revealing something spectacular. on the edge of history, americans who have been skating together all their lives. tonight their moment arrives. "nightly news" begins now. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams, reporting tonight from the olympic winter games in sochi, russia. good evening. as much as we hesitate to say it, given the relentless winter of 2014 for so many people across america, the weather here, as we get off to a damp start this monday morning continues to make news in these winter olympic games. more on that in a moment. on the upside, one result we can talk about, because it was news in the states since before people woke up today, bode miller already the most decorated alpine olympic skier in u.s. history has also set another record as the oldest

medalist and u.s. hockey back in the rink after the breathtaking game against the russians yesterday. nbc's kevin tibbles covering all of it for us here tonight. kevin, good evening. >> another great night for team u.s.a. here. as these winter olympics evolve, as these new sports come on to play, many of them are very exciting and very dangerous. in these olympics, it's faster, higher and more extreme and not without its casualties. >> ooh! >> u.s. snowboard cross racer jacqueline hernandez crashed spectacularly and was carried off the mountain. minutes before a norwegian competitor was also stretchered off. president putin visited an athlete in the hospital injured on the same course. going the extreme paths has always been the motto of extreme skier bode miller.

the 36-year-old brought home the bronze in the super g. >> i probably had a little too much emotion in my skiing. >> reporter: emotion because he says he was thinking of his late brother. he tweeted thanks for all the support. today was one of the most emotional days of my life. i miss my brother. american andrew weibrecht, nicknamed the war horse, won the silver. head-first speed demon matt antoine in the skeleton. >> i was told i didn't quite have it and was sent home. i didn't quite believe them. i refocused. >> he is an olympic medalist. >> i guess it worked out okay. >> reporter: fog pushed the biathlon competition to tomorrow. still as competition heats up, russians stream into the olympic park. nothing, it seems, dampens their

enthusiasm. except, of course, this. >> score! team u.s.a. wins. >> to be able to beat them in a game that had a little bit of everything. just a great day for hockey for sure for team u.s.a. >> reporter: after beating rusha team u.s.a. kept its undefeated streak alive today, downi ining slovenia, 5-1. it's still early days for hockey w today's win, however, team u.s.a. is through to the quarter finals. and, brian, for snowboarder jackie hernandez, she tweeted tonight that she was knocked unconscious in that fall but she's still looking forward to the men's competition tomorrow. >> kevin tibbles, thanks, as always. and we want to look at a quick check of the medal count after this second weekend of competition now. the netherlands is in the lead with 17 medals. russia and the u.s. are next with 16. the germans have the most gold medals of any nation in these winter olympic games.

now back in the u.s. today it was all about digging out again from the latest storm that left over a foot of snow in parts of new england. not only have most of the people in the affected area, as they like to say, simply had enough, but think about the toll all this is taking, from budgets, to pipes, to roads, to power. nbc's ron mott is on the cape in massachusetts with more for us. ron, good evening. >> reporter: hey, brian, good evening to you. another 15" of new snow on the ground tonight. they've just taken to piling this stuff up wherever they can find room for t it is getting time consuming, frustrating and, most of all, costly. the relentless pounding many parts of the country have endured this winter, like last night's blinding blizzard on cape cod -- >> i feel like it's sigh beberi >> reporter: is not just bruising the psyche, it's battling the infrastructure. roofs arer collapsing, pipes

bursting, water mains, turning block after block into a surging icy river. now dealing with mountains of debris and bills. >> we're not thinking about the budget at this point in time. we'll spend whatever is necessary to get the job done and protect the lives and safety of our citizens. >> reporter: knocked out power to more than a million customers. >> power lines and a lot of the trees are weighted down. >> reporter: crews are working around the clock to restore electricity to those still in the dark. particularly in the southeast where more than 125,000 remain powerless. it's a problem exacerbated, some argue, but the nation's power grid. >> people are paying higher costs for power on a day-by-day basis because the grid, even when not strapped, doesn't perform like it should. >> reporter: costly repairs. in north carolina, heavy snow was the culprit at a charlotte church. >> i thought maybe -- and i saw the roof go. boom, straight down. >> reporter: a story mirrored in other states.

>> we looked outside. saw the snow come off the roof and then our neighbors downstairs said the roof collapsed. >> reporter: today, workers scrambled to clean streets and fill gaping pot holes. one jersey city, a warning to stay off the road saying true to form more rough weather is on the way. this newest threat isn't expected to be a huge snow maker. perhaps a little consolation for a lot of folks hard hit. brian? >> ron mott in cape cod, massachusetts, for us. ron, thanks. the severe weather making news beyond the u.s. in japan, for starters, parts of that country witnessed record snowfall. and the uk, where they cannot catch a break from record flooding that's been going on there for weeks. our report tonight from nbc's mike taibbi. >> reporter: the torrential rains took a day off today, but the consequences of six weeks of nonstop storm systems did not. tens of thousands of homes and

businesses in southern england remain swamped by floodwaters with utilities damaged and lines needing repairs that will take weeks to months. smashing a cruise ship where one man was killed and everyone else was terrified. >> hand grenade had gone off. >> reporter: and prime minister david cameron says more punishing weather is on the near horizon. >> what we do in the next 24 hours is vital. tragically, the river levels will rise again. >> reporter: england isn't the only one. it's across all longitudes. in japan, as shown in this amazing time lapse sequence, there's been more snow than siem regions have seen in half a century. in the u.s., the west is encased in a drought for the ages and east coast storms have shocked states down the coast that rarely see this. more and more experts are citing

climate change. u.s. secretary of state john kerry in indonesia today likened to a weapon of mass destruction. >> and those who refuse to believe it are simply burying their heads in the sand. >> reporter: for now in england, sand bags and pumps in the hope that mother nature will show mercy unseen this winter. mike taibbi, nbc news, london. from overseas, the need for some sort of solution to end the long and brutal war in syria was made clear once again this weekend, because new pictures show a situation both difficult to watch and equally impossible to ignore. we get our report tonight from our chief foreign affairs correspondent, an drdrea mitche >> reporter: he appears to be only 5, perhaps 6 years old. he cries, my brothers died, my brothers. my brothers. the dust from the bombing still

on his eyelashes, mixing with his tears. one of the youtube videos this weekend impossible to verify but u.n. officials say telling the story of incalculable horror. what the u.n. and u.s. call a war crime, people are starving. but the bombing continues. bombs dropped by helicopters. despite a cease fire. evacuees say only a trickle of food is getting through. this man says we were eating leftover wh sff we used to throw out before, nelg anything just to keep us alive. talks collapsed this weekend. the video that has been sent out by opposition rebel groups, how can the administration ignore this? >> the president is committed and middle class -- >> the middle class of america?

>> yes. not risk ready. profitable words in american history. >> the president is looking at 100,000 people killed, horrific images. refugees and so on, and looking for answers, but the country wants him to be focused on the economy. >> reporter: like these men in homes are overwhelmed, fighting on two fronts against radical rebel groups aligned with al qaeda and against assad's air power, bra back-- backed up by ground forces. >> none of us want boots on the ground. to not revisit other options, which are viable, then i think it's the only thing that we can do. this is shameful. >> reporter: humanitarian disaster for all the world to see. a top official traveling with president obama is blaming vladimir putin for the tragedy in syria. happy olympics that also supports the regime that killed people in the most brutal way. brian?

>> andrea mitchell in our d.c. newsroom. thanks. questions about race and self-defense getting renewed attention after a verdict this weekend in florida. this case, you may recall, involved a white man who kishot and killed a black teenager. mistrial was declared because of a hung jury on the most serious charge. our report tonight from kerry sanders. >> mistrial. >> reporter: the jury deliberated four days and, despite the deadlock, the multiracial 12-member jury convicted dunn on three counts of attempted murder because he fired ten shots at the suv where three of jordan davis' friends were. jordan davis' mother says the conviction on those attempted charge s gives her a small sens of closure. >> i will continue to stand and we will continue to await for justice for jordan. >> reporter: the sound of the shooting a year and a half ago. >> somebody is shooting.

>> reporter: were captured on surveillance videos at the convenience store. dunn complained music from their vehicle was too loud. then he says he saw what looked like a gun pointed at him. >> quicker than a flash, i had a round chambered in it and i shot. >> reporter: deputies recovered dunn's pistol but never found a weapon in the boys' car. on just the attempted murder charges, dunn faces up to 60 years in prison. >> he will learn that he must be remorseful for the killing of my son, that it was not just another day at the office. >> reporter: some believe this mistrial and the high profile acquittal of george zimmerman in the shooting death of trayvon martin is a direct result of stand your ground. >> stand your ground? he was entitled if the jury believes he was threatened to take the gun out of the glove compartment, shoot and fire at

jordan davis. >> reporter: if he were still alive, jordan davis would have turned 19 today. kerry sanders, nbc news, jacksonville, florida. still ahead tonight, our team makes the long journey to a majestic spot in nature that winter tourists are flocking to because it's reachable for the first time in years. later one of the great enduring relationships in all of later one of the great e[ male announcer ] we all think about life insurance. but when we start worrying about tomorrow, we miss out on the things that matter today. ♪ at axa, we offer advice and help you break down your insurance goals into small, manageable steps. because when you plan for tomorrow, it helps you live for today. can we help you take a small step? for advice, retirement, and life insurance, connect with axa.

[ mala body at restent, tends to stay at rest... while a body in motion tends to stay in motion. staying active can actually ease arthritis symptoms. but if you have arthritis, staying active can be difficult. prescription celebrex can help relieve arthritis pain so your body can stay in motion. because just one 200mg celebrex a day can provide 24 hour relief for many with arthritis pain and inflammation. plus, in clinical studies, celebrex is proven to improve daily physical function so moving is easier. celebrex can be taken with or without food. and it's not a narcotic. you and your doctor should balance the benefits with the risks. all prescription nsaids, like celebrex, ibuprofen, naproxen and meloxicam have the same cardiovascular warning. they all may increase the chance of heart attack or stroke, which can lead to death. this chance increases if you have heart disease

or risk factors such as high blood pressure or when nsaids are taken for long periods. nsaids, like celebrex, increase the chance of serious skin or allergic reactions, or stomach and intestine problems, such as bleeding and ulcers, which can occur without warning and may cause death. patients also taking aspirin and the elderly are at increased risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers. don't take celebrex if you have bleeding in the stomach or intestine, or had an asthma attack, hives, other allergies to aspirin, nsaids or sulfonamides. get help right away if you have swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing. tell your doctor your medical history. and find an arthritis treatment for you. visit celebrex.com and ask your doctor about celebrex. for a body in motion. as we've been reporti ining throughout these winter games, the spring-like ather. back home in the states a staggering percentage of the

great lakes is frozen over, the biggest freeze in decades. and along lake superior in northern wisconsin, it's giving visitors a rare and spectacular show of nature. our report tonight from nbc's john yang. >> reporter: tens of thousands have made the pilgrimage here to the northern tip of wisconsin, trudging more than a mile across frozen lake superior, like penguins marching over polar ice. their quest? a rare view of majestic, natural cathedrals of ice. centuries of crashing waves created the caves. weeks of arctic blast, freezing falling water created the ice adorning them. >> it's beautiful. >> reporter: icicles hang like delicate chandeliers, accessible only for crawling. for photographers, the challenge is finding the perfect angle. for kids it's a giant frozen

playground. molly oldman and peter johnson found it romantic. >> we just got engaged. >> reporter: the right spot for another kind of ice. in the summer months, you need a kayak to get in here. this spot of the lake is about 40 to 50 feet deep. but instead of all that water, i'm standing on at least 18" of ice. with 88% of the great lakes now covered by ice, it's the first time in five years the ice has been thick enough to walk to the caves. >> over the last 30 years, there's been a huge decrease in ice cover and the length of the ice season on lake superior. this is a rare phenomenon and it's going to get rarer. >> the last time and maybe there were 20 people the day we came. this cave, we felt like we owned it. >> reporter: this time drawn by photos gone viral on the web, people are coming to the national park in record numbers, exploring on hands and knees, pulling children on sleds, even with dogs. the crowds are an unexpected

boost for local businesses. >> it's over the top, unbelievable. nothing we've ever seen before. >> reporter: ice that put smiles on people's faces for a change with a dazzling display of nature's beauty. john yang, nbc news, national lake shore, wisconsin. >> you just don't want to be under those things when it starts to warm up. we'll take a break. we're back in a moment with the final clues tonight about who might be the favorite for hollywood's top prize. when jake and i first set out on our own, we ate anything. but in time you realize the better you eat, the better you feel. these days we both eat smarter. and i give jake purina cat chow naturals. made with real chicken and salmon, it's high in protein like a cat's natural diet. and no added artificial flavors. we've come a long way. and whatever's ahead, we'll be there for each other. naturally. purina cat chow naturals.

a glittering night in london as the british academy film awards, the bafta awards were handed out tonight. "12 years a slave" won best film while "gravity" won best film and best director. bafta are the last major awards before the academy awards about two weeks from now. if you had to guess the average highest rent in our country, would you likely guess new york, l.a. and san

francisco? perhaps, but you would be wrong and not even close. williston, north dakota, is by far the highest rent in the united states. now $2,400 a month on average for a 700-square-foot one bedroom, thousands flocking to the area, many sleeping in their trucks due to a lack of housing. not quite a source of pride for our host nation here, but a lot of people have their eyes on the sky today as tha busted russian satellite, cosmo 2012 fell back to earth today. it appears no part of cosmos survived entry into the earth's atmosphere. when we come back, a chance for the americans to make history on ice. ♪ [ male announcer ] your heart. it powers your body to walk enough stairs in a lifetime to climb the empire state building.

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stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. tonight in prime time from here in sochi, widely billed epic battle in the sport of ice dancing, pitting the reigning champions, the canadian pair, against the world champions, the americans, who have been partners on the ice for most of their lives. we get their story tonight from nbc's chris jansing. >> reporter: hearts melt when meryl davis and charlie white take the ice. the looks of longing, of passion. they're asked all the time, is

it real? >> well, being ice dance partners is a strange relationship. >> starting at 8 and 9, you know each other so long. it's a different kind of relationship. it's not like brother and sister. it's not romantic. >> reporter: they grew up 10 minutes apart in suburban michigan and have spent almost every day of the last 16 years together. six hours a day, practicing. classes at the university of michigan. their families grew close, too. but for their first skate together, it definitely wasn't love at first sight. >> i would say when they started out, they weren't even really like friends. >> reporter: it's impossible to say when exactly the awkwardness of childhood faded and a bond was forged. >> somebody said try competition. so we put them in competition and they had a ball. >> he felt like merrill was the partner for him and if he couldn't skate with her, he just wouldn't skate at all. >> reporter: by the time they were teens, they were alrea

winning competitions. >> sometimes i get nervous and it's a lot easier to have a partner next to you, with you all the time. >> reporter: for meryl, dyslexia affected her depth perception and so in charlie she found a partner she could rely on. when they do a lift, it takes just seconds but it's built on a lifetime of training and trust. >> the movement you're doing has a mind of its own and almost to a certain degree you have a magical power. >> reporter: a bit of performance magic charlie and meryl hopes will not only win olympic gold but some respect for their sport. >> charlie and i certainly can remember the days when, you know, the fans were pretty sparse at ice dancing events even at u.s. championships. >> reporter: they want to take ice dancing to new heights. parts of their program kr

choreographed by derek hough of "dancing with the stars." >> all it does is take a moment, a pause to create a moment people will remember. >> reporter: even if they can't explain their chemistry on ice, watching that age-old story of seduction, the audience is in their thrall. the biggest competition, defending olympic canadians training on the same rink with the same coach. it's been a great rivalry. now more than 16 years of trainling come down to just two performances and, brian, just seven minutes on the ice. >> i know this is your thing. i'll take another hockey game like yesterday. chris jansing, on ice dancing coming up tonight. thank you for being with us. i'm brian williams. a reminder that prime time coverage begins tonight at 7:00, 6:00 central. matt lauer

team usa wins! across every story, in one way or another, at the olympics, time always has the final word on your fate.

in this mountain test, the challenge is harnessing high speed with a measure of control. when you're running out of chances, somehow, the urgency amplifies. they surge through the course at the same time. every rider for herself. none taking any inch for granted. it's been more than half a century since these colors flew fastest in this race. now, a sled from the future promises new possibility. and four years after their dance left them just short, they've perfected whatever was left on the ice. performers set to prove their time is now. olympians ready at last to reveal their fate. the xxii olympic winter games.