The Americans and Russians went head-to-head Saturday in one of the most-anticipated Olympic events of this weekend: the preliminary round of the men's ice hockey Group A game. Day eight's Photo of the Day shows the long-time rivals at the start of the match.
This symmetrical shot was taken by Clive Mason, a Getty Images staff photographer who is covering his fourth Olympic games. Mason captured the photo, which portrays an air of anticipation, at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi.
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"There are only a few rivalries in sport that transcend the action on the field of play and USA vs. Russia on the ice hockey rink is certainly one of them," he said. "It's not a difficult or technical image to capture, but the symmetry and expectation as both sets of players wait for the referee to drop the pucks speak volumes about the battle about to unfold."
Mason added that an early shot filled with so much emotion benefits the media.
"Editors around the world will be looking for images that illustrate the binary opposites of the history behind this game, and the face-off is one of the earliest we get to shoot — and therefore great for deadlines," he said.
Team USA beat the Russians 3-2. The Americans will face Slovenia next in another preliminary round on Sunday.
BONUS: 30 Most Epic Olympics Wipe Outs
Shaun White of the United States hits the edge of the half pipe during the men's snowboard halfpipe final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.
Thomas Mermillod-Blondin of France crashes during the alpine skiing men's super combined slalom on Feb. 14.
Italy's Greta Laurent falls as Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg skis past as they compete in the Women's Cross-Country Skiing Individual Sprint Free Quarterfinals at the Laura Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014 in Rosa Khutor near Sochi.
Slovenia's Robert Kranjec falls during the men's normal hill ski jumping qualification at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.
Hedvig Wessel of Norway crashes out in the Ladies' Moguls Qualification during day 1 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond falls as she performs in the Women's Figure Skating Team Free Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 9, 2014.
South Korea's Sin Da Woon falls as he competes in the Men's Short Track 1500 m Semifinals at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
Italy's Deborah Scanzio lands on the netting after falling during a warm up to the Women's Freestyle Skiing Moguls qualifications at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 6, 2014.
A linesman falls on the ice while Erika Grahm #24 of Sweden and Kanae Aoki #5 of Japan fight for the puck during the Women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game on day two of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Daniel Greig (R) of Australia falls while competing during the Men's 500 m Race 1 of 2 Speed Skating event during day 3 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Adler Arena Skating Center on February 10, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
US Laurenne Ross falls during the Women's Alpine Skiing Super Combined Downhill at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
Florence Schelling #41 of Switzerland and Jocelyne Lamoureux #17 of United States fall into the goal during the Women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day three of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 10, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Hanae Kubo #21 of Japan falls onto the ice during the Women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game between Sweden and Japan on day 2 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 9, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
South Korea's Lee Han-Bin falls as he competes in the Men's Short Track 1500 m Semifinals at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
Italy's Greta Laurent, top left, as, from left, Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, Sweden's Ida Ingemarsdotter, Canada's Daria Gaiazova, and Sweden's Norgren Britta Johansson pass by during their women's quarterfinal heat of the cross-country sprint at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.
Dolf van der Wal of the Netherlands falls as he competes in the Snowboard Men's Halfpipe Qualification Heats on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Nathalie Weinzierl of Germany falls while competing in the Figure Skating Team Ladies Short Program during day one of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on February 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 07: Ioan Valeriu Achiriloaie of Romania slides into the safety net after crashing on the Lake Jump during training for the Alpine Skiing Men's Downhill ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
A member of Austria's delegation lies on the ground after falling during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi.
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 08: Lucien Koch of Switzerland falls during the Snowboard Men's Slopestyle Semifinals during day 1 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Russia's Sergey Volkov falls in the Men's Freestyle Skiing Moguls qualifications at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
Netherlands' Sjinkie Knegt (L) and South Korea's Park Se Yeong (C) fall as they compete in the Men's Short Track 1500 m Final B at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
Netherlands' Stefan Groothuis falls during the Men's Speed Skating 500 m at the Adler Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
Australia's David Morris falls during a training for the Men's Freestyle Skiing Aerials at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 10, 2014.
France's Vanessa James falls as she performs with France's Morgan Cipres during the Figure Skating Pairs Team Short Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 6, 2014.
James Woods of Great Britain takes a fall during a Ski Slopestyle official training session ahead of the the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Sweden's Jenni Asserholt falls after missing a hit on Germany's Julia Zorn (R) during the Women's Ice Hockey Group B match Germany vs Sweden at the Shayba Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014.
Slovenia's Robert Kranjec lies in the snow after falling in the Men's Ski Jumping Normal Hill Individual Qualification Round at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 8, 2014 in Rosa Khutor.
France's Johann Baisamy crashes in the Men's Snowboard Halfpipe Semifinals at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014.
Anna Mirtova of Russia falls while competing in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
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