After Russia defeated the Swedes by a score of 4-1, the second semifinal game of the day between Canada and Slovakia would determine who meets Russia in the gold medal game. Obviously Canada comes in as the heavy favourites, sporting a 5-0 record in the tournament and already beating the Slovaks 8-0 on Boxing Day to open the tournament. However, Slovakia seems to have lost their nervous chills and has come together as a team, making quick work of Team Czech Republic in the quarterfinals to advance and meet Canada for a second time in the tournament. Slovakian goalie Denis Godla, who was pulled after allowing five goals in their last meeting stated that he and his teammates would need to play "the game of their lives" to get past the Canadians. Most fans and analysts would agree, but in an elimination situation you can sense Slovakia was going to give this game all they have,
In place of Robby Fabbri, Brayden Point will play on Connor McDavid's line along with Curtis Lazar. As Fabbri entered the Air Canada Center on crutches, no Canadian player passed him out of respect. And so, Fabbri led the Canadians into battle against the Slovaks.
1st Period
Less than five minutes in, Canada was sent to a power play, which was clicking at an amazing 46.7% efficiency so far in the tournament. Within a minute of the power play being called, Curtis Lazar dished the puck to Nic Petan at the hash marks on the right face off circle, where Petan roofed a shot past Godla's glove hand. The Petan power play marker put Canada on the board first, one to nothing. Connor McDavid drew the second assist on Petan's goal. Two minutes later, McDavid was at it again, blasting by the Slovakian defense, and making Godla bite on the shot. But the crafty McDavid opted to go around the net for a wrap around, where he couldn't quite finish into an empty net.
Away from the play just a few moments later, Ottawa prospect Nick Paul was given a slashing penalty, for taking the stick away from Montreal prospect Martin Reway's hands. On the power play, Zach Fucale would go on to make a great save on a pass out front to Peter Cehlarik. After the good chance by Cehlarik, Slovakia had trouble putting anymore pressure on the Canadians and even iced the puck on their power play. As play continued, the Slovaks were noticeably clogging in front of the net, as opposed to the back door. TSN's Ray Ferraro reported that the Canadians were talking about this on the bench , and were saying how the back door pass was definitely an available option.
Montreal prospect was able to create a breakaway for himself, but Shea Theodore was able to catch up and prevent Fucale from having to make a save on the shifty Reway. With just over five minutes remaining in the period, Slovak forward Pavol Skalicky blocked a Madison Bowey shot, and took off on a breakaway. This time there was no defense man that caught the Slovak, but net minder Zach Fucale made a great sprawling save to keep Canada's lead. Late in the period, Christian Jaros used his skate to kick out the foot of Nick Ritchie, earning Jaros a tripping penalty and sending Canada to a late period power play. Canada didn't convert on the first 1:30 of their end-of-the-period penalty, and will have about thirty seconds of power play time to start the 2nd period.
Nic Petan called this period Canada's "worst of the tournament" in an intermission interview.
2nd Period
To begin the second period, the Slovaks would kill off the rest of the penalty, making the Canadians 1/2 on the night so far. The early parts of the period were somewhat slow, however Canada controlled most of the play. They did a good job of playing behind the Slovak net and cycling, creating some chances and jam plays. Despite the zone time and shots, Denis Godla stood his ground, keeping the Canadian lead at one. The line of Lawson Crouse, Frederik Gauthier, and Nick Ritchie was exceptional at cycling and pinning the Slovaks in their own zone. They also had their fair of chances, however no dice.
To break the Canadian momentum streak, extra defense man and Flyers draft pick Sam Morin gave a high stick to a Slovak forward Pavol Skalicky, giving the underdogs a chance for some zone time and quality opportunities. Morin did not like the call, and the replays showed there was little, if any contact between Morin's stick and the Slovakian forward. Slovakia had a good chance on the power play, but it was blocked by Joe Hicketts, a free agent signing by the Detroit Red Wings. The Canadians proceeded to kill off the rest of the penalty. Almost immediately after the Canadians killed a penalty, they got a power play of their own. Slovak Sam Petras took down a Canadian play behind the play, but the ref caught the violation. The Slovaks killed the penalty, with no dangerous chances generated by the Canadians. However, seconds after the penalty expired Oilers prospect Darnell Nurse beat Godla but not the Slovakian goal posts.
Just as the period was winding down, Canada broke out on a 4 on 2, and the two Slovaks drifted over to 3 of the 4 Canadians, and the open Canadian was none other than Nic Petan, who received the puck from Connor McDavid and made no mistake sniping it just under the bar of Godla's net. Canada got a two goal lead with about two minutes left in the second period. Curtis Lazar got another assist on Petan's goal, giving the entire line two points on the night. With one minute left, McDavid crafted himself another great wrap around chance, but could not slide the puck into an open net once again. The loose puck drifted to Curtis Lazar, who also missed the empty cage. And with 30 seconds left in the period, Anthony Duclair and Shea Theodore were sent on a 2 on 1, and Duclair made a pretty pass to Theodore who was sprung on a breakaway. Theodore and the Canadians beat Godla, for their second goal in 86 seconds to put them up 3-0. Just as everyone thought the period was over, Madison Bowey ran into Sam Reinhart and the Slovaks were sent on a 2 on 1, but as Josh Morrissey tried to block the passing lane, Matej Paulovic found a hole through Morrissey to hook up David Soltes with Slovakia's first goal of the game with 3 seconds left in the period.
What an exciting finish to an otherwise "slow" period.
3rd Period
In the opening minutes of the period, Canada continued cycling and creating chances. It is nice to see the great chemistry between Nic Petan and Connor McDavid in the pressure filled elimination games. Godla held his ground, until Anthony Duclair was fed a pass by Sam Reinhart, and he chipped it around two Slovakian defense men and continued chasing the puck down, eventually banking in the puck off Godla's pad, making the game 4-1 Canada. Very shortly after the Canadian goal, Brayden Point would go to the box for hooking, giving the Slovaks a power play. 53 seconds into the Slovakian power play, Pavol Skalicky was called on a similar hooking call. There would be a 4 on 4 session for one minute and seven seconds. Until David Soltes took a slashing penalty, because he snapped Josh Morrissey's stick after getting rocked on a big hit by the Jets prospects. After Canada's 4 on 3 expired and became a 5 on 3, it became the Denis Godla show. He made three huge saves on the Canadians during the 5 on 3, keeping the score at 4-1.
As Max Domi rushed up the ice, he got laid out by Christian Jaros on a clean hit, however the refs called it as a trip sending Canada to another power play. Once again, Denis Godla was standing his ground. However, he couldn't stand the constant pressure and Nic Petan finally beat the Slovak goalie on the power play, on a beautiful pass from Connor McDavid. Petan's father even threw a hat on the ice to congratulate his son on his incredible hat trick. At the time of Petan's goal, the shots in the period were 20-2, showing Canada's dominance and Godla's great performance in the period.
With six and a half minutes remaining, the Slovaks thought they had scored their second goal of the game but the referee immediately waived off the goal due to a distinct kicking motion. The play was reviewed , and the call on the ice stood. Seconds later, McDavid spotted Petan alone out front, and as Petan went to his backhand Godla struck out his pad to make an amazing save on Petan. The rest of the period seemed like a neutral zone battle, with few hits. Slovakia admitted defeat and Canada took it easy to prevent any last minute injuries.
Final Score: 5-1 CANADA.
Final Thoughts:
- Pavol Skalicky was all over the ice tonight, drawing penalties and playing a solid game. He was awarded Player of The Game for Slovakia, which I don't understand as Godla played an insane game himself and in my mind deserved the award. Regardless, Godla got a huge ovation from the Canadian crowd.
- Nic Petan and McDavid have some great chemistry, a good new thing for Groulx to discover heading into tomorrow's game.
- Duclair/Domi/Reinhart line was solid in both ends as always.
- Habs prospect Martin Reway had a fairly quiet game, but was in the offensive zone when Slovakia got chances. Offensively one of Slovakia's best forwards, although there weren't many others.
- Ritchie, Crouse and Gauthier had a great start to the game, but I didn't notice them after the second period.
- Wow, Nic Petan is good
Tomorrow, Slovakia will face Sweden in the Bronze Medal Game at 4pm EST.
Canada will face rival Russia in the Gold Medal Game at 8pm EST.
EDIT: I found out you are not allowed to win the Player ff the Game Award more than once in an IIHF tournament, so that is why Godla did not get Player of the Game.
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