Team Canada vs. Austria Olympic Hockey Score: Live Updates, Results

One game down and Canadians are still holding their collective breath about the state of the Team Canada men’s hockey team at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

As I said yesterday, a 4-1 win over Norway wasn’t going to appease the masses, so the 3-1 victory has turned the temperature up for today’s game against Austria.

We need a blowout in the worst way, like 7-0. NAY, 13-0.

Austria dropped an 8-4 decision to Finland in its opener and will want to play this game much tighter in the defensive end. They can’t afford to give Canada any space, so watch for them to line up four players across their blue line, just like Norway did.

DON’T PANIC.

The key for Canada will be to chip pucks past that four-man line and use speed to generate a consistent forecheck. Canada should be able to dominate this team in the corners at both ends of the rink.

Sports Interaction has Canada as a huge -24390 favorite to win outright with another 4.5-goal puckline.

Stay with me and keep refreshing this page to get my live updates throughout the game.

***Hopefully you all won’t go and break the blog again and I’ll be able to do my fricking job. Seriously. Please don’t break the blog, team.

Sports Interaction links of note:

Sports Interaction on Twitter here.

Olympic hockey odds here.

Live in-game betting here.

Sochi interactive calendar in Eastern Standard time here.

Pregame:

-Hey, you know what Sweden calls PK Subban? Nasty Erik Karlsson.

-Subban is going to make an impact joining the rush late and on the power play if Babcock gives him any ice time. Just look at the goal Drew Doughty scored yesterday. Offence will be generated from the back and Subban is a huge threat as a trailer.

-St. Louis with Crosby and Kunitz? REJOICE. Jeff Carter can go fill the water bottles.

– Remember yesterday when I was talking about getting odds on Marty St. Louis scoring? Ta-da, gang! Marty is +186 to tickle the twine today. I like it. Other player odds to score worth a look include the new editions to the lineup Matt Duchene (+201) and PK Subban (+341). Canada’s Jack Reacher, Jamie Benn is at +278.

– If you’re looking for odds on Austria players to score you can take your traitor tail to SOME OTHER TREASONOUS BETTING SHOP. We don’t have any.

– Three NHL players on the Austria roster: Thomas Vanek, Michael Grabner, and  Michael Raffl. You don’t know anybody else. Basically the team is made up of five players named Thomas, a couple called Matthias and some Daniels.

– Fun fact: the interwebs tells me Austria is about the size of Maine, also known as the most Canadian-like (and therefore awesome) state in the US. Looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger is the best thing to ever come out of Austria and we all know how low he’s sunk since Terminator. Yet another reason Canada wins. The more you know.

– Big #TeamCanada odds move vs. Austria. CAN was -24390 this am, now -12821.

– That’s a massive odds move. WHAT, YOU GUYS DON’T LIKE CANADA ANYMORE?

– (Coworkers reminding me to use my “inside voice.” Obviously traitors.)

– Grapes’ suit game has been seriously off. I thought he’d bring it with the intensity of a thousand suns for the Olympics. So far, subpar. There isn’t even any red in that couch cover.

– While we’re on the subject, these black Team Canada sweaters look like they came out of a Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff video. Rating: 2/5 Subbans.

Period 1

– Oh, check out this cool site. It uses NHL 94 to simulate the whole men’s hockey Olympic tournament. Maybe Crosby is finally in for a big day against Austria after all.

– Everybody talks about Vanek, but look out for Grabner. He’s faster than a Ferarri. Total breakaway machine.

– Huh. Well that’s not how you spell Ferrari at all.

– Tavares could lead this tournament in scoring. He’s impossible to contain when he’s spinning off the boards.

– GOAL CANADA, 1-0. Looks like Doughty again from the point. Total screen-job, THE CANADIAN WAY. Toews with the helper on that goal, btw.

– Sidney Crosby is in the building. Thank everything.

– Much better pace to this game for Canada so far. They’re moving the puck through the neutral zone much easier and once they cross the blue line, are holding up. That’s just what I ordered. Wear these puny Austrians down.

– Canada is going to kill other nations at the faceoff dot. Crosby and Toews. Bergeron. Tavares isn’t bad.

– Jim Houston just said Jeff Carter is a “bit of a swingman” tonight. Ha, he wishes. Stupid Jeff Carter.

– Shea Weber goal! 2-0 Canada.

– Nobody in the universe had four of Canada’s first five goals to be scored by defencemen. Not even the Anonymous Gamblr.

– Perry and Getzlaf draw assists on that goal. PP coming up for Canada

– PK SUBBAN SIGHTING. SHOOT IT, PK.

– Y’know, Thomas Vanek must really like money. Like more than anybody. He was offered what, 7 or 8 mill for the next pile of seasons to play with the wizard John Tavares and just goes, “uh, no thanks.” He deserves an eternity of Fishsticks sorrow.

– Stevie Y must have took my advice and helped with the spacing on the PP. What a deity.

– Here’s your invisible player list so far: JEFF CARTER, Bergeron, Luongo. J-Bouw (in a good way), Stamkos (sad face).

– Grabner just hit the post. Frank Doyle, Almost Prophet.

– That’s it for period 1. 2-0 Canada.

– Coming up, lunch for me, then a first period summary.

 First period summary

OK, so what the hell was that on Don Cherry’s head?

Anyway, the Zambonis did a couple of circles in Canada’s end, but it was really because they didn’t want to show up the Austrians. So Canada. Excellent puck movement from Canada in the neutral zone, pushing the pace wide then cycling the puck down low. Austria can’t keep up and it could get much, much worse for them in a hurry. You can see Canada finding some confidence.
Yesterday the extra space in the corners, behind the net and on the side boards had them uncomfortable but they’re using that to their advantage today. More time means more space which translates into saucy puck movement.

***Broken blog update: STILL NOT BROKEN.

Period 2

– Goal Jeff Carter. Completely stole that goal from Marleau. Still, 3-0 Canada now. Still hate Jeff Carter.

– Carter gets a real goal there. 4-0. Austrian goalie went for a skate and JC tucked it in. Can’t even hate on that.

– Marleau has assists on the last two goals and could be one of the most underrated NHL players we’ve seen in the last decade. Plus, he took a “hometown” discount to stay with Jumbo Joe in San Jose. Now that’s a guy you’d take to meet Bob and Doug McKenzie.

– Broken blog updated: BROKEN, NOW UNBROKEN (for now)

– Jeff Carter hat trick goal. 5-0. Remember when I said he’d end up dating the two French Canadian moguls medalists and score a bazillion goals? FRANK DOYLE, PROPHET.

– Corey Perry stopped on a penalty shot.

– ANNNNND 6-0, Ryan Getzlaf gets into the act with one of the prettiest goals you’ll ever see. He’s a beast.

–  Mike Babcock is a gentleman and a scholar. No really. He is a Doctor of Laws at McGill in Montreal. Give him a cigar and a scotch.

– End of two it’s Canada 6, Austria 0. Shots 31-17.

Second Period Summary

CANANDA SCORES ALL OF THE GOALS. THE END.

Period 3

– CBC is showing a split screen right now. On one we have Canada-Austria. On the other is a figure skater. This is UnCanadian.

–  This is where you’re going to see more of Duchene and Subban. LUCKY.

– As long as Luongo keeps this going, you can’t really keep him on the bench for Sunday’s game against Finland, which is fine, I guess. I’m still not convinced he’s the goaltender I’d want to see in the crease during the medal round. Amirite Bruins boosters?

– Luongo makes a save on a breakaway and Subban buries the Austrian after. Somehow that will go down as PK’s fault.

– Three stars right now have to be 3) Marleau 2) Luongo 1) Carter.

– Impressed with the defensive intensity from Canada in a blowout. Years ago we’d see Canada give up garbage goals here, but not with the Doctor of Laws behind the bench. Stong commitment to defence on this team.

– Somebody said on the Twitter machine that the figure skater was Canada’s own Patrick Chan and that’s why CBC was using the split screen. Like you, or I, even give a care.

– Well that’s it. It may not have been the 13-0 blowout you were hoping for, but then again, you’re a greedy bunch of jerks.

Game Summary: 6-0 Canada.

Complete effort from Canada here. It’s nice to see the goals, sure, but what’s more encouraging is how the team is playing defence. Not just defence in its own end, defence from one end of the rink to the other. They’re supporting the puck well and avoiding odd-man rushes. They win battles in the attacking zone without sacrificing defensive responsibilities. So Canada.

– Team Canada back in action Sunday against Finland. Sports Interaction has Canada as a -300 favorite at the open.