Ego Czech-ed at door
Brodeur puts team ahead of himself by sitting out with wrist injury
By BRUCE GARRIOCH, Ottawa Sun
TORONTO -- Martin Brodeur took one for the team. After sitting out yesterday's morning skate, Canada's top goalie chose to bow out of last night's World Cup of Hockey semi-final victory over the Czech Republic because of his left wrist injury.
The bottom line: Brodeur didn't want to put his pride ahead of the team.
"What I'm thinking might be best is a couple of days' rest and then I'm going to focus on playing Tuesday if we win," Brodeur said prior Canada's 4-3 overtime win. "It's still pretty sore. I didn't feel comfortable enough to go out there for the skate.
"Right now, I don't think it's fair to Team Canada to jeopardize (its) chances of advancing just because I want to be in there. I wouldn't (have been) 100% in there. The calibre of guys that we have behind me makes me feel better about taking a couple of extra days to be ready for another game if there is one."
Coach Pat Quinn elected to start Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo last night with Montreal Canadiens netminder Jose Theodore dressed as backup.
Luongo said he was ready for the challenge.
"I've been getting ready for this. I had to stay ready if I got called upon," said Luongo.
Executive director Wayne Gretzky said this was the right decision.
"When you get in a tournament like this, there's no sense playing at 80-to-85% when you've got a guy like Luongo or Theodore that can step in there," said Gretzky.
VARADA CLOSE TO DEAL: Talks between the Senators and LW Vaclav Varada are continuing with an eye toward a deadline of Wednesday -- the same day the CBA expires -- for getting a deal done. Varada's agent Ritch Winter said he expects the two sides will be able to reach an agreement on a two- or three-year deal. "I would think we'll be able to get something done," said Winter ... Senators D Wade Redden continued to be sidelined with left shoulder sprain last night against the Czechs.
bruce.garrioch@ott.sunpub.com
