The Soviet Union had won the previous four Olympic ice hockey titles and had beaten a National Hockey League all-star selection the year before. The United States squad at Lake Placid averaged 21 years old and was drawn almost entirely from college programmes. Three weeks before the Games the two sides had met in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden; the Soviets won 10-3.
The game
The United States trailed three times and equalised three times. Mark Johnson scored on the buzzer at the end of the first period, which prompted the Soviet coach to replace Vladislav Tretiak — probably the best goaltender in the world — for the rest of the match. Mike Eruzione scored the fourth with exactly ten minutes left, and the Americans defended it.
Two things usually forgotten
It was not the gold-medal match. The United States still had to beat Finland two days later, coming from behind again, to win the tournament.
And it was not broadcast live in the United States. ABC had asked for the game to be moved to the evening; the organisers refused. Most of the country watched it on tape, already knowing the result, which did not appear to reduce the effect.
