SLAP SHOTS

It's not brother versus brother but it's pretty darn close as Penguins Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz and the rest of Team Canada faceoff against Team USA and Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik and coach Dan Bylsma. Both teams are on a collision course as they meet on Friday at 12:00 EST for the right to play in the gold-medal game. Team USA advanced as they trounced the Czech Republic yesterday, 5-2. Canada edged Latvia yesterday, 2-1 to get to the semifinals. Since the gold medal isn't on the line, it's not quite the excitement that it was when they met for the gold four years ago in Vancouver, but it's close. This will be the second straight time that Team USA has advanced to the semifinal round. They did so following an 8-round, 3-2 shootout victory in the preliminary round over host Russia. They followed that up with victories over Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic by a combined score of 17-4. Canada will face the USA without F John Tavares who is out for the rest of the tournament with a leg injury. Team USA is expected to try and stop Sid and the rest of Team Canada with Jonathan Quick in goal. Ryan Miller was the goalie four years ago when Sid got the game-winner to win the gold. Team Canada is expected to counter with G Carey Price. Sorry, Sid. Sorry, Kuni. Let's Go Team USA!!!!!