Curtis Joseph

The final at this year's Spengler Cup was played between Team Canada and the Russians of HC Salavat Yuleaev Ufa. These two teams played already in the group-stage against each other and Canada won this match. This duel is not just a match between two teams, this is always a very prestigious clash of two ice-hockey superpowers; Canada and Russia.

The first third started very intense and this resulted in a lot of penalties. But no team could profit out of those numeric advantages, the best chance had the Russians as they hit the post. In these early minutes it was obvious that both teams are playing very stable in the defence and that their first aim was not to get a goal. Therefore the first period ended goalless.

In the second 20 minutes things changed completely. There were a lot of goal-chances in front of both keepers and three goals in this second third. Team Canada opened the score after a confusing situation in front of Ufa's goal. After a shot of Gamache it seemed that keeper Eremenko blocked the puck between his leg and the post,
but referees didn't whistle and the match continued. The Canadian Law was just in front of Eremenko and had just to hit on his leg and the puck slipped over the goal-line. This was the lead for Canada. Eremenko was furious about this decision, from his point of view the referees had to whistle as he blocked the puck.

But all the arguing didn't help, Canada was in front. Salavat Yulaev could react and after an error in the Canadian offence Perezhogin had the chance over a counter-attack to level the result. His shot was too precise for Joseph and the Russians could celebrate their first goal in the final. But just 2 minutes later the Canadians once again took the lead. This goal was very bad luck for Eremenko. After a shot of Keller the puck bounced back from the wall behind his goal and flew straight to Eremenko's leg. He couldn't react anymore and the puck was slipping over the goal-line. The second third ended with the result of 2:1.

The last third was very exciting, although the goal-chances were rare. The Russians of Salavat had some serious opportunities to level the result, but the man of the match 40-year old keeper Curtis Jospeh was saving almost everything. With a superb performance of Joseph and with a tactically perfect play in the defence Team Canada controlled the match and their opponent Salavat Yulaev Ufa. The Russians didn't
find a clue to unlock the Canadian defence and after 20 minutes in the last third their defeat was perfect. Team Canada won this match with a superb performance in the defence and an outstanding Joseph.

Team Canada won all their matches at his year's Spengler Cup and therefore they deserved this year's title. They played twice against a very strong team of Salavat Yuleav Ufa and won twice. The second victory gave them the title of this year's Spengler Cup 2007.