Muzzatti set for Canadian NHLers
14/02/2006 11:12:16 PM
As proud as Jason Muzzatti is of his time spent in the NHL, his resumé hardly ranks among the game's best: 62 career games, 13 wins, 25 losses and a 3.32 goals-against average.
One-time NHL goalie Jason Muzzatti will man the Italian net against Canada in Olympic hockey action on Wednesday. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
While the Toronto native never developed into a top-flight goaltender in North America, the night of April 4, 1996, will forever be embedded in Muzzatti's mind.
The former Calgary Flames first-round pick stopped all 40 shots for his first and only NHL shutout to lead the Hartford Whalers to a 1-0 win over a young Martin Brodeur and the hometown New Jersey Devils.
Ten years later, Muzzatti is expected to get another chance to best Brodeur when the Italian men's hockey team plays host to Brodeur and Team Canada in the opener of the Olympic tournament on Wednesday (CBC, 7 a.m. EST).
"I'm getting closer to the end of my career. It's fantastic to be back amongst the elite," the 35-year-old Muzzatti told writer Joeri Loonen for a story on eurohockey.net.
Muzzatti, who moved to Italy five years ago after a failed stint with the San Jose Sharks, is the key player on an Italian squad that many predict will finish last in the 12-team event.
Although capable of stealing a victory, Muzzatti might have to make like Jim Craig and his Amercian teammates at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., and perform another miracle.
At the other end stands Brodeur, 33, a three-time Stanley Cup champion who backstopped Canada to a 5-2 win over the U.S. in the gold-medal game at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
Unlike Muzzatti, he'll be playing behind 20 of the world's most skilled players, led by captain Joe Sakic and snipers such as Jarome Iginla, Simon Gagne, Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis.
Joe Thornton is expected to centre a line with Nash and Gagne at Palasport Olimpico, a trio that finished one-two-three in scoring at the 2005 world championship.
"They were considered to be the best line at the 2005 world championship, so we thought it was best that we left them intact," Canadian coach Pat Quinn told reporters before boarding a flight for Turin.
"We're pretty excited and hopefully it's going to click [again]," said Gagne, who has 37 goals in 51 games with the Philadelphia Flyers this season.
Quinn also has reunited Sakic and Iginla. They were brilliant together in Salt Lake forming a potent unit with Gagne. Speedy Detroit Red Wing Kris Draper will take Gagne's spot on the line in Italy.
Canada, which plays five games in the first seven days of the tournament, also boasts an all-star cast on defence with the likes of Rob Blake, Chris Pronger and Adam Foote.
Pronger will play Wednesday, just one week after a MRI exam revealed a cracked bone in his right foot.
Four of Canada's seven blue-liners rank among the top 15 scoring defencemen in the NHL - Bryan McCabe, Wade Redden, Blake and Pronger.
Conversely, Italy's leader on the blue-line is Bob Nardella, whose claim to fame is helping the Chicago Wolves to a pair of American Hockey League championships.
Devoid of current NHLers, the mostly 30-something Italians will rely on Muzzatti to keep the game close and pray they have enough stamina to be competitive for 60 minutes.
"Italians are known for their passion," coach Michel Goulet told Sun Media on Monday. "That's what we're basing our whole program on. That's what we'll have to rely on if we're going to have any success here."
Former Carolina Hurricanes draft pick Carter Trevisani, a transplanted Canadian, doesn't believe his Italian teammates will be embarrassed on home soil.
"Obviously, they are at a different level," Trevisani said of the Canadian players, "but I think we can compete and I know we can compete. We're not slugs."
Canada has never lost to the Italians, posting a 5-0 victory in the last matchup at the 2002 world championship.
However, it may take some time before the Canadians hit their stride in Turin, CBC hockey analyst Kelly Hrudey said prior to the Olympics.
"One of the things Canada has banked on over the years is good team chemistry," he said. "That just doesn't' happen after one or two skates together, it takes some time. I wouldn't doubt that they get a scare or two early on."
Canada and Italy also will be in action on Thursday against Germany and Finland, respectively.
Canada vs Italy
Is that the Michel Goulet who is coach of the Italians?
CKA Super Elite 
It's a wee bit early for me.
