Big Z stands tall, takes fall
Sens defenceman says blame him for Slovakia's defeat
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun
MONTREAL -- Zdeno Chara is a big man, the biggest around, and he stood tall in the Slovakian dressing room last night.
The Big Z parked himself in his locker stall and faced the harsh music after Slovakia's 5-1 loss to Team Canada last night at the Bell Centre.
Chara was embarrassed about two performances last night, that of his team and his own.
"Nobody is going to beat (Team Canada) with a performance like we had (last night). It was unacceptable. We were embarrassed, including me," he said. "They're beatable. Anybody is beatable, Canada, too. They are on top of their game. They came out hard, they were battling and driving to the net, doing all the things to be successful and play as a team."
Chara's had better nights. Three minutes into the game, he got his stick lifted in his own zone when Canada's Joe Thornton caught him from behind. Thornton stripped the puck, wheeled and then scored Canada's first goal on a shot between goaltender Rastislav Stana's pads from the bottom of the circle.
"I made a mistake. I didn't see Thornton behind me. I blocked the shot and I had the puck in front of me and I was waiting for my forwards to turn around. I didn't see him there," he said.
Chara refused to use as an excuse the absence of players like Ziggy Palffy, Michal Handzus, Ivan Majesky and Richard Zednik, the latter a late scratch because of a case of food poisoning, apparently.
"We've got guys to fill those spots," said Chara. "It doesn't matter if you have five Wayne Gretzkys in your lineup, if you don't play as a team, it's not going to matter."
SIXTY-SIX UPDATE: Team Canada captain Mario Lemieux took a nasty cross-check in the back from Slovakian D Lubomir Visnovsky halfway through the first period, but Lemieux seemed none the worse for wear. He got the crowd chanting his name in the first period with a strong backcheck all the way into the Team Canada zone against Radovan Somik. Lemieux kept his feet moving and bumped the Slovak into the end boards.
HEAR AND THERE: 67's star Corey Locke still hasn't been signed by the Canadiens, but is expected to be at the rookie tournament coming up here next week (rookies from the Habs, Senators, Panthers and Leafs). If Locke signs with the Habs, the feeling here he is best served playing in the AHL. If he doesn't sign, he might not have much in the way of options but to play for the 67's again ... A question at this type of tournament is always how are there enough minutes to keep everybody happy? That hasn't been a problem for the Canadian blueliners as they have played a good chunk of both games with only five defencemen following the injuries to Ed Jovanovski and Wade Redden.
REVELATIONS: You want to feel old? Walking through the hallways at the Bell Centre was ex-Hab Guy "Grandpa" Carbonneau. Yup, the former Canadiens captain is now a grandfather after daughter Anne-Marie and Team Canada winger/son-in-law Brenden Morrow had a child. Carbo's 44, by the way ... Chara said he's been impressed with the way the Canadian players have bought into the program. "You're seeing guys who are not physical play physical," he said. "They played as a team."
SPECULATIONS: Embarrassing moments happen to the best of them: Canada's Joe Sakic found himself empty-handed when the blade of his stick got stuck in the crack of the Zamboni door. And we all know how painful that can be.
JUST WONDERING: What makes Wayne Gretzky The Great One? A couple of hours before game time Tuesday, he wandered down to the lobby of Team Canada's hotel to meet with fans and sign autographs. A classy touch.
THE BUZZ: Spotted in the stands at the Bell Centre last night: The lovely and talented Brigitte, the Corel Centre in-game hostess. Nice seat, too, right behind the penalty box ... Also on hand, Gord and Pat Redden, taking a break from the harvest out West to watch Wade.
LEMME SAY THIS ABOUT THAT: G Martin Brodeur showed why he's the best in the world last night in the first period. With Canada up 2-0, he stopped Marian Gaborik on a breakaway and then Miroslav Satan on the rebound. What was remarkable was Brodeur's recovery from the first save, springing back into perfect position to stop the second.
PARTING SHOT: The attendance for two games in two nights at the Bell Centre: 42,546. It also just happens to be the number of hot dogs consumed in the media room over two games by the Sun's Bruce Garrioch (he claims he only had eight).
