau/Scheifele, Strome/MacKinnon/Drouin, Rattie/Danault/McNeill, Camara/Ritchie will rotate through

Two players JC Lipon and Boone Jenner are suspended

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USA is on the ice for warmups and we're now less than 40 minutes from puck drop. The crowd has started to come in from the snow. Curious to see how many show up for the matinee matchup. Big Canadian section next to the press row.

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Some things to watch today: Seth Jones' roommate plays for Canada, forward Ty Rattie and the two are each highly competitive players with a lot on the line.

The line of Miller, Gaudreau and Grimaldi has yet to ignite, but has had its chances. Grimaldi in particular has shown off his incredible speed. On the big Olympic sized sheet he could play a huge role and if he does would spur a line to action that should provide offense for Team USA.

Finally it's America's strong goaltending and defense vs. an attacking Canadian team loaded with offensive talent. From NHL player Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to players like Mark Scheifele and Ryan Strome the Canadians are a threat to score from every position. I'll try to keep you updated on which lines are matched up against each other as we go along.

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John Gibson will start in goal for Team USA, his third start of the tournament

Defensive pairings: Murphy/McCabe, Jones/Reilly, Trouba/Gostisbehere, Sieloff 7th defenseman

Forward lines: Miller/Gaudreau/Grimaldi, Kuraly/Galchenyuk/Barber, Biggs/Trocheck/Lucia, Bardreau/Pietila/Hartman, Vesey is the 13th forward

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50 minutes until puck drop. For those of you in the United States, did you stay up for the game or wake up early?

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In an hour and a half Team USA and Canada will clash at Ufa Arena in a big Group B matchup. The U.S. arrived by bus amid a steady falling snow. It will be interesting to see how many fans come to the arena for this game and also for whom they will cheer.

There have been 150 or so Canadian fans at each of the games so far, but it's been almost entirely Russian fans in the building. Will the locals get behind either of their bitter rivals? Or will they throw their vocal 'Shaibu' chants behind one or the other? What do you think? Share you comments to the right.

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We are three and a half hours before game time. Be sure to share your well wishes for Team USA in the comments field at right. We'll publish them to the site and share with the team.

Goaltender Garret Sparks is our latest player in the 'Spotlight' where he talks about Twitter, goaltending and playing forward for his men's league back home (Read Q&A)

Our game preview has a breakdown of the all-time record between U.S. and Canada as well as a video of the pre-game walk the team took this morning.

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