Russia might be content never to have to play the United States in hockey again. Especially if an American referee is involved.
A mere 34 years after the U.S. pulled off the "Miracle on Ice" in the stunning 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union in the Lake Placid, N.Y., the Red, White and Blue did it again on Russian soil - albeit in more controversial fashion.
The U.S. defeated Russia 3-2 in an eight-shootout slugfest Saturday at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics that made a national hero of T.J. Oshie of the St. Louis Blues. Oshie scored four times, including the clincher, for Team USA.
But it was a goal in the third period - one that was disallowed - that has the Russians fuming.
Russia's Fyodor Tyutin beat U.S. goaltender Jonathan Quick with less than five minutes remaining in the third period that seemingly broke a 2-2 tie.
But referees Brad Meier, an American, and Marcus Vinnerborg, a Swede, conferred and disallowed the goal because the net had come off its base
According to the news agency AFP, Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov and star player Alex Ovechkin argued that the goal should've counted.
"The referee made a mistake," AFP quoted Bilyaletdinov as saying, the coach seemingly placing blame only on Meier. "Of course, it would have been more effective to have a different judge."
Ovechkin argued that Quick intentionally dislodged the net.
"It was definitely a goal. The goalie touched the net so that the net moved," Ovechkin said. "The referee had to see it. He should have given him two minutes."
Bilyaletdinov said he still held out hope that the officiating error would be verified.
"If this is a mistake of the referee there are people that will find it. It is very sad the referee didn't count it," he said.
Bilyaletdinov was a bit more diplomatic when asked whether he thought referees from neutral countries should officiate contests, "We don't appoint the referees, a board of referees appoints them, so we can only take the situation as a given."
Quick said he didn't know whether he or a Russian player dislodged the net. After the game, the International Ice Hockey Federation publicly supported the official call.
"Upon reviewing the goal, the net had clearly been displaced prior to the puck going into the net," said an IIHF statement.
"The IIHF referee supervisor Konstantin Komissarov confirmed that the ruling made by referees Brad Meier and Markus Vinnerborg was the correct call and that the proper procedure had been followed with regards to the video review."
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