The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

- As soon as Sid the Kid stepped on the ice the 2nd time in the shootout, I had no doubts he was going to put the puck in the net. I'm sure he looked over at coach Mike Babcock and said, "I know what to do" and the rest is history.

- No doubt there will be many already pushing the panic button, worrying how Canada can handle powerhouses Russia and Sweden if they need a shootout to beat a lowly Switzerland team. I am not one of them. Any team can ride a hot goalie, and indeed the Swiss got a huge performance out of Jonas Hiller from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to force a shootout. They kept pressing and pressing but just hit a brick wall with Hiller, and really it could have happened to any team.

- Any more reason to hate Chris Pronger? Seeing him go after another Swiss player, which led to a delayed penalty, which led to confusion in front of Brodeur, which led to a Swiss goal probably had Babcock fuming. A completely selfish play by Pronger; I'm just glad it happened in a somewhat meaningless preliminary game.

- Ryan Getzlaf and Scott Niedermayer seemed to be turning over the puck more times than they are accustomed to, but one player that stood out to me, sort of in the background, was Dan Boyle. He played solid defense, made great outlet passes and was a presence in the offensive zone. He didn't get any points, sure, but they will come if he keeps it up.

- Not sure if I agree with Babcock's decisions on ice time, benching Iginla for most of the third is one thing that stands out in my mind. Didn't he get a hat trick for you the previous game? Put out guys that can put the puck in the net.

- Looking forward to the Canada - USA contest, although I'm missing most of it to play in my ball hockey league. That will be Canada's big test before the elimination games come.