Team Canada is giving No. 1 netminder Martin Brodeur a night off as it approaches the world hockey championship.
Backup Roberto Luongo will get the call in goal when Canada plays its final pre-worlds tune-up Thursday against the Czech Republic in Prague.
Brodeur won't dress for the game, which means No. 3 goalie Marty Turco will be on the bench to serve as Luongo's backup.
"We talked to Marty [Brodeur] about this to see how he felt," said Canadian coach Marc Habscheid. "He wanted to play in Latvia and this was a good one to rest him."
Brodeur played the entire 60 minutes of Canada's 3-1 exhibition triumph over Latvia in Riga on Monday.
The New Jersey Devils goaltender is expected to see most of the puck-stopping action for Canada at the world championship. Brodeur guided Canada to gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2004 World Cup.
On the injury front, Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski is a questionable starter after leaving the first game of Monday's game with Latvia due to a hip injury.
"He'll go for treatment and we'll re-evauate at the pre-game skate," said Habscheid. "If there's any question, he won't play."
Defenceman Wade Redden, who skipped the Lavia game with a sore groin, said he'll skate versus the Czechs.
Canada opens the world championship Saturday against Latvia.
Backup Roberto Luongo will get the call in goal when Canada plays its final pre-worlds tune-up Thursday against the Czech Republic in Prague.
Brodeur won't dress for the game, which means No. 3 goalie Marty Turco will be on the bench to serve as Luongo's backup.
"We talked to Marty [Brodeur] about this to see how he felt," said Canadian coach Marc Habscheid. "He wanted to play in Latvia and this was a good one to rest him."
Brodeur played the entire 60 minutes of Canada's 3-1 exhibition triumph over Latvia in Riga on Monday.
The New Jersey Devils goaltender is expected to see most of the puck-stopping action for Canada at the world championship. Brodeur guided Canada to gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2004 World Cup.
On the injury front, Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski is a questionable starter after leaving the first game of Monday's game with Latvia due to a hip injury.
"He'll go for treatment and we'll re-evauate at the pre-game skate," said Habscheid. "If there's any question, he won't play."
Defenceman Wade Redden, who skipped the Lavia game with a sore groin, said he'll skate versus the Czechs.
Canada opens the world championship Saturday against Latvia.
