Kings, Ducks and Sharks Help Team Canada Win 6-0
- Updated: September 18, 2016
Normally one would be insanely screaming through the streets about the end of the world at the top of their lungs if they had heard that the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks combined and worked together to win a hockey game, (and who could blame them?). Since it isn’t the end of the world, it’s safe for me to assume then that players from the three California Pacific Division rival teams were then combined for national pride at a “best on best” tournament, this year being the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
I have been watching these tournaments religiously since the 1987 Canada Cup, but it is still jarring to me to see Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brent Burns all on the same team, battling for the same cause and not trying to punch each other in face, (and it saddens me that Jeff Carter wasn’t able to join in on the fun). Four of them, being the reigning Norris Trophy winner (damn, I love saying that) and 2 time Stanley Cup Champion (damn, I love saying that even more) Doughty, the 2007 Stanly Cup Champion Getzlaf and 2016 Stanley Cup finalist’s Thornton and Burns all contributed heavily, (as did Captain Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and (back to 100%) goalie Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens), as Team Canada defeated the Czech Republic 6-0 to start off their World Cup campaign.
The contest wasn’t even close. Canada out skated, out hit, out shot, out everything over the Czechs, while displaying some fine chemistry. stick to stick passing, solid defense and hustle. Canada still seems to be having trouble staying out of the penalty box, but did successfully kill every penalty. They will need to play with more discipline (which is easier said then done) as the American’s will provide a more powerful offensive threat on the power-play then the Czech’s were able to. Well at least in theory.
LA’s Drew Doughty led all skaters with 21:47 total ice time, had an assist, was a plus 2 and seemed to be on the ice for at least 4 of Canada’s 6 goals. He did cough up the puck once that almost resulted in a goal by the Czechs, but the puck hit the crossbar. “Dewy” didn’t look too worried about it though. He did end up as the game’s 3rd star after all, (LA Kings’ hockey baby!).
San Jose’s Brent Burns fired a rocket from the blue line that was tipped in the net by Boston Bruin Brad Marchand and Thornton scored a one timer off of a fancy Crosby pass, (Crosby by the way, had 3 points in the game, which is the exact total amount he had during the whole 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic tournament. Now that’s crazy). Anaheim’s Captain Ryan Getzlaf also contributed with an assist and was strong in the face-off circle. Vlasic was solid in defense, Couture played well but failed to score while former Hart Trophy winner Perry saw limited ice time. Jake Muzzin was announced as a healthy scratch before the game.
Canada next plays the United States on Tuesday night at 5 pm pacific time/8 pm eastern, where the Americans are in desperate need of a win. Canada looked solid in this game, while the Americans failed to impress in their first game against Team Europe, but when it comes to these two proud hockey nations facing each other, all bets are off as it is going to be an all out war. And I will be there LIVVVEEEE for CaliSports News to bring you all the action and excitement, so STAY TUNED!!!
*Special thanks to Johnny Bairos, Dee Bairos, Theresa Walsh Duarte and Mario Hicks for their help with this article.
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time!
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One Comment
About Jeff Duarte
Faye Howell Walsh
September 18, 2016 at 7:13 pm
Wow, 6-0 keep it up Canada. Well Canada has good hockey players for World Cup. You did a good article again Jeff, can’t wait to see the next one.