Close Enough For You?

Are everyone's hearts still beating? Tonight felt a lot like Torino in 2006, only with less heartbreak. There's something about the Swiss playing Team Canada that brings out the best in the European country's hockey stars. In Torino, Italy in 2006, the Swiss shocked the Canadians with a 2-0 upset, including killing off all 12 penalties they took in the game. It was hardly something any Canadian could be proud of, unless, of course, you were Swiss-Canadian. Tonight, it appeared the Canadians ran into another hot goaltender in Anaheim's Jonas Hiller, but Sidney Crosby scored in the shootout and Martin Brodeur held the fort as the Canadians won 3-2. All together now: PHEW!

They say that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Well, adversity is what this Canadian team needs. If you remember to the 2002 gold medal Canadian team, they faced a pile of adversity before getting their collective butts in gear to win the gold medal. It was four years ago to the day that the Swiss pulled off their "Miracle" when they beat Canada. Tonight might have been the best thing to happen to Team Canada, and they'll need to be able to weather a few storms as they prepare for the Americans on Sunday. Martin Brodeur will start for the Canadians again, according to head coach Mike Babcock.

There's the short story: Canada wins in shootout 3-2, finds out that hard work can trump talent if talent isn't willing to get dirty. Let's take a peek at some of the other hockey stories spinning around the Internet right now.

• Fabulous review of St. Louis Blues, Note by Note over on Uni Watch Blog today. I'm not much of a St. Louis Blues fan, but this appears to be a "must-have" book for hockey historians. Lots of amazing photos and great pieces in the book from what Paul Lukas posted.
• The Manitoba Moose, the Atlanta Thrashers, the Saskatoon Blades, the WHL, and the NHL all squashed rumours of a Thrashers-to-Winnipeg move last week, but there's still something stirring in the corridors at MTS Centre. A major press conference has been scheduled for March 4, but no one is talking about it. With the secrecy swirling, there have been mentions of either the Florida Panthers or the Phoenix Coyotes moving to Winnipeg, but I am adamant in my stance that Winnipeg is not an NHL city. Anyone want to venture a guess as to what may be happening?
• No clue what he was thinking, but Oilers' goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was picked up for drunk driving and speeding after being pulled over near Scottsdale, Arizona. Khabibulin is currently on the injured list after undergoing successful surgery for a herniated disc in his back. You have to wonder if driving while drunk at excessive speeds is good for his back, his contract, or his status on the team.
• You have to feel for Jonathan Cheechoo. Cheechoo was part of the trade that sent Canadian Olympian Dany Heatley to San Jose, and now Cheechoo finds himself in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators. For a player that scored 56 goals in 2005-06, this might be the lowest point in his career. Here's hoping that Cheechoo can regain his form and make his way back to the Ottawa Senators' lineup.

That's all for this evening. The Slovaks and Russians are battling on TV right now, and I want to take that game in. Again, Canada can collectively breathe again, and look forward to a star-studded game on Sunday when the Canadians and Americans head into battle.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!