COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS CANADA DROPS SHOOTOUT DECISION

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DAVOS, Switzerland – The comeback was impressive but, in the end, it’s a loss for Canada at the 2008 Spengler Cup.

Hnat Domenichelli pulled Canada even with just 38 seconds left in the third period, completing the fight back from a 3-0 first-period deficit, but the defending champions couldn’t get the job done in a shootout, falling 6-5 to HC Davos on Friday.

Jean-Guy Trudel, Martin Kariya, Joel Kwiatkowski and Serge Aubin also scored for the National Men’s Team, which was looking to build on the momentum of Thursday’s tournament-opening 3-1 win over Energie Karlovy Vary, but instead dropped to 1-1.

Despite outshooting Davos 15-10 in the opening 20 minutes, Canada found itself in a three-goal hole after Janne Niinimaa, Andres Ambühl – on a penalty shot – and Dino Wieser scored in a span of 8:12 for the Swiss club.

Trudel and Kariya scored for Canada before the midway point of the second period to cut the lead to one, and Michel Riesen and Kwiatkowski traded goals before the end of the frame to send Davos to the intermission up by a goal.

Canadian captain Aubin pulled his team even with seven minutes to go in the third, but Ambühl restored the lead for the Swiss five minutes later, setting up Domenichelli’s game-tying heroics.

After a scoreless overtime, Davos goaltender Leonardo Genoni turned away Randy Robitaille, Stacy Roest and Aubin in the shootout, while John Pohl beat Canadian netminder Travis Scott on the final shot, handing the hosts an important win.

Canada, which held a 44-30 advantage in shots on goal, returns to the ice on Monday when it faces ERC Ingolstadt at 9 a.m. EST/6 a.m. PST. The game can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet on tape delay. Check your local listings for broadcast time in your area.

Goals/Buts :
04:27 DAV Niinimaa (Pohl) PP
06:42 DAV Ambuhl PS
12:39 DAV Wieser (Riesen)

Penalties/Pénalités :
01:25 DAV Marha (Hooking/Accrocher)
03:19 DAV Sykora (High-Sticking/Bâton élever) 5 min + game misc.
03:19 CAN Trudel (Tripping/Trébucher)
04:07 CAN Kwiatkowski (Slashing/Cingler)
09:00 CAN Heins (High Sticking/Bâton élever)

Goals/Buts :
07:28 CAN Trudel (Pittis)
09:42 CAN Kariya (Toms)
11:08 DAV Riesen (Wieser)
18:34 CAN Kwiatkowski (Harrison)

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:49 CAN (Too Many Men/Trop de joueurs)
04:13 DAV Von Arx (Hooking/Accrocher)
19:42 DAV Von Arx (Interference/Obstruction)

Goals/Buts :
13:00 CAN Aubin (Kariya)
18:23 DAV Ambuhl (Von Arx, Salmelainen)
19:22 CAN Dominchelli (Robitaille)

Penalties/Pénalités :
06:06 CAN Isbister (Interference/Obstruction)
09:24 DAV Pohl (Tripping/Trébucher)

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:49 CAN Jackman (Holding/Retenir)

Goals/Buts :
CAN Robitaille (Miss/Manque)
DAV Nomenko (Miss/Manque)
CAN Roest (Miss/Manque)
DAV Samoleinin (Miss/Manque)
CAN Aubin (Miss/Manque)
DAV Pohl (Goal/But)