Canada takes lead in Sochi hockey showdown with U.S.

Canada used its speed and strength to control much of the play and led the United States 1-0 after two periods of their Olympic semifinal grudge match on Friday.

 

Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn tipped in a pass disguised as a pass by St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester early in the second period to give Canada the advantage.

Benn gave credit to a player he competes against during the National Hockey League season, saying in a between-periods TV interview that "Bouwmeester made a great shot-pass."

The game was a rematch of the gold medal final four years when Sidney Crosby scored the overtime goal for Canada to beat its southern neighbor.

Whoever wins advances to Sunday's gold-medal game against unblemished Sweden, which defeated rival Finland 2-1 earlier Friday. The bronze-medal game between the semifinal losers takes place Saturday.

In the second semifinal, Canada outshot the Americans 28-22 through the first two periods, and U.S. goalie Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings, a Stanley Cup winner and playoff MVP in 2012, kept his side in the game.

Quick made a series of saves, including two on good chances by NHL teammate Jeff Carter of Canada and a sliding stop on Benn, who was unable to lift a shot from the right circle.

After a fast-paced even start, Canada took control near the midway point of the first period, firing eight shots to two by the United States the rest of the way.

With the top professionals competing, the Olympic tournament amounts to an effective hockey World Cup every four years, and the 2014 version has provided all the requisite story lines and drama for classic status.

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The Canada-U.S. showdown pitted the defending gold medalists who claim hockey supremacy as a birthright against the plucky Americans who seek to stake a legitimate claim as the world's finest.

It came 34 years after the "Miracle on Ice" in Lake Placid, New York, when the then-amateur American team upset the dominant Soviet Union in the semifinals and went on to win the gold medal against Finland.

Friday's attention focused on stars such as Crosby, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and L.A. defenseman Drew Doughty for Canada, as well as Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Phil Kessel and Quick for the Americans.

In such high-profile matches, the less-heralded players often prove the difference, such as T.J. Oshie for the United States.

The St. Louis Blues forward almost singlehandedly beat host Russia in the preliminary round when he scored on four of six shootout chances to secure a 3-2 American victory after the teams tied through regulation play and overtime.

On Friday, Oshie and St. Louis teammates David Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk took on fellow Blues Alex Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester, a defense pairing for Canada.

Many such confrontations existed between the rosters comprised of NHL competitors.

U.S. head coach Dan Bylsma also coaches Pittsburgh, and was trying to neutralize Crosby and Penguins' teammate Chris Kunitz.

At one point in the first period, San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau of Canada took a penalty for interfering with NHL teammate Joe Pavelski.

For the Americans, the revenge factor was doubled after Canada beat the U.S. women 3-2 for the gold medal Thursday by scoring twice in the final minutes to tie the game, then winning it on an overtime power play. Kessel's sister, Amanda, was a top U.S. player throughout the tournament.

Neither the Canadians nor the U.S. men have lost a game so far this Olympics, but both had close calls. Oshie's shootout heroics against Russia gave the Americans an easier route through the quarterfinals, where they defeated the Czech Republic 5-2 on Wednesday.

Canada won an overtime nail-biter over Finland in its last preliminary match, followed by a tight 2-1 victory over upstart Latvia on Wednesday to set up Friday's clash with the Americans.

Sweden is the only team to have won all its matches in regulation time.

Two of its NHL stars, Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins and Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, scored in the second period Friday against Finland, while goalie Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers made 25 saves to secure the victory. Olli Jokinen of the Winnipeg Jets scored for Finland.