Canada salvages tie against Finland

[TimmyTabasco]

Patrick Marleau and Rick Nash scored 51 seconds apart in the third period as Canada salvaged a 3-3 tie against Finland in qualifying-round action at the world hockey championships.

For awhile, it didn't look good for the Canadian side.

Finland dominated the first two and a half periods and looked like it was in control holding a 3-1 lead on the strength of goals by Niklas Hagman, Jukka Hentunen and Tomi Kallio.

Canada, who suffered a devastating loss to Sweden just 16 hours earlier, looked lethargic and its defence just couldn't keep up to the rested Finnish forwards.

But Canada pulled a much-needed point out of the fire when Nash scored his tournament-leading eighth goal of the season 8:58 into the third and then Marleau tied it up on a wrap-around just under a minute later.

Wade Redden scored Canada's first goal with 50 seconds left in the second period.

Barring any upsets, it looks like the Canadians will finish second in Group F and will play the third-place finisher of Group E when the quarter-finals start on May 12. Right now it looks like they will face either Slovakia or Russia.

Next up for Canada is a game against Ukraine on Tuesday.

Not the result Canada wanted, but still..a point is a point.

If canada is having trouble now..with the defensive minded finns..and the starless swedes..how are they going to fare with the unbeaten, all around Czechs?

I am starting to think Tambellini added too much grit, and not enough finesse

[Darsehole Tucker]

It was a pretty ugly game to watch but Ricky Nash continued to be a bright spot for team Canada.

[Madferret]

That blue-line better tighten up...

[J.R.]

Fairly weak effort if you ask me. This is not the time to be playing like this. They've had plenty of games already to work out the kinks, get rid of the rust, etc. so I don't know where this play is coming from. I felt that they had already 'gelled' as a team, but watching them in the last two games, they haven't looked like a team, especially those defenders.

Maybe a it's good that they have the Czechs on deck. Remember at SLC in '02, after losing huge to the Swedes, only beating Germany by one, most thought Canada would be blown out by the Republic? It turned out to be a tie. Things turned out pretty well after that game. This tournament isn't over yet. Canada is still in it.

[TimmyTabasco]

I've been impressed with Phillips, Hannan, and Redden so far

The others have been really suspect..which is hard for me to say..considering I am a big fan of the defenders in question.

Others who have been suspect

-Doan
-Smyth
-Maltby??(wasn't there anyone better)
-Morrow(I still don't know why he is there)
-Heatley(come on, no Briere cannot be an excuse for a player at his level)

I have liked the energy of Walker, Draper, Gagne, and perhaps it would be wise to play Fisher more so than Morrow.

Perhaps the team is missing the solid defense Aucoin would bring, and also the offense of Tanguay? :D

[slapshot™]

Late night last night and the game was televised too early this morning. Damn.