When people talk about the greatest games in the history of the hockey, the 1972 Summit Series and the 1987 Canada Cup often come up.
On this author's list, those contests definitely rank up there among the best ever played.
The common thread?
It's obvious.
Canada v. Russia.
In what may be the game's most significant and most contested rivalry, those two clubs will again play tonight in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Men's Olympic Hockey tournament, after Canada easily dispatched Norway, 8-2, in their qualification game last night.
Entering the Olympics, most observers felt that Canada and Russia was the dream matchup in the tournament.
It still is; it just isn't happening in the gold medal game and instead comes earlier than most expected.
Still, eye candy will be prevalent all over the ice tonight, and taking center stage will be none other than the National Hockey League's greatest individual tug-of-war.
Sidney Crosby v. Alexander Ovechkin.
We all know how these two raise their games against one another when the stakes are highest.
With the chance to play for an Olympic medal at stake, believe me when I say that the world will be tuned in.
Here's a great piece on the game tonight:
http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20100224?sub_id=BVlRkOtZavi7L&folio=CGI#pg27
Aside from what those two bring to the table, there are numerous other subplots to this well-anticipated contest.
Crosby's teammate in Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin, also suits up for the Russians, and this will be the first time those two have shared the ice on opposite sides of the fence -- not counting Penguin training camp-related scrimmages, of course -- since the World Junior Championships in 2004.
Meanwhile, the decision of Canada Head Coach Mike Babock to bench all-world goaltender Martin Brodeur and go with hometown Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo could very well end up being the biggest story being talked about tomorrow, depending on the result of tonight's game.
For his part, Crosby will probably continue to have Eric Staal as a linemate tonight, as those two paired with Jarome Iginla to have a strong game last night against Germany. Crosby scored once, Iginla added two, and Gronk's brother added three helpers on the night.
Will that line get matched up against Russia's number one unit with Malkin, Ovechkin and "baby" (see: Orpik, Brooks) Alexander Semin?
We'll see, but one thing is for sure. Malkin -- not Ovechkin -- has been the Russians' best player in the tournament so far, leading the team with 3 goals and 5 points.
In other quarterfinal games today, the US will have a rematch against Switzerland, after the Swiss beat Belarus in a shootout yesterday. The other hockey superpowers advanced in their qualifying games last night, too -- but barely -- with the Czech Republic beating Latvia by a goal, and Slovakia beating Norway by one.
The Czechs will face-off against Finland tonight, while Slovakia sees Sweden.
I'll have a recap tomorrow of what is surely to be an outstanding night of Olympic hockey. While it will be sad to see such a great hockey nation like Canada or Russia go home without a medal after tonight's action, the good news for the Penguins is that they'll either be seeing Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury, or Geno and Sergei Gonchar returning to the team early. That will allow them either a few extra days rest, or a practice or two with the club -- or both -- before it returns to action next Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres.
As I said, more tomorrow.
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