Marleau, Vlasic Win Gold as Team Canada Dominates Sweden
By Eric He
Patrick Marleau will return home from Sochi with a gold medal. Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Team Canada won the gold for men’s hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, defeating Sweden 3-0 in the gold medal game on Sunday.
It was utter domination by the Canadian squad, who hadn’t trailed in a game during the entire tournament, and would not trail here. Jonathan Toews scored in the first period, Sidney Crosby netted a spectacular breakaway goal in the second, and Chris Kunitz put the game away with a third period goal.
But what stood out for Canada throughout the tournament was its defense. Goaltender Carey Price allowed just three goals in six games, and the team used its superior skill to dominate defensively in front of him. Down 2-0 in the third and desperately looking for a goal, the Swedes could barely even generate an offensive rush, much less a shot on goal.
For the Sharks, forward Patrick Marleau and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic will return home with gold medals. This was the second gold medal for Marleau, and the first for Vlasic, one of the standouts for Team Canada on defense.
The other Sharks participating in the Olympics — Joe Pavelski (USA) and Antti Niemi (Finland) — were eliminated in the semi-finals.
Everyone will fly home — if not already — and the Sharks will prepare to take on the Flyers on Thursday in their first game after this lengthy Olympic break.