It was the first game of the Olympics where Shea Weber didn’t record a point. Thankfully, he recorded something much more important.
A gold medal.
As over 100 hockey fans looked on at Bleacher’s Sports Grill in Franklin, Tennessee, Sidney Crosby put the game-winning goal behind Ryan Miller 7:40 into the overtime period to give host country Canada it’s most desirable gold medal of these Olympic Games.
Weber’s defensive partner with the Nashville Predators Ryan Suter had a better stat line in the game than Weber but, obviously, he’s gladly trade his stat line for Weber’s medal color. Suter finished the game without a point as well but ended with a plus-1 rating and a team leading 31:31 of ice time. The player with the 2nd most ice time was Suter’s partner Brian Rafalski but it wasn’t even close. The Red Wings defenseman finished with just 27:48 TOI, almost a full four minutes less.
With the Olympics over, it’s time for the Preds’ stretch run. Both Suter and Weber will resume their normal duties, policing the Nashville defensive zone, on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. Both players got a lot of exposure playing on the world’s greatest stage and hopefully will bring that same determination and momentum onto a Predators roster who’s going to need every win possible to make the post season after a one-year hiatus.
But, until the puck drops on Tuesday, the 100+ people who joined section303.com at Bleachers in Franklin will be fondly remembering a one of the greatest hockey games in recent memory…
2,557 miles away.