Canada wins Spengler Cup

[Mikado]

Canada wins Spengler Cup

Dec 31, 2007 08:42 AM
THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/289858

DAVOS, Switzerland – Canada has won the Spengler Cup.

Kirby Law and Ryan Keller scored in the second period to lift Canada to a 2-1 victory over Russian club Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the final of the five-team tournament on Monday morning.

Curtis Joseph was a standout in goal, allowing only Alexander Perezhogin's second-period tally for Ufa.

It was Canada's 11th Spengler Cup win since it began entering teams in 1984, but its first since 2003.

Canada used two breaks in the middle period to score.

Russian goaltender Alexander Eremenko had Simon Gamache's wrap-around attempt trapped against the goalpost for two or three seconds before Law whacked at the puck and managed to get it over the line seven minutes into the period.

The goal stood up to video review, with the Russians arguing there should have been a whistle.

A Canadian turnover at the Ufa blueline let Perezhogin streak down the right side and beat Joseph with a quick off-wing shot in the 10th minute.

But only a minute later, Keller's wide shot rebounded off the end boards, hit Eremenko and went into the net for the winning goal.

Canada went 5-0 in the tournament including a 6-2 drubbing of host team Davos.