GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) — The Germans stood on the ice scowling as the Russians celebrated a gold medal that was so nearly theirs.
How close?
They were 56 seconds away from Olympic gold before losing 4-3 to the “Olympic athletes from Russia” in overtime Sunday. After no one outside their locker room gave them a chance in a tournament where the NHL stars stayed away, the Germans came within a minute of clock time from gold for a country playing in the men’s final for the first time.