Kunitz steals the puck and beats Lundqvist on a screen shot. Game, Set, Match!!!
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Blueliner Jonathan Ericsson makes his second defensive gaffe of the middle frame. The first resulted in a 2-on-1 break that Canada almost scored on, this time it ends up as a breakaway for Sidney Crosby, who backhands it past Lundqvist.
2-0 Canada
END 2: #TeamCanada up 2-0 over Sweden. What you missed: Crosby scored and Kunitz feels no pain. 3rd period coming up! pic.twitter.com/JVQ1gr5zGL
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 23, 2014Folks, not trying to jinx things here, but the way Canada has played defense throughout this tournament.....this game is over with.
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Shots in the period, Canada - 12, Sweden 11.
Chris Kunitz takes a high-sticking penalty in the waning seconds of the first, giving Sweden's top rated power play a chance to even the score early in the middle frame.
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Fairly even first period, as Gustav Nyquist and Patrice Bergeron both hit the post, but Canada gets the opening goal at 12:55, as Jeff Carter feeds a goalmouth pass to Jonathan Toews, who directs it past Henrik Lundqvist.
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Good morning all.....getting up at 7am is normal for most working stiffs, but watching a monumental hockey game early on a Sunday morning is just kind of a new experience.
There is a significant change in Sweden's lineup for the gold medal game, as HNIC's Glenn Healy reports that center Nicklas Backstrom did not take the pre-game skate and will not be in lineup due to a migraine headache.
Other than that, it looks to be status quo for the two undefeated squads. Carey Price in goal for Canada, Henrik Lundqvist.
Will be providing updates and commentary throughout the game...
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It’s pretty safe to say that future Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg is not a happy camper that Canadians Kelly Sutherland, Greg Devorski and Derek Amiel will be three of the four officials for the the gold medal game between Canada and Sweden.
According to a report from TSN , the Swedish icon believes that the crew of four North Americans(the fourth being American referee Brad Meier) constitutes a potential conflict of interests.
"What a f___ing joke!" Forsberg said to Swedish reporters. Their selection is "comedy at its highest level."
While the former NHLer expressed his concern over the choices, members of Team Sweden who will be on the ice on Sunday did not put much stock into it.
"We are used to having referees from USA and Canada in the NHL," said Swede defenseman Niklas Kronwall. "We know their standards so I think it's easier for us too if the referees are from there."
"Their(officials)nationalities aren't considered as factors nor should they be, we want the best officials working the medal games," IIHF officiating manager Konstantin Komissarov said Saturday. "We are fully confident that with their experience and professionalism these officials will do their job well and preserve the integrity of the game."
The decision on the officials appear to be based on merit and not any favoritism for Team Canada. Meier was criticized and even protested against by angry Russian fans last week after the American referee ruled "no goal" against Team Russia because the US net had been slightly dislodged by goaltender Jonathan Quick, but that call was correct under IIHF rules.
If the officials were all Scandinavian, Don Cherry would likely be blowing his top. *******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******
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