St. Louis, Hamhuis in for Canada vs. Norway

Thursday, 02.13.2014 / 3:54 AM

By Arpon Basu - Managing Editor LNH.com / Road to Sochi blog

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SOCHI -- Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban and Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene will have to wait another day to make their Olympic debuts.

Coach Mike Babcock said Subban and Duchene will sit out Canada's opening game of the 2014 Sochi Olympics against Norway on Thursday (12 p.m. ET, USA, CBC), but will play Friday against Austria (12 p.m. ET, USA, CBC).

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis, who was a late addition to the team when Steven Stamkos was ruled out due to injury, and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis will play Thursday, with Hamhuis making his Olympic debut.

Babcock did not say whether St. Louis and Hamhuis will be replaced by Duchene and Subban, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, against Austria.

St. Louis and Hamhuis are each expected to play a role on Canada's special teams.

St. Louis was on the second power-play unit with Anaheim Ducks teammates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry at practice Thursday, with Chicago Blackhawks teammates Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp manning the points.

Hamhuis formed a pairing with Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks on one of Canada's penalty-killing units.

Carey Price of the Canadiens will start in goal against Norway, with Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo backing up. Luongo will start Friday against Austria.

Here is the projected lineup for Canada against Norway:

Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Jeff Carter

Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Rick Nash

Patrick Marleau - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry

Jamie Benn - John Tavares - Patrice Bergeron

Martin St. Louis

Duncan Keith - Shea Weber

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Drew Doughty

Jay Bouwmeester - Alex Pietrangelo

Dan Hamhuis

Carey Price

Roberto Luongo