The hockey world wanted to see Canada clash with Russia in the gold-medal final at the Vancouver Olympics, but instead the two powerhouse national teams will meet in the quarter-finals.

The edgy Canadian men gathered themselves for a decisive 8-2 victory against the Germans on qualification Tuesday to earn the right to face the Russian Bear on Wednesday.

"That's the way it came out. It's the luck of the draw. I could deliberate forever," Russian forward Sergei Fedorov said.

It's an interesting matchup on so many levels. It's Sidney Crosby versus Alexander Ovechkin. It's Russia's firepower of Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk against Canada's depth and determination.

It's Crosby against his Pittsburgh Penguin teammates Malkin and Sergei Gonchar. Canadian coach Mike Babcock faces his star player Pavel Datsyuk. Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks line will face their goalie Evgeni Nabokov.

There also is the history of Canada-Russia in Vancouver. Remember Phil Esposito's passionate plea after the Soviet Union dumped Canada 5-3 in Game 4 of the epic 1972 Summit Series? There was that incredible 5-3 win for Canada over Fedorov and Russia to open the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Malkin and Russia were embarrassed 5-0 in the 2006 world junior final by Canada.

"We want Russia, we want Russia," the capacity crowd chanted late in the game.

Canadian hockey players never need motivation when they clash with Russia. But there are eight players who will be out to avenge stomach-churning losses to Russia in the 2008 and 2009 world championship finals.

Current Canadian Olympians Ryan Getzlaf, Dany Heatley, Duncan Keith, Rick Nash, Eric Staal and Jonathan Toews were on the losing side, when Canada blew a 3-1 lead after the first period to drop a 5-4 decision to Ovechkin and Russia in Quebec City two years ago.

Last spring, Heatley, Drew Doughty and Shea Weber played for Canada at the worlds. But an early 1-0 lead for the Canadians turned into a 2-1 defeat to Russia.

Back in form

To advance to the quarter-finals, the Canadians put forth the sort of performance they needed to get back on the rails.

The win came against only Germany, which suffered four losses in four games in Vancouver and has only six NHLers in its lineup, including San Jose Sharks backup goalie Thomas Greiss. But Canada's offence was back on track and the game wasn't exactly taxing, so the Canadians have something left for Russia.

There have been concerns for Canada in so many areas, especially after its frustrating 5-3 loss to the United States in the final outing of the preliminary round on Sunday. Babcock pushed all the right buttons in replacing goalie Martin Brodeur for Roberto Luongo and installing two new wingers alongside Crosby. Although Luongo wasn't overworked – Canada outshot the Germans 39-23 – he was much steadier than Brodeur was against the U.S. The placing of Staal on the left side of Crosby and Jarome Iginla paid dividends. Staal set up Iginla for two goals and Crosby for another.

The Canadians received goals from all four lines. They led 1-0 after the first period and 4-1 following 40 minutes. Joe Thornton scored Canada's first goal and defenceman Shea Weber blasted in a goal that went right through the netting to ignite his team's offensive explosion in the second period that also saw Iginla score twice.

Crosby, Mike Richards, captain Scott Niedermayer, who scored a breakaway goal after emerging from the penalty box, and Nash chipped in goals in the third period.

The party at Canada Hockey Place got off to a good start when shortly before the game, a replay of the gold-medal effort of Canadian women's skicross star Ashleigh McIvor was shown on the scoreboard.