Strong start paces US to semifinal win over Canada
In a match-up of North American rivals, the US scored three times in the first 15 minutes, then relied on the steady goaltending of Troy Redmann to capture the semifinal game, 4-2. At the other end, Brett Leggat was sharp in the Canadian goal as well, making several big saves to keep his team within striking distance.
| Game no. 40 • aSF • Fri 24/6/2011 • 20:00 • Schedule and results | ||
|---|---|---|
Canada |
2:4 |  USA |
| (0:2, 1:1, 1:1, 0:0) | ||
| Leggat - French, Eng, Henderson, Hutchinson, Carter - Hammond, Ross, Foote, Nowakowski, Woods, Grassi. | Redmann - Osterkamp, Miner, Yoder, Beilsten, Doran - Chavira, Cadiz, Rodriguez, Gawrys, Walser, Kraemer, Sigmund. | |
| Goals and assists: 18. Eng (Foote, Nowakowski), 33. Hammond - 2. Gawrys (Yoder, Rodriquez), 11. Sigmund (Walser), 15. Chavira (Osterkamp), 31. Chavira (Gawrys, Osterkamp) | ||
| Shots: 28:33
(4:9, 8:9, 4:10, 12:5).
Penalties: 5:3.
PP goals: 0:1.
SH goals: 1:0. Refferees: Kralj (SLO), Druga (SVK). Audience: 500. |
||
 Live coverage on onlajny.cz | ||
Game report
The Americans came into their semifinal encounter as favourites, but they knew that they would face a maximum effort from their traditional rivals. Therefore, it was important to get off to a quick start. When the Canadians got themselves into some early penalty trouble, that`s exactly what they did.
It took only two minutes for them to get the game`s first goal, as Charles Yoder faked a shot, then patiently outwaited a Canadian defender who dove to block it, and fed a pass to Shawn Gawrys, who had an easy tap-in at the side of the net.
A few minutes later, the Americans were dangerous on their second power-play, and unlucky not to increase their lead. A block by defenceman Kyle Henderson, a nice save by Brett Leggat, and a couple of goalposts kept the US from converting. However, not long after returning to full strength, a terrible giveaway in the Canadian zone was graciously accepted by Tyler Walser. He fed Nathan Sigmund, who was alone in front, to make the score 2-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Things didn`t get any easier for Canada early in the second, as they began the quarter having to kill off another penalty. Once again, they didn`t score, but continued to carry the momentum. Their best shot rang off the crossbar and went out of play. Then, when Itan Chavira beat Leggat between the legs in the 15th minute to make it 3-0, it looked as if the game might turn into a route.
By this point in the game, nothing had gone right for the Canadians, and they desperately needed something to ignite their spirits. Four minutes after Chavira`s goal, they got it. A pretty three-way passing play that went from Dylan Nowakowski to Joshua Foote was finished off by Jared Eng, whose shot went off the post and in past a helpless Troy Redmann. At that point, the game received a sudden injection of adrenaline, and the fans in attendance were treated with some great end-to-end action that forced both goaltenders, Leggat and Redmann, to be sharp.
About a minute after the goal, the USA`s Rafael Rodriguez led a dangerous rush into the Canadian end, but his shot was turned away by Leggat, and the Canadians headed back up the floor. Thomas Wood was sent in on a breakaway, with the chance to cut the deficit to one, but was denied by Redmann, and the play still continued. The US went back the other way two-on-one, but Leggat came up big again.
Then Canada went to the power-play, and one could feel that they seemed to be now playing with a lot more confidence than earlier. On the power-play, Adam Ross alone got three great chances. Situated at the point, he was set up for a one-timer but his shot sailed away from him and over the glass. Then on the next sequence of play he hit the post twice less than 20 seconds apart. Right before halftime, Canada attacked furiously, but couldn`t get the puck past Troy Redmann, who was suddenly very busy. First he denied Thomas Woods, who was set up perfectly in front of the net, then he was a fortress in the dying seconds when there was a wild goalmouth scramble in front of him.
”I think it was my best game in the tournament that I`ve played so far,” said Redmann, who was rightfully named the USA`s game MVP. “Each game with Canada as our North American rival is special. With their players know, it`s always an interesting game.”
Redmann`s heroics would continue in the second half, as would Leggat`s.
After putting on some pressure, the US regained its three-goal lead on the power-play in the 31st minute when Shawn Gawry sent a perfect pass to Itan Chavira at the side of the net. The Americans tried to go for the kill less than a moment later, but Brett Leggat made perhaps his best save of the night, committing grand larceny with his glove hand, reaching up into the air to catch a labelled shot when it appeared he was down and out. The goal would have been a back-breakers, for sure, and Canada still had life. They then had to kill another penalty, but David Hammond scored an enormous short-handed goal when he fired a perfect wrist shot into the top corner from the top of the slot. With 15 minutes to play, the Canadians now trailed by two.
Canada put on pressure the rest of the way, but Redmann shut the door closed. He reached out to barely deflect a shot away with his catching glove that was labelled for the far side, then stood tall again on a two-on-one against. They just couldn`t beat him, and time ran out.
With the loss, Canada takes on Sweden for the bronze medal Sunday. "We were hoping to come in here and get a big win for the team and for the country, so we are not satisfied," said Adam Ross afterward. "We came out a bit slow and played against a world-class team. We managed to come back to the game, but US was just more effective in finishing. We haven´t won a medal in top division for four years, that´s a motivation for tomorrow."
The win puts the Americans into Sunday`s championship game against the host Czechs. Said Redmann: “Tomorrow`s game we`ve been looking forward to ever since training camp. We wanted to play against the Czechs in the final. And we`re ready for it. We`ve gotta stay with our game, be focused, make their goalie work and watch out especially for Rachùnek and Tenkrat. Both are excellent players. I`m not sure if I`m in goal, we`ll see.”
Author: Derek OBrien
Game reactions
Jason Stephens (coach of Canada):
At the moment I am disappointed, but on the other hand, satisfied with the way we generally played and fought. We have shown that we can play at this level and win games. We hit four or five posts, plus three on one shift. Before the game we made some changes and we were quite happy with them.
Robert Chornomud (coach of USA):
It was a tough game. It was awesome to see how our players did it. Both goalies did great job and we are glad that we won such a tough game. We have to remind our players their duties for tomorrow´s game to be smart enough. It is very exciting for us to play against Czechs in front of their home crowd. We want to fight with them and do our best.
