by Nicholas Nikolov

Created on: February 27, 2010

When it seemed that Team Canada would be driving in cruise control on route a shutout victory over Slovakia – it was a lot more of a rocky road that the Slovaks proved to be as they almost had a near-upset against the men in red and white jerseys. As head coach Mike Babcock’s Canadians just managed to edge out a 3-2 win.

Last night’s semi-final match-up against the Slovakian side had a very self-evident less-exciting atmosphere throughout the entire game.  In comparison to the Russia-Canada game that was a punch-for-punch action-packed tone through the full 60 minutes – it was far different against the Slovaks. It felt more like two chessmasters trying to outwit one another.

Much like in the game against Russia, the Canadians came out in the same non-stop intense forechecking fashion thereby establishing most and more of the scoring chances in the first period.

A little over the halfway mark of the first period, Canada opens the scoring by a goal from Marleau who redirected the high-rising point shot from Shea Weber.

In the remaining minutes of the period, the Ducks line has been one of the key factors for Canada’s recent success – dominating the Slovaks with tremendous board-battles – resulting in forward Brenden Morrow’s two pointblank chances that went over the crossbar and Chris Pronger’s chip shot from the point to make it a 2-0 lead.

Early in the second period Slovakia began with a little more jump than Canada; the best power-play in the tournament went to work, but was unsuccessful. After another non-threatening chance it was, for the most part, all Canada applying the pressure afterwards.

Yet again, the Ducks line is instrumental against the fourth line of the Slovaks that was a definite mismatch.  Forward Corey Perry collects the shot-pass from Pronger on the half-boards and stalls just enough to let the play develop.  Morrow glides in the sightline of goaltender Jaroslav Halak, 25, gives up a inviting rebound for Getzlaf – accepts the invitation – cushions Canada’s lead to 3-0.

The Third period however was very unsettling for the Canadians and the capacity crowd of 18,000 or so in Canada Hockey Place as Slovakia makes the dullness vanish towards the end of the third period.

With 8:25 left on the clock, the Slovaks get back in the game by a lucky goal from defenceman Lubimir Visnovsky, 34, swerves around a few of Canada’s defencemen and banks it in off Luongo.

Just a few seconds less than the last five minutes remaining in the game, forward Michal Handzus, 32, tap-in goal pulls Slovakia within one goal of Canada.

Slovakia was building in self-confidence to hope for a kind of similar opportunity for a comeback win as they done so against the defending champions, Sweden, in the quarter-finals. While Canada, hoping for the match to be finished sooner, the Slovaks kept Canada on their heels for duration of the remaining minute or so. As Luongo came up with two tremendous game-saving stops.  The first was a kick save from the point the gifted the 36-year-old forward Pavol Demitra with a gaping Canadian goal was foiled by his fellow Vancouver Canuck goaltending teammate.

The 18,000 capacity crowd cheered vigorously "We want the U.S.," "we want the U.S.," "we want the U.S." Well Canada, you got them for what should be a very intense rematch between the two North American neighbours.

Learn more about this author, Nicholas Nikolov.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.