Tkachuk sends 'em packin'
Scores four against Russians
By MIKE ULMER -- Toronto Sun
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Russia goalie Illya Bryzgalov deflects a shot by U.S. forward Keith Tkachuk (7) in the first period of their World Cup of Hockey quarterfinal game in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) |
So much, it was put to Brian Leetch, for the theory that Team USA is too old.
"Not my theory," he said.
For a night, not anyone else's either.
Team USA is alive in the World Cup of Hockey on the wings of last night's 5-3 victory over Team Russia in quarter-final action in St. Paul, Minn.
The Americans advance to the semi-finals here Friday night. Barring a Canadian loss to Slovakia tonight, Finland will play Team USA.
The Americans got four goals from St. Louis Blues winger Keith Tkachuk. Playing on a line with Mike Modano and Bill Guerin, Tkachuk unveiled the arsenal of the short yardage specialist and then capped things with an empty-netter from the top of the circle.
"Most of my goals don't come from any farther out than 10 feet. The first was a deflection off a great shot by Mike Modano. The second was a tap-in off a great pass from Billy Guerin. The third was another great pass from Billy and the fourth was a very unselfish play by Mike Modano to get me the puck on the empty net. I didn't even know the goalie was out."
Tkachuk's first two goals put Team USA ahead 2-0. Goals from Dmitry Afanasenkov and Dainius Zubrus lifted the Russians back into a tie but third-period goals from Scott Gomez and Tkachuk within a 22-second span put the Americans back in business for good.
Credit the Americans for a better game plan and far better execution than the stinker of a 3-1 loss they delivered against the Russians last week.
Russian goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, a Mighty Ducks of Anaheim prospect, didn't make a big save all night.
"He's an unproven goalie and he looked a little shaky (last night)," Team USA coach Ron Wilson said.
Widely knocked for being a day older than dirt, discredited by Brett Hull's profane tirade toward a reporter who asked him for a comment, Team USA had a ton to prove last night.
The crowd at the Xcel Centre was 2,000 under capacity and didn't really get into the game into the third period.
The Americans ran into the perfect team. The Russians, as talented as always, were uncommitted to doing what it took to win when the stakes were raised to a single elimination. Hey, it's nice outside.
"We had to match and better the work ethic," Wilson said. "We'll never outwork their skill level but if you outwork their skill, there's a chance you're going to win and we did."
The Americans defended better. They held their positions better. They forechecked more conservatively.
"We played a lot more to our strengths," Wilson said. "It was more of a grinding game. We played where the Russians aren't comfortable, deep down in their end. If they get the puck, it's a 200-foot game, not a 100-foot game."
GREYING AND BALDING
Tkachuk is 32 years old and six years removed from his most recent 40-goal year. He is greying and balding and you have to be really old to remember him as a Winnipeg Jet.
But you have to admit, he comes in kind of handy against a talented but not entirely committed opponent.
"It was awesome to watch," Team USA's Scott Gomez said. "In games like this, the big boys step up."
"I think if you did have a bunch of young kids and it ended up 2-2, I think you would have a little bit of a different mentality," is the way Modano put it.
"These guys like Tkachuk aren't old, they've just got a lot of experience," said Chris Chelios, who, at 42, really, really is old.
"It's not even an issue and now we can hopefully move forward from that."
Well, maybe. Certainly, a few more days rest won't hurt. "It sort of plays to our advantage," said the always diplomatic Modano.
But Finland is a physical, tested team with a real goalie in Miikka Kiprusoff.
The Americans will be three days older Friday. We'll see if it matters.
