U.S. weathers storm

U.S. 3, RUSSIA 2: Controversy in another Russian matchup as men's hockey team holds off a rally.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 23, 2002

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- What would an Olympic event involving Russia be without someone crying foul?

This time, it was men's hockey coach Slava Fetisov who rocked the house Friday after the United States defeated Russia 3-2 in a semifinal at the E Center, claiming the tournament was fixed to ensure a gold-medal game between the United States and Canada.

"There's not much you can do about it right now," he said. "An agreement has been designed to have a final between Canada and the U.S. You have this final. You have NHL referees."

Canada advanced to Sunday's game by defeating Belarus 7-1.

The International Ice Hockey Federation declined comment.

Fetisov, who is so low-key, it sometimes is hard to hear him, even when he speaks into a microphone, was steaming, as were many of his players, about a series of non-calls by NHL referee Bill McCreary.

Some players were so mad, they surrounded McCreary as he tried to leave the ice. An obscene gesture earned defenseman Danny Markov a gross misconduct penalty. He also was suspended for today's bronze-medal game against Belarus.

Russia and Lightning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin tried to calm the controversy.

"I think it was pretty fair," he said of the officiating. "We should try not to look for some fault with the refereeing."

Fetisov said McCreary, who is from Canada, missed two penalties on U.S. defenseman Chris Chelios; one for throwing Sergei Samsonov into the goal post, one for a hit Fetisov said was to Igor Kravtchouk's head.

"They are professional people," Fetisov said of the NHL referees working the games, McCreary, Stephen Walkom and Dennis LaRue. "But they live here. They know the players, Americans and Canadians. I know, in crucial situations, it's human reaction. They are not going to call a penalty."

Fetisov also was asked about a disputed no-goal call on a shot by Samsonov that appeared to hit both goal posts with about 10 minutes left and the United States clinging to a 3-2 lead. Samsonov even raised his arms in celebration.

"Since there were no bells ringing from up above," Fetisov said of a telephone call from the video review official, "then there was no score."

Still, Fetisov was trying desperately to attracted McCreary's attention after the play was whistled dead.

"What I tried to do is gain some time so the game would drag and the ref would get a chance to review the tape," Fetisov said.

All of the hullabaloo took away from what was a good game and a remarkable third period in which Russia's Alexei Kovalev and Vladimir Malakhov scored in the first 3:21 to make the score 3-2.

The United States (4-0-1) took a 3-0 lead on a first-period goal by Bill Guerin and second-period goals by Scott Young and Phil Housley, each on the power play.

The score would have been more lopsided if not for Khabibulin, who made 46 saves as the United States outshot Russia 49-30, 38-11 in the first two periods. The game was played 22 years to the day the United States upset the Soviet Union in the Lake Placid Games.

"It was a great game 22 years ago, and it was a great game today," United States goalie Mike Richter said shortly after making 17 crucial third-period saves.

"What a great feeling it was after the game," Housley said. "It felt so good and means so much in our locker room."

It meant something much more sinister to Russia.