Mark Messier's Team Canada has won its first game at this year's Spengler Cup in a very convincing way: The Canadians outclassed KHL club Spartak Moscow 6:1.
Especially the three players loaned from HC Ambri, currently ranked last in Switzerland's National League, made the difference in the game, scoring half of Canada's goals (Martin Kariya (22.), Yanick Lehoux (34.) and Eric Landry (47.)). Surprisingly, the middle-class team from Russia didn't have the means to counter the Canadian attacks. Instead, Spartak almost slid into a real disaster during the final minutes of the game, when Team Canada scored two goals in under one minute.
Two Superstars in Action
Spartak against Team Canada was also the duel between two NHL superstars. The KHL club's goalkeeper, Dominik Hasek, who will turn 46 soon, and coach Mark Messier, who's three years older. Throughout their careers, they had met several times, when Hasek was the Buffalo Sabres goalkeeper and Messier a forward for the New York Rangers. Messier, the legendary hockey player who scored 2,182 points in the NHL, and Hasek, the "eternal" goalkeeper who had 454 wins in the world's best hockey league.
Despite his age, Hasek is Moscow's unchallenged number 1 and is still in excellent shape. Until the 22nd minute and Team Canada's fifth powerplay, the Canadians didn't find a way to beat the Czech old master. With his 21 saves, he was one of just a few of the disappointing „Sputniks" who fought to fend off the second defeat within just 24 hours.
Turning Up the Pace
From the second period, the North Americans struck mercilessly. Kariya deflected a shot treacherously and, within just 51 seconds, the Russians' position worsened: Lehoux and DuPont put their team ahead decisively with further power play goals very early in the game.
If SKA St Petersburg performs more or less within its own immense possibilities on Tuesday, one of the "quarter finals" may be between Servette Geneva and Spartak, who's placed last in its group. (Si / Translated by Sabine Schweizer)
