World Cup of Hockey: Canada sends Americans packing, secures spot in semis
Wednesday's game against Europe to determine Group A placing
Even an off-night for Team Canada was more than enough to dispatch an international rival.
The Canadians stomped past the United States 4-2 on Tuesday night, buoyed by a pair of goals from Matt Duchene, 33 saves from Carey Price and yet another display of unparalleled skill, speed and depth. The victory pushed Canada into the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey and eliminated the Americans. But between players and head coach Mike Babcock the effort left something to be desired.
"There was times tonight that I didn't think we were even close to being as good as we're capable of being," Babcock said.
"It probably wasn't our best game really," added John Tavares, who set up a goal. "We obviously played a pretty good game, but there's still some areas I think we can be a lot better in and really make it hard on our opponents."
Babcock thought his team was "tight and tentative" early and indeed it was the Americans striking first on a goal from Ryan McDonagh four-plus minutes into the first period.
29-second deficit
Canada's first and only deficit of the tournament lasted one minute 29 seconds. The Canadians struck twice in 14 seconds to gain the lead, Duchene and Corey Perry beating Jonathan Quick, the latter on a hard drive to the net. Perry didn't even shoot, a rebound simply bounced off his midsection and into the goal.
"I thought we had a real good response," Babcock said.
Still, he liked his team's game only in spurts. Tavares added that the Canadians gave up too many opportunities, including in the back half of the third period when T.J. Oshie pulled the U.S. to within two.
The United States won 62 per cent of its faceoffs, making Babcock feel like his team was chasing the play as a result.
An average game from Canada though still easily toppled the United States, a striking show of the team's incredible pool of talent. It was the fourth line that led the way with a pair of goals on Tuesday, a unit that includes Duchene, a 30-goal scorer for the Colorado Avalanche last season, and Joe Thornton, who finished fourth in the NHL with 82 points.
A depth of talent
"You look at how deep our team is, it's more like four first lines," Duchene said. "That's the way we want to carry ourselves. We don't want to limit our role and our limit because we are the fourth line."
Eight different players have goals for the Canadians through two games and all but three players have mustered at least a point. Ten players registered at least one point on Tuesday. Claude Giroux, the NHL's leading scorer since 2011, hasn't even played a game.
Ryan O'Reilly, the third member of the fourth unit, said his line added just another wave to Canada's attack. They were not a trio that simply went out there to grind, but instead to make plays and wear opponents down by controlling the puck.
"I think we're relentless," said O'Reilly. "Having that [depth] it's got to be tough for any team to play against."
The Americans, conversely, were felled by their lack of firepower. They managed just two goals in two games before being eliminated and none from reigning Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane. Their roster was built behind size and physicality in an ever-speedier game, a bet that ultimately failed at the World Cup.
Left behind were more skilled types like Phil Kessel, who led all players in scoring at the 2014 Olympics before emerging as one of the Pittsburgh Penguins best players in a Stanley Cup win last spring. Kessel tweaked Team USA on Twitter after the game.
"Just sitting around the house tonight w my dog," Kessel said in a tweet. "Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldn't put my finger on it."
Corey Perry and Patrice Bergeron also scored for Canada, which concludes the preliminary round against Team Europe on Wednesday night. Corey Crawford will start for the Canadians, backed up by the reigning Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby.
Giroux and Jake Muzzin will enter the lineup for the first time.