Madferret
5-14-05, 10:03 AM
Canadian Press
5/14/2005
VIENNA (CP) - The team standing between Canada and a third straight IIHF world hockey championship final is an old rival that hasn't been itself in recent years - Russia. Canada faces a Russian squad packed with young talent like Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Ovechkin in the semifinals Saturday (TSN, 9:30am et) at the Wiener Stadthalle.
"Individually, they're as good as anybody in the tournament, if not better," Canada's veteran checking centre Kris Draper said of the Russians on Friday. "And this year, they've bought into a team system. "They don't care what they win by as long as they win. That's a team concept. They're playing well."
That may be the key issue. This Russian team does not appear beset by the internal bickering that has sunk its national squads for much of the last decade. Despite awesome talent, Russia has not won the world championship since 1993. Canada has a four-game winning run against Russia in world championship games since 1996, including a 2-1 semifinal win in 1997. This year, the Russians haven't been blowing opponents out despite their offensive firepower, but they are undefeated in the tournament at 5-0-2, including a shootout win over Finland in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Two-time defending champion Canada, 5-1-1 so far, needed Joe Thornton's late goal to win its quarter-final over Slovakia, which like Russia has fearsome forwards but question marks on defence and in goal. "Defensively, we'll try to expose them like we did with Slovakia, try to get pucks on their goalie," said Canadian goaltender Martin Brodeur. "You've just got to minimize mistakes because they will put the puck in the net if we make too many of them."
Coach Marc Habscheid agreed. "There's a lot of similarities (with Slovakia)," he said. "They're a striking team. They like to find seams. They like the middle of the ice. They're very highly skilled and are able to play at a fast pace." So far, Maxim Sokolov hasn't looked pretty in the Russian net, but he has a 1.94 goals-against average and .911 save percentage, much better than the 3.01 average and .900 save percentage Brodeur has posted.
But he is seen to be vulnerable, much like Slovakia's Jan Lasak. And Canada can be expected to shoot as much as possible on him. In Canada's favour is it's power play, which leads the tournament with 10 goals and a 30.3 success rate, including two against Slovakia. Russia is 11th with the man advantage at 13.16 per cent.
Another factor could be the ice. Canada, which made the one-hour flight to the Austrian capital Friday, played its first seven games on the chaffy ice in Innsbruck, but Stadthalle ice is reportedly even softer and more difficult to play on. Russia has played all its games in Vienna. "We heard it wasn't so good," said Habscheid. "But we had practice and it was OK. "But it's warm in here. That may change."
Canada struggled through its early games, but like the teams that won the last two world championships, it hiked its intensity level for the medal round. The top line of Thornton, Rick Nash and Simon Gagne produced three goals against Slovakia, but more importantly, the lagging second line of Brendan Morrison, Dany Heatley and Ryan Smyth scored twice.
Draper's line with Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan will likely see a lot of the top Russian trio led by Pavel Datsyuk, Draper and Maltby's Detroit teammate. Datsyuk plays with Ovechkin and Russian leaguer Alexander Kharitonov.
"We want to play him tough," said Draper. "You don't want him to create his 1-on-1's because he's so dangerous. He's a great passer as well." Canadians get excited about playing Russia, even though it has been years since they've been in meaningful competition. For Russian veteran Alex Kovalev, the 1972 Summit Series and Canada Cup clashes in the 1970s and 1980s are ancient history.
"I never had a chance to play in Canada Cup games because it happened 15 or 20 years ago when I was a kid," said Kovalev. "For me, playing Canada is no more special. "We just want to show that we're a good team." Russia still conjures passion from Canadian players, however.
"We have pride wearing the Canadian jersey and Russia has some great young talent, so I think it's coming back," said Draper. "It might have disappeared for a bit, but lets face it, Canada-Russia, the winner goes on to play for the gold medal, there's a lot at stake." Two of the four quarter-finals were decided by shootouts and that possibility looms again in the semis.
Habscheid said he has discussed a five-man shootout list with team personnel, but wouldn't reveal who would take the shots. Safe bets would be Thornton, who has six goals, Nash, who leads the tournament with nine, and Heatley, last year's tournament MVP who has only two this year. After that, it's a guess between Gagne, Morrison, Smyth and perhaps Doan or Patrick Marleau. "Hopefully, it won't come to that," said the 20-year-old Nash. "It's a tough way to settle a game. "I don't know if I'd get selected - you know, a young guy with not much experience. If I am, I'll worry about it then."
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050514/can-rus_5463.jpg
Here we go guys, enjoy the game.....
Canada - Canada - Canada
:thumb:
5/14/2005
VIENNA (CP) - The team standing between Canada and a third straight IIHF world hockey championship final is an old rival that hasn't been itself in recent years - Russia. Canada faces a Russian squad packed with young talent like Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Ovechkin in the semifinals Saturday (TSN, 9:30am et) at the Wiener Stadthalle.
"Individually, they're as good as anybody in the tournament, if not better," Canada's veteran checking centre Kris Draper said of the Russians on Friday. "And this year, they've bought into a team system. "They don't care what they win by as long as they win. That's a team concept. They're playing well."
That may be the key issue. This Russian team does not appear beset by the internal bickering that has sunk its national squads for much of the last decade. Despite awesome talent, Russia has not won the world championship since 1993. Canada has a four-game winning run against Russia in world championship games since 1996, including a 2-1 semifinal win in 1997. This year, the Russians haven't been blowing opponents out despite their offensive firepower, but they are undefeated in the tournament at 5-0-2, including a shootout win over Finland in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Two-time defending champion Canada, 5-1-1 so far, needed Joe Thornton's late goal to win its quarter-final over Slovakia, which like Russia has fearsome forwards but question marks on defence and in goal. "Defensively, we'll try to expose them like we did with Slovakia, try to get pucks on their goalie," said Canadian goaltender Martin Brodeur. "You've just got to minimize mistakes because they will put the puck in the net if we make too many of them."
Coach Marc Habscheid agreed. "There's a lot of similarities (with Slovakia)," he said. "They're a striking team. They like to find seams. They like the middle of the ice. They're very highly skilled and are able to play at a fast pace." So far, Maxim Sokolov hasn't looked pretty in the Russian net, but he has a 1.94 goals-against average and .911 save percentage, much better than the 3.01 average and .900 save percentage Brodeur has posted.
But he is seen to be vulnerable, much like Slovakia's Jan Lasak. And Canada can be expected to shoot as much as possible on him. In Canada's favour is it's power play, which leads the tournament with 10 goals and a 30.3 success rate, including two against Slovakia. Russia is 11th with the man advantage at 13.16 per cent.
Another factor could be the ice. Canada, which made the one-hour flight to the Austrian capital Friday, played its first seven games on the chaffy ice in Innsbruck, but Stadthalle ice is reportedly even softer and more difficult to play on. Russia has played all its games in Vienna. "We heard it wasn't so good," said Habscheid. "But we had practice and it was OK. "But it's warm in here. That may change."
Canada struggled through its early games, but like the teams that won the last two world championships, it hiked its intensity level for the medal round. The top line of Thornton, Rick Nash and Simon Gagne produced three goals against Slovakia, but more importantly, the lagging second line of Brendan Morrison, Dany Heatley and Ryan Smyth scored twice.
Draper's line with Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan will likely see a lot of the top Russian trio led by Pavel Datsyuk, Draper and Maltby's Detroit teammate. Datsyuk plays with Ovechkin and Russian leaguer Alexander Kharitonov.
"We want to play him tough," said Draper. "You don't want him to create his 1-on-1's because he's so dangerous. He's a great passer as well." Canadians get excited about playing Russia, even though it has been years since they've been in meaningful competition. For Russian veteran Alex Kovalev, the 1972 Summit Series and Canada Cup clashes in the 1970s and 1980s are ancient history.
"I never had a chance to play in Canada Cup games because it happened 15 or 20 years ago when I was a kid," said Kovalev. "For me, playing Canada is no more special. "We just want to show that we're a good team." Russia still conjures passion from Canadian players, however.
"We have pride wearing the Canadian jersey and Russia has some great young talent, so I think it's coming back," said Draper. "It might have disappeared for a bit, but lets face it, Canada-Russia, the winner goes on to play for the gold medal, there's a lot at stake." Two of the four quarter-finals were decided by shootouts and that possibility looms again in the semis.
Habscheid said he has discussed a five-man shootout list with team personnel, but wouldn't reveal who would take the shots. Safe bets would be Thornton, who has six goals, Nash, who leads the tournament with nine, and Heatley, last year's tournament MVP who has only two this year. After that, it's a guess between Gagne, Morrison, Smyth and perhaps Doan or Patrick Marleau. "Hopefully, it won't come to that," said the 20-year-old Nash. "It's a tough way to settle a game. "I don't know if I'd get selected - you know, a young guy with not much experience. If I am, I'll worry about it then."
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050514/can-rus_5463.jpg
Here we go guys, enjoy the game.....
Canada - Canada - Canada
:thumb: