Wow

Wow is about the only word need to describe USA's destruction of Finland in the first semi-final today.

They could not have gotten off to a better start. It was all over after the 3-0 goal, and then the floodgates opened. Before the 13 minute mark of the first period it was game over. The opening 10 minutes are so vitally important in games right now.

Thankfully they let up after that, because IOC president Jacques Rogge may have threatened to remove men's hockey from the Olympics due to the blowout.

Finland did score a goal late in the game, giving the Finnish fans, some of whom probably paid four digits for their ticket, something to cheer about.

For a team that complained early in the tournament that "noon starts suck," they sure have done well with them. They've played 4 noon games now, and have established a routine. Hockey players are creatures of routine. Finland was not used to the noon start, and I really believe that is a big reason as to why they came out so flat.

Oh, by the way: USA now awaits the winner of the Canada/Slovakia semi-final for Sunday. The gold medal game starts at noon.