Canadians can threaten World Cup chances of U.S. rivals with win on Tuesday

The Canadians expect to encounter a desperate opponent.

“I know that if we were in that situation we’d be feeling that same way,” said Matt Duchene, who had an assist in Canada’s 6-0 win over the Czechs on Saturday.

“They’ll be hungry,” added Logan Couture. “They know what’s at stake so we expect them to play hard, to play chippy. It’s going to be a battle.”

Battle could accurately describe the first of two pre-tournament games between the countries. The Americans won that testy affair 4-2 on Sept. 9, despite being outshot and outplayed. U.S. goalie Jonathan Quick was sharp, while Canada’s Carey Price, playing for the first time in almost 300 days, looked rusty.

Canada handily won 5-2 the following night, outshooting the U.S. a combined 81-48 over the two games and 64-35 at even strength.

The Canadians then ran all over the Czechs in their first tournament game, backed by a dominant Sidney Crosby (three points) and sharpened Price, the latter pitching a cool 27-save shutout.

Babcock was selling humility in the aftermath, well aware of how quickly momentum can swing in a short tournament.

“I said (Saturday night) after you win in the tournaments (like this) the tendency is (to) maybe get a little fat,” said Babcock, referring to overconfidence. “And after you lose the tendency is buckle down and really get going. (But) we have big boys who have been in a lot of these competitions, and we’ve been in a lot of them together, we understand what’s at stake.”

Canada has won three straight games by shutout in the best-on-best international format, dating back to the 2014 Olympics. They last allowed a goal in the quarter-finals of the Games in Sochi, shutting out the Americans (1-0) and Swedes (3-0) to close out a second straight gold medal.

The Czechs generated few quality chances on Saturday, their best opportunity coming 41 seconds into the game when Ondrej Palat was stopped by Price.

The Americans, meanwhile, outshot Europe 35-17 in dropping their first game of the tournament, but weren’t happy with the quality of chances they generated against Jaroslav Halak. The U.S. roster was also built less on speed and skill than on size and truculence, a potential disadvantage when goals are at a premium.

Tortorella declined to say whether Dustin Byfuglien or Kyle Palmieri, scratched against the Europeans, would be re-inserted against Canada.

“Tuesday is our championship game,” Tortorella said. “We knew we’d have to go through Canada. That game has just come earlier for us here right now, and that’s the way we’re approaching it.”

Babcock anticipated keeping the same lineup versus the U.S., meaning Claude Giroux and Jake Muzzin will sit out once more. He wouldn’t reveal goaltending plans for the week until after Monday’s practice, though Price will surely start against the Americans.

Babcock thought the upcoming affair had added importance to Canada because another game followed it on Wednesday night, the preliminary round finale against the Europeans.

“Sounds to me like it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.

Jonas Siegel, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canadians can threaten World Cup chances of U.S. rivals with win on Tuesday

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