Team Canada: Crosby centering Rick Nash and Patrice Bergeron

Team Canada: Crosby centering Rick Nash and Patrice Bergeron

8:03pm - Monday, February 15th, 2010 by DePaoli

Team Canada news and Notes

Is there more pressure on any athlete in the Olympics than Sidney Crosby?

The pressure for Team Canada to capture the Gold medal is enormous and Canada opens up the tournament against Norway Tuesday afternoon.

Sidney Crosby who went through his first practice this evening, skated on a line with Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins.

Nash who played with Crosby during the entire Team Canada orientation camp is not a surprise and neither is Patrice Bergeron due to Crosby and Bergeron having excellent chemistry during the world championships but that the nearly four years ago.

It remains to be seen if Bergeron is the best fit alongside Crosby. Canada has a group of dynamic right wingers including Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla and Corey Perry.

Jarome Iginla who saw extensive time with Crosby during Canada's orientation camp, will likely also get a look alongside Crosby at some point during the tournament.

Rest of Canada's lines in practice today were Patrick Marleau- Joe Thornton- Dany Heatley; Eric Staal-Ryan Getzlaf- Corey Perry and Brenden Morrow-Jonathan Toews-Jarome Iginla with Mike Richards the extra forward.

It is not clear when Penguins goaltender Marc Andre Fleury will see any action. Robert Luongo will start against Norway on Tuesday and Martin Brodeur will start on Thursday, Team Canada announced.

Comments

SV84

I'm sure if Canada doesn't win, idiots like Don Cherry will blame Crosby.

02/15/2010 8:37pm

CM2005

I think Canada needs to worry about Brodeur and Fleury playing better then they have recently.

02/15/2010 8:42pm

Jeff2266

Crosby is in a tough spot eberyne that bashed him for years and there's alot of people did. Now these same people will be pointing fingers at sid. Too bad but he can handle it and if Canada doesn't win it won't be because of crosby. Mostnf us know he brings it when it matters

02/15/2010 9:02pm

Jeff2266

If mike Richards sits who are the other penalty killers?

02/15/2010 9:04pm

dirtmccurt

Pretty much everyone could kill a penalty on that team

02/15/2010 9:19pm

Carnauerff

Crosby centering Nash and BERGERON. Wtf he wasn't even supposed to make the team now he's on the first line? I know he had great chemistry with sid in juniors, but that was 5+years ago. Iginla on the 4th line... Another reason why Canada shoots themselves.

02/15/2010 9:21pm

mwiles19

Bergeron is a very talented player who can win faceoffs and finish for Sid. Iginla is an awesome player as well, but not sure they need two power style forwards in Iginla and Nash on the same line. The lines all appear to have balance unlike Russia and the USA who are basically 1 or 2 lines deep.

02/15/2010 9:29pm

mwiles19

Not that Bergeron HAS to win faceoffs, but given how well he does on them, thats a heck of an advantage in that right circle if they decide to use him there from time to time. These lines also aren't set in stone and can change so I wouldn't get too excited about it.

02/15/2010 9:31pm

dirtmccurt

The playing styles argument doesn't hold much with these players. Its not like he's playing with guys like Kunitz of Bertuzzi; Nash and Iginla are two of the games best players and they can take whatever NHL10 player type you want to assign them. I agree that Bergeron is a good player but he's never even caught a scent of 50 goals

02/15/2010 10:41pm

wmalonijr

is getzlaf a center? I think dirt is right in that this team can do it all. Again Russia has the most intimidating offensive players in the game but not to scary defensively.

02/16/2010 7:43am

mwiles19

Haha thats funny about the NHL10 player assignment, even though I didn't use that when typing that post, thats a good one.

02/16/2010 8:07am

mwiles19

I agree too that they can do it all, I was just trying to justify reasoning for putting Bergeron on that line. I'm sure there is a reason beyond just the chemistry, and its not exactly as if Bergeron is chopped liver out there on the ice either. As I said, its a preliminary line and I'm sure it could and probably will change.

02/16/2010 8:08am

jaluco

Rather see Russia win than Canada.

02/16/2010 8:21am

BillCitro

Forward Depth here is unreal, but will be interesting to see how they shape up defensively.

02/16/2010 8:26am

Carnauerff

Rather see russia win? Just give espn another way to think ovie is better than sid.

02/16/2010 8:32am

jaluco

Who seriously cares what ESPN thinks? Well, besides you, of course....

02/16/2010 8:40am

Jeff2266

jaluco with something negative to say i dont believe that for a second

02/16/2010 8:48am

jaluco

What exactly is negative about posing the question as to who cares what ESPN thinks with regard to hockey? Or am I being negative in wanting Russia to win over Canada? I don't see either as negative. Maybe you just can't read, Jeff.

02/16/2010 8:50am

Jeff2266

Just saying u want russia to win over canada is just a spiteful comment

02/16/2010 9:03am

Jeff2266

Im hearing Morrow is scratched tonight and Richards is on the 4th line and probably the PP with sid as well

02/16/2010 9:04am

jaluco

Huh - so saying I want Malkin to win is spiteful? I'm not f'ing canadian. How is that spiteful? You make absolutely zero sense whatsoever. Maybe you don't know what spiteful means.

02/16/2010 9:06am

jaluco

I want the US to win over canada too - guess that's super spiteful!

02/16/2010 9:07am

Jeff2266

No because u go into an article about Team Canada when u know there are many Canadians on this site and start talkin trash

02/16/2010 9:12am

Jeff2266

All u do is stroll around picking apart peoples post and starting arguments

02/16/2010 9:13am

jaluco

That wasn't trash talk - that was expressing a preference. If you took it to heart, maybe you're just a big baby - did you ever think about that? Because I did - and that's exactly how you come across. Hell - I didn't even wish ill will on Canada - only said I'd prefer Russia to win and your panties automatically bunched up. I sure hope I didn't make you cry over there, christ.

02/16/2010 9:19am

jaluco

Seems like you started the argument, sweetie. I just stated an opinion.

02/16/2010 9:19am

dirtmccurt

lol jaluco. I don't know what I'd do without your reality checks

02/16/2010 10:36am

77star

Reality check: A parent's basement is no way to live your life jaluco!

02/16/2010 12:27pm

jaluco

Noted. Consider I moved out when I was 18, I'm not sure how it applies though. Good one though. You're a real clever guy.

02/16/2010 2:00pm

↑ previous comments ↑

hull07

I wonder if Rick Nash and Steve Nash are related?????

02/16/2010 4:28pm

Jeff2266

Not sure if that a serious question but no is the answer. Steve Nash bro plays pro soccer if that helps

02/16/2010 4:49pm

Jeff2266

Steve is from BC and Rich Nash is from my hometown Brampton, On

02/16/2010 4:50pm

hull07

I live in Orlando, and I went to a Orlando Magic game vs the Suns and read Steve was a Canadian so I just thought maybe relation was a possibility.

02/16/2010 6:46pm

Jeff2266

Crosby playing with iginla and Nash looked great tonight, Crosby came to play tonght. Must have set up 5 or 6 very good chances on top of the 2 assists

02/16/2010 10:23pm