We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Canada avoids scare by German squad to remain undefeated

Written by: Jesse Michael on 29th December 2008

PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT

John Tavares tries to score with this shot through his legs. | read this item

OTTAWA – Looking to go 3-0 and guarantee themselves a spot in at least the Quarterfinals, Canada survived a scare from a usually weak German opponent, winning 5-1 on Monday night at ScotiaBank Place in front of another sold out crowd.

The Canadian goals came from four different players, in what was a tightly checked and physical game from both teams. The Germans started their 17-year-old backup goaltender Phillipp Grubauer, and it seemed as though the Canadian players took the Germans a bit lightly from the outset, but Captain Thomas Hickey disagreed.

“The thing we talked about tonight was improving our game to get it where we want it to be and continue to progress here, and the Germans were just another stepping stone,” said Hickey. “We knew they would come out hard, they worked really hard and it was a good test for us.”

Zach Boychuk opened the scoring for Canada with his first of two on the night, at 7:21 of the first period on the powerplay. After a solid play by Tyler Ennis to drive the net, Boychuk roofed the rebound for his second of the tournament.

“We knew they would come out hard, they worked really hard and it was a good test for us.”

The action remained pretty tame until the 5:57 mark of the second period, with Jamie Benn getting his fourth of the tournament after a great pass from John Tavares to Benn standing alone in the slot to put the Canadians up 2-0.

The Germans fought back to bring the game to 2-1, but Canada was able to stave off a major upset when Evander Kane, Tavares, and Boychuk scored in the third period to seal the deal for the Canadians.

The “energy line” of Stefan Della Rovere, Patrice Cormier, and Kane played another huge role, hitting and chirping the Germans at any chance they could, trying to keep the Germans from gaining any momentum in the physicality department.

“That line really had the energy for us tonight,” said head coach Pat Quinn. “They threw some big checks and had a lot of the players on the German team looking around, because they knew these kids would come and take the body on them.”

Chet Pickard started his second straight game for Canada, stopping 12 of 13 shots he faced.

The Canadians next game is Wednesday evening against the United States with a birth in the semi-finals on the line. Game time is 7 pm at ScotiaBank Place.

Notes… Angelo Esposito was hit from behind late in the third period by German defenceman Denis Reul. Esposito remained on the ice for a few moments, but got up and returned for his final shift of the game…it was announced at the post-game press conference that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend tomorrow’s practice.

Topics: Angelo Esposito, Chet Pickard, Della Rovere, Evander Kane, Jamie Benn, John Tavares, Pat Quinn, Patrice Cormier, Stephen Harper, Team Canada, Team Germany, Thomas Hickey, Tyler Ennis, Zach Boychuk