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LIVE BLOG: Canada v. Norway, men’s hockey

Oh yeah! It’s time!

7:20 p.m.
This is it: the moment we’ve been waiting for. It’s gold or bust in hockey.

7:30 p.m.
First off, let me say this: I’m pumped for Olympic hockey. I’m as nervous-excited, at this moment, as I was for the gold medal game in Salt Lake City.

7:31 p.m.
That said, I’ve got a feeling we won’t be winning men’s hockey gold. Russians are super-good; Americans are better than expected. I’d guess we’re looking at silver or bronze.

7:33 p.m. Why Luongo’s starting, I have no idea.

7:35 p.m. Wow. Crowd is crazy!

7:36 p.m. Pronger’s playing in his fourth Olympics. ‘Nuff said. He shouldn’t be on this team.

7:39 p.m. They should have scored by now. I’m disappointed.

7:41 p.m. This dump and cycle play is awful. Reason #1 why they should not be playing on NHL-size ice.

7:42 p.m. I’d say chances are about even thus far. Bad sign.

7:44 p.m. First break thoughts: This looks like an NHL game, which is bad. The bigger ice would have been a major improvement.

7:48 p.m. Two things the NHL can learn from the IIHF: 1) a high stick is always a penalty in the IIHF — no matter whether it was a follow-through or not; 2) no-touch icing makes so much sense.

7:53 p.m. Useless fact about Norway: There are 37 ice rinks in the country. Thanks, consortium.

7:54 p.m. Fun fact: Pierre McGuire’s first name?

7:56 p.m. Answer: Regis!

7:58 p.m. Is it just me, or you also expecting Canada to score every time down the ice … and then you get disappointed when they don’t?

8:00 p.m. Ice doesn’t look to solid. Lots of bouncing pucks.

8:02 p.m. Best shift so far for Canada: Good hit by Bergeron; nice shot by Crosby.

8:05 p.m. McGuire thinks Canada’s playing well so far. No goals against a team with no NHLers (and only 37 rinks IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY) = not playing well

8:07 p.m. End of period: Canada 0 , Norway 0.

8:10 p.m. I said it earlier, and I’ll say it again: The first period played out like a typical NHL game. Much slower than an international game; less skill; less speed; less fun for viewers.

8:25 p.m. Ooooh! Goal review!

8:26 p.m. On the board! 1-0 Canada. Iginla on the one-timer. Nice pass from Crosby.

8:26 p.m. And the youngster Doughty gets his first point.

8:31 p.m. 2-0 Canada. Pronger from the point. Uh, forget what I said earlier about Prong not being right for this team.

8:33 p.m. Whatever Babcock said in the dressing room between periods must have got through.

8:33 p.m. Should be 3-0. Mike Richards just missed an open net.

8:38 p.m. Luongo just made his first real stop of the night.

8:40 p.m. Information about Team Canada I didn’t need to know: Chris Pronger and Drew Doughty are roomies for the Games.

8:43 p.m. 3-0. Heckuva play by Mike Richards.

8:45 p.m. Much better period for Canada. Goals aside, they look far more alive and less tentative.

8:47 p.m. Norway’s Mats Zuccarello Aasen: best name in the tourney.

8: 49 p.m. They just played “My Sharona” in the arena. RIP, Doug Fieger.

8:54 p.m. Canadian team looks a bit tired. Wonder if the NHLers are feeling the effects after a few days off and just one practice.

8:56 p.m. Heatley takes a dumb penalty. That won’t fly — even against Norway.

8:58 p.m. End of second period. Canada 3 , Norway 0.
Boys looked much in the second 20, little bit tired in the last 5 minutes.
Babcock switched up the lines — subbed Iginla for Bergeron on the top line. You get the feeling this is still a work in progress.
Expect a quiet third period.

9:04 p.m. Boy, this is weak intermission stuff. One of the bad things (or perhaps the only bad thing) about the Ceeb not broadcasting the Olympics: no Don Cherry. Heck, I’d even take Satellite Hot Stove right now.

9:14 p.m. Crosby takes a bad penalty. He’s been playing with an edge all game. Went a bit over there.

9:16 p.m. As Jim Hughson would say: Great save Luongo!

9:19 p.m. 4-0. Getzlaf missed an open net, then picks up the rebound from a point shot.

9:20 p.m. Norway switches goalies. The extent of information known about goalie #2: According to Pierre McGuire, “he’s a big person.”

9:23 p.m. Real question now: Will Luongo get the shutout?

9:25 p.m. 5-0 Canada. Heatley with a bullet.

9:26 p.m. McGuire just described Canada’s play as a “full-frontal assault.” Earlier, he termed Canada’s strategy as “H-A-R-D HARD.” Hmm …

9:27 p.m. Well, that was pretty. Nash to Crosby to Iginla. 6-0 Canada.

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