Canada’ captain Sidney Crosby (Right) makes a few moves in front of Finland’ forward Teemu Selanne (Left) – Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA Today Sports
Team Canada was able to pull away with a win in their tightly fought battle against Team Finland, and it had an interesting anecdote within.
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and an NBC reporter, Pens and Canada’ captain Sidney Crosby was confronted by Finland’ forward Teemu Selanne because he felt number-87 dove to draw a man-advantage opportunity.
The two apparently exchanged heated words back-and-forth the rest of the first period, as a result of the incident. Selanne is allegedly one of the calmest cats in the biz, so for him to get hot, meant it was with sufficient reason.
Here’s what Selanne had to say about the situation – per Kovacevic:
"“A Norwegian ref wouldn’t have called a penalty there.”"
Here’s Crosby’s take – per Kovacevic:
"“I leave conversation on the ice on the ice. Two guys competing, obviously emotional. If he wants to talk about it, let him, but I don’t think it was much. Just two guys who are pretty intense.”"
To me, whether he did or he didn’t, this isn’t necessarily a big deal. Nearly every player gets scrutinized for embellishing at one point or another, and the fact Crosby has a rather large microscope on him, makes him first on the pecking order.
If you want my opinion, it doesn’t look like he dove.
You be the judge. Take a look below – courtesy of Pete Blackburn: