What you need to know: Canada vs. Russia semi-final

Team-Russia's-Vladimir-Tarasenko-(91)-battles-for-the-puck-with-Team-Canada's-Jonathan-Toews-(16)-during-the-second-period-of-a-World-Cup-of-Hockey-exhibition-game-in-Pittsburgh-on-Wednesday,-Sept.-14,-2016.-(AP-Photo/Gene-J.-Puskar)

Team Russia's Vladimir Tarasenko battles for the puck with Team Canada's Jonathan Toews during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

After a week of exciting round-robin play at the World Cup of Hockey, the semi-final matchups are set.

Canada and Russia will restore their historic rivalry Saturday night. This will be the 13th time the Canadians faceoff against Russia/Soviet Union in a Canada Cup/World Cup setting, and the 15th time in best-on-best competition since 1976.

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The two hockey nations faced off in a pre-tournament game on Sept. 14, and needed overtime to settle the score. Ryan Getzlaf beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a breakaway for the 3-2 win. If that game was any indication of how these two teams will compete Saturday night, we’re in for a treat.

Here’s what you need to know prior to puck drop.

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NEED TO KNOW: TEAM CANADA

• As expected, Carey Price (1.00 GAA, .968 save percentage) will start in net for Team Canada, with Corey Crawford as backup.

• Claude Giroux, Jake Muzzin and Braden Holtby will be Canada’s healthy scratches.

• Team Canada was the only team to exit preliminary play undefeated, beating Czech Republic, USA, and Europe in regulation.

• Canada has won 13 straight games in best-on-best international competition, with Jonathan Toews leading the way in points during that time.

• 13 has been a lucky number for Canadian Price, too.

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• Canada’s depth was on full display during preliminary play, with all but four players registering a point and eight forwards earning multiple points. They have outscored their opposition 14-3 through three games.

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NEED TO KNOW: TEAM RUSSIA

• “It’s a dream game,” Russian centre Evgeny Kuznetsov said of Saturday’s matchup. “Most guys don’t get a chance to play against Canada – this Canada. It’s going to be a great, great challenge, and we accept it.”

• Sergei Bobrovsky (1.68 GAA, .948 save percentage) will start in net for Team Russia. He had a 21-save shutout against Finland on Friday to help Russia earn its spot in the semis.

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• Pavel Datsyuk was absent from Thursday’s game against Finland as he nursed what the team called a lower-body injury. No word yet on whether he’ll play on Saturday.

• Alex Ovechkin‘s three points in three games (1G, 2A) makes him Team Russia’s points leader. Vladimir Tarasenko leads the squad in goals with two.

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While Tarasenko has been Captain Clutch of the tournament, Team Canada and Team North America dominated the individual stats in round-robin play.

Here are your World Cup stat leaders through round robin:
Goals: Jonathan Toews (CAN), 3
Assists: Shayne Gostisbehere (NAT), 4
Points: Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene (CAN) and Johnny Gaudreau, Shayne Gostisbehere (NAT), 4
Game-Winning Goals: Vladimir Tarasenko (RUS), 2
Plus-Minus: Jay Bouwmeester, Sidney Crosby (CAN), +5
Shots on Goal: Patrice Bergeron (CAN), 16

The winner of Saturday night’s matchup will face the winner of Sunday’s semi-final against Sweden and Europe in a best-of-three final series next week.

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More pregame reads:
Certain victory over Russia has haunted Team Canada before
International hockey scene better off when Russia’s a player
It’s time to give dominant Team Canada its fair due

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