1980 Olympic Hockey Shots On Goal
The 1980 Winter Olympics, held in Lake Placid, New York, were the stage for one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The United States hockey team, made up of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the heavily-favored Soviet Union team in a dramatic match that has since been dubbed the "Miracle on Ice". What many people forget, however, is just how dominant the Soviet team was leading up to that game. In fact, their shots on goal in the tournament were absolutely staggering.
The Soviet Hockey Machine
In the years leading up to the 1980 Olympics, the Soviet Union was a dominating force in international hockey. They had won six of the previous seven Olympic gold medals, and were the reigning world champions. The Soviet team was full of highly-skilled professionals, some of whom had been playing together for nearly a decade. They were known for their precision passing, stifling defense, and lightning-fast skating.
As expected, the Soviet team dominated their opponents in the early rounds of the 1980 Olympics. They outscored their first four opponents by a combined score of 16-3, with their goaltender allowing just one goal in over 240 minutes of play. But it wasn't just their defense that was dominant - their offense was on another level entirely.
The Shots On Goal Numbers
In their first five games of the tournament, the Soviet team recorded a whopping 198 shots on goal. That's an average of nearly 40 shots per game. By comparison, their opponents managed just 94 shots on goal in those same five games - an average of fewer than 19 shots per game.
Their most lopsided victory came against Japan, whom they beat 16-0. In that game, the Soviet team recorded 51 shots on goal, while Japan managed just one shot on goal the entire game.
Despite their dominance, the Soviet team did show some weaknesses. In their final round-robin game against Sweden, they were held to a 2-2 tie. In that game, they recorded just 22 shots on goal, while Sweden managed 27 shots on goal. It was the only game of the tournament in which the Soviet team was outshot by their opponent.
The Olympic Final
The Soviet team's opponent in the Olympic final was the United States, who had been playing well but were heavy underdogs. The game was expected to be a blowout, with many experts predicting a Soviet victory by at least 5 or 6 goals.
The game started off as expected, with the Soviet team controlling the play and outshooting the Americans by a wide margin. But despite the pressure, the score remained tied at 2-2 heading into the third period.
It was in that final period that the Miracle on Ice occurred. Mike Eruzione, a little-known forward who had scored just 2 goals in the tournament up to that point, scored what would be the game-winning goal with just over 10 minutes left in the game. The United States held on for the remaining time, securing a 4-3 victory and one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Conclusion
The shots on goal numbers from the 1980 Olympic hockey tournament are a testament to just how dominant the Soviet Union team was. They were a force to be reckoned with, and seemed all but unbeatable. But the Miracle on Ice proved that anything can happen in sports, and that even the most dominant teams are susceptible to an upset. It's a moment that will be remembered forever in sports history, and one that reminds us all of the power and unpredictability of sports.