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.

Gormley will appear on NHL Live!

It is reported that top prospect Brandon Gormley will be among the guests on NHL Live! on Tuesday, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Rob Simpson and Bill Clement are NBC's Pierre McGuire and Kevin Allen of USA Today.

Gormley is in his second season with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 49 games, he has 8 goals, 29 assists and 46 penalty minutes in 49 games. The Prince Edward Island native is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, which will be held this June in Los Angeles.

Lehtonen is traded to Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars acquired goaltender Kari Lehtonen from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round selection in the 2010 Entry Draft. Lehtonen, who was recalled from a conditioning stint in Chicago on Feb. 7, posted a 1-1-2 record with a 2.67 goals-against average in four outings with Atlanta's affiliate. He last played in an NHL game on April 11, 2009, when he made 33 saves against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In four seasons with the Thrashers, Lehtonen posted a 94-83-17 record and a .912 save percentage in 204 games in the thrashers jersey. Lehtonen was selected by the Thrashers in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. "Kari Lehtonen is a proven elite goaltender," Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said. "We are very excited to add him to our hockey clib."

Vishnevskiy was held scoreless in two games with Dallas this year and has posted 24 points in 51 AHL games with the Texas Stars. Vishnevskiy will report to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Mike Richter appears on NHL Live!

It is reported that former U.S. Olympian and New York Rangers star Mike Richter will be among the guests on NHL Live! on Friday, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. Richter led the United States to the silver medal in 2002 and to the gold medal at the World Cup in 1996. He also led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup in his new york rangers jersey in 1994.

Also scheduled to speak with co-hosts Deb Placey and Dave Maloney are 1984 Olympian Ed Olczyk, later a Rangers teammate of Richter and now a member of NBC's broadcast team at the Games, and Cheryl Pounder, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Canada.

Thrashers GM is at Devils and Kings game

Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell is in New Jersey taking in the Devils game against Kings from the Prudential Center's press box. The Kings are reportedly high trying to acquire Thrashers' captain Ilya Kovalchuk prior to the March 3 trade deadline. Waddell said that he did not want to do an interview if it centered on Kovalchuk (in the thrashers jersey), but said that he is still trying to sign the Russian sniper who is scheduled to become a free agent on July 1. Waddell added that he is aware of his presence at this game, but he stressed that he's at this game to scout something he rarely gets a chance to do when he's watching his own team play.

The Thrashers played in Philadelphia on Thursday and instead of going with the team to Nashville for Saturday's game, Waddell stayed behind to catch some other games in the area. "When you are watching your own team play, you never get to scout the other team." Waddell said.

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.

Mike Green is suspended for three 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.

Reds is fighting for Cabrera's services

Cincinnati Reds has definitely made an offer to Cabrera, who is also considering Colorado and Washington. It appears that none of the three teams were close to reaching a deal. On Thursday morning, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty revealed they were realistic interest in Cabrera. The Reds currently have a superb defensive player in Paul Janish at shortstop but have spent the winter seeking a stronger offensive option.

Cabrera is one of the few shortstops left on the free-agent market. However, he started his career as second baseman. About to enter his 14th big league season, Cabrera batted .284 with nine home runs and 77 RBIs in 160 games combined with the Astros and Twins in 2009. He helped Minnesota reach the postseason after his midsummer trade from Oakland. Hope he can put on the reds jersey and play for the team.

Ausmus sign with Dodgers

After re-signing infielder Ronnie Belliard earlier in the day, the Dodgers now are agreeing on a one-year deal worth $850,000 with catcher Brad Ausmus. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2011 worth $1 million. Ausmus hit a career-high .295 as the backup to Russell Martin in 2009, playing in only 36 games.

Ausmus finished the season tied for eighth on the all-time list of games caught with Benito Santiago. This will be his 18th Major League season, and he has never been on the disabled list. Ausmus is considered to be big league manager material and he managed the last regular-season game of the year for the Dodgers. Fans look forward to seeing him playing in the dodgers jersey.

Orioles re-sign Hendrickson

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles re-signed left-hander Mark Hendrickson to a one-year, $1.2 million contract on Thursday. Hendrickson signed a one-year deal that includes a $1.2 million team option for 2011 with a $200,000 buyout, which added that a pending physical has not been scheduled.

Hendrickson worked as both a starter and reliever this past season and is expected to serve mainly as a reliever in 2010. During the 2009 season, the 35-year-old left-hander went 6-5 with a 4.37 ERA in 53 games in the orioles jersey. For his eight-year career, the 6-foot-9 Hendrickson, who was a former NBA player, is 56-68 with a 5.00 ERA.