INSIDE THE CROSBY/SELANNE SPAT

SOCHI, Russia (CP) – Sidney Crosby was reluctant to share but Finnish captain Teemu Selanne was only too happy to discuss what was being talked about on the Olympic ice Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star and veteran Anaheim Duck seemed to have a running conversation when they were on the ice, especially early on in the game — won 2-1 by Canada in overtime.

The exchange seemed triggered by an interference call on Jarkko Immonen for taking Crosby down at 12:28 of the first period. The contact did not seem excessive but the call was made and Drew Doughty scored on the ensuing power play to give Canada a 1-0 lead.

Selanne said after the game that he had complained to the referee not Crosby.

“I thought it was not a very good call,” said Selanne. “I said if that had been anybody else, a Norwegian player or somebody, they would not call that.

“Obviously it was a Canadian referee. He did a good job but I was just trying to remind him forget the names on the back, you’ve got to do the job that you have been doing the whole tournament. But they did a good job. I didn’t tell Crosby anything.”

Sunday’s referees were Kevin Pollock of Canada and Jerabek Antonin of the Czech Republic.
Asked about Selanne, Crosby basically said he was “commenting on his comment.”

“I leave conversation on the ice on the ice,” he said. “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.”

The Finns seemed to pay particular attention to Crosby, with Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu thumping the Canadian captain into the glass early in the game.

Playing with a variety of different linemates, Crosby has two assists in three games here.

Canadian coach Mike Babcock was definitive when asked if he was happy with the play of Crosby’s line.

“Everyone evaluates Sid on scoring and I evaluate Sid on winning,” he said. “That’s what we came here for.”

At 43, Selanne is now the oldest player to score in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament thanks to an earlier goal against Norway.

Asked if he will be back at the next Games, Selanne looked bemused before replying: “Maybe a different sport.”

Asked which one, he said he had heard “downhill skating” may be added to the lineup of sports.

“If I really want one more (Games), I will find something else,” he said with a smile. “This is too hard.”