The recent Olympic hockey tournament in Milan has elicited unexpected praise from Russian commentators, highlighting the thrilling final between Canada and the USA. Despite a history of critical assessments directed at past hockey tournaments, the performance displayed during the final has led to a shift in tone among many sports analysts in Russia. Igor Rabiner from Sport-Express remarked on the game as 'crazy hockey' that merits recognition in textbooks and serves as a teaching model for Russian coaches and players.

The contrasting expectations leading into the game and the reality demonstrated during play have sparked discussions within Russia about the competitiveness of their own national team. Writers like Michail Zislis celebrated the match as one of the finest in hockey history, drawing comparisons to legendary past encounters like the 1987 Canada Cup finals where the Soviet Union faced off against Canada. Such evaluations suggest a recognition of the high stakes and quality of international competition that Russia might struggle to match in current contexts.

Moreover, commentators, including Vladimir Lajevskij from Championat, reflected on the bittersweet nature of acknowledging the superiority of the American and Canadian teams. The underlying sentiments reveal an ongoing assessment of Russia's standing in the global hockey scene and raise questions about future performances in the face of evolving international talent and tactics.