WC.027
Sept 12, 2004

CANADA CLINCHES BERTH IN WORLD CUP FINAL

TORONTO, ON – Team Canada’s forward, Vincent Lecavalier, picked up exactly where he finished the NHL playoffs – scoring a big goal. Lecavalier netted a big goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in game seven of the Stanley Cup finals to help his team take claim to the cup. On Saturday night in Toronto, Lecavalier scored the overtime winner that puts Canada into the World Cup of Hockey Final.

“I wasn’t sure how much room I had because I knew I was shooting from a bad angle,” stated Lecavalier, “Vokoun had the bottom of the net covered, so I tried to roof it – and it went in.”

Roberto Luongo stood strong in the nets for Canada as he played his first game of the tournament. Martin Brodeur is still bothered by a sore wrist that kept him out of semi final action.

Canada opened the scoring with two goals in the second period (Brewer and Draper), but the Czechs came back tying things up at two. With just under seven minutes remaining, Kris Draper rifled a shot past Vokoun on the short side that looked to be the winner. However, it took the Czechs only six seconds to respond, and the game headed for overtime.

Both teams had chances in the extra frame, but after a rebound bounced to Vincent Lecavalier, he pounced on the puck and shelved it for the game winner. With the 4-3 OT win, Canada now advances to the World Cup of Hockey final versus Finland on Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.