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“You’ve got guys who can score,” said Peters. “They only need once chance … we have a very high shooting percentage right now. That’s probably going to come down as the tournament goes on, I would suspect. But we want to make sure we’re generating quality and quantity.”

So far, Hall has done both. His 14 shots are five more than the next-highest shooter (Perry) and his willingness to challenge the defence and park himself in front of the crease has led to some of the easiest goals he has scored in his career.

“He’s a guy that puts the puck in the net. And we know that,” said Perry. “You see his speed, you see his creativity and he’s not afraid to go the net and that’s what you need in a tournament like this.”

This is Hall’s third time participating at the world championship, which is a by-product of having never made the playoffs in his six seasons in Edmonton. The lack of post-season experience could be a reason why some believe San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture, who leads the playoffs with 17 points, will get picked ahead of Hall for Canada’s World Cup team in September.

Hall, who ranked 23rd in scoring this season with 65 points, cannot help that. But he is hopeful that his participation and success at yet another world championship will count for something.

“I think winning a gold medal, being on a successful team, I think I saw what it did last year,” said Hall. “It made the summer just so much better. It makes people think about you differently than how your season went. I think a lot of the guys know that it’s a second chance to our season and I’m enjoying it.”

When told that he’s following in the footsteps of another Oiler, Hall smiled.

“Smitty loved hockey, he loved playing over here,” Hall said of Smyth, who played in eight world championships. “He would do anything for Canada. I think that’s why he’s so revered and loved by not only Edmonton but Canada too.”

Is that what Hall is trying to do over here too — become the next Ryan Smyth?

“No,” he said. “I want to be in the playoffs. I don’t want to be over here every year, to be honest.”

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