T.J. Oshie master of shootout for U.S. men's hockey team

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- T.J. Oshie was the hero in the shootout in the U.S. men's hockey win over Russia Saturday.

On the biggest stage of the five-year NHL veteran's career, Oshie went four for six in the shootout, securing the U.S. team's 3-2 win over Russia, and that's exactly why he was selected to be a part of the Olympics team.

"You know at some point we are going to end up in a shootout, and we are going to want T.J. Oshie," the team's general manager, David Poile said.

"I've never seen anything quite like that," said U.S. defenseman Ryan McDonagh. "I never knew he had that in his repertoire, all of those moves."

"I was just trying to think of something to do," Oshie said.

"I think I aged two years in that shootout," U.S. coach Dan Bylsma said.

In the NHL, any given player can only participate in the shootout once during a game, but Olympic rules state coaches can use the same player over and over after the three initial players take a turn.

The United States plays again Sunday against Slovenia.

[USA Today]