CANADA SUFFERS ANOTHER SETBACK IN OLYMPIC MEN’S HOCKEY

One of the last times that Canada and Finland faced off in a major international hockey event was almost a year and a half ago, in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey final. Canada edged Finland 3-2 to maintain its reputation as the top hockey country in the World. On Saturday, Canada’s reputation was on the line once again, after a disappointing effort and loss to Switzerland on Friday.

Canada had to kill off two straight penalties, but goaltender Roberto Luongo showed he was up to the task, with two great point blank saves that kept the game scoreless. Luongo was helpless however at 11:14, when Teemu Selanne registered his sixth goal of the season, on a centering pass from Saku Koivu.

Finland took a 2-0 lead, after a crazy bounce off the boards, that Niko Kapanen took advantage of. Canada was down two goals after the first period, and was outshot 14-5.

Despite numerous chances and much of the second period in the Finnish zone, Antero Nittymaki held strong, keeping Canada at bay. Canada outshot Finland 12-11 in the middle frame, but continued to trail 2-0 going into the third.

Canada continued to get pressure in the third period, but couldn’t get past Finland’s last line of defence, Nittymaki. Finland hangs on for a 2-0 win, giving Canada a second straight loss by that score.

Finland is now guaranteed first place in Group A, while Canada must now beat the Czech Republic on Tuesday to guarantee third place in its group. If Canada defeats the Czech Republic, and Italy can surprise Switzerland, Canada can still finish 2nd in the Group.

The round robin comes to an end on Tuesday, February 21st. Canada will face the Czech Republic at 4:30 pm (local)/ 10:30 am (ET), back at the Palasport Arena.

Ryan Smyth: "We can throw all the excuses out there but we didn't get off to the start that we wanted to.  Four games in five nights, whatever.  You've got to put all that aside. We're here to represent our country and we're going to do it with pride.  We've got to start playing 60 minutes and then we know that we're going to be a tough team to play against."
 
Jarome Iginla: "We know we have to get better in a lot of ways.  It's tough. On the one hand, you look around our locker room and we have the talent and the ability to score goals.  But right now, in this game, we were probably tentative and pressing a bit.  We've got to relax and work hard, let the talent take care of it with hard work"
 
Roberto Luongo: "We made some great plays but the goalie made some great saves against us.  Every time a team faces us, for them, it's their biggest game of the tournament.  It's important not to panic for us."
 
Kris Draper: "Everyone has to hold themselves accountable to be ready to go against the Czech Republic.  We have to come out and have our best period of the tournament.  That's something that we've talked about.  We've got a day to prepare.  And that's our goal - to come out and try to dominate a first period, get some momentum, get some goals and turn this thing around."  
 
Pat Quinn: "We're still really not playing much like a team.  Part of that was the successful positioning of the Finnish team.But what was more important, I think, was our approach individually to compete where the puck was.  We lost a number of battles for the puck."