Healthy Carey Price just one reason Canada favored to win World Cup
The rust that goalie Carey Price showed Friday in his first start since Nov. 25 isn’t likely to cause restless nights for Coach Mike Babcock or Team Canada’s players.
"I would think you would sleep like a baby if you had him,” Babcock said before watching Montreal Canadiens star give up three goals in a 4-2 loss to USA in a World Cup pre-tournament game.
Despite missing most of last season with a knee injury, Price is projected to be Canada’s starter when the World Cup of Hockey begins Sept. 17 in Toronto. Price’s post-game analysis of his return from injury was that he still has “more work to do” to regain the form he had when he was the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 2014-15.
Teammates say Price has looked dominant in practice this week. “He’s making saves that not too many goalies can make,” said Canada defenseman Drew Doughty.
Price’s restored health is one of several reasons why Canada is considered the favorite to win the first World Cup played since 2004:
• History: Canada boasted 50.4% of NHL players last season and the country has won the last two men’s Olympic titles and the past two World Championships. Canada won the last World Cup, and when the tournament was called the Canada Cup, the Canadians won it four out the five times it was played from 1976 until 1991. In 1987, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux played on the same line, and they combined on a Lemieux gold medal-winning goal that is considered one of the greatest scoring plays in Canadian hockey history. Canadians care about this tournament.
• Centers: No country can match Canada’s depth at center. The Canadiens’ roster includes Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Getzlaf, Joe Thornton, Claude Giroux and Tyler Seguin among others.
• Pride: Hockey is Canada’s national sport and players are brought up believing that winning is the only acceptable outcome in an international tournament. Players always seem to carry forward the tradition that Canada doesn’t play for silver or bronze. This attitude has made success self-fulfilling for many years.
"Any time you wear that jersey you understand that there are expectations,” Crosby said.
• Defense: Doughty is the reigning Norris Trophy winner. He’s considered the game’s best three-zone defenseman, and he can be a force in a variety of different ways. But Canada’s history of success stems from a commitment to team defense. Offensive stars are always willing to become grinders for the good of the team.
"Every single team (in the World Cup) has incredible talent,” Toews said. “But the way you win this tournament is commitment to defense.”
• Toronto: The World Cup will be played at the Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will packed every game with crazed, vocal, flag-waving fans whose love of the sport is second to none. There’s no home ice advantage quite like a Canadian team playing in Canada. It’s a challenge to slay a fire-breather in its own lair.
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