I watched The Game with a couple of big hockey fans who were stunned that he - “the greatest goalie ever” - was taken out of the game. They still refer to him this way. And yes, it was a very generous comment, considering what that loss, that “national insult,” really meant to the Russian team.

My father's suggested Soviet thought,...we are going to Siberia.

And it will forever be the worst coaching decision in the history of hockey. If Tretiak stays, who knows what happens.

Oh believe me, they're still bitter. Especially Boris Mikhailov. Watch the 30 for 30 Of Miracles and Men.

Tretiak is the greatest goaltender of all time. iron wall stole greatness from us

@Chris G "Do U Believe in Miracles"? "YES"!

@@vinceniederman3235 Vince, don't forget about 1960 Squaw Valley. That was a miracle also.

Karen Carter How Was That a Miracle Before The USA Hockey Game In 1980?

to be honest... i think "he's moving like a tremendous machine" from the Preakness stakes in 73 is better... but thats my opinion. and this one is way more iconic. but for some reason the way that line just captures secretariat as a horse hits me every single time.

Kuma Flamewar (I know you meant the Belmont Stakes.) For me, it was a closely-following line from the same race (which brings tears to my eyes to this day.) “But Secretariat is all alone!!” (Guess I chafed a little at his being referred to as a machine!)

Danny D I can't agree more. I recall watching the game on TV as an 8 year old and remains the most exhilarating sporting event I've ever seen. Even at that young age, I understood the political implications of the game and what a Herculean task it would be for us to beat the Soviets.I get goosebumps and choked up to this day whenever I watch highlights. This game truly transcended sport. I'm very fortunate to have witnessed such an amazing cultural event in my lifetime. No other sporting event will ever come close to its importance in American history.

This was Olympic Hockey - with no pro players taking part ! Broadcasting was nothing like today - and the format different ! Nobody remembers the next two Olympic games at Sarajevo 1984 or Calgary 1988 ! The amateurs from Europe started to beat the amateurs of Canada & USA - so that they wanted NHL to take over ! There was very few European players at NHL at the time ! This all made NHL hockey more pop - with players like BORJE SALMING - WHO was a Pioneer of The Sport in Europe ! Many in Sweden has never seen his games from Toronto - even he was there for 17 seasons ! R.I.P BORJE

The soviets beat the NHL all stars. The USA winning would be like the dream team(Jordan and co) wouldve been beat by Spain. Its that crazy.

@Danny David Me Too Man He's The Best I Wish I Was Around in 1980 For That Hockey Game But I Was Born in 1991!

Agreed. The Iran hostage situation, the Cold War, The Russians had just invaded Afghanistan, our weak president who did nothing but tell us we were the problem, and perhaps the greatest hockey team ever assembled that had played together for 10 years vs a bunch of college kids that were thrown together 6 months before the Olympics. America needed something to cheer for. Truly the greatest sports upset of all time. All this made for an incredible merging of events into one night.

Had the US not won that game, Jimmy Carter would have been reelected, Ronald Reagan would have retired to his ranch, and the US would have fallen into socialism long before AOC was born.

I got to stay home from church that Sunday, too! My father wanted to make is go, but my mother said No! She’s a Buffalo sport fan through and through; hockey is the Yin to football’s Yang

Perfect voice for NHL games on NBC!

Olympic Hockey makes People " sick " - to stay at Home ! Its a Great Way to see some Great Hockey !

there is a very interesting spiritual backstory that almost noone knows about

calodo2002 Great job explaining this! Today, there’d be no way to keep the outcome a “secret.”

It really changed everything.

@@salicemccool9186 It wasn't a secret back then, either. I heard on the radio about the US beating the Soviets before it was broadcast on TV.

And somewhere in the middle of that, Dryden said "It's over!"

@@darrinconroy4232 I hear Dryden say, "Unbelievable!" after Michaels says, "YES!"

Finland was in the gold medal game and... finished 4th? How!?! There was no gold medal game or semifinals as we have nowadays. It was a four team medal round where teams played one another once and team with most points after three games won the gold. USA finished with 5, Soviets 4, Sweden 2, and Finland 1. If Finland won that game, they only would have get bronze, or a silver with good results from other game results, and going into last day there was a chance USA would finish 4th despite winning Soviets.

@@RoyalMela At The Gold Medal Game Russian Lost to Bunch of Collage Kids ! Finland Played vs Team USA - after The Russians Faced TEAM USA ! Today Many DONT remember - that The Format was Different 1980 !

@@holoholopainen1627 You don't. USA-Soviet Union was not the gold medal game, not even the semi final. Just one round robin game worth of two points in the standings.

it was an act of god, but most people don't know why that is, the real backstory

Why only good things happen because of God? That about earthquakes, wildfires, floods, virus outbreaks, wars, child molestation, mass murders.... "Oh, God works in mysterious ways. Let's pray." If that is your god, he is doing a f**ked up job. Nothing mysterious about that.

@Anthony Mcqueen Agreed 100% Wish I Was Around in 1980 LOL!

Most people don't realize that for all of their greatness, the Soviet Hockey team was very vulnerable in the 1980 Olympics. Finland led them 1-0 after 1 period, it was tied 1-1 after 2 periods and then the Soviet Union outscored Finland 3-1 in the 3rd to win 4-2. The Canadians were beating the Soviet Union 3-2 after 2 periods before falling 6-4. The Canadians had near-miracle with the game tied 4-4 with about 11 minutes left. The big difference between the U.S. and Canada (or Finland) was Jim Craig and the home-ice crowd.