Lightning center Halpern injured in U.S. hockey team's loss to Canada

The United States tried to keep up with rival Canada on Tuesday at the world championships. And the Americans did -- until the final minute.

Dany Heatley scored the winning goal with 46.8 seconds left to lift Canada to a 5-4 victory in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

It was Heatley's second goal of the game.

"We didn't want to wait until the last minute, but we'll take it," said Heatley, who scored his fifth and sixth goals of the tournament.

"In the last minute of periods, we hurt ourselves," U.S. and Lightning coach John Tortorella said.

Meanwhile, U.S. captain and Lightning center Jeff Halpern injured his right knee during the game, Tampa Bay spokesman Bill Wickett said.

Halpern is not expected to play in the Americans' next game, set for Thursday. He will have a full evaluation today, Wickett said, and the team plans to issue a full report.

For the Canadians (3-0), Brent Burns, Jonathan Toews and Derek Roy also scored, and Cam Ward stopped 29 shots.

"We played really hard right to the end," Canada's Ryan Getzlaf said. "We take pride in those kind of wins. We were raised that way."

Zach Parise, Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Brown and Jason Pominville scored for the Americans (2-1), who were praised by Tortorella. "I thought they played their a---- off."

After the Americans fell behind early, Parise and O'Sullivan scored 2:17 apart to cut the lead to 3-2.

"I think we showed a lot of people that we're capable of playing at the same level as these guys," O'Sullivan said.

The Canadians extended their lead to 4-2 on a goal by Roy at 3:29 of the third period. He slammed a pass by Shane Doan past Craig Anderson, who replaced Tim Thomas after the second intermission.

"We don't necessarily rely on the pretty play; we don't rely on one individual guy," Doan said. "As a unit we're pretty solid, and we can count on our depth. If it takes 60 minutes, it takes 60 minutes."

Brown and Pominville scored 36 seconds apart on the power play to erase that lead.

In Quebec City, Capitals teammates Alex Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov each scored, helping Russia (3-0) defeat Denmark 4-1.

Compiled from Times wires

Comments

[h29]

This morning on XM 204 they were saying he severely tore his ACL. They were saying it could be at least 6-8 months off the ice.
HOW ABOUT THAT?

[Nan]

I wish Jeff the best of luck and hope that it isn't serious. That game would have been great to watch. Great stuff, USA! Keep it up!

[MAX]

What the hell!!! Just great!

[hyjyljyj]

Holy crap, the Lightning Insane Injury Parade of 07-08 continues unabated--and the team is NOT EVEN PLAYING.

Hate to see anyone injured at any time--but most especially one of our key leaders in some pointless tournament. We have the Olympics. The World Cup of Hockey. The World Championships. Someone should try to explain why there can't be just a single int'l tournament to say who's the baddest in the world. Why do we need three? How many people even know which one's winner is really the definitive "world champions"? Anyone?

Pointless. Oh well. Even had he not been playing, I suppose he could have nearly sliced his hand off getting dressed, or something equally bizarre. Get well soon, Captain Jeff. I have a feeling we'll miss you intensely at the beginning of the season.

[PD]

If its the ACL you can kiss the whole season bye bye

[Elio]

TSN reports halpern suffered severe ACL tear will need reconstructive knee surgery,

[Geografer]

an Boston losses Thomas to a knee injury in the same game! Maybe it is Sullivan. ;) He is the only new link to this whole season of injury (other than the new logo - maybe that is it). Before Sullivan very few injuries with Sullivan lots of injuries and freak accidents. Now it is happening to the US team and he is there too.

[Voice of the Turtle]

And what for...the season is a long one and most of the best of the world's players are engaged in the NHL playoffs. Hence, This competition has little, if any, meaning.

Why risk injury to players who probably need the rest and rehab from being banged up during the regular season?

This competition has never made a great deal of sense to me. One is reminded of the meaningless NIT tournament in basketball and some of those ridiculous small bowl games where college football teams with mediocre records are invited to play.

I feel badly for Halpern and Thomas, and I'm wondering if salary cap implications (from Jeff's inability to play next year) might even further penalize the Lightning beyond the loss of this key player.