Canada looks to build up some goal differential today vs. Austria after *only* beating Norway 3-1 yesterday.
The Austrians looked horrendous defensively vs. Finland yesterday, as you might imagine when conceding eight goals, but have some quick footed forwards who came out ready to play and caught the Finns by surprise with a goal 30 seconds into the game. The two sides were square at 2s after 20 minutes.
Besides captain Thomas Vanek, Michael Grabner is another to be weary of, especially with his wheels on the big ice. He had a hat trick against the Finns. He’s been playing on a line with Michael Raffl, a 25 year old undrafted signing of the Flyers who has contributed 18 points (in 46 games) worth of secondary scoring in the Flyers bottom six this season.
Andreas Nodl (former depth forward for the Flyers, Hurricanes) and Thomas Pock (defenceman formerly of the New York Rangers) might be another couple of other names you recognize on Austria.
P.K. Subban and Matt Duchene will enter Canada’s lineup in the place of Dan Hamhuis and, somewhat surprisingly, Patrick Sharp. Martin St. Louis had some good shifts while being bumped around various lines and so he will remain in the lineup.
According to lineup, St-Louis with Crosby-Kunitz, Marleau with Toews-Nash, Duchene with Getzlaf-Perry. Carter with Tavares, Benn,Bergeron.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 14, 2014
The enemy:
Team Austria Roster
Goalies: Bernhard Starkbaum, Rene Swette, Fabian Weinhandl.
Defensemen: Mario Altmann, Florian Iberer, Andre Lakos, Robert Lukas, Thomas Pock, Matthias Trattnig, Stefan Ulmer, Gerhard Unterluggauer.
Forwards: Michael Grabner, Raphael Herburger, Thomas Hundertpfund, Matthias Iberer, Thomas Koch, Andreas Kristler, Manuel Latusa, Brian Lebler, Daniel Oberkofler, Michael Raffl, Thomas Raffl, Oliver Setzinger, Thomas Vanek, Daniel Welser.
The early game is Sweden vs. Switzerland (7:30 a.m. EST).
