Canada rebounds at Spengler Cup with victory over host HC Davos squad

DAVOS, Switzerland - Byron Ritchie scored two second-period goals to lead Canada to a convincing 5-0 win over HC Davos in Spengler Cup action Thursday.

Canada (1-1) took better advantage of its offensive chances in this contest against the defending tournament champion than it did in its opener, a stunning 2-1 overtime loss to German side Adler Mannheim.

In the other game Thursday, Salavat Yulaev Ufa edged HC Vitkovice Steel 5-4 in overtime.

John Tavares, Ryan Smyth and Jason Williams had the other goals for Canada, whose roster is loaded with such NHLers as Tavares, Smyth, Jason Spezza, Sam Gagner, Matt Duchene and Jason Demers.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk, earning the start ahead of Jonathan Bernier, recorded the shutout.

Tavares opened the scoring on the power play off a nice feed from Spezza at 9:11 of the first period before Smyth put Canada ahead 2-0 shortly afterwards with an unassisted blast down the left side that went just under the glove of Davos netminder Reto Berra at 9:50.

Ritchie made it 3-0 at 5:05 of the second, converting a setup pass from Josh Holden for the short-handed goal. Ritchie scored on a power play again at 12:23.

Ritchie came close to scoring a third goal in the period but was stymied by Berra in front.

Williams rounded out the scoring in the third period for Canada.

First played in 1923, the Spengler Cup annually pits Davos and Canada against four European club teams in a six-day tournament in Switzerland.

Canada is off Friday when Davos and Mannheim square off. If the host team wins that contest, the Canadians will finish first in their division and get a bye to the semifinal round Sunday. But if the German side wins, then Canada would take second in the conference and play a quarter-final contest Saturday.

The quarter-final victors will advance to the semifinals against the two first-place squads Sunday, with the tournament championship game to be played Monday.