Miracle Page #6

The Soviets, the Czechs,

the whole bunch of them.

Have you got your roster finalized yet?

Yeah, I got my team.

I still don't know why you scheduled

this, but get your guys to New York.

They've got a game to play.

Ladies and gentlemen,

your 1980 US Olympic team.

As we await the opening face-off

in this game between the Soviet Union

and Team USA

here at Madison Square Garden,

the teams line up

on their respective blue lines.

And Soviet Union team captain Boris

Mikhailov skating over to his bench

to pick up that NHL Challenge trophy.

The trophy that his team won here

at Madison Square Garden last October,

and won in decisive fashion,

beating the NHL All-Stars.

Getting a mixed reaction

from the capacity audience here.

Some cheers, but a few boos

going through the crowd as well.

The two teams clear the ice

and repair to their respective goals

as we get set for the opening face-off

in this final tune-up

for these two teams

before the Olympic Games

in Lake Placid.

- One, two, three.

- USA!

And as we get set

to drop the puck for this contest,

the Soviets starting their big line of

Mikhailov between Kharlamov and Petrov.

Team USA countering

with Mark Johnson at center

between McClanahan and Dave Silk.

And we're ready to go

with this warm-up contest.

From the heart, boys.

It's the Soviet Union in control,

making a charge into the Team USA zone.

A shot from the point goes off the post

and in behind the Team USA net.

Puck comes back to the blue line.

Moving in with a shot, stopped

by Craig, and it goes into the corner.

Finally, Team USA

gets a stick on the puck

as Ramsey brings it up

to the blue line.

He's absolutely flattened there

by Kasatonov.

Two on one. Two on one!

Soviet Union turning it

into a two on one.

- Back door, OC. Look out.

- Get the puck.

Moving in. Shoots and scores.

Come on. Come on!

Break it up. Break it up.

That's it, let's go.

Nice expression on your face,

you dummy.

Jack, you gotta listen to me.

You gotta listen to me!

The Soviets breaking out

of their own zone, up the ice to center.

Krutov goes in over the US blue line.

Shoots and scores.

He shoots and scores.

Shoots. He scores.

The Soviet Union

routing Team USA ten to three.

There's always things you can work on.

This club's no exception.

I think we're gonna be all right.

The Soviets have been together

ten years.

We got college kids

getting to know each other.

They could have won

this thing 30 to nothing.

Herb, can we talk

about tonight's game?

Sorry. How is he?

I'm not sure if he needs surgery.

I'm hoping it's a ligament pull,

but it could be a tear.

Herb, we got three days until Sweden.

Giving him a roster spot's

a waste of money.

- Give me a best case.

- Miss three or four games minimum.

The whole qualifying round.

The kid's made the team,

busted his ass for me,

and now I gotta send him home,

that the deal?

- What did Doc say?

- He doesn't know yet.

He's gonna go with you to the hospital

and get a picture of your knee taken.

Then we'll see.

- Thinking about sitting you down, Jim.

- What?

- What are you talking about?

- I played you too much, you're tired.

It's time I gave Janny a look.

He's waited seven months.

- You're kidding me. Now?

- Yeah, of course I mean now.

- That's my net.

- They just scored ten goals.

Right now it's everybody's net.

Wait a second.

I've given you everything I've got.

Have you? Given me your very best?

I know there's a lot more in you.

A whole other level

that you just don't want to go to.

What the hell?

You don't even understand.

I'll tell you what I don't understand.

I don't understand you.

Nobody on this team understands you

and your sayings and your drills

and those stupid psychology tests

you had everybody take.

Everybody?

So that's what this is about?

Because I didn't take your test?

Fine. I'll take your test.

Is that what you want?

No. I want to see that kid in the net

who wouldn't take the test.

You gotta be kidding me.

What did he do?

He did something amazing.

He started to laugh.

Then everybody in the audience

started to laugh.

It sounds funny,

but I was so proud of him.

I'm starting to think

that our son takes after you.

That's all part of my plan.

Well, you're a very smart woman.

I miss you.

The Games are only a couple

of days away now.

- You got your airplane tickets?

- Yeah. Walter had them sent over.

I guess I'll see you then.

You sound tired.

Try and get some sleep.

- Yeah, I will.

- All right. I'll talk to you later.

- Hey, Patti?

- Yeah?

I miss you too.

- Good night.

- Good night.

I'll check on OC.

Take care of these guys here.

Come on, guys. Stick with me.

This is your room key.

And this is your ID badge that

you'll need for just about everything.

Don't lose it.

Herb, Herb.

Herb, it'll be fine.

I can fight through it.

Why don't you join the boys

over there, OC?

It's good to see you, kid.

Attaboy.

- Well?

- The good news is it's not a tear.

It's a stretched ligament. No surgery.

But there is no way

he can play before the medal round.

Forget the medal round.

You keep O'Callahan

and you lose one more skater,

you're gonna have a tough time

putting a decent team on the ice.

It's that simple.

I asked Herb.

He's keeping me in the dark.

Oh, boy.

- If he gets shaky, it's you.

- Stay loose, Janny.

You're in there tomorrow, Jimmy.

Let's bring it up now.

- OK. Thanks a lot.

- Attaboy, Jimmy. Go get them.

- I'll see you on the bus.

- All right.

Doc said no, right?

He said you might be able to go

in a week. Maybe two.

- What if it's two?

- That puts me in a tight spot.

I got 20 guys to think about and they're

all looking at me to do what's best.

- I understand, coach.

- Which is why I'm hanging on to you.

I swear to God,

if you're not being serious...

I'm only saying this if you promise you

won't ask me to play until I tell you...

I won't. I mean, I will.

I promise you, coach.

'Cause if you do, I'll stick your ass

on an airplane and back to Boston.

- All right, Doc's waiting for you.

- Thank you, Herb.

OC is playing, baby.

Move your feet, boys. Move your feet!

Ramsey passes to Eruzione.

Eruzione carrying the puck up

the boards. Drops the pass for Broten.

He shoots. Kicked away by Lindbergh.

Boys, hit that one-timer now. Come on!

Al Michaels with Ken Dryden.

With 4:
10 to go in the first period,

it's Sweden leading

the United States one to nothing.

Ahlberg to Eriksson.

And a big hit by Dave Christian.

Eriksson picks up the puck, passes

to Lundqvist, Lundqvist to Ahlberg.

- Mac, where is it?

- Up this way. That's it.

Ahlberg shoots. Save by Craig.

Eruzione fighting for it.

Mike Eruzione named team captain

by coach Herb Brooks

for, as Herb put it, his leadership

qualities on and off the ice.

I'm taking him out.

The US team

is playing tentative hockey tonight, Al.

Tough draw having to face Sweden,

third-best team in the world.

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