Canada Steps Up to Next Level

Things are falling into place nicely for Team Canada. The Canadians are growing more accustomed to each other and the international hockey rules with each game.

They knocked off Finland, 2-1, in the quarterfinals Wednesday and now face the weakest of the remaining teams, surprising Belarus, in the semifinals.

Of course, Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky might interpret that as more “American propaganda,” designed to set his team up for a disastrous fall.

But listen to one of his own guys, defenseman Ed Jovanovski.

“Guys are really stepping up and knowing what’s at stake,” Jovanovski said. “Guys are playing hard each shift they’re out there and it’s showing in our play.

“In our next game we want to be better. I thought today we played a pretty fundamentally sound game and did a lot of things right.

“We know in that locker room that we have the team and we’re capable of making big steps forward.”

However, Finland’s Teemu Selanne wasn’t completely impressed with Canada’s effort.

“I don’t think they were that good,” Selanne said. “If we would have played our best hockey, we would have had a better chance.

“Those guys are great stars and maybe they don’t have so many role players. That might be the reason.”

Joe Sakic scored Canada’s first goal exactly three minutes into the game.

Canada went up 2-0 in the second period when Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux worked a give-and-go, Yzerman to Lemieux, back to Yzerman, who whipped the puck past Jani Hurme.

Finland came right back, when Tomi Kallio circled behind the net and passed out front to Niklas Hagman for the point-blank shot 20 seconds later.

That was it for the scoring. The third period featured less of the wide-open style that has characterized the Olympics and more of a grind. The two teams combined to take only 11 shots in the period.

“We’re not here to make a war with other countries,” Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur said. “We’re here to win a gold medal.

“Definitely the support from the organization is important, and [Gretzky] showed that in his comments.”

These were Canadians with an attitude. Eric Lindros dumped Niklas Hagman. Lemieux beat down Kimmo Timonen in the third period, knocking him to the ice with a couple of good forearm shivers.

Paul Kariya even tried to make a run at a Finland player against the boards (Kariya bounced off).

“As each game goes on, the intensity grows and the passion grows,” Yzerman said.