TORONTO -- Canada is turning to Carey Price to start the World Cup of Hockey.
Coach Mike Babcock designated Price as Canada's starter for Saturday's tournament opener against the Czech Republic.
Price has always been the presumed No. 1 for Team Canada. The lone question was the 29-year-old's readiness after a long layoff. He started and completed two of Canada's three exhibition games, including his first game action in nearly 10 months last week.
He looked predictably rusty in that 4-2 loss to the Americans, yielding three goals on 24 shots. Babcock said the performance "wasn't Carey-like" for obvious reasons: Price hadn't played since late November after a knee injury cost him nearly all of last season with the Montreal Canadiens.
Babcock was satisfied with Price's second start, against Russia. The 2015 Vezina Trophy winner stopped 24 shots in a 3-2 overtime win.
The Canadians looked dominant in winning two of their three tournament exhibition games. They outshot the two teams (playing the U.S. twice) by a combined 129-74, including 99-52 at even strength. Canada fired more than 40 shots twice, including a 48-shot barrage against the Russians in the pre-tournament finale.
Still, the games were tight and Babcock said he believes that is how the tournament will be, too.
Canada is seeking its second straight World Cup title, albeit 12 years after the last one in 2004.
Game notes
Defenseman Shea Weber sat out the final practice Friday but is expected to play against the Czechs.