Winter Olympics: Ondrej Pavelec will be a healthy scratch in Czech opener
Ondrej Pavelec will be a healthy scratch when the Czech Republic plays its first game of the 2014 Olympics against Sweden.
Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Ondrej Pavelec will not be the starting goaltender when the Czech Republic opens the 2014 Olympics against Sweden on Wednesday. In fact, he won't even be on the bench.
Pavelec confirmed on Tuesday that he will be a healthy scratch for the first game of the tournament, as the Czechs will dress Jakub Kovar and Alexander Salak. While he will not be available for the first game, Pavelec stated that he will be the starter against Latvia for the second game of the tournament.
Ondrej Pavelec #nhljets tells Free Press he won't dress for Czech Republic in G1 of Olympics but will start in Game 2 against Latvia #bn
— gary lawless (@garylawless) February 11, 2014 The latest medal count
Be sure to keep SB Nation's beautiful, constantly updated medal tracker by your side all Olympics long. Kovar, 25, has registered a 1.91 goals-against average with six shutouts and a .934 save percentage while playing for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. He is slated to get the start against Sweden. Salak, 27, has registered a 1.86 goals-against average, with three shutouts while accumulating a .933 save percentage for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.
Pavelec supported Kovar and acknowledged his strong performance in the KHL, while expressing his own desire to play, via the Winnipeg Free Press:
“It’s the Olympics. Everyone wants to play. That’s why we’re here,” said Pavelec. “I don’t know. I’ll work hard in practice. The coaches have their reasons. Hopefully this works for us and we win. Kovar has been hot in the KHL. He’s a good goalie and I want him to play well.”
The Winnipeg goaltender has a .901 save percentage, with a 2.97 goals-against average and one shutout.
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