This game is not an easy buy into the gold medal game as the Slovak team includes snipers such as Marian Hossa and Pavol Demitra, and who have the best PK and PP in the tournament. Of course, Team Canada has some depth of their own. With the success of the Shark Line (Thorton, Marleau, Heatley) and the chemistry between Crosby and Iginla, Team Canada is sure to put on a good show.
First Period
-Marleau has had some early opportunities to score, tipping the puck just over the net
13:30: Marleau redirects the puck into the Slovak net on a feed from Weber. The goal is under review, as Marleau's stick may have been above the crossbar (highsticking).
....and it's a goal!!
1-0 Canada
15:17: Morrow fires it past Halak to give Canada a two-goal lead
2-0 Canada
So far Canada is outshooting Slovakia 10-4...but as we've seen in previous games, shots on goal can mean nothing.
End of 1st: 2-0 Canada
2nd period
-Canada starts the period pretty loose. Within the first few minutes they have lost the puck in the neutral zone and have allowed the SLovaks to enter the Canadian zone, causing Luongo to make some key saves.
1:29: Doughty gets a penalty for hooking, putting Canada on the PK against the No.1 power play team in the tournament.
13:48: Zdeno Chara (Slovakia) is sent to the Sin Bin for roughing. Canada is now on the PP.
11:48: Canada fails to score on the PP (o/1), but also manages to keep Slovakia off the board.
11:20: Crosby is denied on a scoring attempt by Halak
10:00: We're halfway through the 2nd period and half way through the game. So far both teams have been held scoreless in the 2nd period.
8:24: 3 on 1 for Slovakia--Canada manages to poke check it away, sending the puck down the other way. That could have turned out bad.
7:24: Heatley fires it towards the net. Halak just gets down in time to make the save. (I imagine that by this point Heatley is getting pretty frustrated as Halak has shut him down on three good scoring chances tonight).
-Canada is moving the puck really well in 2nd period and getting a lot of scoring opportunities
6:36: Luongo makes a save against Slovakia...the crowd cries, "Louuuu!!"
5:12: Crosby drop passes the puck to Iginla, who fires it towards the net. Halak makes the save. This man is standing on his head trying to keep Slovakia in the game, which is more than can be said for his team.
3:30: Satan shoots it to the net, but Luongo takes it away. "Louuu!!"
3:26: Zednick gets called for holding. Canada is on their 2nd powerplay of the game. Let's hope we can capitalize on it.
3:06: Getzlaf banks it in on rebound from Perry! Goal!!!
3-0 Canada
-The previous goal is only the 2nd powerplay goal allowed by the Slovaks in the Olympics
1:53: Lungo makes a sprawling save as the puck dances around the crease, bouncing off the skates of the Canadian players.
16.0: "LET'S GO CANADA!!" is what the crowd is chanting at Canada Hockey Place
End of 2nd: 3-0 Canada
3rd period
17:05: Slovaks have an odd-man rush into the Canadian zone, but it's called as offside
-Slovaks are putting more pressure on the Canadians in the Canadian zone; something they haven't done in the first two periods
13:59: Crowd chants, "WE WANT USA! WE WANT USA!!"
13:00: Slovakia is doing a good job of cylcing the puck in the Canadian zone
12:45: Halak comes far out of his net to poke the puck away from Seabrook, who was skating hard towards the net
10:57: Puck is chipped over the glass. One lucky fan gets to take home a souvenir from the Olympics. Nice!
10:23: The puck sails into the Maple Leaf crest, as Luongo makes the save against Hanzon
-The crowd is full of Canadian athletes such as Gretzky, Clara Hughes
8:26: Delayed penalty against Canada results in a goal for Slovakia
3-1 Canada
-Canada needs to stay on their A-game. The Slovaks are known to score in clusters, having scored just 37 seconds apart against the Swedes.
7:22: Halak makes a save against Sidney Crosby. This man wants to score. He has been kept pointless for 5 periods.
6:22: Boyles fires the puck to the net. Iginla tries to hammer in the rebound but is robbed.
-Shots 27-13 in favor of Canada
5:06: The battle for the puck around the Canadian net is so intense that the net actually gets pushed over top Luongo
3:31: Zednick wants the puck, and he gets it. He banks it into the net, putting Slovakia within a one goal game against Canada. What did I say?!?!
3-2 Canada
2:58: Luongo covers up the puck and denies Hanzan on the backhand. "Louuu!!!!"
2:58: Slovakia wins the face-off in the Canadian zone
2:44: Luongo gets a quick whistle, as Slovakia puts the pressure on Team Canada
2:20: Neidermayer slides into the Canadian net, knocking it off. Officials say that Demetra pushed him in...the faceoff is outside the Canadian zone.
2:06: Staal steers the puck down the ice--finally clearing it from our zone
1:10: Slovaks fire it down into the Canadian zone, Halak stays in net.
.50: Empty net for Slovakia. They add the extra attacker in the final seconds.
.07: Slovakia shot hits the post!
.07: Slovakia shot hits the post!
End of game: 3-2 Canada
Whew, that was an intense game. The wishes of Canadians and Americans has come true...the countries will face each other in the gold medal game on Sunday (3ET). One thing is certain, Canada has to step up their game in Sunday's matchup. (all photos courtesy of Hockey Canada)
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