Small Town Beat Down: Canada Pounds Latvia 16-0

Saturday afternoon offered a celebration of offense and physical domination for Team Canada as they whipped Latvia beyond submission 16-0.  Jake Allen was hardly tested in net, and Gabriel Bourque led the slaughter in Saskatoon by tying a tournament record with seven points.  Almost as obvious as Canada’s offensive advantage was their body-crushing physical superiority.

Phil Kessel can stack shit, Nazem Kadri is the shining light of hope for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Kadri scored two goals and even laid down some smack on the helpless Latvians when he was called for “head-checking”.  The Leafs’ 2009 first round choice was given a two minute minor and a 10-minute misconduct for the hard hit that sent a helmet flying.  For what it’s worth, the shot looked clean.

Edmonton Oilers’ fans were likely clutching boners while watching the play of Jordan Eberle.  The Saskatchewan native also scored twice, both in a six-goal second period.  If Eberle finishes the season in Junior it better be because the Oilers are tanking for Taylor Hall.

Canada faces Switzerland on Monday in their second contest of the tournament.  The Swiss better have something more than a bag of holes in goal if they expect to keep up with the Canadians.