Canada vs. USA Men's Olympic Hockey Score: Live Updates, Results
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Frank Doyle
Is today the day that Team Canada finally puts it all together?
Well, Mike Babcock, Doctor of Laws, sure thinks so, but what exactly do you expect him to say at this point? He’s masking his frustration because he has to, while you and I and every other maple-syrup bleeding Canadian pines for goals.
Goals. Not shots or chances or puck possession time. Goals. We want ‘em and we want ‘em – like yesterday at this point.
This Canadian team is completely out of excuses and extra chances because today, if they don’t play their best game of the tournament, they’re heading to the bronze medal game, which might as well be Olympic hockey purgatory.
Check out all of Sports Interaction’s odds for this game here. Canada opened as a short underdog in this game but Canucks supporter have flooded our book with action.
Now, Team Canada is a -135 favorite with the total hanging at 5.5. The winner of this one plays Sweden in the gold medal game Sunday at 7 a.m. EST.
Stick right here for all of your Canada vs. USA updates and analysis.
Sports Interaction links of note:
Sports Interaction on Twitter here.
Sochi interactive calendar in Eastern Standard time here.
Pregame:
-Babcock is going with basically the same look we saw against Latvia, save for Matt Duchene coming in to centre the fourth line in place of the injured John Tavares. Marty St. Louis will rotate into that line at times and play on the second power play unit.
-Subban’s still in the pressbox, but we aren’t even going to get into that anymore. I’d much rather him as the seventh defenceman. Then again, I’m not the Doctor of Laws and have basically zero coaching experience, so what do I know?
– Drew Doughty, Big Ice Bobby Orr, and Shea Weber should play 22-24 minutes apiece tonight. Anything less than that is unCanadian.
– Who will be the first Yankee to cry after Canada crushes their hopes and dreams? Leave your pick in the comments. My money is on David Backes, that dog-saving softie.
– Crosby’s handling this goal-scoring slump as well as could be expected. You have to think that if he had scored instead of hitting the crossbar on that breakaway early against Latvia it would have been a completely different game.
– Justin Falk checks into the lineup for the US with Paul Martin coming out. Falk is a great young player but if I were Dan Bylsma, I’d stick with as much experience as possible on that young blue line.
-Ah, word is Martin’s injured. That makes more sense.
– Odds to score you should probably bet: Canadian Jack Reacher, Jamie Benn +424 (mmm, value), Ryan Getzlaf +394, Ryan Callahan +356, Patrick Kane +261.
– See all of our Canada vs. USA odds here.
– Tim Horton would have been 84 today. He would feel shame about the roll-up-the-rim scam, but WE CANNOT LOSE.
PERIOD 1
– So, first thing’s first. Shea Weber must concuss Phil Kessel with a clean, destructive bodycheck.
– With the level of play so close between these teams, we’ll see more chances in an NHL-style game. Thank the bejesus, too. I had just about enough of teams playing four sweepers against Canada.
– It’ll be interesting to see what Bylsma does with his defensive matchups against Canada’s forwards. Probably going to see Orpik against Crosby.
– So impressed with Carey Price in this tournament. He’ll be even better seeing more shots tonight.
– USA buzzing around the goal after Canada was caught on a long shift. Crosby and Kunitz come over the boards and just like clockwork, Kunitz wastes a possession by firing a bad shot with help coming behind him.
– OFFICE UPDATE: Not nearly as much cussin’ as expected.
– Both teams have settled in at this point. We’re in for a good one. Jonathan Quick is on his game in one net and Price looks sharp in the other.
– Canada power play coming up after Carter takes a hack from Suter as he drove the net. We haven’t seen much from the Team Canada PP, so this is big. Not much there on that PP. One good rush from Sid and a decent chance there. Otherwise Team USA held Canada to the perimeter.
– Good news is Crosby is playing more tonight. Bad news is Chris Kunitz plays with Sidney Crosby. C’est la vie.
– Duchene just has crazy speed. Pretty safe bet he’s the fastest fourth-line player in this tournament.
First Period Summary: Canada 0, USA 0
– Well that’s about what we should have expected. Both clubs spent most of the period feeling each other out, trying to get a sense of the pace without giving up many quality scoring chances. USA came out of the gate well and forced Price to make a couple of good stops, but Canada held the play later in the period. This one couldn’t be any tighter through 20 minutes. It might take a goal to open it up a bit. Shots were 16-11 for Canada.
– Somebody take the 5-hour energy away from Don Cherry. Gratefully, all of Canada.
– After one period we have Canada as a -170 favorite in live betting. Place your wagers here.
PERIOD 2
– GOAL CANADA 1-0. It’s the Canadian Jack Reacher, Jamie Benn with the icebreaker. Yes, breaking ice, faces, hearts and everything else in his way. Excellent deflection in front on a smart pass from J-Bouw.
– Getzlaf heading to the box on a high stick that hit absolutely nothing. Getz is laughing at the craptastic call. So Getzlaf.
– Terrifying USA power play coming up. Backes is a major pain in the tukas when he wins faceoffs and parks himself in front of the net. Weber may have to concuss him as well.
– Getzlaf has stopped laughing now and returns to the ice. He’d be much scarier if he didn’t laugh so much and actually had hair.
– Should have mentioned Benn moved to +438 to score today. Pad those pockets, Reacher supporters.
– Canada’s defence really is suffocating. Outside of a couple of miscues in the first period, Team USA just can’t find any room out there. Canada is supporting the puck with two players at all times, moving the puck around methodically – and without much trouble.
– Quick just made a huge save on a one-timer from Perry. Benn found him at the circle and he ripped it. Another goal before the break and Team USA is in a deep pile of it. (Glen Healy just said basically the same thing after I posted that last sentence. Oh god, no.)
– Kunitz takes a dummy penalty and then gets fired face-first out of the crease. So, basically status quo for his game.
– Kessel has been quiet so far. Not sure why the US doesn’t have him on his off wing to rip the one-timer on this PP.
– Time out for the US because they got stuck on the ice on a foolishly long shift. Dan Bylsma is going to strangle somebody in a guillotine choke. REALLY HOPE IT’S KESSEL.
Second Period Summary: Canada 1, USA 0.
Much of the same for this 20 with Canada controlling most of the play. Terrific goal by Benn gives Canada a lead, but they could have easily been up two or three. It’s not so much that Canada is totally overpowering USA, more that the Canucks just aren’t making any mistakes at all. They’re so good in their own zone – and have been for the entire tournament. That’s been lost in all the gnashing of teeth over the lack of offensive production. This tournament was never going to be won by the top attacking team – just ask Putin. Canada’s doing it right. A couple more goals would be nice, but they’re taking care of the puck and that’s what needs to be done.
OFFICE UPDATE: Really impressive sea of red we have up in here. Have to say nobody’s close to my ’87 Messier Canada Cup sweater though. The Moose, right? Best nickname in Canadian sports history. FACT. Post any other nominations in the comments and I’ll tell you why you’re wrong.
LIVE ODDS UPDATE: Canada now a -500 favorite vs. Team USA. Go buy your lottery tickets, traitors.
PERIOD 3
– 20 miles from home friends, let’s hope it isn’t all uphill in a snowstorm.
– A major difference between Team Canada and Team USA: Dustin Brown is on one of those rosters.
– He has 16 points in 58 games this season, begging the question: How many Team Canada teams could you make WITHOUT INCLUDING DUSTIN BROWN?
– OFFICE UPDATE: Just had a cold one hand-delivered to my desk. THE TRUE NORTH STRONG AND FREE.
– Canada pushing the pace and driving Team USA’s defence back. If I’m Bylsma, I don’t think Kessel and Kane come off the ice until they score or die trying. Hopefully the later… minus the death, plus the dehydration collapse.
– Kessel to the box and acts like a baby on the way there. I’m just not sure this can get any better, friends.
– Down to 10 miles remaining. No snowstorm as of yet. Not even any dark clouds to speak of… yet. Canada is first to literally every puck right now, but watch for a makeup call coming to Canada within the next few minutes.
– Canada now a -1000 favorite to win. Any takers, USA traitors?
– 35 saves for Quick. He’s keeping the US in this.
– As soon as I hear “here comes Sid” I look up from my laptop. When I hear “Kunitz is with him” I put my head down and go back to my delicious beer.
– 60 seconds left with Quick on the bench.
– THAT’S IT. Canada going for GOLD Sunday.
Final: Canada 1, USA 0.
Game Summary:
Canada plays its most complete game of the tournament and comes away with a hard-fought win. There will still be questions about lack of offensive production, but it’s starting to look as though if they need to, they can open it up. They’re finally moving the puck with confidence and supporting the play. They’re creating off the rush and getting to the front of the net. And, against Henrik Lundqvist, they’ll need to do a whole lot of that to find the back of the net Sunday.
Three stars: 3) Quick – could have been 3-0 easily. 2) Benn – Reacher rules. 1) Price – perfect.
See you back here bright and early for the 7 a.m. EST start in the Sochi 2014 gold medal game between Team Canada and Team Sweden.
Until then, get all your sports betting odds right here.