Canada Squeeks By US In First “Real” Game

Team Canada and Team USA opened the round robin tournament for the North American pool this evening in Montreal with a win before a very energetic crowd of Canadian supporters. In what was the first meaningful game, well more meaningful than the exhibition but still certainly not of paramount importance (a team could loose all three round robin games but still win the tournament); Team Canada’s players displayed their excitement for finally getting the tournament underway with a very good first period of play. Although after severely outplaying Team USA in the first frame, Canada only came away with a one goal lead thanks to some spectacular netminding from Robert Esche.

Canada followed up their impressive first period with a somewhat disappointing effort in the second period as they seemed to sit back and allow Team USA to control the play. They scored one goal off a Team Canada defensive zone breakdown and if it was not for some equally effective netminding by Martin Brodeur, Team USA would have tied the game as Canada continued to give up chances. In third, Team Canada renewed their commitment to defense; likely due to suggestions the coaching staff made during intermission, and managed to hold on for a win by a score of 2-1.

Out of Team Canada’s lineup tonight were Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Patrick Marleau, Jay Bouwmeester and Scott Hannan as well as Jose Theodore. It is likely that either Bouwmeester or Hannan will see action in Canada’s next game though as Ed Jovanovski went down with a knee injury early in the game and did not return. It was later reported that he had gone for an MRI to survey the damage done. The injury occurred when Jovanovski pinched into the rush and tried to cut in off the right wing on Esche. A Team USA defenseman grabbed a hold of him and fell on his knee forcing it to bend in an awkward position. Should he be out for an extended period of time, which in that case would likely mean the rest of this tournament, Team Canada’s depth on defense will really be put to the test after already loosing Rob Blake and Chris Pronger before the tournament started.

After tonight’s game, Team Canada will likely be told by Pat Quinn that it is mandatory that the players give a sixty minute effort. Once the elimination games get underway, one mistake can put a team out of contention. A sixty minute effort will help to ensure a silly mistake does not cost the team a chance at the championship. Team Canada gets right back at it tomorrow night with game two of the round robin tournament against Team Slovakia who they tied in exhibition play.