TORONTO — With the World Cup of Hockey set to begin this weekend, Braden Holtby says he doesn’t know when—or even if—he’ll get the chance to play in a game.
“The hope is that, especially team-wise, is that Carey [Price] can carry the majority of the load,” the reigning Vezina Trophy winner acknowledged Thursday at Air Canada Centre, where the eight-team tournament starts Saturday.
“But obviously with a back-to-back in there, that’s going to be a decision probably based on the first two games, to see how they go.”
Price started two of Team Canada’s three pre-tournament games, including a solid showing in Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win over Russia.
Overall, he's 1-1-0 and has allowed five goals on 50 shots.
Holtby, meantime, started the other exhibition contest, but he ended up splitting the game, a 5-2 win over Team USA, with Corey Crawford. Holtby yielded both goals on 13 shots.
Holtby said he suspects Price will start Canada’s first two games—against the Czech Republic, on Sept. 17, and USA, on Sept. 20—and then Coach Mike Babcock will need to make a decision.
Does Price start the second half of the back-to-back against Europe on Sept. 21? Or does Babcock turn to Holtby or Crawford?
“Corey and I will just take our reps in practice and whichever of us gets an opportunity, if there is one, we’ll be ready,” Holtby said.