KIDWCKED
01-02-2011, 10:49 PM
c/p from tsn by the tsnstaff.
Team Canada's quest for gold started in earnest today with a 4-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, NY. The Swiss scored on their first shot, but goals by Ryan Johansen, Casey Cizikas, Louis Leblanc and Zack Kassian sent Canada to the semi-finals where they will face the United States (live on TSN, TSN.ca and TSN Mobile Apps Monday at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt).
Canada was looking to rebound from a heartbreaking shootout loss to Sweden on Friday, but they did not get off to a good start. Mark Visentin, who got the start in the Canadian net after Olivier Roy struggled in Friday's loss, let in a soft goal just 1:09 into the game when Inti Pestoni scored on a wrap-around that appeared to deflect off the skate of defenceman Ryan Ellis.
Benjamin Conz, who has a history of hot games in this tournament, started for the Swiss. He looked good early, making a couple of good saves to keep Canada off the scoresheet during a 5-on-3 powerplay.
Conz made another good save on a rush by Dylan Olsen late in the opening period, but the Swiss were called for a slashing penalty on the play. Canada then broke the spell on the resulting powerplay, with Ryan Johansen smacking home the tying goal through a crowd in front of Conz.
The game stayed tied until Casey Cizikas scored for Canada on a two-on-one break late in the second period. Cizikas held the puck, opted to shoot, and picked the top corner on Conz to put Canada in front for the first time.
Leblanc gave Canada some breathing room early in the third period, snapping a one-timer past Conz after some excellent forechecking forced a Swiss turnover.
Canadian Winger Zack Kassian scored an empty-netter in his return to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for a match penalty he picked up against the Czech Republic in the round-robin.
Canada is 19-0-0 all-time against Switzerland, including two wins at last year's tournament.
Team Canada's quest for gold started in earnest today with a 4-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, NY. The Swiss scored on their first shot, but goals by Ryan Johansen, Casey Cizikas, Louis Leblanc and Zack Kassian sent Canada to the semi-finals where they will face the United States (live on TSN, TSN.ca and TSN Mobile Apps Monday at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt).
Canada was looking to rebound from a heartbreaking shootout loss to Sweden on Friday, but they did not get off to a good start. Mark Visentin, who got the start in the Canadian net after Olivier Roy struggled in Friday's loss, let in a soft goal just 1:09 into the game when Inti Pestoni scored on a wrap-around that appeared to deflect off the skate of defenceman Ryan Ellis.
Benjamin Conz, who has a history of hot games in this tournament, started for the Swiss. He looked good early, making a couple of good saves to keep Canada off the scoresheet during a 5-on-3 powerplay.
Conz made another good save on a rush by Dylan Olsen late in the opening period, but the Swiss were called for a slashing penalty on the play. Canada then broke the spell on the resulting powerplay, with Ryan Johansen smacking home the tying goal through a crowd in front of Conz.
The game stayed tied until Casey Cizikas scored for Canada on a two-on-one break late in the second period. Cizikas held the puck, opted to shoot, and picked the top corner on Conz to put Canada in front for the first time.
Leblanc gave Canada some breathing room early in the third period, snapping a one-timer past Conz after some excellent forechecking forced a Swiss turnover.
Canadian Winger Zack Kassian scored an empty-netter in his return to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for a match penalty he picked up against the Czech Republic in the round-robin.
Canada is 19-0-0 all-time against Switzerland, including two wins at last year's tournament.