the Rapids their second goal. "It

TORONTO - After getting crushed by Canada 8-0 in the first game at the world junior championship, Slovakias players had a meeting. Forward Martin Reways message was simple. I say just: Its hard to not think about that game, but weve got to forget that game. The tournament just started and I still believe that we got a pretty good team, Reway recalled. Slovakia was a good enough team to bounce back from losses to Canada and the United States to qualify for the knockout round and then beat the Czech Republic to advance to the semifinals. On paper, its the same team that was blown out of Bell Centre, but Canadas players expect much more resistance in the semifinals tonight with a spot in the gold-medal game at stake. Watch the game live NOW on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5 and TSN GO. You can also listen live on the TSN Radio Network. We dont expect it to be a blowout like last time, captain Curtis Lazar said. Theyve got a great hockey club. We cant take them lightly. Things have changed since the Boxing Day blowout, when Canada had 34 shots to Slovakias 12. In the process, Canada chased Slovak goaltender Denis Godla by scoring five goals on 23 shots. In four starts since, Godla has allowed a total of six goals on 136 shots and shut out the Czechs in the quarter-finals. Hes been the best player so far for us, Reway said. I dont see any reason why he cant be the best goalie in the tournament. He was MVP for us as well, stopped so many shots for us. Even the last game he didnt get scored on. Its perfect timing for him for his tournament. Its perfect timing because Godla is draft eligible this year and will get two more chances to impress in front of scouts, this time at Air Canada Centre. Whether the second one is in the gold- or bronze-medal game will have a lot to do with how Godla plays against Canada. Hes got to be perfect. He knows that, Reway said. But weve got to help him more than we did in the first game. Asked what his team must do to pull off an historic upset, Godla said he and his teammates must play the game of our life. Max Domi was asked how his team has changed since the blowout win over Slovakia on Boxing Day. In every way possible. I mean, you watch video on that first game and you watch video from our last game and its almost like a different team in a good way, obviously. We still have some stuff to correct and fix a little bit, but if we play our game well be fine. Head coach Benoit Groulx highlighted two key changes for his group since opening night; they are playing with better structure and the on-ice cohesion/chemistry is better. No pressure, kid. Canada is coming off an 8-0 rout of Denmark in which seven different players scored. This looks like a well-oiled machine, one that has also improved since the first Slovakia game. Weve come a long way as a team, defenceman Josh Morrissey said. That was only our fourth game together at that time. Now weve had some big games and really nailed our systems down a lot more. Lazar said Canada is better in its defensive zone and in transition and has more chemistry. Some of that is happening on the fly, as Brayden Point will continue to play on the second line with Lazar and Connor McDavid after replacing the injured Robby Fabbri there against Denmark. Point, who had been Canadas 13th forward, doesnt take anything away from Slovakia for how it played in the opener. That was their first game coming into a rink that was packed and cheering for our side, Point said. Theyve obviously gained some confidence over the tournament, and theyre a whole new team. Reway said most of the Slovak team had never played against competition like Canada before. Hes confident in his teams improvement but is still justifiably wary of Canadas depth. If you play against Czech or Finland, they got a few good players, but Canada every line can score, said Reway, whos a Montreal Canadiens prospect. It must be the best performance from us for this tournament. I believe we got something to show. ... Theyre the best team in the tournament, thats for sure. Its going to be hard for us. Groulx, who confirmed Zach Fucale will start in goal against Slovakia, didnt want to add to his own teams hype when told of Reways assessment. For us it is only one game at a time and our goal is to prepare and focus on what we have to do and adapt to what other teams are throwing at us, Groulx said. It is something we have been doing pretty well so far, but tomorrow we have to start over again. One victory away from guaranteeing the first medal in this tournament since 2012, Canadas players arent showing signs of feeling the pressure. Its a business-like group, even for players aged 17 to 19, something Groulx credits to preparation and routine. They know exactly what to do. They are a very confident group, Groulx said. When you look at them, they take care of a lot of things day in and day out. They come here, they are focused, they know what they have to do and they take pride at doing things right. In going undefeated by beating Denmark, Germany, Finland, the United States and Denmark, Canada has done just about everything right. Its going to be hard to stop them, Reway said. But were going to try our best, for sure. Canadian forward Robby Fabbri addressed reporters on Sunday, the first time since sustaining a high ankle sprain. The Blues prospect said he had received messages of support from T.J. Oshie and Jaden Schwartz. Its been pretty tough, but I still have a smile on my face coming to the rink every day, being around the guys and supporting them and making sure I dont bring anyone down, Fabbri said. Im a cheerleader for the next couple days. Fabbri suffered the injury after throwing a body check at Denmarks Anders Krogsgaard on Friday early in the first period of Canadas 8-0 quarterfinal win. Game Notes: CAN beat SVK in tournament opener First time they will face each other twice in same WJC CAN has 9 wins, 1 tie all-time vs SVK Tie came in 1999, 8 straight CAN wins since Canada: CAN lost in SF last 3 years came in 4th in 2013 and 2014 won a medal each time tournament was in Canada only time 3 straight years without a medal was 1979-81 have not trailed in any of their games 7/15 on PP, 16/17 on PK .960sv% best at WJC Reinhart (4G, 5A) tied for WJC lead in PTS Slovakia: SVK last made SF in 2009, lost to SWE SVK only medal was a bronze in 1999 finished 8th in 4 of past 5 years (6th-2012) 1/11 on PP, 17/18 on PK rank 5th in sv% .923 Reway has 4 of teams 10G William Perry Bears Jersey .com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. David Montgomery Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. http://www.chicagobearfootballauthentic.com/authentic-tarik-cohen-bears-jersey/ . According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Brodeurs agent Pat Brisson has spoken to six teams so far regarding the veteran goaltender. Mike Singletary Jersey . The turf is scheduled to give way to actual grass that is bright green, so we dont have to complain any more—we just have to wait a few years. Instead, do feel free to complain if the roof is closed for any reason other than to allow a game to be played. Jim McMahon Youth Jersey . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon.COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - The Vancouver Whitecaps hadnt experienced a loss in over two months before falling to the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Saturday. Dillon Powers and Vicente Sanchez both scored in the first half as the Rapids snapped the Whitecaps (5-3-7) franchise-best unbeaten streak at eight matches. But as head coach Carl Robinson saw it, it wasnt that big of a deal. "Weve lost one in nine," Robinson said. "I wont get carried away." Despite the loss, Vancouver had reason to celebrate as Whitecaps Mehdi Ballouchy, Steven Beitashour and Nigel Reo-Coker all made their returns after various lengths of absences. Ballouchy played 20 minutes in his first game in nearly 11 months since tearing his right ACL last season. He tore his left ACL two years ago, and played only five games for the San Jose Earthquake before the most recent injury. "Its been a long time," Ballouchy said. "When you do an ACL, you come back, and you do it again, these are long-term injuries. A lot of players dont come back. Its been a steep, steep hill and Im happy to be playing again." Reo-Coker was back in action after missing Wednesdays scoreless draw against Montreal to be in New York for the birth of his first child, while Beitashour was back after a long trek back from Brazil, where he played for Irans national team in the World Cup pool play. Vancouver hadnt lost since falling to Los Angeles 1-0 on April 19. It was the second of a brief two-game losing streak that started with a home loss to Colorado a week earlier. "Weve lost three games out of 15. Its not bad," said Reo-Coker. "Every team has spells like this — even the top teams. Were going through it now. We have so much belief and confidencee in this team that were going to bounce back.dddddddddddd Its a sign and test of how good we are." Reo-Coker said the birth of his daughter Scarlet changed his life "completely." "Its fantastic," he said. "Its something you cant put into words until you go through." He had a less memorable moment late in the first half when he fouled Sanchez in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Sanchez easily beat goalie David Ousted in the 36th minute to give the Rapids their second goal. "It was just miscommunication between David and myself," Reo-Coker said. "I saw David coming out and we kind of hesitated amongst each other, no one really took command of the full situation." Robinson had no issue with the call. "Second goal, it was a blatant penalty," he said. Powers hit the bar in the 17th minute and put a shot through the legs of a Vancouver defender three minutes later to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. The Rapids had another chance in the 27th minute, but were turned away by Ousted. Vancouver had two solid chances in the second half but Pedro Morales put a shot wide in the 63rd minute and Johnny Leversons laser in the 77th minute was saved by Clint Irwin. Colorado had 19 shots overall to Vancouvers five. "Were going to win games where we dont deserve to and were going to lose games we deserve to win," Robinson said. "Tonight we got what we deserved." Robinson didnt play Beitashour, opting instead to give him a rest after a long period of travel. "Beitas had three flights and in total its probably 16 hours of flying," Robinson said. "What I didnt want to do is risk an injury to him. I made the decision before the game." ' ' '