🇨🇦 Canada 3-1 United States 🇺🇸
Exhibition Game
Corel Centre, Ottawa 🇨🇦
Wednesday, 25 August 2004

Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Sakic and Brad Richards scored in the second period as Canada downed the United States 3-1 in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game Wednesday night.

The victory avenged a 3-1 loss to the Americans on Monday night in Columbus and was marked by a much-needed rise in energy and physical play by Canada.

Chris Drury scored in the third period for the U.S., which outshot Canada 27-21, including 15-6 in the third period with the home side protecting a lead.

Canada plays its final exhibition game Saturday night against Slovakia in Ottawa. It begins tournament play Tuesday night in Montréal against the U.S.

After a scoreless first period in which U.S. goaltender Robert Esche was sharp, Ty Conklin took over in the second frame and was beaten three times.

Lecavalier was on a 2-on-1 with superstar Mario Lemieux during a powerplay and the Tampa Bay centre beat Conklin with a surprise low shot between the pads at 5:25 of the middle period in front of 18,500 at the Corel centre.

Only 2:20 later, Sakic also elected to shoot on a 2-on-1 and scored through the five-hole. On a power play at 19:30, Richards took a return pass from Lemieux and again beat Conklin between the pads.

Lemieux was impressive in his first action after sitting out Monday’s game along with linemates Richards and Martin St-Louis.

Canada’s Roberto Luongo, victim of all three U.S. goals on Monday, stopped all eight shots he faced in the first half of the game, including a smart glove save on a deflection by Keith Tkachuk.

José Théodore took over 10:24 into the second period and was equally solid and much busier. The two are battling for the back-up job behind No. 1 goaltender Martin Brodeur.

After a giveaway in Canada’s end, Drury stopped Aaron Miller’s shot and fired into an open side past the fallen Thoedore at 4:10 of the third period.

Canada turned in a strong defensive game, did a better job of holding off the Americans’ two-man forecheck, and kept pressure on the U.S. defence, which may be a weak area.

Dany Heatley had the best chance in a close-checking first period when he intercepted a soft pass up the middle by Brian Leetch, but his wrist shot from the slot was gloved by Esche.

The Americans had a goal disallowed for interference midway through the period after Doug Weight broke in the right side and the puck went in after he plowed into Luongo.

Canada switched two defence pairs, putting Wade Redden with Ed Jovonovski and Eric Brewer with Adam Foote.

The teams agreed to use 22 players each – two more than normal. Canada had 12 forwards and eight defencemen while the U.S. had 14 forwards and six defenders.

NOTES: Canada opted to sit out Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper and Simon Gagné, as well as goalie Martin Brodeur…Brett Hull, Rick DiPietro, Paul Martin and the injured Jordan Leopold and Brian Rafalski sat out for the U.S…Pre-game team workouts Wednesday morning were cancelled as American players met with NHLPA representatives in town for negotiations on new CBA. The union is to meet Thursday with Team Canada. Canada is 8-3-1 all time vs. the U.S. in Canada Cup and World Cup play.

BOXSCORE
1st Period
02:28 – 🇺🇸 PEN – Halpern, tripping
04:48 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Morrow, interference
07:41 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Morrow, hooking

2nd Period
21:35 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Iginla, hooking
24:21 – 🇺🇸 PEN – Drury, holding
25:25 – 🇨🇦 PP GOAL – Lecavalier
27:45 – 🇨🇦 GOAL – Sakic (Heatley)
38:05 – 🇺🇸 PEN – Klee, interference
39:30 – 🇨🇦 PP GOAL – Richards (Lemieux)

3rd Period
44:10 – 🇺🇸 GOAL – Drury (Miller, Tkachuk)
47:18 – 🇺🇸 PEN – Tkachuk, interference
47:18 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Morrow, unsportsmanlike conduct
48:49 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Regehr, roughing
50:48 – 🇺🇸 PEN – Drury, high sticking

GOALTENDERS
W: 🇨🇦 Luongo (10-10), Théodore (16-17)
L: 🇺🇸 Esche (6-6), Conklin (12-15)

SHOTS ON GOAL
🇨🇦 6+9+6 = 21
🇺🇸 5+7+15 = 27

ROSTERS
🇨🇦 Goaltenders: Roberto Luongo, José Théodore. Defence: Jay Bouwmeester, Eric Brewer, Adam Foote, Scott Hannan, Ed Jovanovski, Scott Niedermayer, Wade Redden, Robyn Regehr. Forwards: Shane Doan, Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier, Mario Lemieux (C), Patrick Marleau, Brenden Morrow, Brad Richards, Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, Martin St-Louis, Joe Thornton.
🇺🇸 Goaltenders: Ty Conklin, Robert Esche. Defence: Chris Chelios (C), Hal Gill, Ken Klee, Brian Leetch, John-Michael Liles, Aaron Miller, Eric Weinrich. Forwards: Tony Amonte, Jason Blake, Craig Conroy, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Bill Guerin, Jeff Halpern, Steve Konawalchuk, Jamie Langenbrunner, Mike Modano, Brian Rolston, Bryan Smolinski, Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight.

Article Credit: NHL
Photo Credit: José Théodore NHL Goalie – IIHF – HHOF – IOC