GAME STATISTICS | LIVE GAME BLOG
BEIJING, China – Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games after downing host China 7-2 in the qualification round on Tuesday.
• Adam Tambellini (Edmonton, Alta./Rögle BK, SHL) led the offence with two goals and three assists, including a penalty-shot marker. Tambellini is the first Canadian to score on a penalty shot at the Olympics since Petr Nedved (Feb. 17, 1994 vs. USA) and the first to record five points in an Olympic game since Dave Gagner (Feb. 13, 1984 vs. NOR). • Jordan Weal (North Vancouver, B.C./Ak Bars Kazan, KHL) chipped in with a pair of goals and an assist. • Eric O’Dell (Ottawa/Dynamo Moscow, KHL), Eric Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Iowa, AHL) and Jack McBain (Toronto/Boston College, HE) rounded out the scoring. • Maxim Noreau (Montréal/ZSC Lions, NL) contributed three assists. • Matt Tomkins (Sherwood Park, Alta./Frölunda HC, SHL) made 27 saves, including a penalty-shot stop off Spencer Foo early in the first period. • Canada outshot China 45-29.
Next Game: Canada vs. Sweden (quarterfinal) – Wednesday, Feb. 16 (8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT)
Quotes: “I thought China was one of the best teams in the tournament at creating chances off the rush. If you are not back-checking well against them, they are going to take advantage of those opportunities. We were able to adjust and start playing better as the game went on, and [Tomkins] made some big saves to help us keep the lead. I think our players adjusted to China’s pressure well from the second period onwards, and we were able to take control of the game.” - Head coach Claude Julien (Orleans, Ont.) on the difficulty of playing China
“We want to play games because we are hungry. We did not mind playing today. The game against China gave us another opportunity to get better and to find things in our game that we can improve on, and I think we did that tonight. We have always said that we need to get better every day, and just keep adding elements to our game that can help us win.” - Weal on continuing to improve
“It is important for [our line] and our team that we are contributing on offence. Corban [Knight] and Jordan [Weal] are special players. They are easy to play with and fun to play with, and I am definitely happy to be contributing and it is great that all three of us are able to create scoring opportunities and capitalize on them.” - Tambellini on his line’s contributions to the team
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