On This Day in Sports: February 24, 1980
On February 24, 1980, the United States defeated Finland 4–2 to win the Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in Lake Placid. Two days after the Miracle on Ice victory over the Soviet Union, the Americans still needed one more result to complete their run. The medal round used standings rather than a separate championship game, so a loss to Finland could have turned the most famous upset in hockey history into a story without gold.
Finland led 1–0 after the first period. Steve Christoff tied the game early in the second, but Mikko Leinonen answered on a power play and sent the United States into the final intermission trailing 2–1. Coach Herb Brooks reminded his players that the world would remember the Soviet victory differently if they failed to finish. The team emerged with the urgency that had defined its entire tournament.
Phil Verchota tied the game 2:25 into the third period, and Rob McClanahan put the United States ahead less than four minutes later. Mark Johnson added the final goal with under four minutes remaining. Jim Craig stopped all ten Finnish shots in the period and 21 of 23 overall, allowing the Americans to close the game with three unanswered goals and a 4–2 victory.
The United States finished the tournament unbeaten at 5–0–1 and earned the country’s second Olympic hockey gold medal. The Soviet upset became the signature moment, but the comeback against Finland completed the achievement. It showed that the team could regain focus after an emotional high, solve another deficit and convert belief into a championship rather than a single unforgettable night.
The medal-round format meant the Soviet victory did not automatically secure gold.
Finland led 2–1 after two periods and threatened to spoil the American run.
Verchota, McClanahan and Johnson scored in the third-period comeback.
Craig stopped every Finnish shot in the final period and 21 of 23 overall.
The United States completed the tournament with a 5–0–1 record.
The victory delivered the nation’s second Olympic men’s hockey gold medal.
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