VANCOUVER, Feb 17, (AFP): Hockey superpowers Russian and Canada rolled their offensives and rising star United States also won comfortably in the opening games of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on Tuesday.
One of the most anticipated hockey tournaments in history got underway at Hockey Canada Place and the Canada posted the largest margin of victory with a crowd-pleasing 8-0 thrashing of Norway.
Two-time reigning world champion Russia spanked Latvia 8-2 and the fifth-seeded United States came charging out with a workmanlike 3-1 win over Switzerland.
The frenzied pro-Canadian crowd got what they were hoping for but not after a few tense moments in the opening period when the Norwegians held off the mighty Canadians to keep the game scoreless through one period.
“Everyone was getting antsy when it was 0-0 after the first,” said superstar Sidney Crosby who didn’t score but had a strong game and finished with three assists.
“It is great to get that first win. We see where we need to go and see what we need to work on.” Jarome Iginla scored three goals, Dany Heatley had two goals and goaltender Roberto Luongo recorded a shutout stopping all 15 shots he faced for Canada who have now won their opening game in 19 of 20 Olympic tournaments.
After a scoreless first period, second-seeded Canada scored two goals just two minutes apart early in the second period in front of a sold-out crowd of 16,652.
“When you come to a tournament like this it is an all-star team but you can’t play like that,” Iginla said.
“You have to shoot from the right areas. As the game went on we started shooting from the right areas.”
Canada had just one practice together before their first game and it showed in the opening period as they peppered the Norwegian goal with 14 shots but came up empty.
Russian forward Alex Ovechkin scored a goal as part of a three-goal outburst over a 2:05 span in the third period as Russia routed Latvia.
The three goals were sandwiched between a pair by Latvia as the pro-Latvian crowd was treated to a five-goals in just over three minutes to begin the final period.
The Russians had no trouble getting their offensive machine rolling but cleaning up the sloppy play in their own end is something they are going to have to work on if they hope to win their first Olympic gold medal since 1992 in Albertville, France.
Ovechkin finished with two goals as the Russians outshot Latvia 45-20.
Russian coach Vyacheslav Bykov said he likes the fire that Ovechkin brings to the team.
“Alex’s energy is outstanding,” Bykov said. “He is like an atomic station.”
Bykov also said Tuesday he doesn’t agree with Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman’s earlier statement that the Russians are the favourites in the men’s hockey tournament.
“I think the Canadians are the favourites,” he said.
In the opening men’s game of the day, Bobby Ryan and David Backes scored unassisted goals as the United States beat Switzerland.
Ryan Malone also scored and goaltender Ryan Miller made 14 saves for the US who have won the gold twice at the Olympics and both times at home (Squaw Valley 1960 and Lake Placid 1980).
“This was a good beginning,” said US coach Ron Wilson. “We are going to get better every game. This is a fairly quiet group, but quietly confident.”