Hungry Iggy sparks sputtering offence

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This article was published 17/02/2010 (6015 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — Canada was locked in a scoreless tie with Norway when head coach Mike Babcock went looking up and down his bench for a player who was hungry for a goal.

Of all places, he found it on the fourth line.

OK, so Jarome Iginla is not exactly your average grinder. The former Rocket Richard Trophy winner has twice scored 50 or more goals in an NHL season and has represented Canada three times at the Olympics.

But, with an embarrassment of riches at the forward position, the Calgary Flames captain still has to earn his ice time. On Tuesday night, in a lopsided 8-0 win against Norway, he did just that. After playing a limited role to begin the game, Iginla replaced Patrice Bergeron on the top line after scoring a power-play goal in the second period. He was credited with another in the third — and appeared to have tipped in another but it was given to Rick Nash according to the official scoresheet.

“I think it’s really important to have a bunch of hungry players here,” said Babcock. “And it’s interesting how the guys who were really hungry played so well.

“Iggy would be another one and maybe that’s just some information for the coach there. I talked to Iggy at the start. We need him to be a physical presence for us. We need him to be really hard to play against. And he scored to help us. That’s what we were looking for.”

Iginla, who began the game on a line with Jonathan Toews and Mike Richards, instantly found chemistry with new linemates Sidney Crosby and Nash. Though he and Crosby have never played together, they connected for all three goals.

On Iginla’s first goal, Crosby found Iginla open in the slot for a one-timer on the power play. It was the kind of pass that the Calgary Flames winger probably wishes he could receive more of when playing for his NHL team.

“It was pretty exciting to play with Sid,” he said. “He gives you a wide-open shot… he can shoot. He can do everything.”

Added Crosby: “He finds the areas to get shots off. And when he does, he’s really dangerous.”

For a while, the only thing the Canadians were in danger of was being embarrassed.

Though they outshot the Norwegians 42 to 15 by the end of the game, Norwegian goaltender Pal Grotnes stopped all 14 shots he faced in the first period. That prompted Babcock to swap Iginla with Bergeron in the second. And once he found the back of the net, the floodgates seemed to open.

“I think after the first goal, we were getting better,” said Iginla. “From the first one on, we were getting shots. It’s something that makes you loose.

“It’s all-star teams from different countries, but you don’t play it like that. You want to make sure that you still focus and you shoot from the right areas. Each line settled in as the game wore on.”

It is safe to assume that Iginla will start Canada’s game against Switzerland on Thursday alongside Crosby and Nash. But with the amount of talent at Babcock’s disposal, do not be surprised to see more line juggling.

“(Babcock) talked to all of us about what line combinations to expect and to be ready,” said Iginla. “You’re excited whatever the line combinations are but you’re also for whatever role is asked of you, whether it’s the PK or to be on the power play.”

— Canwest News Service