WATCH: Roberto Luongo’s happy with the shutout and is not concerned about who will start vs. Finland. While, Matt Duchene was happy to get a game under his belt
Team Canada is 2-0 in the men’s hockey tournament at Sochi, after downing Austria 6-0 on Friday. Jeff Carter picked up a hat trick and Roberto Luongo made 23 saves to get the shutout.
Canada will have Saturday off before closing out the preliminary round of the tournament on Sunday against Finland.
First period
Drew Doughty and Shea Weber put the Canadians up 2-0 in the first period. Doughty got things started with a goal just over five minutes into the frame, assisted by Jonathan Toews. It was Doughty’s second goal of the tournament.
Weber added the second marker just over halfway through the first, with a bullet so fast, it had to be reviewed to ensure the puck crossed the line. It was also Weber’s second goal of the tournament.
Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf picked up the assists.
Canada dominated the first period, topping Austria in shots 16-7.
Second period
Carter stepped out of the penalty box less than three minutes in to the second period and banged the puck home after a shot by Patrick Marleau hit the post. Marleau and captain Sidney Crosby picked up the assists.
Carter pegged another a minute and a half later, sliding the puck through the five hole of Austrian netminder Bernhard Starkbaum. Marleau picked up another helper, as did Alex Pietrangelo.
Carter completed the natural hat trick with a third marker at 14:33 into the frame.
The last Canadian to score a natural hat trick in the Olympics was Paul Knox in 1956, also against Austria, where Canada won 23-0.
Getzlaf scored with three minutes before the intermission.
Third period
After an onslaught in the first two periods, the third period was relatively quiet with no goals. Canada out-shot Austria 15-6 in the third.
Team Canada’s lineup vs Austria
Despite the team’s win over Norway on Thursday, head coach Mike Babcock made some lineup changes, the big surprise being Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp being listed as a healthy scratch. Vancouver Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis was also a healthy scratch.
Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban and Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene were in the lineup against Austria; they were healthy scratches in the game against Norway.
Vancouver Canucks netminder Luongo got the start. He was backed up by Mike Smith. Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, who got the tap on Thursday, has the day off.
Canada beat Norway 3-1 on Thursday, with Weber, Jamie Benn and Doughty picking up goals.
Austria scored four goals in competition on Thursday, but fell 8-4 against Finland.
Austria’s national team
The Sochi Games marks Austria’s first time qualifying for the men’s hockey tournament since the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, where they finished 12th.
Only three members of the national team play in the NHL: Michael Raffl, Thomas Vanek and Michael Grabner, who had a hat trick against Finland on Thursday.
Men’s hockey news
Also on Friday, Sweden announced that captain Henrik Zetterberg will miss the rest of the tournament due to a back injury.
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With files from the Associated Press
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