Canada ice hockey team blitz Russia to reach Olympic semi finals

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Posted: Thursday 25th February 2010 | 3:43

TEAM Canada may have been playing in white but the Big Red Machine was in full swing as they thumped world champions Russia to reach the Olympic ice hockey semi finals.

HIGH FLYING: Brenden Morrow celebrates his goal against Russia as Canada romp into the semis with a thumping win at Canada Hockey Place (Getty Images)

A fantastic performance from start to finish from the hosts saw them chalk up a 7-3 victory - they were 4-1 up and cruising at the end of the first period and even by then, Canada Hockey Place was jubilant.

The 5-3 defeat to the USA might have hurt Canada but it seems an age ago after they followed up a comprehensive victory over Germany with a sublime win over the world number ones.

Canada have now notched up 29 goals in Vancouver, far more than their nearest rivals and will take to the ice for their semi final with Sweden or Slovakia riding the crest of a wave.

Corey Perry scored twice while there were also goals for Shea Weber, Brenden Morrow, Dan Boyle, Rick Nash and the out-standing Ryan Getzlaf as Canada produced some exhibition hockey at times.

It was as if the defeat to the USA broke the shackles and removed the fear of failure and now Bob Babcock's men are firing on all cylinders.

This was billed as the clash of two of the NHL's finest - Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby against Washington Capitals ace Alexander Ovechkin.

But Crosby did not get on the scoresheet while Ovechkin was kept considerably quiet.

Instead Crosby played his part in an excellent team performance, kick-started by Getzlaf as early as the third minute after a fine assist from Boyle.

Boyle made it two soon after and there was still time for Nash to fire high past Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks. While Dmitri Kalinin pulled one back for Russia, Morrow came in from behind the net and slot home to make it 4-1.

Canada began the second period just as ferociously as they did the first and Perry grabbed his first three minutes and Weber thumped another past the crestfallen Nabokov to make it 6-1.

Maxim Afinogenov of the Atlanta Thrashers pulled one back for Russia but Canada were relentless and Eric Staal's fine no-look pass found Getzlaf who teed up Perry for a fine goal and his second of the game.

Sergei Gonchar got a third for Russia before the second period was out and a carnival atmosphere swept Canada Hockey Place in the third as there were no more goals.

Such was their side's dominance that all Canadian eyes have turned to the semi finals and while not all would admit it, a re-match with the USA on Sunday is also at the forefront of their minds.