Head trainer Claude Julien may wish to display his Canadian males’s hockey workforce the tape of the 2014 Olympic gold-medal sport sooner than Wednesday’s quarterfinal towards Sweden on the Beijing Video games.
An assistant trainer underneath Mike Babcock in Sochi, Julien watched the Canadians put the clamps at the Swedes in a 3-0 win as Carey Value needed to make simply 24 saves, finishing a resounding run to gold for the crimson and white.
A an identical effort — albeit minus NHLers — would turn out to be useful if Canada plans on seeking to make an actual bid to win Olympic gold for the primary time since that day in Russia 8 years in the past.
In accordance with Tuesday’s efficiency, that turns out like a stretch.
A pedestrian 7-2 win towards closely overmatched China on Tuesday sends Canada to the general 8 for a sport towards the Swedes on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Canada’s moment win over the host aspect in as many days — first win used to be 5-0 on Sunday — used to be anticipated to be a formality. However the Canadians regarded horrible out of the beginning gate and had been fortunate they weren’t trailing after giving up two breakaways and a penalty shot within the first six mins — Spencer Foo used to be stopped at the latter through Matt Tomkins.
The Canadian goaltender needed to make a number of point-blank saves within the first length, retaining a 2-1 lead. The one function he gave up within the opening 20 mins got here after a nasty giveaway through first general pick out Owen Energy.
On the finish of the primary, similarly robust China goaltender Jeremy Smith used to be harm and needed to be helped off the ice. Tv cameras confirmed him being wheeled out of the dressing room on a stretcher all the way through the intermission.
Paris O’Brien changed Smith and used to be no longer as excellent. The Canadians did play higher after the primary length, however they on no account ran China out of the rink.
Canada used to be dominant at the energy play, scoring 4 instances. That is the major explanation why the sport wasn’t nearer towards a Chinese language workforce making its Olympic debut and that includes 11 Canadians — the squad the use of necessarily the similar lineup as a China-based KHL membership workforce this is final in that league’s standings.
Adam Tambellini and Jordan Weal scored two targets apiece for Canada, whilst Eric Staal, Jack McBain and Eric O’Dell added singles.
Cory Kane, a California local, scored each targets for China.
Sweden earned a bye to the quarterfinals as the most productive second-place workforce within the 3 teams, completing with two wins (3-2 over Latvia and 4-1 over Slovakia) and a 4-3 time beyond regulation loss to Finland after blowing a 3-0 lead within the 3rd length towards its largest rival.
Canada’s lone loss in 4 video games used to be a 4-2 setback towards america, however all its wins have come towards gentle pageant — China two times and a one-win German workforce that used to be eradicated with a 4-0 loss to Slovakia on Tuesday.
Lucas Wallmark, who has 187 video games of NHL enjoy, leads the Swedish assault with 4 targets.
A key for Canada might be drawing consequences. Sweden has the worst penalty-killing share within the 12-team event (60 consistent with cent) after giving up 4 targets on 10 alternatives.
The excellent news for Canada — and everyone else, in point of fact — is that the event seems to be extensive open.
The Russians are the reigning Olympic champs, however have not been constant in Beijing — 1-0 and 2-0 wins over Switzerland and Denmark, respectively, at the side of a 6-5 time beyond regulation loss to the Czech Republic.
Germany has made an early go out after successful silver in Pyeongchang 4 years in the past.
Canada captured bronze on the final Olympics — additionally performed with out NHLers — and received final 12 months’s Global Championship.
Plucky Denmark has been the most productive tale of the event, attaining the quarterfinals in its Olympic debut. Nonetheless, the Danes shall be be heavy underdogs towards the Russians within the quarterfinals.
The American citizens had been the one workforce with an excellent document within the initial spherical. They introduced a tender workforce, opting to concentrate on the school ranks.
If their good fortune continues and Canada cannot make a run, many will query the Canadians’ means of going heavier with Ecu-based execs.
OTHER QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
Slovakia 4, Germany 0
Denmark 3, Latvia 2
Switzerland 4, Czech Republic 2
QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE (WEDNESDAY)
No. 1 United States vs. No. 8 Slovakia, 11:10 p.m. ET (Tuesday)
No. 3 Russia vs. No. 6 Denmark, 1 a.m. ET
No. 2 Finland vs. No. 10 Switzerland, 3:40 a.m. ET
No. 4 Sweden vs. No. 5 Canada, 8:30 a.m. ET
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