It was supposed to be a Canada-Russia Olympic final-with a subplot of Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin-continuing an international hockey rivalry that really began in 1972 with the epic Summit Series (a series that made Paul Henderson, and his shot heard round the world, a national hero forever).

But then, the US shocked Canada 5-3 in the preliminary round. "Fluke," every Canadian fan nervously thought, as their team outplayed and outshot the Americans 45-23. However, in Sunday's wonderful gold medal game, coach Ron Wilson's young underdog squad played the mighty, talented Canadians dead even.

Yes, Crosby, thanks to a sweet pass from Jarome Iginla (and bad coverage by US defenseman Brian Rafalski), saved his country's ass in overtime with a no-look wrist shot between the pads of tournament MVP Ryan Miller. Here's a replay, if you missed it:

But before that, Minnesotan and New Jersey Devil Zach Parise made Canada soil its collective midnight blue breeches by jamming in a frantic tying goal with Miller pulled with 25 seconds left in regulation play. The subsequent seven minutes of 4-on-4 overtime play was the most riveting hockey action I've ever seen.

The US's rise as a hockey power is, relatively speaking, a recent development. Before the Miracle On Ice of 1980, American players rarely made it to the NHL level. While a few members of the Lake Placid team went on to have decent pro careers, none of them became a superstar.

In 1981, the much-hyped Bobby Carpenter became the first American-born player drafted in the first round. He scored 53 goals in the fourth season of an otherwise mediocre career.

The best ever US player? Mike Modano is a good pick, as is Jeremy Roenick-though he was just horrible as a color commentator in Vancouver. I say it's Connecticut-born and former New York Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch. (Just to limit the scoffing about my pick, know that I despise the Rangers.)

As the other horrible Olympics color commentator (seriously, NBC, why these morons?) Mike Milbury pointed out, probably only three or four of the US players could have made the Canadian squad. But the Americans were younger and faster than their northern rivals. And goalie Miller may be the best in the world betwixt the pipes. He's certainly the best American goalie since former Ranger Mike Richter, and maybe of all time.

A big reason why Canada was sweating Sunday's game was because the US stunned Canada in OT for the gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships (under 20-year-olds) earlier this year in Saskatoon. Canada had won the tournament the previous five years in a row. Here was winning goal:

If the Canadians had lost to America again in OT, again on home turf, it may not have been safe for Yanks to cross the border for a few years. Well, okay, it probably would have. But the Canadians would have been awfully displeased with their neighbors to the south.

Copyranter is an ad copywriter who blogs about advertising here. Before selling out, he was a sports reporter for several small newspapers, including a daily where he covered the Philadelphia Flyers. He knows his way around a rink, having majored in hockey in college-which led to his graduating with a 2.8 GPA in Communications and a wicked wrist shot.