Crosby gets a chance to chase gold

Team Canada alternate captain Sidney Crosby has dreamed about playing in a gold-medal game most of his life. Friday night, that dream came true as his Canadians held off a spirited late charge to defeat a Slovakian. With the 3-2 win at Canada Hockey Place, Team Canada booked passage into a dream gold-medal game against Team USA, which is 5-0 in this tournament after a 6-1 pasting of Finland earlier in the day in the other semifinal. Crosby, who had three shots and an even rating Friday night, stopped to talk exclusively to NHL.com after the game.

Vanbiesbrouck on NHL Live!

A special extra edition of NHL Live! will be broadcast streamed on Sunday from 12–2 p.m. ET. In addition to a visit from NHL.com's Shawn Roarke, Dan Rosen and John Dellapina from Vancouver, former NHL goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, NHL Live! co-host E.J. Hradek and former NHL player, coach and executive Marshall Johnston are also scheduled to appear.

NHL Live! is broadcast from the NHL Store Powered By Reebok in New York. Deb Placey and Rob Simpson will co-host Sunday's show.

Weber and Suter appear on NHL Live!

Nashville Predators defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter will be among the guests on Thursday’s edition of NHL Live!, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. Weber will be part of Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, while Suter will play for Team USA.

Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Deb Placey and E.J. Hradek NBC and NESN hockey analyst Mike Milbury and CBC play-by-play man Jim Hughson.

Getzlaf will play for Team Canada

Hockey Canada announced that the roster which is submitting for the men’s hockey tournament at the 2010 Olympic Games is the same as the roster that was announced on December 30, 2009 in Saskatoon, meaning Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim is OK to play.

Getzlaf suffered a sprained ankle last week and Team Canada had the Flyers' Jeff Carter as a replacement if needed. Carter was informed that he will not be added to the roster.

Getzlaf will play for Team Canada

Hockey Canada announced that the roster which is submitting for the men’s hockey tournament at the 2010 Olympic Games is the same as the roster that was announced on December 30, 2009 in Saskatoon, meaning Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim is OK to play.

Getzlaf suffered a sprained ankle last week and Team Canada had the Flyers' Jeff Carter as a replacement if needed. Carter was informed that he will not be added to the roster.

Nationals sign Mench to Minor League deal

It is said that the Nationals have signed outfielder Kevin Mench to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The right-handed-hitting Mench spent this past season playing in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers, but he is best remembered for his years with the Rangers from 2002-06.

Mench's best season in the Major Leagues was in 2004, when he hit .279 with 26 home runs and 73 RBIs in the rangers jersey. He has played seven big league seasons and has a .269 career batting average with 89 home runs and 330 RBIs.

Red Sox announce their front-office changes

The Red Sox announced three changes to their baseball operations department on Wednesday. Eddie Romero, who served as coordinator of Latin American operations since 2006, has been promoted to assistant director of Latin American operations; Gus Quattlebaum was promoted to assistant director of amateur scouting, after working as a Major League scout since 2006; and Steve Peck, who joined the Red Sox in 2009 as a professional scout, after 13 years on the coaching and scouting staff of the Mariners, is now a Major League scout.

The Red Sox also announced the signings of right-hander Joe Nelson and catcher Gustavo Molina to Minor League deals with Spring Training invites. Both players are currently on the Triple-A Pawtucket roster. Now they are going to put on the red sox jerseys.

Mike Green is suspended for several games

The NHL announced that Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green has been suspended for three games without pay, for an incident that took place during NHL game against the Florida Panthers on January 29. At the first period, Green delivered an elbow to the head of Panthers’ forward Michael Frolik. Green was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing on the play.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average salary, Green will forfeit $81,606.21. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. Green will miss Washington's next three games, against Tampa Bay at Boston and at the New York Rangers. He will be eligible to return to the game against Atlanta in his capitals jersey.

Nationals add reliever Walker

According to two baseball sources, right-hander Tyler Walker agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Nationals. The club also signed outfielder Chris Duncan and left-hander Chuck James to Minor League deals with an invitation to Spring Training.Walker is expected to be part of the new relief corps which includes Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Eddie Guardado. He is a seven-year veteran who has played with the Mets, Giants and Rays.

Duncan is coming off one of his poorest seasons in the big leagues, hitting .227 with five home runs and 32 RBIs all in the cardinals jersey. On July 22, St. Louis traded Duncan to the Red Sox for infielder Julio Lugo, but Duncan never saw Major League action with Boston.

As for James, he missed the entire 2009 season due to left shoulder surgery. He was signed by the Nationals on the recommendation of assistant general manager Roy Clark, who was impressed by James when they were with the Braves. James' best season was in 2006.

Left shoulder surgery for Sanchez

Giants manager Bruce Bochy confirmed to the Associated Press that second baseman Freddy Sanchez underwent left shoulder surgery and could miss Opening Day. Bochy first told KNBR radio of Sanchez's surgery, which was an arthroscopic procedure. Sanchez also had surgery on his left knee in early October. "He's going to be a little delayed," Bochy told the AP. "It'll be close if he can go Opening Day or not."

Sanchez was plagued by shoulder and knee injuries last season, which limited him to just 25 games with the Giants after coming to the team last year. Sanchez batted .284 with a home run and seven RBIs in those 25 games after batting .296 with six home runs and 34 RBIs in 86 games with the Pirates. Even with his injury problems last season, Sanchez was rewarded with a $12 million, two-year contract extension still in his giants jersey on Oct. 30.