Team USA’s gold medal dreams end with shootout loss to Czech Republic

The United States will not have the chance to play for a medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. A 3-2 shootout loss to the Czech Republic ended the team’s hope for a gold medal at the games.

Despite a first period goal from Ryan Donato, the Czech Republic grabbed a 2-1 lead, including a goal from former Bear Tomas Kundratek.

The USA was able to pick up a shorthanded goal from Jim Slater to tie the game at two-all. Brian O’Neill would have a chance late in the third period to give the Americans their lead back, sending his shot off the crossbar with under three minutes remaining.

Team USA would get a power play to finish off the third period, unable to convert as well in overtime, finishing with no shots on the man advantage at the end of the game.

In a shootout, Bears forward Chris Bourque would go first for the USA after Zapolski stopped Martin Ruzicka. Bourque would slowly approach Czech goaltender Pavel Francouz, making an excellent move to the backhand, but unable to lift the puck into the back of the net. That would be the case for the majority of the US’ attempts in the skills competition, going 0-for-5 as Petr Koukal would score for the Czech Republic in the second round to send them to the semifinals.

Bourque would finish the game with 16:35 of ice time and no shots, a first for the tournament. He ends his 2018 Olympic campaign with two assists in five games.

Seven former Bears remain in the tournament, with Chay Genoway, Justin Peters, and Christian Thomas representing Canada, Staffan Kronwall representing Sweden, Sami Lepisto and Oskar Osala on the Finland roster, and Kundratek moving on with the Czech Republic.