One of my Facebook friends made this comment, I think he is right. I don't think there is a scenario that could possibly compete with the "Miracle on Ice" that goes down in my book, as a one and only experience.
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Phil Kessel scored two of his three goals in the opening 4:33 and became the first U.S. player with an Olympic hat trick in more than a decade, leading the Americans to a 5-1 win over Slovenia on Sunday.
The U.S. (3-0) earned an automatic spot in the quarterfinals.
Kessel scored 1:04 after the puck dropped, showing that the Americans didn't have a hangover after their emotionally charged shootout win over Russia on Saturday. His third goal midway through the second period made him the first U.S. player to have a hat trick at the Olympics since John LeClair did it on Feb. 15, 2002, against Finland.
Ryan Miller was 17.6 seconds away from a shutout, but Marcel Rodman scored. Miller made 17 saves in his Sochi Games debut.
The 2010 silver-medal winner had plenty of support at the other end of the rink.
Ryan McDonagh scored about a minute after Kessel's third goal to put the Americans up 4-0 in the second period and David Backes gave them a five-goal cushion early in the third.
USA forward David Backes (42) watches his goal sail into the net past Slovenia goaltender Luka Gracn …
Kessel is the first American with four goals in the three-game preliminary round at the Olympics since Bill Cleary and Roger Christian both pulled off the feat in 1960. Perhaps fittingly, the native of Madison, Wis., and his teammates were sporting throwback jerseys that Cleary and Christian wore with "USA" going from their right shoulder down to their left hip.
