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Oshie says it’s all been ‘very surreal’

Sochi Olympics Ice Hockey Men

period of a men’s ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Mark Humphrey

SOCHI, Russia -- T.J. Oshie was already a pretty famous guy, what with being an NHL star and all. But he’s never experienced the kind of fame that last night’s shootout heroics versus Russia brought on.

“It was very surreal,” Oshie said Sunday following the United States’ 5-1 victory over Slovenia. “I’m very humbled by it. It was a crazy night for me.”

And you get the feeling all that “crazy” -- which even included a congratulatory tweet from the White House -- has been about enough for the 27-year-old.

“A lot of the focus has been on me, but yesterday was a good team win, and I had a lot of help out of [Jonathan Quick] back there behind me,” he said. “It’s fun, but we’ve got bigger things to worry about now.”

Indeed, they do. The U.S. finished preliminary play undefeated. Next stop is the quarterfinals, where it’s win or go home.

“I think we have to rest,” said Oshie. “A lot of these guys are playing big minutes.”