GAME 2 vs LATVIA
Tonight’s game vs Latvia could give many Canadian fans fits of anxiety anticipating potential performance lethargy, embarrassment and grief for the playoff placements at the end of the preliminary round. Just sayin’.
The Canadian A- performance against the Finns last night would lead many to believe that more of the same (x10) was in order. But this is a funny tournament, and upsets have happened over the years. Preposterous right? Canada has never lost to the Latvians and have in fact outscored them 41 to 4 over the years.
For the second game in a row, the Canadians started a little tentatively without any aggression, pressure or physical contact. Their first powerplay showed a lot of fancy dan crap creating only one shot on goal. The only notable play was when potential first round pick Mathew Schaffer took a nice give and go to the net only to jam his left shoulder off the goalpost. He went straight to the room and was not seen for the rest of the period. The TSN announcers kept professing the Latvians were a hard-working team and that showed. They gave Team Canada a game. 0-0 after one and only a 12-9 shot advantage for the Canucks.
Throughout the second frame, the pesky Latvians just wouldn’t go away ! Jett Luchanko finally gave the Canadians the lead 4 minutes in with a backhand deke on a shorty. That started what many thought may have been a trend setter. Jett is another product of the London hockey factory (Knights or not ). Latvian goaltender Linards Felberg was steady throughout the frame as Canada started to exert their pressure, making 21 saves. You must take your hats off to the team in Purple for their feisty and tenacious style.
Holly Lippshitz ! This game is going to overtime !! The Canadians were outplayed, out hustled and just did not play hard, Canadian hockey. Credit the Latvians, heavily out shot and out chanced. Power plays ruled the third. One by us, two by them.
Holly FUCK !!! Latvia wins 3-2 in a shootout. Their 3rd win in WJH history.
HOPPER NOTES: The Latvian coach’s motto was “Let’s stay in this as long as we can”…Canadian Head Coach Dave Cameron was heavily quoted as saying, “don’t look past this one”…let’s hope that future star d-man Mathew Schaffer is only bruised and not separated…compared to last night, I cannot come up with one outstanding Canadian player. STUNNED
G’night and CHEERS !