Team Canada vs. Norway Olympic Hockey: Live Updates and Results
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Frank Doyle
Well, Team Canada hockey fans, the wait is finally over.
Canada opens the Sochi 2014 Winter Games as a big favorite against Norway. Canada is currently listed as a 4.5-goal favorite (-177) and that line may grow before the drop of the puck.
Put simply, Canada is expected to blow Norway out of the water and if they don’t cue the gnashing of teeth. A 4-1 victory will not appease the masses. What we’ll do here is give you a running account of what’s going on so that if you aren’t able to watch, at least you’ll get my (completely biased) view of the game. Just keep refreshing the page for more Canuck goodness.
Sports Interaction links of note:
Sochi interactive calendar in Eastern Standard time here.
Pregame:
– If you’re wondering, there just isn’t any point in putting a Team Canada moneyline out there. We’re seeing about 89 percent Canada at -4.5 goals. MILD-MANNERED CANUCKS YEARN FOR BLOOD.
– For any of you non-believers, Norway is pegged at +2500 to score the upset. Keep buying those lottery tickets, haters.
– There are some tasty player props out there. Rick Nash is at +134 to score and Ryan Getzlaf if +161, both solid wagers if you’re into that sort of thing. One Norway player to watch is Mats Zuccarello (+474 to score). He’s been one of the most dangerous players on the New York Rangers all season.
– As I said yesterday, I really like this decision to give Carey Price the start. Only real concern I have is that he’s used to seeing a ton of work due to the Habs’ pathetic defence. He likes to be busy.
– Speaking of the Habs, how long will PK Subban, Norris Trophy winner be in the press box?
– I think Glen Healy would KILL Pierre McGuire in a fight. No really, like he’d be charged with murder.
– I also think Mike Babcock would be the coolest father-in-law in the world. No offence to future father-in-laws reading.
First Period:
– Nice of Canada to let Norway into their zone at the start. So Canada. #hoserism
– Ah, there’s Jeff Carter. He was my least favorite pick on this roster so you know he’s going to score a bazillion goals and end up dating those two French Canadian sisters who won the medals. Jerk.
– They throw to Healy about how Carey Price will handle this game. Healy has his mic off or something. Brilliant.
– Ole-Kristian Tollefsen was the big nasty guy in the Hobbit. Dropping Canadians left and right.
– Canada power play. This should be good.
– Weber and Doughty on the point to start the PP. That’s probably a good idea. There was a lot of talk of Sharp on one of those points but let’s not get too fancy right now.
– Nevermind. There’ Sharp on the blue line.
– Very tentative start for Canada overall, though that’s not a bad thing. There really is a TON of room in the corners and behind the net. Spacing was off on that PP.
– Really should have requested some odds on Martin St. Louis scoring tonight. I think he’ll get one and stick in this lineup. Not like he wants to end up in the box listening to PK all night.
– Man of principle and knowledge, Bruce Arthur, points out via Twitter it was 0-0 when after 1 when Canada played Norway in 2010. Canada won 8-0. Deep breaths.
– ALSO: Don’t read Twitter if you don’t want to get concerned, you guys. Twitter trolls are trolling Canada so, so hard right now. This pace is fine. We’re controlling all of the play.
– Jim Houston just mentioned Jay Bouwmeester. If we never hear him do that again that will mean J-Bouw had an amazing tournament.
– BTW, Jim Houston is fine and all, but give me some BOB COLE UP IN HERE. That’s some legit #hoserism.
– Carey Price with a few big saves after a good push from Canada. Might as will be in le Centre Bell.
– End of 1 it’s still scoreless. Canada outshoots Norway 9-8.
– Annnnnd here comes Grapes doing his suit runway critique of Team Canada…
PERIOD 1 SUMMARY
If you’ve never read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you really ought to. Seriously, read it. Don’t watch that terrible film. Once you plow through it, if you’ve done it right you’ll be left with two words: DON’T PANIC.
Team Canada has obviously read the book instead of watching the terrible movie, you guys. That first period was fine. Sure, we could do without that little flurry at the end from Norway, but remember what I said about letting Price seeing some pucks? This isn’t a bad thing.
DON’T PANIC.
Period 2:
– What would it take for you to love Chris Kunitz? Five, six goals and a gold medal or would he also have to pick up your grandmother’s groceries too?
– BOOM. There’s the first one by Shea Weber from the point. 1-0 Canada.
*** Life tip: Life tip: Don’t try to run live blog when your laptop brand rhymes with Hell. Fitting, isn’t it? Really sorry about the technical darkness there. I’ll try to get you caught up as quickly as possible.
– Still in the second period, Jamie Benn shows why he should be know as the Canadian Jack Reacher. He snipes one top shelf and could easily dust the toughest guy of the room and still his ladyfriend on the way out. Benn was one of my favorite picks Yzerman and Co. made, if you can’t tell.
– End of two Canada is up 2-0.
PERIOD 2 SUMMARY
– Computer issues during live events are the worst. The end. Go Canada.
Period 3
– Norway is that annoying little brother that just won’t stop following your around when you’re trying to do cool stuff like taking swings at mailboxes or hang out at the mall. Thoresen brings them within one on the PP.
– Thoresen was at +609 to score today, so go enjoy your traitor cash.
– DREW DOUGHTY. If he played every game on a big ice surface, he’d be Bobby Orr. Well, not Bobby Orr, but pretty, pretty good.
– This is going to be one of those games that everybody says will be good for Canada down the road, right?
– Carey Price gets Game 3 now. No questions.
– Stevie Y needs to get out on the ice and help the boys figure out the spacing on the power play.
– Did anybody see Sidney Crosby? I could have sworn he was here at the start of the game…
Game summary:
Canada 3, Norway 1. Well, it’s a win. The 4.5-goal puckline for this one was completely ridiculous from the get-go. Canada starts slow in these tournaments. It isn’t a roster or a talent or a preparation issue – it’s just a comfort issue. These players take a while to figure each other out. There are some good things to take from this 3-1 win. Canada looks solid in the defensive zone, which is where the big ice can kill this team. They break out well and made plays when they needed to. It wasn’t a blowout but it’s a win. Tomorrow will be better, friends.
DON’T PANIC.
– Thanks for sticking around through the tech issues. I realize a live blog isn’t much of a live blog if it isn’t update, well, live.
– As I said on Twitter – Bad news: Live #TeamCanada blog may have broken the blog. Good news: May have broken the blog with MONSTER TRAFFIC.
– We’ll try to do better next time. If all goes as planned we’ll see you back same time same place tomorrow.