Post by IAMCAPER on Dec 27, 2006 10:10:53 GMT -4
LEKSAND, Sweden (CP) — Canada picked up where it left off at the world junior men’s hockey championship by giving up nary a goal.
Goaltender Carey Price of the Tri-City Americans stopped all 31 shots he faced for the defending champions in a 2-0 win over host Sweden on Tuesday.
Canada’s shutout streak goes back deep into the 2006 world junior hockey championship in Vancouver.
It stands at 211 minutes 50 seconds heading into Wednesday’s game against the U.S.
Canada hasn’t given up a goal at the tournament since its final round-robin game against the U.S. in Vancouver.
Justin Pogge was in net for shutouts against Finland in the semifinal and Russia in the final en route to gold in Vancouver.
Price put in the same confident, reliable performance as his predecessor to open the tournament in Leksand.
“He made some big saves, but I don’t think he made saves where he was flopping and diving for pucks, which is a sign he’s under control and following the puck,” Canadian head coach Craig Hartsburg said. “When we did get in trouble at times on penalty killing or in our end, he seemed to calm things down with a big save.”
The Canadians played a textbook road game by scoring first to quiet the Swedish crowd at Ejendals Arena and winning the battle on special teams.
Canada’s offence is still a work in progress, but power-play goals by Moncton Wildcats defenceman Luc Bourdon and Val-d’Or Foreurs forward Brad Marchand were enough to get the job done.
Val-d’Or defenceman and Canadian captain Kristopher Letang had two assists.
Price earned a second start with his performance and he’ll face the reeling Americans on Wednesday (TSN, 1 p.m. ET).
Germany’s 2-1 overtime win over the U.S. was just one of two stunning upsets Tuesday as Belarus also edged Finland 4-3 in Pool B.
Germany and Belarus were promoted to this tournament by winning their respective second-tier world championships last year.
At the Mora FM Matsson Arena in Mora, Sweden, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles goaltender Ondrej Pavelec made 33 stops in a losing cause, as the Czech Republic lost their tournament opener to Russia 3-2.
Alexander Bumagin scored the winner 4:06 into the third period and added an assist in the victory. Alexei Cherepanov had a goal and an assist as well, while Alexander Loginov rounded out the scoring for Russia.
Vladimir Sobotka narrowed the gap with 4:22 remaining for the Czechs, but his club couldn’t find the equalizer despite pulling Pavelec for the extra attacker with 1:35 left in regulation. Thomas Svoboda also struck for the Czech Republic, who led the game 1-0 after the opening frame.
Semen Varlamov made 25 stops in the Russian goal for the victory.
The Czech Republic continues play in Pool ‘B’ against Finland Thursday at 11 a.m. AST.
The team with the best record in each pool earns a bye to the semifinal while the runners-up cross over to play the third-place teams in the quarter-finals.
With their toughest teams still ahead of them in Pool A, the Americans have an uphill climb to gain the bye.
Canada’s defence kept the Swedes away from Price for the most part, but he had to step up early in the second period when the Swedes pressed and also during seven power-play opportunities for the hosts.
“I don’t let a whole lot get to me out on the ice and I like to win,” said Price, a Montreal Canadiens draft pick.
In a Christmas gift-exchange with his teammates prior to the tournament opener, Price was presented with donuts.
“It was a hint for tonight,” said forward Marc-Andre Cliche.
Goaltender Carey Price of the Tri-City Americans stopped all 31 shots he faced for the defending champions in a 2-0 win over host Sweden on Tuesday.
Canada’s shutout streak goes back deep into the 2006 world junior hockey championship in Vancouver.
It stands at 211 minutes 50 seconds heading into Wednesday’s game against the U.S.
Canada hasn’t given up a goal at the tournament since its final round-robin game against the U.S. in Vancouver.
Justin Pogge was in net for shutouts against Finland in the semifinal and Russia in the final en route to gold in Vancouver.
Price put in the same confident, reliable performance as his predecessor to open the tournament in Leksand.
“He made some big saves, but I don’t think he made saves where he was flopping and diving for pucks, which is a sign he’s under control and following the puck,” Canadian head coach Craig Hartsburg said. “When we did get in trouble at times on penalty killing or in our end, he seemed to calm things down with a big save.”
The Canadians played a textbook road game by scoring first to quiet the Swedish crowd at Ejendals Arena and winning the battle on special teams.
Canada’s offence is still a work in progress, but power-play goals by Moncton Wildcats defenceman Luc Bourdon and Val-d’Or Foreurs forward Brad Marchand were enough to get the job done.
Val-d’Or defenceman and Canadian captain Kristopher Letang had two assists.
Price earned a second start with his performance and he’ll face the reeling Americans on Wednesday (TSN, 1 p.m. ET).
Germany’s 2-1 overtime win over the U.S. was just one of two stunning upsets Tuesday as Belarus also edged Finland 4-3 in Pool B.
Germany and Belarus were promoted to this tournament by winning their respective second-tier world championships last year.
At the Mora FM Matsson Arena in Mora, Sweden, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles goaltender Ondrej Pavelec made 33 stops in a losing cause, as the Czech Republic lost their tournament opener to Russia 3-2.
Alexander Bumagin scored the winner 4:06 into the third period and added an assist in the victory. Alexei Cherepanov had a goal and an assist as well, while Alexander Loginov rounded out the scoring for Russia.
Vladimir Sobotka narrowed the gap with 4:22 remaining for the Czechs, but his club couldn’t find the equalizer despite pulling Pavelec for the extra attacker with 1:35 left in regulation. Thomas Svoboda also struck for the Czech Republic, who led the game 1-0 after the opening frame.
Semen Varlamov made 25 stops in the Russian goal for the victory.
The Czech Republic continues play in Pool ‘B’ against Finland Thursday at 11 a.m. AST.
The team with the best record in each pool earns a bye to the semifinal while the runners-up cross over to play the third-place teams in the quarter-finals.
With their toughest teams still ahead of them in Pool A, the Americans have an uphill climb to gain the bye.
Canada’s defence kept the Swedes away from Price for the most part, but he had to step up early in the second period when the Swedes pressed and also during seven power-play opportunities for the hosts.
“I don’t let a whole lot get to me out on the ice and I like to win,” said Price, a Montreal Canadiens draft pick.
In a Christmas gift-exchange with his teammates prior to the tournament opener, Price was presented with donuts.
“It was a hint for tonight,” said forward Marc-Andre Cliche.