TORONTO — Canada exploded for three third-period goals to brush off the Russians in the first World Cup of Hockey semifinal.
Here are five things we learned from the 5-3 victory:
1. Sergei Bobrovsky was the only reason it was close
The Russian goaltender was on top of his game for two dominant periods.
Bobrovsky stopped 16-of-17 shots in the first and then held the Canadians at bay for most of the second, turning down 15-of-16 shots. That kept Russia close enough to not only tie the game at 1-1 on a goal from Nikita Kucherov, but take the lead 2-1 with Evgeny Kuznetsov beating Carey Price with less than four minutes to go in the middle frame.
Head coach Mike Babcock said Bobrovsky’s play was evidence of the effect goaltenders can have in a short tournament, especially so in a single elimination setting.
“They can hold the fort for a long period of time,” Babcock said. “Bob was unreal.”
Trailing only once previously, and for all of 89 seconds, Canada scratched back to even just over a minute later on the first of two goals from Brad Marchand.
2. Canada was never rattled
Babcock told his team to keep pushing with the score tied 2-2 after 40 minutes. He stressed that more of the same against Bobrovsky would eventually lead to positive results.
There was, evidently, little doubt among players, many of whom have represented Canada at the past two Olympics.
“With this team I’m very, very rarely nervous,” said defenceman Drew Doughty, among those to play both at the 2010 Games in Vancouver and 2014 Games in Sochi. “Every single time I put on this jersey I have confidence that we’re going to win the game.”
Canada broke through for good 76 seconds into the third period on Marchand’s second goal of the game.
3. Crosby is playing at a different level
Sidney Crosby set up two goals and scored one himself in just under 17 minutes. He also registered four shots and won 12-of-17 faceoffs, displaying yet again his dominance on a big stage.
The Canadian captain swiped Dmitry Kulikov before deking out Bobrovsky on the first goal. He then made a terrific cross-ice pass to Marchand on the second marker, later dropping to his fellow Nova Scotia native on the 3-2 go-ahead goal in the third.
Crosby now leads the World Cup with seven points in four games, doing so just three months after leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup.
“I think definitely playing later in the year and playing in those type of games helped to transition to these type of games,” Crosby said.
Babcock suggested some evolution in Crosby over the years.
“I just think he knows how good he is and he’s more patient with what he’s doing,” Babcock said. “When things don’t go well he doesn’t get frustrated. When people cross-check him he doesn’t get riled up. He knows he’s going to have success over time.”
4. Alex Ovechkin was kept in check
The Russian captain not only didn’t score in almost 21 minutes, he made barely a dent on the game — managing only one shot on one attempt, while also throwing five hits.
Mostly playing alongside Vladimir Tarasenko and Kuznetsov, Ovechkin was blanketed by the checking trio of Jonathan Toews, Logan Couture and Corey Perry as well as the primary defence duo of Shea Weber and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
“I thought it was a good stable pair and a good group,” Babcock said.
Other primary Russian weapons were also limited. Vladimir Tarasenko registered four shots, but didn’t hit the scoresheet and Evgeni Malkin had one shot and one assist.
Kucherov, who finished with a goal and an assist, posed the most danger. He finished with eight shots in almost 16 minutes.
5. Marchand keeps shining
Marchand continues to roll after a career-high 37 goals and 60 points for the Boston Bruins last season.
The 28-year-old scored twice against the Russians, tying the score and then putting Canada ahead. He’s been a nice fit with Crosby and Patrice Bergeron, second in World Cup scoring with five points in four games. His knack for hounding the puck and creating turnovers has proven particularly helpful, Crosby said.
“I think just the way he competes every shift you know that he’s able to generate a lot, sometimes from nothing,” Crosby said.
“It’s been a whirlwind here,” Marchand added. “Being part of a group like this at this level’s been special.”
Jonas Siegel, The Canadian Press
