Team Canada defeats Russia in men’s hockey

It wasn’t the gold medal game . . . it just felt like it.

Thirty million Canadians will say they were there. And maybe they were — in the hearts of 20 Canadian players who felt their push.

The best of Canadian hockey was on display in this victory for the ages against the world’s No. 1 ranked team from Russia: Passion. Heart. Hunger. Will.

The Canadians came at the Russians like a Tsunami. Canada didn’t just beat Russia in this Olympic quarterfinal, they humiliated them, hung one of the most embarrassing defeats on Russia in its Olympic history.

Alex Ovechkin, targeted at every turn, and especially pounded early by Rick Nash and Shea Weber, looked bewildered, looked like he wished he were somewhere else. Skating around with the fin protruding from the back of his pants, Ovie cruised around like a harmless sea creature afloat in Vancouver’s False Creek. To paraphrase Pedro Martinez, the Canadians whipped No. 8 like they were his daddy. One Weber hit broke Ovie’s stick. Subsequent hits broke his spirit.

“OOOOO-vvie!!” fans chanted, mockingly, in the third period.

And then, “We want Swee-den!!”

Make not mistake, Russia wanted this one, too.

But Canada wanted it in the worst way, needed it, was not going to be denied, not on home ice, not after Russia ruined the 2006 Olympics by beating Canada 2-0 in the quarterfinals, then went on to win two world titles over Canada.

Oh, sweet victory.

At the Olympics, Canada hadn’t defeated the Russians in any form — as Russia, the Soviet Union or United teams since 1960, that black-and-white TV era when Canada was represented by Harry Sinden and his fellow Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen. Canada’s overall Olympic record against Russia just improved to 2-9.

Yes, it’s been 50 years since Canada celebrated an Olympic win over this nation, and if that number rings a bell, it should. It was also 50 years between Olympic gold hockey medals when Canada won at Salt Lake City in 2002.

All day long, the crowd was ready for this one, and clearly so was the team, storming up ice from the opening faceoff. The Russians had to wonder what hit them (usually it was Brenden Morrow or Mike Richards or Jonathan Toews, among too many to list).

Ovechkin surely would have loved to upstage Sidney Crosby and his Canadian team in their own rink, but it was not happening, especially with Evgeni Nabokov springing leaks in the Russian net. The goal he let through off Morrow’s backhand, after Russia scored to close to 3-1, was horrific as well as fatal for the Russians.

Where’s Mike Keenan when he’s needed? Nabokov should have been hooked after that one, if not earlier. Mercifully, he left in favour of Ilya Bryzgalov after Canada’s sixth goal, a slap shot by Weber. Corey Perry scored two goals, as he and Anaheim teammate Ryan Getzlaf put on an offensive show, with some dazzling passing plays. Defenceman Dan Boyle of Ottawa got it started, setting up Canada’s first goal and then scoring the second one himself.

Russian goals by Dmitri Kalinin, Maxim Afinogenov and Sergei Gonchar made things mildly interesting as far as drama. Really, it was over when Canada pumped four past Nabokov in the first period.

Ovechkin seemed to be saving himself for Canada (or maybe it’s the 2014 tournament in Sochi he’s waiting for?). Like a lot of his teammates, Ovechkin didn’t do much in the three preliminary games, aside from his crushing hit on Jaromir Jagr. Throughout, he’s been miserable in the mixed zone, zipping past reporters as though we carried the plague.

Canadian head coach Mike Babcock was heard spinning lovely pre-game yarns about this game turning into the Sid vs. Ovie show, which was a smokescreen, of course. Babcock had no intention of running Crosby’s skill line against Ovechkin, Alex Semin, and Evgeni Malkin.

That assignment went to a new bulldog line of Nash, Toews and Richards. Nos. 61, 16 and 18 didn’t check Ovechkin, they put him on. Put him on and wore him out. The Toews line started the game and starred in it — an especially gritty, effective performance by Toews, the young Chicago Blackhawks centre, who has found his tournament niche.

Oddly, despite the buildup of Sid-Ovie, neither protagonist played much of a role. Crosby did not score a point in the rout, with four shots on goal.

Still, what a chapter for young fans, just catching on to this Canada-Russia rivalry thing, rooted, in the Cold War days when Father David Bauer’s amateur nationals tried their best, then finally Canada’s best professionals (minus Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull) were assembled to teach the Soviets a lesson during an eight-game September Summit Series of 1972.

In the end, the lessons cut both ways, as Canada came to respect and appreciate the Soviet skill, and the Soviets learned about Canadian heart. Only a last minute goal by Paul Henderson saved Canada’s hockey pride. Earlier in that series, after Canada was booed off the ice in Vancouver, Phil Esposito went on TV and pleaded with Canadian fans to stay loyal while the team flew to Moscow to try to salvage something.

There was no such plea needed in Vancouver last night, as fans cheered every nuance of this surprising beatdown. A classic game, it was not.

A classic exhibition of Canadian hockey, it was — in spades.