Win Vaults U.S. Into Semifinals Lafontaine Leads Victory In Hockey’s World Cup
With its second impressive victory in three days, the United States has established itself as the favorite in the World Cup of Hockey.
“They have a great team. If they keep playing like they have, they have a good chance (to win the tournament),” said Darius Kasparaitis after he and his Russia teammates were soundly beaten by the U.S. 5-2 Monday night.
The Russians, one of the pre-tournament favorites in the eight-team competition, didn’t look like they belonged on the same ice with the more aggressive Americans, who continued to shine in this international showcase.
Saturday night, the Americans had started out the preliminary round with a 5-3 victory over Canada, another of the top teams in the tournament that has supplanted the Canada Cup.
“There’s a lot of experience here,” said Pat LaFontaine, who led the U.S. with two assists and a short-handed goal. “A lot of these guys are leaders and even captains on their own NHL teams.
“I think there’s enough leadership and experience (to win the tournament) and the coaching staff has us well prepared.”
Along with LaFontaine, hometown hero Mike Richter was a big factor as the United States clinched a semifinal berth.
With New York Rangers fans cheering on their favorite goaltender at Madison Square Garden, Richter made 32 saves as the U.S. (2-0) clinched first in the four-team North American pool.
Richter, looking as sharp as he did when he keyed the Rangers’ Stanley Cup victory in 1994, set the tone with a sparkling kick save on Vladimir Malakhov late in the first period with Russia (1-2) on a power play.
LaFontaine, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, set up two first-period goals for the Americans and scored the short-handed game-turner that gave the United States a 4-0 lead.
“They just had a great start,” Russia’s Sergei Fedorov said of the Americans. “They played as a team. Some of our guys felt overwhelmed.”
The Americans felt they played their game plan to perfection.
“With Russia, they usually come out flying the first 5 minutes of every period and we had to make sure we had good defensive shifts,” U.S. coach Ron Wilson said. “Scoring some 20-odd seconds into the game got the crowd and us going.
“Our guys had something to gain, and that’s respect.”
The United States plays Slovakia tonight at Madison Square Garden to close out the preliminary round.
The U.S. advanced to the semifinals against the winner of Friday night’s quarterfinal game between Russia and Finland. Sweden awaits the winner of the Canada-Germany quarterfinal.