Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Canada fights to the Finnish
By BRUCE GARRIOCH and ERIC FRANCIS -- Team Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Before Team Canada and the Czech Republic battled last night, it was suggested this was a game neither team wanted to win.
And while that's exactly the way it worked out, it wasn't for a lack of trying in a 3-3 tie at the E Center. However, not only did Canada get its confidence back going into the medal round of the men's hockey tournament but it has a quarter-final date with Finland.
If anybody had asked the Canadian team officials who they'd rather have as a dance partner, they probably would have picked the Finns instead of the Russians, whom the Czechs will now face tomorrow in the quarter-finals.
"I don't think anything works out well," Team Canada defenceman Rob Blake said.
"We've got to beat whoever we play against and the Finns have been playing well.
"It doesn't matter who we play because we're going to have to beat that team anyway."
If the Canadians want to avenge their loss to the Finns at the 1998 Olympic Games in the bronze-medal matchup in Nagano, then the Canadians are going to have to come away with a victory in the quarter-final.
Should the Canadians win the 8:15 p.m. game tomorrow against Finland at the E Center, then they'll likely face the Swedes in the next round. The Swedes are facing a gimme against Belarus, which should allows Mats Sundin to practise skating.
On the heels of a 3-1 win over Russia yesterday, Finland enters tomorrow's game with confidence and momentum.
"I think that 6-0 loss was really embarrassing for us," said team leader Teemu Selanne about his team's tournament-opening loss to the Americans.
"I think confidence is a key as a team and as individuals. Nobody is really counting on us and it's a situation where we have no pressure. We had exactly the same situation in Nagano."
Well aware of how talented the Canadian team's roster is, Sami Salo said round-robin play is irrelevant when looking ahead to tomorrow's game.
"I don't think we can look at their play as being good or bad," he said.
"The main thing is we have to play well. In fact, we'll need our best play if we're going to win."
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
