Dein erstes Forum » The atmosphere in Calgary is in stark contrast to Edm

SOCHI, Russia – If not quite the underdog, Drew Doughty believes, at the very least, that the Canadians are being overlooked, doubted and probably even overly dissected heading into Fridays semifinal matchup with the Americans. "I think a lot of people are counting us out," said Doughty. "If everyone wants to count us out, were going to use that as motivation." Doughty wouldnt go quite so far as to label Team Canada as the underdog, but its clear that the overwhelming degree of scrutiny has some members of the squad feeling as though theyve been doubted just a little too much. "We dont see ourselves as the underdog," Doughty said, the defender leading the Canadians with four goals. "I think both teams are really evenly matched. I dont know who Id give the upper hand to at this point. Im obviously more confident in my team than I am in theirs..." Like the Americans, Canada has yet to lose in these Olympics, but unlike their rivals to the south, they failed to exactly dominate in victory, scratching out close wins over the Norwegians (3-1), Finns (2-1 overtime) and Latvians (2-1), the last of which saw the two teams tied for most of the first 53 minutes of regulation. Head coach Mike Babcock has stressed that his team simply improves each and every day of the two-week tournament, pointing to Wednesdays struggle with the Latvians as a needed bit of adversity. Its evident, however, that the best of this Canadian team has yet to emerge. Whether it will in time for the 2010 gold medal game rematch remains in question. "Yeah were close," said Jonathan Toews after the quarterfinal win over Latvia, "not quite there yet though. Next game." Scoring concerns up front remain the most pressing issue. The Canadian forward contingent has combined for just six goals - or one more than Phil Kessel has all by himself here in Sochi - despite an overwhelming level of offensive talent. Wednesdays quarterfinal could be construed as a step in the right direction. Though they snuck just two by Kristers Gudlevskis, they managed nearly 60 shots and had numerous opportunities. Sidney Crosby, who had a breakaway in the opening minute, remains the most notable Canadian forward yet to score, but hes joined by Jonathan Toews, Corey Perry, Rick Nash, Patrick Marleau, Chris Kunitz, Martin St. Louis, Matt Duchene, and Patrice Bergeron – essentially everyone but Jeff Carter, Jamie Benn, Ryan Getzlaf and Patrick Sharp. Symmetry appears to finally be forming though. Unlike the previous four games, which saw the lines differ just about every night, Babcock will keep his forward combinations intact for the tilt against the Americans – save for the injured John Tavares (leg) – hopeful that theyll translate into actual production with elimination on the line. "You can talk scoring chances till youre blue in the face, who cares? The score is on the board, and so weve just got to find a way to keep doing what were doing," said Babcock. "I think we like the fact that were getting a lot of chances in and around the net," said Crosby, who remains alongside Kunitz and Bergeron. "We trust theyre going to go in a little bit more if we keep getting those. I think we just try to stay the course and make sure that we focus on burying those." Theyll have to do so against the seemingly unflappable Jonathan Quick. A rock for the L.A. Kings in the postseason – he has a .940 save percentage combined in the past two springs – Quick has stopped 72 of 77 shots in three starts for Team USA, fronted by an offence thats managed 20 goals in four games. "When he gets hot, when he makes some big saves early, he seems to become unbeatable, said Doughty, who captured the Cup with Quick in 2012. "And thats why weve got to get one early on him. The only way were going to score on him is weve got to get pucks up high and weve got to get screens in front and tips." Countering Quick will be Carey Price – who has stopped 48 of 51 shots – and a stiff defensive Canadian unit thats yielded just two even-strength goals all tournament and average of fewer than 19 shots against. If theres been an obvious strength to Canadas game on the bigger Olympic ice, its been the ability to defend and defend by controlling the possession of the puck. Continuing that against an American attack fronted by Kessel, who leads the tournament with eight points, will be a new and far more difficult challenge. Crosby was among the group of Canadian players who took in the Americans classic tilt with Russia in the preliminary round and was struck, above all else, with just how fast they were as a group. He and his teammates believe theyre ready for such a fight though even if others arent quite so sure. "At this point whether we beat three favourites or zero, nobodys going to really think about that or talk about that if we get the result we want [Friday] and win the game," he said. "Our groups real confident," Babcock added. "We like what weve done. We like how our team is. We think were set up good right now. And that, to me, is the most important thing." Tommy McDonald Jersey . "Canada," Bolland said with a smile. "Is that a question?" 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Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymons did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3.CALGARY -- All signs point to Bo Levi Mitchell being Calgarys starter Friday against the Edmonton Eskimos although the best term to describe the Stampeders quarterback situation this season is fluid. Head coach and general manager John Hufnagel indicated the order of selection on his quarterback depth chart is Mitchell, Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn. But he cautioned that could change prior to the Labour Day rematch in Edmonton. "If we had to play today, Bo would be No. 1, Drew would be No. 2 and Kevin would be No. 3," Hufnagel said Wednesday. Glenn started but Mitchell finished Mondays 37-34 win over Edmonton at McMahon Stadium. Calgary led 37-7 in the fourth quarter before Edmonton rallied to score 27 straight points and make a game of it. Mitchell completed 11-of-18 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Glenn, who left in the second quarter with a bruised knee. It appears the 23-year-old Mitchell, Calgarys No. 3 quarterback in training camp, will get the ball again. With Tate and Glenn moving in and out of the lineup this season, Mitchell is getting plenty of work for a third-string player. "Its another chance for me to get out there and get some more experience, get out there and play some games with the guys and try and get another win," Mitchell said. "Youre playing the same team, but its a completely different game. "Youre definitely not going to prepare the exact seem. Youre going to change some things up." Tate began the season as the incumbent but has struggled with an injury to his right throwing arm. The 28-year-old hasnt played since the fourth quarter of a July 5 loss to Saskatchewan. Glenn, 34, has started six games in Tates absence but hasnt finished three of them due to injuries. Mitchell started and went the distance in Calgarys 37-24 win over Winnipeg on July 26, throwing for 376 passing yards and three TDs. He has completed 51-of-72 passes (70.8 per cent) with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. The Eastern Washington product was slow off the bench Monday. Calgary recovered its own second-half kickoff and was primed to score from the seven-yard line when a Mitchell pass intended for Maurice Price was knocked down and nearly intercepted by Joe Burnett. The Stampeders settled for a field goal. Mitchell did throw two short TD passes to Price later in the second half, which proved to be important given Edmontons late surge. The explosive Price had three touchdown catches and was named the CFLs offensive player of the weeek Wednesday.dddddddddddd If Mitchell starts Friday, Hufnagel wants a more polished performance. "Just to take care of the football, manage the game and do the things we want our quarterback to do," Hufnagel said. "Get the ball to our playmakers. "There were some mistakes that occurred at the quarterback position when he was in the game that I would like to see not be repeated." Glenn wasnt ruling himself out of Fridays game but that prospect seemed unlikely two days out. "I came out and practised and was still a little sore, so right now well go day by day," he said. "You have to be completely healthy because they have a good front four. "In this league, youve got to be able as a quarterback to sometimes get away from the rush and defensive guys. You want to make sure youre 100 per cent to go out there and play." Tate was expected to return for an Aug. 9 game against Saskatchewan but had a setback to start that week. "Im ready to go in and play if I have to play," Tate said. "Im still not to the point where Id like to be, but Im at the point where I believe that if I do go, Ill have confidence in my arm to get first downs." A solid 7-2 record has helped make Calgarys quarterback carousel seem less dramatic and more the accepted norm. The atmosphere in Calgary is in stark contrast to Edmonton (1-8), which has lost five straight by five points or less and hasnt won at home this season. Quarterback Mike Reilly was sacked seven times Monday, with Calgary defensive lineman Charleston Hughes accounting for three of them and claiming defensive player-of-the-week honours. Although Reilly got up after every hit, Edmonton cant afford to have its starter take a beating, especially with such a quick turnaround for a game the Eskimos desperately need to win. Eskimos GM Ed Hervey publicly lambasted his team Tuesday. He singled out Alberta-born offensive lineman Simeon Rottier by stating, "It wouldnt bother me if he didnt play another down this year." The state of the Edmonton franchise makes Calgarys seem serene by comparison even with the somewhat unsettled quarterback situation. While theres limited sympathy for the opposition, Herveys comments raised Prices eyebrows. "I saw it for myself on TV," Price said. "I dont agree with how he did that, especially singling out the one player out like that by name. "He shouldnt do it. It doesnt make anything better by doing that." ' ' '