Babcock: Goalies likely to split first two games

Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock discusses some strategy and itinerary involved with coaching an Olympic team full of stars, in Sochi, how he manages his time between the Wings and the Olympics, and even leaks a couple line combos.

Mike Babcock said it’s likely that Canada will split the goaltending starts in the first two games in Sochi.

The head coach of the men’s hockey team, who joined Hockey Central at Noon Tuesday on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, didn’t get into specifics but it’s expected that Carey Price and Roberto Luongo will each be given a start when Canada kicks off preliminary play.

Babcock also said he expects to keep NHL teammates together on the same line at the start of the tournament. That could include Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp, as well as Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz.

The Canadian men’s hockey team opens up the tournament in Sochi with a preliminary round matchup against Norway on Feb. 13.

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