2014-15 National Men's Team

CANADA DROPS OPENER TO SLOVAKIA AT DEUTSCHLAND CUP

JASON LA ROSE

MUNICH, Germany – Micki DuPont (Calgary, Alta./Kloten, SUI) scored on a third-period power play, but Canada’s National Men’s Team fell 4-1 to Slovakia in its opening game at the 2014 Deutschland Cup on Friday.

The Canadians held a 33-29 advantage in shots on goal but couldn’t find a way to get more than one past Slovak netminder Branislav Konrad, who made 13 saves in the second period and 12 more in the third.

Juraj Mikus opened the scoring for Slovakia at 15:20 of the first period, converting on the Europeans’ first power play opportunity, and Radek Deyl doubled the lead with just 1:15 left in the second, sending the Slovaks to the dressing room up 2-0 after 40 minutes.

But Slovakia got into penalty trouble early in the third period, and DuPont made it pay on a five-on-three at 1:20, taking a pass from Steve Reinprecht (Edmonton, Alta./Nürnberg, GER) and cutting the lead in half.

The one-goal game lasted just 28 seconds, however, as Adam Lapsansky beat Canadian goaltender Sebastien Caron (Amqui, Que./Hamburg, GER) on a shorthanded effort, restoring the two-goal lead at 3-1.

Roman Rac scored just past the 12-minute mark of the final frame to cap the scoring.

Canada tries again for its first win Saturday when it takes on Switzerland (1:45 p.m. ET/10:45 a.m. PT) at the Olympia-Eissportzentrum,