Slow Start For Canada’s Boys

After an eight year hiatus, the World Cup of Hockey has finally returned with two of the North American division teams getting into action tonight. In what was a remarkably high-paced and energetic game for two teams that had only been together for approximately three days, the United States beat Canada by a score of 3-1.

Team Canada came out and quickly took control of the game while looking like a better conditioned and more cohesive unit. They opened the scoring on the power play midway through the first period on a goal by Dany Heatley. By the end of the first period, Team Canada looked to be in complete control as they clearly dictated the level of play in the first period.

Once the second period started, the Team Canada of the first period had disappeared and was replaced by one that played with confusion and uncertainty. Martin Brodeur, who was razor sharp during the first half of the game, was replaced at the halfway mark of the second period with Roberto Luongo as promised by coach Pat Quinn. Within five seconds of Brodeur’s departure, Team USA scored the tying goal and did not look back from there. From that point on, Team USA outplayed Team Canada and eventually took the lead in the third period. They added an insurance marker with nine minutes left to play basically putting the game out of reach.

Despite a fairly discouraging opening performance by Team Canada, it will not hurt them in any aspect of their medal chances as this game was merely an exhibition contest. Canada will play two more exhibition games on Wednesday against Team USA and on Saturday against Team Slovakia.

There are also numerous positives that still point in Canada’s direction. Canada opened with a similarly lethargic effort at the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The team, although comprising of many different players, regrouped under the tutelage of Pat Quinn and Wayne Gretzky and of course went on to strike gold in that tournament. There is certainly no reason why that will not happen again. Also in tonight’s game, Team Canada had sat out last year’s Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner, Martin St. Louis, last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy winner, Brad Richards and perhaps the single greatest player in the history of the game, Mario Lemieux. Those are three pretty decent hockey players that will certainly make a difference once they see their first taste of action likely this coming Wednesday when Team Canada plays their second exhibition game.