Price will test knee with Friday game
OTTAWA— Canadian goalie Carey Price will give his rehabilitated knee its first game test on Friday, when he is expected to play the full 60 minutes in an exhibition game against the United States in Columbus, Ohio.
“I’ve been skating a lot. I don’t have any question marks about my body, or my health,” Price said. “I’ve tested absolutely everything to the limit. I did everything correctly. I have absolutely no worries about it.
“I’m kind of excited, It’s nice to come in here and see some quality work. It’s really good preparation. I haven’t seen a lot of game time in a while. For me to step in and get a full workload will be good.”
Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford will split the netminding duties when the teams meet again Saturday.
“(Price) is an elite goaltender who gives you a great chance to win every night,” Canadian coach Mike Babcock said. “He gives the guys a sense of calm. He’s been off a while, but we’ll give him that opportunity.”
DIFFERENT TUNE: Given U.S. coach John Tortorella said he would bench any player who didn’t stand during an anthem, like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Babcock was asked what he would do if such a situation arose.
“This is what I know,” Babcock said. “I’m not going to have to make that decision, because that’s not going to happen, so I don’t have to worry about that reaction. At that time, I guess I’d decide what to do.”
THE SHADOW OF SID: Canadian forward Ryan Getzlaf is sitting on Sidney Crosby’s left in the team’s dressing room in Ottawa, which is sometimes a disadvantage given the media throng that tends to want to talk to Crosby each day. It means Getzlaf can’t get to his own stall sometimes. But he sees the upside. “I feel like I struck gold,” Getzlaf said. “I get to go hide.”
WARMING UP: Corey Perry believes the World Cup of Hockey will capture the imagination of hockey fans once it gets going.
“You’re still competing for your country,” Perry said. “When you put that jersey on, and you go out, it’s going to be meaningful. It’s a tournament full of different elements, but at the same time, you have one goal and that is to win.” CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has been named Russia’s captain for the World Cup, with Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin and former Detroit star Pavel Datsyuk serving as the alternates.
The 30-year-old Ovechkin was captain when Russia won the world hockey championship in 2014. Datsyuk, 38, recently left the Red Wings to return home to Russia and play for St. Petersburg of the KHL.
San Jose’s Joe Pavelski will be the captain of the American team, with Chicago’s Patrick Kane and Minnesota’s Ryan Suter the alternates. David Backes, Ryan Kesler, Ryan McDonagh and Zach Parise were also named to the team’s leadership group.
The North American team is expected to name its captain later this week, with Oilers phenom Connor McDavid among the favourites for the honour. With files from Star wire services