BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It's the gold-medal final so few predicted.
Canada will take on Russia for the right to be crowned world junior champions for the sixth time in the past 10 years. The Canadians won the last three times these two countries met in the tournament final from 2005 to 2007. Prior to that, Russia beat Canada in three straight gold-medal games in 1999, 2002 and 2003.
Canada holds the overall total with a record 16 gold medals, four more than the total by Russia/Soviet Union.
After being the underdog in their last game against the tournament-host Americans in the semifinal, Canada will be considered the favourite this time. Team Canada will have another decided edge with a partisan home crowd.
Shockingly, the Canadian crowd began taking to the cardiac Russians who not once, but twice escaped with late-game heroics in the quarter- and semi-finals. The Russians scored twice in the final 3:41 to tie the quarterfinal against Finland. Yevgeni Kuznetsov completed the comeback in overtime.
Less than 24 hours later, the Russians saw their 2-0 lead evaporate against the Swedes in the semis. Sweden scored a go-ahead goal with 3:19 to play, but the game was tied by Sergei Kalinin with 1:27 remaining. Russia then won in a shootout.
The Russians are loose and playing with a rejuvenated sense of self worth. They feel like all the pressure is on Canada and defenceman Nikita Pivtsakin told the media they will thrive under the pro-Canadian crowd.
Burning questions:
Can Canada keep the foot on the gas pedal?
Canada's semifinal win over the U.S. was an absolute clinic. The Canadians dominated from the moment the puck was dropped and never let up. The defencemen were playing a very physical and in-your-face style, never giving the American forwards a chance to breathe with the puck on their stick. It was a total team effort buoyed by the grit and determination of every player wearing the Canadian jersey.
It will be a test for the coaching staff to bring the players back down after such an emotional win over their most hated rivals. As satisfying as a win over the U.S. may be, the players appeared to take a business-like approach when speaking with the media on Tuesday. The players appear to be doing and saying the right things, which bodes well for them to match their previous level of intensity.
Can the Russians claw back from the brink again?
They may not hand out medals for drama, but if they did, this Russian team would take the gold. Team Finland appeared to have the game wrapped up late in the quarterfinal before Kuznetsov almost singlehandedly pulled his team back from the brink of elimination. Having won two dramatic games, the Russians will never be counted out.
There will be a lot of tense fans at HSBC Arena even if Team Canada holds a lead late in the third period. The Russians, as they are so often known, have a quick-strike offence. The final moments of the game could be the most entertaining.
How will Canada's physical style work?
There's no doubt the Canadians will want to push the Russians around. Team Canada used a rough and tumble approach when the two teams met for the first time, in a 6-3 win on Boxing Day. Each Canadian player spoke of the importance to establish that physical style early, but were quick to point out the Russians will look different, as most teams do, after having bonded and gelled over the last 10 days.
Canadian forwards Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno present Russia with its most intimidating presences on the ice. Kassian and Foligno love to throw the body around and set the tempo. The Russians were unable to find an answer the first time. The physicality of the Canadians produced positive results in recent play against the Russians in the last half decade in this tournament. There's no reason why Canada should deviate from that plan.
Which goaltender will step up?
The most notable difference from the first matchup will be in goal, where both teams will be going with a different goaltender. Olivier Roy began the tournament for Canada, while Igor Bobkov did likewise for Russia. Since then, Mark Visentin and Dmitri Shikin took over as each team's starting goaltender.
Visentin looked confident and strong in the Canadian crease against the Americans. It was the first time a Canadian goalie appeared poised and centered the entire tournament. Shikin, meanwhile, is giving the Russians the goaltending to match a strong offensive outburst. In a game with so many offensive weapons on both teams, this game could come down to goaltending.
Can Canada neutralize Russia's speed and creativity?
The Russians are similar to the Americans in that their forward group can wheel. The biggest difference though is that the Russians' transition game appears to be stronger than that of the Americans. While both groups are skilled, the Russians' forward core is more dynamic. The skill of their top-end players Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko is very creative.
It may be a matter more of watching the player than watching the puck, as Kuznetsov and Tarasenko in particular are like magicians while stickhandling. The Russians are known for their ability to seize momentum and score a flurry of goals in a short period of time. The key for Canada will be to raise their level of play on the play following a goal. Any form of let-up and the Russians will seize it.
