Vancouver Games: Day 15

SI Staff | Mar 1, 2010

Vancouver Games: Day 15

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Ryan Malone, Zach Parise, Erik Johnson and Patrick Kane all scored in the first 10:08, sending goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to the bench and pretty much sealing any doubt in Team USA's 6-1 thrashing of Finland in an Olympic semifinal.

David E. Klutho/SI

The win over Finland put the U.S. in Sunday's gold medal game, where it will have a rematch with Canada.

David E. Klutho/SI

The U.S. hasn't won Olympic gold since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

Robert Beck/SI

Patrick Marleau, Brenden Morrow and Ryan Getzlaf got Canada off to a good start in its 3-0 over scrappy Slovakia, which scored twice late in the third period to make it close. The USA-Canada rematch will be played on the 50th anniversary of the U.S. beating Canada for the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics.

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Sidney Crosby and Canada have outscored Germany, Russia and Slovakia 18-7 since the 5-3 loss to the U.S. earlier in this tournament.

Simon Bruty/SI

Steve Holcomb and his sleek, black four-man bobsled known as the "Night Train" are halfway to gold. Officially known as USA-1, the sled set track records on both its runs, putting it in first place going into the last two heats Saturday night. The United States hasn't won this race since 1948.

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Six bobsleds, including one from the United States and Japan (pictured), crashed during the first two heats of Olympic four-man bobsled - all in turn No. 13. There were no serious injuries.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Apolo Ohno earned his third medal (one silver, two bronze) of these games and eighth overall by anchoring the U.S. squad in the 5,000-relay, finishing just behind South Korea in the 45-lap event.

Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images

In the 500, a short race often filled with spills, Canada's Francois Louis-Tremblay (208) and South Korea's Sung Si-bak (24) both fell on a dash to the finish, seemingly giving Canada's Charles Hamelin the gold and Apolo Ohno the silver. But Ohno was later disqualified on a controversial ruling that he pushed Tremblay.

Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images

Ohno said he didn't deserve to be disqualified, claiming that he put his right hand out merely to protect himself as he surged on Tremblay, looking to make the pass.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Apolo Ohno had to avoid a pair of tumbling Olympians to reach the semifinals of the 500.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The U.S. women, who knocked off Canada in their quarterfinal, will face defending Olympic champion Germany in a semifinal Saturday.

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The American men upset Sven Kramer and the powerful Dutch team in one team pursuit semifinal. 'Oh, my God, we beat the Dutch!"' said Brian Hansen. "And then I thought, 'Oh, my God, we got a medal!"' The U.S. will face Canada in the gold-medal race Saturday.

Carl Yarbrough/SI

Maria Riesch continued her strong Olympic debut by winning the slalom for her second gold in Vancouver and the ninth for Germany, which finished 3-of-5 in Alpine events. Riesch is competing at her first Olympics at age 25 after being sidelined by a season-ending injury four years ago.

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Sarah Schleper was the top American, finishing 16th -- after a team doctor sewed five stitches in her bloodied chin before her second run.

Al Tielemans/SI

Sweden captured its second consecutive gold medal in women's curling.

Al Tielemans/SI

Sweden shaded host Canada 7-6 in extra ends. China, competing in its first Olympics, beat Switzerland 12-6 for the bronze.

ADdrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

With rain turning the event into hydroplaning, Nicolien Sauerbreij of the Netherlands won the women's parallel giant slalom race. Rider after top rider kept going out, unable to handle the strange conditions. About the only one who handled them consistently was Sauerbreij, who was her country's flagbearer in 2002, but finished 24th.

Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (left), 36, added to his tremendous Olympic resume by anchoring Norway's victory in the men's biathlon relay. This was his first gold medal since sweeping all four events in 2002, and the 11th medal of his career. That leaves him one behind Bjorn Daehlie's Winter Games record of 12. The Americans were 13th out of 19 countries.