Livonia’s Ryan Kesler helped the U.S. win the silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Michigan-Led Team USA takes Silver

One oddity of the Winter Olympics tournament is that you feel like a winner when you get the bronze medal because you have won a game to get it. You have to lose to earn a silver.

Former University of Michigan standout U.S. defenseman Jack Johnson understands that well, as does U.S. women's player Angela Ruggiero.

"It's devastating," Johnson said. "The biggest reward in all of sports slips through your fingers at the end."

The American men had erased a two-goal deficit to tie the game on Zach Parise's goal with 25 seconds remaining only to lose it in overtime, 3-2, on a goal by Sidney Crosby.

The women lost, 2-0, to the Canadians in the gold medal game.

"What hurts the most is how close this team is," Ruggiero said. "It's such a unique team to play on. I felt that this was our year. We had such heart, passion and love of the game. We never lost that - we couldn't put the puck in the net."

It was clearly difficult for the Americans to see the value of a silver medal when they believed they had played well enough to win the gold.

"I thought we deserved better," said U.S. forward Ryan Kesler (Livonia) whose second-period goal started USA's comeback. “That's what happens in overtime. You get one lucky break and you capitalize. That's overtime."

U.S. defenseman Erik Johnson said it was a "complete disappointment" for him because "we thought we had them on the ropes."

"The way they had the lead and we tied it up. We thought we had all of the momentum going into overtime."

Although the Americans were considered too young and too small coming into the tournament, they believed they were the best team. The Americans had defeated Canada, 5-3, earlier in the tournament.

"We thought before the game, during the game, that we were going to win," Parise said.

Before giving up the overtime goal, U.S. goalie Ryan Miller of East Lansing had given two goals in 8 1/2 periods of work in the quarterfinal, semifinal and gold medal game.

"We had the best goalie in the world behind us, we had all of the confidence going into overtime," Jack Johnson said.

Some of the team's younger players, the Johnsons, Parise and Ryan Suter for example, were among USA's best players.

"I hope the players, especially my group gets to go to Sochi (Russia, in 2014)," coach Ron Wilson said.

The NHL hasn't made any decision about whether its players will be allowed to play in the next Winter Olympics.

Wilson said Canada played a great game, but he added: "I think we played an equally great game.”

"It's tough to lose a game that way," Wilson said.  "I couldn't have asked for more from our players.”

U.S. player Ryan Malone pointed out that it was an even game until it was decided by a "great play by two great players.”

Jarome Iginla and Crosby collaborated on the winning goal, working a give-and-go to perfection with Crosby firing a shot past Miller.

"Maybe later on down the road when you're older and your career is over," Malone said. "(The silver) will be nice. But right now we know we came for the gold and we are disappointed."

Jack Johnson said he will leave the tournament with overwhelming respect for his U.S. teammates.

"I wish that I could play with these guys year round because it's the most fun I've ever had playing hockey,” he said.

Crosby, the face of Canadian hockey, was expected to lead his country to an Olympic hockey gold medal, and he delivered in a dramatic way.

"You dream of that a thousand times growing up," Crosby said. "But to come through is pretty amazing."

"We were saying in overtime that someone was going to be the hero, and it was no coincidence that it was (Crosby)," said Jonathan Toews, who scored Canada's first goal.

Canada is a hockey-crazed country of 33 million people, and the build-up for this tournament for this tournament may have been the biggest in NHL history.

"(Crosby) is unbelievable," said Toews. "There is nothing that kid can't do, and hasn't done.”

Although Crosby wasn't dominant in the tournament, he seemed to always be visible when Canada needed a big goal.  Earlier in the tournament, he had scored the game-winning shootout goal to beat Switzerland.

"We felt we'd have our best players out there the best we could," Canada coach Mike Babcock said. "And I thought (Iginla) and Sid would have a chance and in the end, Crosby made a good play and beat Miller with a quick release."

Crosby said he didn't see the puck go into the net. He fired because he knew where he was, and believed he had a good angle.

"All of a sudden Sidney was yelling for (the puck) and I was hoping I wasn't too late with it," said Iginla, who was battling along the boards with Suter. "He had beat his man and I just tried to slide it in there for him. The siren went and I couldn't believe it."

Canadian fans cheered the Americans and their goalie Ryan Miller during the medal ceremony, a salute to how well they had played in the tournament.”

"I thought our team played as well as any team I've coached," said Wilson.

The NHL has allowed its players to compete at four different Olympics and Canada has won a gold medal at two of those tournaments.

Canada's win was a big win for the Detroit Red Wings because Steve Yzerman was the executive director of the gold medal effort. Ken Holland was part of the selection process and Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was Canada's coach. With the victory, Babcock becomes the first coach to have both a Stanley Cup championship and Olympic gold on his resume.