Sports Interaction
Promotions
Sports Interaction
Promotions

Team Canada Sochi 2014: Subban, Duchene, Luongo in vs. Austria

  • Frank Doyle's Author profile. Frank Doyle

Add Sports Interacton as Your Preferred News Source

Team Canada will have a different look when the men’s hockey team plays its second game of the Sochi Winter Olympics today against Austria.

The Canadians managed a 3-1 win over Norway in Thursday’s tournament opener, but that result left a lot to be desired considering Mike Babcock’s squad went into that game as a 4.5-goal favorite. On Friday, PK Subban, Matt Duchene and Roberto Luongo will move into the lineup with Dan Hamhuis, Patrick Sharp and Carey Price heading to the press box.

Sports Interaction has Canada set as a -10000 favorite to beat Austria and at -4.5 again on the puckline.  The total sits at 6.5.

We knew all along that Luongo was getting the start in this game and Mike Smith will serve as his backup while Carey Price gets a break. However, don’t be surprised if it’s Price back in goal Sunday against Finland. He made 19 saves Thursday against Norway, including a couple of difficult stops near the end of the first period and again in the third.

Check out our Sochi Winter Olympics live interactive calendar in Eastern Standard Time.

The move of taking Sharp out of the lineup in favor of Duchene is a bit curious. The coaching staff wants to get Duchene in the mix, but Sharp was a fixture on the second line with Jonathan Toews and Rick Nash, while also playing the point on the power play. Babcock could have easily kept Sharp in the lineup, sending Chris Kuntiz, Jeff Carter or Martin St. Louis to the press box. Still, it’s a tough decision to take anyone out, but a good move to get Duchene’s blazing speed in early in this tournament.

Hamhuis barely saw the ice in the opening game and might night see it again. The talk about Subban being a defensive liability is completely overblown. He isn’t the greatest defender, but he certainly plays hard below the goal line and is a presence in front of the net. Plus, his offensive upside is just too high to ignore. Canada will need to generate offence from the blue line and two of Canada’s three goals against Norway came from the back end. Subban will give Canada another lethal threat joining the rush late. Don’t expect him to be in street clothes for the rest of the tournament.