The winning goal for Norway in the bronze medal 2010 Paralympic sledge hockey game versus Canada reminded me of a similar play many years ago in the NHL playoffs. The year was 1982 and the Vancouver Canucks were in the Stanley Cup final for the first time. Game one against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders was tied after regulation. With four seconds to play in the first (and, as it turned out, only) overtime period, Canucks’ defenseman Harold Snepsts had the puck in the corner to the left of goaltender Richard Brodeur. There was not enough time for Vancouver to get down the ice and attempt a shot. All Snepsts had to do was hold the puck, let time elapse, and it was off to overtime number two. Inexplicably, Snepsts tried forcing a pass up the middle towards Gerry Minor. Islanders sniper Mike Bossy picked off that pass and fired a shot over Brodeur’s shoulder with two seconds to play, winning the game for New York. Since it was game one, it did not have the finality of last night’s bronze medal sledge hockey match but it was a crushing, demoralizing defeat nonetheless. The Canucks never recovered and lost the series in four straight games.
Last night, six seconds remained in the third period when Canada’s defenseman picked up the puck in the corner. The Snepsts’ play popped into my head and I found myself saying the same thing I did 28 years ago. ”Hang onto the puck, freeze it, kill the clock!” I never did get a clear view of which Canadian made the errant clearing attempt. Sportsnet showed the replay twice and then immediately switched to other programming. The guilty player’s name was not visible from the angles shown. Probably a good thing as the Snepsts play is forever etched in the minds of all Canucks fans. I wouldn’t wish that same fate for this guy. I’m sure he feels bad enough as it is. It wasn’t overtime but it may as well have been. Only 3.6 seconds remained after Eskil Hagen’s shot from the point deflected off a Canadian defender and over goaltender Paul Rosen. Norway claimed the bronze with a 2-1 win.
Twenty-four hours earlier in the semi-final, Japan ended Canada’s gold medal hopes with a last-minute goal. Two days, two heartbreaking results for the home team.
UPDATE: USA wins sledge hockey gold with a 2-0 win over Japan.
