Miracle Page #7

- You know what I mean?

- I got you. I think it's worth a try.

- What's the deal with Mac?

- Upper-leg contusion.

- He's done for the night.

- What if he plays?

- I don't understand.

- If he plays, can he hurt it any worse?

No, but it will be very painful for him

and he won't be able to do very much.

This is unbelievable.

You guys are playing like this is

some throwaway game up in Rochester.

- Who we playing, Rammer?

- Sweden.

Yeah, you're damn right. Sweden.

In the Olympics.

What the hell's wrong with you?

Put your gear on.

I said put your gear on.

- Doc told me I can't play.

- I know. You got a bad bruise.

You know what? Put your street clothes

on. I got no time for quitters.

Come on, Herb. Nobody's quitting here.

You worry about your own game.

Plenty there to keep you busy.

A bruise on the leg is a hell of a long

way from the heart, you candy-ass.

- What did you call me?

- You heard me.

You want me to play?

- I want you to be a hockey player!

- I am a hockey player!

You want me to play on one leg?

I'll play on one leg!

- That'll get them going.

- Oh, yeah.

- Will that make you happy?

- I'll clean up.

I am a hockey player!

2:
49 remaining in the game.

Sweden leading two-one.

The US team has fought hard, but they've

still got nothing to show for it.

If they don't beat or tie the Swedes,

it'll be very difficult

to advance to the medal round.

McClanahan after the loose puck.

He's hit hard by Sderstrm.

- Go, go, go, Mac.

- Come on, Mac.

McClanahan gutting it out despite

being injured in the first period.

Silk to Johnson. Back to Silk.

Through the neutral zone.

Attaboy, Mac. Keep going.

Dumped into the Swedish zone

and stopped behind the net by Lindbergh.

Johnson fighting Eriksson for it now.

It comes out to Waltin.

He's hit hard by McClanahan.

- All right, Mac.

- Baker, you're up next. The right side.

The Swedes regain control behind their

own net, 1:
40 remaining in the game.

Coneheads, you're up next.

Mats Waltin...

moving it out to Jan Eriksson.

Jan Eriksson out to Hkan Eriksson.

- Across the US blue line.

- Take it back.

Into the corner. He circles.

Passes across to Ahlberg. Wrist shot.

Knocked out of the air by Craig.

Puck picked up by Suter,

moved ahead to Johnson.

Switch them up. Go, go, go!

Johnson heads to the bench

with just over a minute and a half left.

Precious seconds ticking away

for this US team.

- What are you doing with Baker there?

- 1:
20.

Herb Brooks has molded this unit.

Seven months of training, 61 games.

Just a little over a minute left

to avoid a very damaging loss.

Ahlberg up the wing to Hkan Eriksson.

Stopped by Craig.

Rebound picked up by Schneider.

Schneider flying up the wing,

over the blue line and into the corner.

- Jimmy, come on.

- Brooks is pulling goalie Jim Craig

for an extra skater to try to tie it.

- They have no choice, Al.

- 45 seconds left.

Sweden leading the US team two to one.

Across to Silk. He moves in.

His backhander is stopped by Lindbergh.

Thirty-nine seconds remaining.

Schneider to Ramsey, across to Baker.

He wraps it around the boards.

Harrington fighting for the puck

with Nslund. Back to Ramsey.

To Johnson in front.

Broken up by Holmgren.

Kept in by Baker

and fired behind the net.

Loose puck.

Schneider and Waltin fighting for it.

Schneider holds him off.

Kicks it loose. Pavelich has it.

He makes a move around

Hkan Eriksson, passes across to Baker.

He scores!

The United States has tied it.

Bill Baker scores in the final minute.

And the US team is still very much alive

in the opening round.

It was a hell of a move.

I didn't see him out there.

I'm Jim McKay, and we're back again

live in Lake Placid, New York.

What an amazing start

for these 13th Olympic Winter Games.

After a remarkable last-minute tie

against Sweden two nights ago,

the US hockey team, huge underdogs,

pulled off a tremendous upset

last night, defeating Czechoslovakia,

considered the second-best team

behind the Soviet Union.

The final score, seven to three.

Why so many reporters?

Are you serious?

We won two games.

We got a way to go here.

Think of what they've

had to write about.

Hostages, Afghanistan.

Transportation chaos.

Patti probably

has talked to you about that.

Listen, Herb,

the bottom line is that your young guys

just kicked the crap out

of Czechoslovakia,

and this is something

that this country is ready for.

Now, you want to see reporters?

Win a couple more games.

They are just kids, so let's not turn

this into something more.

I'm not sure we got any control over it.

Viktor.

Somebody's gonna beat those guys.

Buzz Schneider flying up the right wing.

Takes a long pass from Ramsey.

He's all alone on the breakaway.

He shoots. He scores.

Buzz Schneider on a breakaway puts the

US up five to one in the third period.

Now that Norway is behind you,

what do you look for out of Romania?

It should be a tough test.

We're not gonna overlook them.

- Mike.

- Jimmy Craig's been great.

Is there any chance

we could talk to him?

As I said the other night, Mike,

this isn't an individual effort

going on here.

It's about a team. We're a team

on the ice, and we're one off it.

Halauca breaking up the left side,

chased by Christian.

Behind the US net.

Drops a pass for Antal. Antal slams it.

Shot. Glove save by Jim Craig.

The US up seven to two here

late in the third.

Making it to the medal round

was always our goal from day one,

so we feel real good

about what we've accomplished so far.

- Herb!

- Herb!

Still no chance

we can talk with any of your players?

Still no chance.

How do you respond

to those who feel you do this

to keep the spotlight on yourself?

Loose puck. Kiessling

across to Kretschmer. Up to Philipp.

He's run hard into the boards

by Strobel. Huge hit.

Ramsey has it, moves it up to Verchota.

Verchota across the blue line. Winds up.

He scores!

Phil Verchota puts it past Sutner

to put the US up four to two

with 15:
43 remaining to play

here in the third period.

We'll be staying with this one

right to the end.

The pairings for the medal round

are as follows.

The United States will play

the Soviet Union first tomorrow.

Sweden and Finland in the second game.

The face-off for the US-Soviet game

is 1700 hours.

Now, if you have any questions, we have

the US assistant coach, Craig Patrick.

- Patrick!

- Coach Patrick!

Coach Patrick! Coach Patrick!

Where's Herb Brooks?

How come he's not here today?

Herb is out preparing

for tomorrow's game.

Yeah. Yeah.

Hi, Daddy.

There we go.

- There was no whipped cream.

- That's all right.

- What?

- What?

I got a telegram from a lady in Texas

today. You know what it said?

"Beat those commie bastards."

We're playing a hockey game

against the greatest team in the world,

maybe the best that's ever played.

Why can't we just leave it at that?

This is more than a hockey game

to a lot of people.

I keep running through them all.

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