Oshie, U.S. top Russia in shootout thriller

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - The United States went to T.J. Oshie six times in a thrilling shootout Saturday and he scored four times, including the winner in a 3-2 victory over Russia at the Sochi Olympics.

Jonathan Quick made five saves for the U.S. in the eight-round shootout, which the Americans won 4-3.

Quick turned away Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk, but couldn't stop Ilya Kovalchuk's bid in the third round as the former NHLer extended the tiebreaker.

International rules allow a player to go multiple times in the shootout and American head coach Dan Bylsma went back to and stuck with Oshie, who opened the shootout by beating Sergei Bobrovsky.

Russia, meanwhile, stayed with the Datsyuk-Kovalchuk tandem.

Oshie, who is tied for the NHL lead with seven shootout goals this season, twice kept the Americans alive by countering Russian tallies and, after Quick lunged to his left to deny Kovalchuk in the eighth round, Oshie, on his fifth consecutive attempt, put the puck behind Bobrovsky as Team USA won both of its first two games in Group A play.

Quick finished with 29 saves through regulation and overtime.

The Americans had a prime opportunity to win the game in the five-minute extra session, but Bobrovsky closed his pads to stop Patrick Kane on a breakaway, one of 31 saves for the Russian netminder.

The host Russians appeared to have broken a 2-2 tie on a Fedor Tyutin point shot with 4:40 remaining in regulation. However, the goal was disallowed because the net was dislodged.

Team USA grabbed a 2-1 lead when Kane set up Joe Pavelski for a power-play goal at 9:27 of the third period.

Datsyuk's second goal, this one on a power play, tied the game with 7:16 remaining in the third. He fired a shot from the right circle through heavy traffic and past a screened Quick.

After a scoreless first period, the Russians took a 1-0 lead at 9:15 of the middle frame. Datsyuk gathered a pass from Andrei Markov, split U.S. defensemen John Carlson and Brooks Orpik and snapped a shot off the right post and behind Quick.

The Americans pulled even at 16:34 of the second period on a power-play goal that went in off the skate of Cam Fowler, who pinched down from his point position.

Russia has split its first two games.