Contents: What a Game ! Canadians never stopped exerting pressure on a very disciplined Red Armada and obtained a quick jump in score at the 6th minute thanks to Spezza, assisted by Doan and Weber. Stress was at the max in the arena, all the Russian Fans were holding their breath in front of such a determination to win from the opponent. When Saprikin released the pressure by achieving a splendid shot from far into the net, game exitement reached a peak, which remained up to second period. Then Radulov suprised everyone at the 35th minute, accomplishing perfect solo moves, faking a goal shot, then getting the puck in the cage with great finesse, assuring a crucial 1 point advance to the current Champions. Until the very last second, Maple Leaf players never gave up, had great team play but were unlucky with equalizing opportunities. They finally had to let their rival add another World title, and accept their IIHF #2 international ranking downgrade. What a Big challenge for next Olympics Organizer !
Contents: No stress for Team Canada who bravely won against tired Swedes. Roy started scoring at the 7th minute. Horcoff added his goal in the second period, followed one minute later by Roy at the 31th minute. In the third period, Eriksson gave his best shot to save Scandinavians’ honor. Game was mainly controled by North-Americans, not only Kings of faceoffs and powerplays but also puck possession leaders. How then could we expect another result tonight ?!
Contents: Inspiration was the great absent of this lazy game, where Latvians stayed satisfied defending on the neutral zone whereas Canadians did not give the guts we could expect from them at this level of competition. First period remained a draw. In the second part, most goals were scored: Heatley gave the first for Canada, Hamhuis the second, Galvins offered a comeback for Latvia, Stamkos did kill the hope just a few seconds after. Score so far: 3-1 for the North Americans. In the third period, Team Canada still played their offensive role, though with no big conviction whereas Team Latvia seemed suffering physically. Then, Vasiljevs enlightened Latvian suppoters&rsquofaces by scoring another goal. This new hope was almost immediately disappointed when Lombardi gave a further advance for the leaders. One thing is certain, this game might not be registered as the best in Hockey archives.
Contents: Canada has showed their limits through that game very engaged from both sides. Finnish did not let their opponent one break, pushing them constantly to commit penalties. And there were penalties: 11 against Canada, 8 against Finland. After Pihlman and Salmela gave a two goals advantage to the Blue team, the game got harder and harder. Finally, Spezza entered one goal in powerplay 3 minutes before end of first period. In the next, Niko Kapanen added a third goal in powerplay. Then Heatley reduced the Finnish domination 1 minute before end of second period. Heatley again equalized in the 50th minute, which lead to an unbearable shootout sequence. Suspense was at the max, and Stamkos miss gave victory to Scandinavians. Despite the result, Team Canada still remains number 1 in group F and will play against Latvia for Quarter Finals whereas Finland will face the U.SA. Nothing is certain anymore from now on.
Contents: Canadians were those who did the show during first period, scoring 3 goals to 1 (Lombardi, Zuccarello Aasen (NOR), Hamhuis, Stamkos), keeping pressing the puck holder, letting very few space for their opponents. On the second period, Norway multiplied shorthanded plays which enabled Maple Leaf Team getting 2 more goals in powerplay (Spezza, Doughty). During last period, Canada found it enough to keep their large advance without liberating too much fighting spirit. When considering how easy goals are scored in every game they play, we can hardly bet on any adversary capable of frightening these presumably invincibles.
Contents: What many Journalism professionals could have expected to represent a major fight proved to be a training session for Team Canada like any other already practised so far by this amazing Firewagon. Ales Hemsky modestly saved the honor assisted by his partner Jagr at the 58th minute, but actually, the result left a bitter taste for the Great Czech Team. One can explain this disappointing performance by the fact that they had played an exhausting game a day before against Finland. On her side, Canada remains undefeated.
Contents: With three goals scored in the first period (Roy, Doan, Spezza), Team Canada immediately cooled down the Slovaks. The Maple Leaf players speed of execution was so stressing for their opponents that these could not help committing penalties, offering this way nice scoring opportunities. Canada definitely showed they were hungry for victory, playing each of their game to the max. There is no little adversary...
Contents: Canadians are feeling at home, presenting an exhibition game with a festival of 9 goals (St-Louis, Weber, Roy, Neal, St-Louis, Weber, Fisher, St-Louis, Spezza). The whole arena could only feel sorry for the Hungarians, definitely not prepared for that kind of meeting. Hope they learned from that awkward exercise that will help them in the future.
Canada setting up Confidence Belarus has breathed deeply and rapidly this afternoon in Bern, Switzerland, facing over-determined Canadians, involved in every piece of action, as if they were playing a final round game. Two goals have been scored in the first period by Steven Stamkos (assist: St.Louis then Doughty) whereas one Belarusian goal has been rejected for maple leaf country goalie Dwayne Roloson has moved his cage.
During the second period, the game got tougher, and the number of penalties increased. Despite of powerplays, and even one double powerplay against Canada, no goal has been scored.
Third period has proved much more intense from both teams, but especially from Canada, which game turned quite pushy and fast. This strategy resulted into 3 more goals scored by Jason Spezza, Mike Fisher and Dany Heatley. Fortunately for poor Team Belarus, Grabovski achieved to save the honour, just before Heatley scored a 6th goal, making it real hard for its opponent to come back, 6 minutes before the end of the game. Hockey Nation has showed its power. Future Opponents Slovakia and Hungary are warned.
Pre-Competition PRESENTATION
Play Canada National Anthem
Status : Hockey Nation (IIHF World Ranking: 1)
Competition : Close to win the ultimate annual trophy last year in Quebec city, Team Canada, whereas it was leading 3-1 at the end of first period, then 4-2 at the end of second period, finally yielded to a surprising Russian Hockey System, who scored the winning goal during Overtime.
In order to take their revenge this year, they’ll first have to prevail over opponents such as Slovakia, Czech Republic and Finland, during preliminary and qualifying rounds. Although victory is a real affair of honor for Maple leaf country, Team Canada managing staff should not fail taking advantage of these games to prepare future Olympic selection for Vancouver 2010.
Pros : Expert level within all aspects of Hockey : physical strenght and stamina, exceptional skating skills, fast moves and anticipation, great tactical game analysis, etc... Cons : . The majority of Canadian selection compete for NHL Stanley Cup, meaning that some players won’t be able to participate the World Championship (but anyway, regarding the number of experienced players available, this should not represent a serious drawback) . European arenas are a bit larger than Northen-American ones. It can always make a difference
Features : With over 1.7% of its population registered as Hockey players, Canada benefits the largest pool of potential talents for the next decade. Number is precisely the force of ’“Hockey Nation”, which prior task aims to select the Men fitting well together and giving the best play as a whole during the World Championships. Team Canada ressources count dozens of excellent professionals competing all-year round, having not only physical power and endurance, but also a remarkable technique full of light-speed automatisms.
Forwards : Colby Armstrong, Shane Doan, Mike Fisher, Dany Heatley, Shawn Horcoff, Matthew Lombardi, James Neal, Derek Roy, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Steven Stamkos, Scottie Upshall
Defensemen : Drew Doughty, Dan Hamhuis, Joel Kwiatkowski, Chris Phillips, Luke Schenn, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shea Weber, Ian White
Goaltenders : Fred Brathwaite, Josh Harding, Dwayne Roloson
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