Team Canada vs. Latvia Olympic Hockey Score: Live Updates, Results
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Frank Doyle
Canada enters this quarterfinal matchup against Latvia as an absurd favorite amid talk of how the Canucks “caught a break” when the Latvians upset Switzerland Tuesday. I don’t necessarily see it that way.
The Swiss’ frustrating defence would have been a good test for Canada’s attack and no team ever wants to play a team coached by Ted Nolan. He’ll have his Latvian team ready to go.
Still, the odds for this one speak for themselves. Canada is set as a -16129 favorite to win in regulation time and the puckline is set at 3.5. Right now, about 71 percent of our bettors are backing Canada to win by more than four goals.
(UPDATE: SEE ODDS MOVE BELOW)
A date with either Team USA or the Czech Republic is just 60 minutes away if all goes as planned.
Keep it locked right here to get all your totally biased in-game live updates.
Sports Interaction links of note:
Sports Interaction on Twitter here.
Sochi interactive calendar in Eastern Standard time here.
Pregame:
-Here’s what you need to know about Latvia: 1) As mentioned, Ted Nolan (Jack Adams Trophy winner and current Buffalo Sabres head coach) has manned the bench for this team since August of 2011. 2) Sandis Ozolinsh is not only alive and well, but anchors the blue line on this team. He’s old as dirt (41). 3) The team’s only NHL player is Zemgus Girgensons, who plays for the Sabres. 4)Latvia has about 1,200 registered hockey players.
-Jokes aside, Osolinsh is just about the most famous Latvian there is. He’s the captain of this team and was Latvia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.
-If this were a soccer match, Latvia would essentially be playing with four sweepers and one midfielder. They will collapse to their own end and block shots. Sound familiar?
– ODDS MOVE Bravo bettors, Canada now up to a -17544 favorite to win in regulation. If you don’t bet this you ought to just pack up shop and move south of the border.
-Canada puts Martin St. Louis back in the lineup, but PK Subban is expected to sit again because Dan Hamhuis is such an asset playing six minutes per game, I guess.
-Mike Babcock, Doctor of Laws, talked to the media about possibly keeping today’s lines together moving forward. It’s about time.
-Canadian lines: Chris Kunitz (yes, he’s still in the lineup, no I cannot explain this) will start with Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron. Toews is between Marleau and Carter. Getzlaf centres Perry and Canadian Jack Reacher Jamie Benn. Sharp and Nash flank Tavares in what might be this game’s best line. St. Louis is the extra forward but should see PP time.
-Drew Doughty will be known as Bobby Orr of Big Ice from this moment until the end of time.
-Odds to score you should probably bet: Bobby Orr of Big Ice (+256), because at this point, why not? Bergeron +257, Nash +129.
-Not much value here, though if you’re looking for a lottery ticket and are a sucker for throwing your money away for a nice story, Osolinsh is +1100 to score.
-For you jerks who won’t shut up about Crosby’s “poor play,” keep in mind Babcock is giving him 15 minutes of ice. That’s just not enough for the best player in the world. He’s +620 on our Hot Shots betting option to score a hat trick today. Stranger things have happened.
Period 1:
-Start Crosby’s line. He should just stay out there for about 35 minutes.
– You can see Nolan’s influence on this Latvia team. Sets up well in its own end, hits everything that moves. Just wait until one of the Latvians runs 87. This will happen.
– Osolinsh gets caught with his 41-year-old legs and Crosby hits the crossbar on the breakaway. 87 then sets up Kunitz, who also hits the post.
– Glen Healy seems shocked the Latvians are trying hard with a date in the semifinals in front of them. We are not shocked about this type of analysis from Glen Healy.
– Great offensive zone penalty by Sharp ending an excellent shift by those three. Kills momentum. Story of the tournament so far for Canada.
– Hey look, a shift for Hamhuis! Completely un-Subban.
– Good news for Canadians is that we have 11 shots on goal so far. The Doctor of Laws has prescribed a double dose of rubber for this Latvian goalie.
– 1-0 CANADA. Patrick Sharp totally redeems himself for that bonehead penalty by ripping a shot in on a nice pass from Tavares. First goal on the 14th shot of the period.
– Broken blog update: Sharp scores and breaks blog. THANKS A LOT PATRICK SHARP.
– 1-1. Some Latvian scores on a breakaway after sneaking behind the defence. Great deke.Dude’s name is Darzins. We let a Darzins score on Carey Price. This is unnacceptable.
– My most hated expression in the world is possibly “to a man.” What the hell does that even mean Glen Healy?
– My most hated expression in the world is possibly “to a man.” As in, “to a man, the Latvians are really bringing it” or something. What the hell does that even mean Glen Healy?
– To a man is even worse than at the end of the day. FACT.
First Period Summary: 1-1.
What can you even say at this point? Canada, the most hockey-loving nation on the planet is tied with Latvia after 20 minutes. Latvia, with 1,200 registered hockey players. Latvia. Enough about the shot totals and the time of the possession and the length of the shifts. Team Canada needs to bury this club in the second period.
Ted Nolan can frig off, too by the way. This is no way to treat fellow hosers. The Latvians are structured and nasty. They might be getting outshot by a landslide, but they’re not going to back down.
– Broken blog update: BROKEN WITH MASSIVE TRAFFIC. Now back.
Period 2
– Latvia still running over everyone. Hamuis was the latest Canuck to take a tough hit. Nope, don’t need PK Subban’s mobility and rocketlauncher from the point at all. Who needs goals and speed anyway?
– Tavares hit hard too. Uh-oh.
– More pressure from Canada, no more goals.
– St. Louis takes a slashing penalty so you can bet he’s in the pressbox IF Canada wins this stupid game.
– Kristers Gudlevskis is an AHL goaltender by the way. Has four shutouts, but is STILL AN AHL GOALTENDER.
-Looks like Latvia is starting to wear down a bit. Canada moving the puck well on its latest PP but still far too many passes. They need to get more pucks to the net.
-Canada with 14 more shots this period and it’s still tied 1-1. Meanwhile, Team USA is up 4-1 against the Czech Republic.
-I was picking on him earlier, but Osolinsh can still move around pretty good for an old fella. Respect.
-The Latvian goaltender literally can’t pick himself off the ice in that last stoppage. He’s going to need an IV at the intermission.
-Osolinsh takes a dumb penalty late in the period. You could say he’s been up and down tonight.
Second Period Summary: 1-1
Second verse, same as the first.
Still tied, still unacceptable.
Period 3
-Sidney Crosby misses an easy tap-in at the side of the net. The pressure is starting to come into play here. I’ve never, ever seen Crosby choke on a chance like that. If we don’t score in the first five minutes, go hide under your beds, kids.
-More Canada pressure, no more goals.
– Chris Kunitz is still getting shifts. This is still a thing.
– Tavares still in the dressing room. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.
– NO GOAL, BUT TOTALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GOAL. Now 47 shots for Canada. At what point do you run Kristers Gudlevskis? Asking for a friend whose name rhymes with Matlock.
-Shots now 50-13 as Team Canada goes to the power play. This should end well.
– Gudlevskis still stopping shots, still looking like he’s about to pass out.
– Shea Weber finally puts one in. Rips another goal from the point with an assist from the Bobby Orr of Big Ice and Jonathan Toews. Defence is Canada’s only offence.
– Babcock needs to flip out in the dressing room. Forget the scoring chances and shots on goal. It’s goals that matter.
– Empty net for Latvia. Gudlevskis finally gets a well-deserved rest.
Game summary: Canada 2, Latvia 1
It’s over. It was possibly the best goaltending performance I’ve ever seen from Gudlevskis, a kid who hasn’t even played a full season in the AHL. He’s the story here. Canada just needs to be better, much better. Don’t be surprised if Team Canada opens as an underdog against Team USA. It’s doubtful the line will stay like that, but that’s where it should be judging from what we’ve seen in this tournament.
Broken blog update: Again, apologies for the downtime. Our tech team is on the issue and hopefully everything will be resolved before tomorrow’s Canada-US women’s matchup.