Comments / New

World Cup of Hockey Recap: Rivalry Reignited, U.S. Tops Canada 4-2 In Preliminary Play

Posted on by Derek Neumeier

It doesn’t matter where the game is or what the stakes are, things always get a little extra intense when national hockey teams from the United States and Canada step onto the ice against one another.

The first pre-tournament game for both countries was a physical, spirited affair, but it was the U.S. that ultimately skated away with a victory, topping their closest hockey rivals by a score of 4-2. Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Joe Pavelski and Derek Stepan all scored goals in the win, while Patrice Bergeron and Drew Doughty picked up the tallies for Canada in the losing effort.

It was starting American netminder Jonathan Quick, however, that was the biggest factor in the victory, stopping 32 of 33 shots through 40 minutes to keep his team in the game. Canada had the puck for most of the first two periods, and would ultimately end up out-shooting the U.S. by a wide 43-25 margin, but Quick was the reason why his team even had a 3-1 lead to protect heading into the third. Ben Bishop took over the net in the final frame, holding down the fort with nine saves.

There’s certainly no love lost between these two teams, as many of these players have faced each other in previous international tournaments. There was plenty of scrumming and trash-talking after whistles to keep things interesting.

The Columbus crowd was energized and loud for the game, and one should expect the same sort of atmosphere as both squads meet again tonight, except in front of a Canadian home crowd in Ottawa.

Observations:

  • The only Dallas Star in the game was Tyler Seguin, and we should thank the Hockey Gods that there wasn’t much here to observe by the time the game was finished. Seguin took a rough, feet-first spill into the boards early in the second period and temporarily went to the Canadian locker room to get looked at by team staff. Luckily, he seemed to be OK, taking a few more shifts later in the night. Canadian coach Mike Babcock kept him on the bench for most of the third period, and given Seguin’s recent injury history, it made sense to play it safe./

  • Carey Price started in goal for Canada, his first game action in nearly 10 months, and looked every bit as rusty as one would expect. He gave up a brutal rebound on Pavelski’s goal in the second period, which turned out to be the game-winner. Babcock might have some tough calls to make in net once the tournament actually gets underway.
  • There’s been a lot of talk about the U.S. bringing a “gritty” team to this tournament, and they certainly followed through on that ideology on Friday night. They were easily the more physical of the two teams, but crossed the line on multiple occasions with questionable hits by T.J. Oshie, Ryan Kesler and Pavelski. They got away with it this game (Canada went 0-for-3 on the power play), but that kind of recklessness could come back to bite them if they’re not careful.
  • Defenseman Ryan McDonagh saved the day for the U.S. in the third period, using the patented “Kris Russell Defense” to preserve a one-goal lead:/

  • Both teams looked fairly rusty overall, but nevertheless, the potential for the World Cup of Hockey was on full display. With so many of the world’s best hockey players taking part this tournament could reach epic proportions once it hits its full stride./

Talking Points