A big key for the Czech Republic is to keep players like Pavel Kubina out of the penalty box, as they were the most penalized team in the opening round.

Czechs say: Let Games begin
By Rich Libero | NHL.com
Feb. 21, 2006

TORINO, Italy -- What can you make of this enigma known as the Czech Republic?

Considered a team that could push Canada for a gold medal, the Czechs sputtered and coughed their way through the Olympic Preliminary Round. They lost the services of goaltender Dominik Hasek and scorer Patrik Elias and yet, they showed signs of life in a 3-2 loss to Canada that locked them into the fourth position in Group A.

"We didn't win a lot of games, but the tournament really starts with the quarterfinals," Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk said. "Today we showed some signs of life and if we play well in the next games, we'll be fine."

Canada jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, but the Czechs stormed back with a pair of solid periods after that. They out-shot Canada 33-16, testing New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur to the limit.

"I think we had it going early," Detroit's Kris Draper said. "We are not happy that we sat back after going up 3-0, but they are a talented side and Marty showed why his is the best goalkeeper in the world."

The Czechs opened the tournament with a pedestrian effort against Germany. They operated with their usual game plan of holding the puck and slowing dismantling a tough German defense. The post-game diagnosis was that Germany is a tough defensive team and a likely quarterfinalist.

Looking back, the Czech's lackluster efforts against a German side that didn't get through the preliminaries was a harbinger of things to come.

Tiny Switzerland then pushed the Czechs over the edge with a shocking 3-2 upset. Shortly after that, they learned that Hasek and Elias were done for the tournament and suddenly the Czechs appeared to be in disarray.

The Switzerland debacle was followed by an unexpected 4-2 loss to Finland, but an unimpressive 4-1 victory over Italy sealed a spot in the quarterfinals.

"We are starting from zero, everybody," goaltender Tomas Vokoun said. "If you won five games in the tournament or two as we did, tomorrow we'll start from the same step. It's a playoff, everything can happen."

One thing the Czechs must do is stay out of the penalty box. They were the most penalized team in the opening round, spending 69:45 -- more than an entire game -- with a man in the box.

Another question is the goaltending.

Nashville's Vokoun, who was deemed good enough to split time with Hasek at the start of the tournament, has struggled of late. He was shaky in the first period against Canada (although one of the goals was deflected off Ales Kotalik).

"I just had a bad day and when they got the first goal it just snowballed. Sometimes those things happen. When things start to go wrong, they go wrong and today I had a bad day," Vokoun said.

The Czechs have received solid play from Jaromir Jagr throughout the Olympic tournament.

It was a bit of a surprise that the Czechs started Vokoun again with the semifinals looming on Wednesday. However, he was dispatched to the bench at the start of the second period.

"That's going to happen and you have to deal with it," Vokoun said. "It's not the end of the world."

Hejduk thinks the loss won't affect Vokoun: "I think Tomas is going to be ready."

The question is: Will the Czechs?

"It is definitely a step up from the NHL regular-season play," Canada forward Simon Gagne said. "I would say it's right at the level of the Stanley Cup playoffs."

Can the Czechs pick up their game across the board to match a level of hockey that might turn to be higher than the highest level known to science?

Normally a puck possession team that skates the puck into the attacking zone and holds for optimum chances, the Czechs enjoyed success when they started shooting against Canada.

During the course of the tournament they've received solid play from Jaromir Jagr who notched two goals, five points and a plus-4 rating. Martin Straka has also played well with five assists and a plus-2. Vaclav Prospal has four points as does defenseman Tomas Kaberle.

But the Czechs need to step up and the last 40 minutes of Tuesday's match could be an indicator that they are about to turn the corner -- if they get better goaltending and stay out of the box.

"It's not that big a deal for us," defenseman Jaroslav Spacek said. "We want to win a medal and we are getting stronger. We played well against the Finns and even though we lost against Canada, we gave a good performance. We gave away bad goals at the start, but if we play like we did in the last 40 minutes, then we will be OK. That period was much better."

If these sleeping giants are going to wake up in this tournament, the first period on Wednesday would be a good place to set the alarm.