Canada beats Russia, advances to World Cup finals
TORONTO >> Sidney Crosby was at his best on one of hockey’s biggest stages. Again. Crosby scored once and assisted on both of Brad Marchand’s goals, including the winner early the third period, to help Canada beat Russia 5-3 on Saturday night in the World Cup of Hockey semifinals.
“He always comes up big in the big games,” Marchand said.
The Canadians will face the winner of the SwedenTeam Europe game Sunday in the best-of-three finals.
Crosby opened the scoring at 7:40 into the game on a spectacular sequence, showing he has plenty of energy despite having a brief summer between winning the Stanley Cup and competing in the World Cup.
“It was short, but exciting, knowing we were coming here,” he said.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 16 of his 42 saves in the first period, keeping the Russians in it.
Nikita Kucherov made it 1-all midway through the first and Evgeny Kuznetsov put Russia ahead 2-1 with 3:36 left in the second.
Corey Perry gave Canada a two-goal cushion at 5:48 of the third and John Tavares made it 4-2 midway through the period.
Carey Price made 22 saves for the Canadians.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and twotime Stanley Cup champion made a cross-crease pass to set up Marchand for his tying goal just 1:12 after Russia went ahead.
With a chance to take a pivotal lead in the third, Crosby chose to give up the puck, not shoot it. He deftly dropped a pass to Marchand atop the left circle to assist on the gamewinning goal 1:16 into the third.
Russia was not in a position to come back in a game in which it gave up more than twice as many shots as it put on the Priceprotected net until pulling their goalie late in the game to add an extra skater in a nothing-to-lose attempt to get back in the game.
Price made some momentum-stunting saves early in the first, but backchecking forwards and poke-checking defensemen made his job relatively easy.
As usual in a matchup of NHL superstars, Crosby came out on top against Alex Ovechkin.
And, it looked as if it might be that way even before the puck dropped.
Both captains were called the center ice for a goodwill gesture, pairing them up with young boys on skates holding flags that represented each country.
While Crosby put his arm around the youngster next to him, a stone-faced Ovechkin stood with his gloves at his side.
The Washington center bristles at any mention of his matchups with the Pittsburgh center.
It’s easy to understand.
Penguins’ Murray out with broken hand
PITTSBURGH >> Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is out three-to-six weeks with a broken hand.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford announced the injury Saturday on the second day of training camp.
Murray broke his right hand while playing for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey. Murray said he jammed his thumb in North America’s loss to Russia on Monday and was held out of its game on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old went 15-6 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in the playoffs last spring as the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. This injury makes it unlikely Murray will be available for opening night.