Okay, you're on notice.
I'm warning you now.
Here it comes.
Are you ready?
The token Ghostbuster's reference.
"Who you gonna call?"
Sidney Crosby.
When a whole nation needed him to do what he did best, #87 came through for Team Canada last night, scoring on Canada's 4th shootout attempt against Switerland netminder Jonas Hiller to give his squad a 3-2 SO victory.
The irony to it all is that it was Crosby's second shootout attempt. In the Olympics, after the first three shooters, coaches can call on anyone from shot to shot.
So, after Crosby, Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Towes and Anaheim Ducks Ryan Getzlaf -- against his teammate in Anaheim no less -- all came up empty for Canada, and after Martin Brodeur stoned all 3 swiss shooters, Team Canada coach Mike Babcock says to Crosby:
"You wanna go again?"
"Yeah, sure", Sid says.
With steely resolve in his eyes, Crosby walks in on Hiller and wastes no time just blowing it by him on the far side.
Broduer makes it hold on the other end and Canada goes home with there being no doubt who the hero is.
Canada currenty sits second in its pool behind the United States who, on the strength of 2 goals from Brian Rafalski and a goal and an assist from former Penguin Ryan Malone, beat Norway easily yesterday to lead the group. Going to a shootout cost the Canadians a point in the standings, but it doesn't really matter, because Sunday's anticipated preliminary round game between the clubs will pretty much decide who wins their group of four.
And that game is big, because it puts the group leader straight into the quarterfinals without the possibility of having to play an extra qualifying elimination game to get into the final 8.
Meanwhile, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar's squad, Russia, didn't fare quite as well last night, being upset in a shootout of their own by Slovakia.
Penguin fans will be happy to know that Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin took three attempts in the shootout in that one and missed them all.
Montreal Canadiens netminder Jaroslav Halak held up just enough for former Boston Bruin Josef Stumpel to score 2 shootout goals in 7 attempts against Phoenix Coyotes netminder Ilya Bryzgalov to win it for the Slovaks.
As the US and Canada are looking to avoid the tougher path to a medal depending on the results of their game Sunday night, the Russians will now almost surely have to go that route. They certainly can; it just won't be as easy for them now.
Another thing of note to Penguin fans about the Russian team.
Former flightless bird and current Kontinental Hockey League star Alexei Morozov actually was chosen to Captain their squad in the games this year.
Morozov has really blossomed as a player in the KHL since leaving the NHL 4 seasons ago. He's blossomed so much, in fact, that rumors occasionally persist about him returning to the big league in North America.
Not so, said Morozov a few days ago.
Back on the home front, I mentioned Sergei Gonchar. Well, Penguins' GM Ray Shero and Gonchar's agent, J.P. Barry were scheduled to meet sometime yesterday in Vancouver to continue contract discussions.
While I'd be surprised at this point if a deal to keep Sarge in the Penguins' fold was consummated during the Olympic break, it seems as the Pens' are about to extend an offer to Gonchar's camp, which is something they haven't done thusfar.
I'll keep everyone posted on that as news comes in.
More later.
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