In my opinion it does not get any better than Al Michaels and Ken Dryden on February 22, 1980. (It happened on George Washington’s birthday). There was a time during my teenage years when I had Michaels’s call of the final minute of this game memorized. I can still recite some of it. One of the overlooked parts of this call was legendary Montreal Canadian goalie Ken Dryden, a Canadian, saying “unbelievable” as the game ended. He was clearly shocked by what he had just witnessed. (Dryden is also know for saying “the U.S. team is relying a little too much on [goalie] Jim Craig, he’s making too many good saves” seconds before Michael’s interrupted to call what turned out to be the game-winning goal: “ERUZIONE, MIKE ERUZIONE!!!!“)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYscemhnf88&w=560&h=315]
Professor Fea – greatest call indeed! But most people I talk to about it think the USA won the gold medal by beating the Soviet Union in that game. When in fact, after beating the Soviets 4-3, the Americans still had to beat Finland to win the gold. The Americans won that game 4-2. Had they lost that game, the Americans would not have even won a medal.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/02/6-great-myths-about-the-miracle-on-ice
Also, great hat-tip to Ken Dryden, my all-time favorite ice hockey player. His book, The Game, is the best sports book I’ve ever read. I attended a small liberal arts college near Cornell University in the late-1960s and early-1970s, and had the privilege to see the BIG RED #! lead Cornell to NCAA and ECAC championships long before he made it big with Montreal in the NHL.
Absolutely correct about Finland, John. I remember watching that game on a Sunday morning.