USA looking for an upset -- not a miracle -- against Finland

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I’m not about to commit sports sacrilege by suggesting Wednesday’s IIHF World Championship quarterfinal between the United States and Finland could turn into another ‘Miracle on Ice,’ but if you like big underdogs -- specifically, big American underdogs -- this is the game for you.

Finland eliminated the United States in the last two world championships and is the heavy favorite after its overtime shootout victory over Canada on Monday. The United States is still licking its wounds after a humbling overtime loss to Switzerland.

So, if you’re hankering to root for a longshot (or possibly just looking for a way to make the old 9-to-5 shift go a little quicker), be sure to catch the game at 11:30 a.m. PDT on Universalsports.com. The familiar voices of Kings radio announcers Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans will be handling the play call.

Of course, as great as this game could be, it’ll never top this:

-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: Team USA and Kings defenseman Jack Johnson puts a hit on Russia’s Alexander Radulov during Russia’s 4-1 victory on Saturday. Credit: Anja Niedringhaus / Associated Press