NHL LOCKOUT: Day 106 – It’s All or Nothing Monday.

Today, I was hoping for Super Sunday. I was hoping for the United States team in the U20 championships to get themselves a safe spot in the quarterfinals and prove to the world that this team was one of those miracle teams that comes along once in a generation. Well, things didn’t go exactly as I hoped. The Canadian team bolted out to a 2-0 lead early in the game. US goaltender John Gibson made some remarkable saves in the course of the first two periods to keep the game within reach. Unfortunately, the American team ran afoul of one of the shining stars of this tournament.

That star is Malcolm Subban, chief of the Canadian crease police. He is also the Bruins’ first round draft pick in last year’s NHL Entry Draft. Subban stopped thirty six of thirty seven shots on goal, (.972 save%) including eight saves that were made when Canada’s Griffin Reinhart got tagged for a double minor for high sticking. His stalwart defense helped Canada survive a strong attempt by team USA to come back in the third period. Team Canada brought home the 2-1 win.

This leaves teams Canada and Russia tied with a 3-0-0 record. Whomever wins that game wil have an automatic bye into the semi finals. The loser will have a higher seed in the quarterfinals. Team USA will have to pull out all the stops to beat Slovakia tomorrow in order to get themselves a place in the quarters. “I’m really proud of him,” said Spott. “I think goaltending in our country has been on the forefront under the radar the last couple of years. I think it’s a big moment for Malcolm, I think it’s a big moment for our hockey club.”