Talk » Efimova in the ready room on Monday a

TORONTO -- Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were born into a rivalry 11 years ago which doesnt really befit the sport they play.Hockey is more about team than any other sport. They are both the first to tell you that.They both constantly downplay their individual comparisons. They long ago tired of the narrative. Frankly, so have many of us.But it is on nights like these when the comparison is dragged back out because you have no choice.It is on nights like these, fair or not, that superstar players either add to their mystique or ... the complete opposite.And on this World Cup of Hockey semifinal night, No. 87 rose above everyone else yet again, while No. 8 struggled mightily.Its like the five-tool guy vs. the home-run hitter: The five-tool guy finds more ways to win all the time, said a Western Conference head coach not involved in the tourney, via text message after Canadas 5-3 semifinal win Saturday.Full-court player vs. half-court player, added an Eastern Conference GM not involved in the World Cup, via text message during the third period.World juniors, NHL playoffs, mens world championships, Olympics and now World Cup: Crosby owns Ovechkin by any definition.No question, if you had Crosby and Ovechkin swap uniforms Saturday night, Ovechkin might have had a better chance of scoring with Team Canada boasting a deeper squad.But the point is, its Crosby who led the way, its Crosby with the superb takeaway on the opening goal, its Crosby who set up Brad Marchand just 1:12 after Russia had taken a stunning 2-1 lead in the second period.Its Crosby, always Crosby, in the big moment, the bigger the stage.Hes able to impose his will or change the game at any time, said Team Canada defenseman Shea Weber, playing in his third best-on-best tourney with Crosby. Hes one of those guys thats got the ability to switch momentum.The great ones always seem to have perfect timing.I think thats one thing that makes him such a good player, is his determination, and he always comes up big in the big games, linemate Brad Marchand said. You see plays like that, thats where the leadership comes in. And when youre able to lead at this level, of a group of leaders, then youre able to take control. That just shows how special of a player he is, and he created that whole goal, and ultimately, that did lead to turning the game around.Its as if Crosby never stopped playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, his short summer after winning his second NHL championship perhaps helping him find that top-level stride here in a September tournament.I think definitely playing later into the year and playing in those type of games helped to kind of transition to these type of games, Crosby said. One game, anything can happen -- the intensity, the emotion -- everythings so high. So, I think that that definitely helps.The Canadian captain tallied a goal and two assists in 16:43 of ice time, while Ovechkin was limited to one shot on goal in 20:29 of ice time.Different players with different talents playing different positions. Still, the discrepancy on this night between both superstars was staggering.I tried to do my best, obviously, Ovechkin said afterward. Sometimes it doesnt matter if you score goals or not. You just have to you play hard, and I tried to play my hardest. Everybody was on the same page, playing the same system.Credit to Ovechkin, who always faces the music after these tough losses -- just like he did after his Washington Capitals were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins just a few months ago. The pose is all too familiar: the gray specks of hair, the stare into emptiness, the look of a defeated man.Dont ever confuse Ovechkins desire. He wants to win so badly. But it just hasnt happened for him at the Olympics or the World Cup and certainly not in the NHL. Ovechkins downfall on this night had nothing to do with Crosby but rather with the matchups that Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock lined up for the Russian winger: Jonathan Toews line paired with the blue-line combo of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Weber.Just like in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic quarterfinal game, Ovechkin got a healthy dose of the Man Mountain, Weber, and it didnt go well for him.Ovies a big big man and can wear you down. Web doesnt get worn down; hes too big, Babcock said in explaining the matchup. I thought it was a good stable pair and a good group.Weber, who easily played his best game of the World Cup, takes pride in that kind of difficult challenge.Yeah, obviously hes a guy that can score at will, Weber said of Ovechkin. He scores 50 goals a year in the NHL. Hes a dangerous player. Any chance you get to play against a guy like that and shut him down, yeah, you take pride in that side of the game.Years from now, though, fewer will remember the job Toews or Weber did on Ovechkin. They likely will remember it as another big game in which Crosby got the better of Ovechkin.Like it or not, thats the story which doesnt seem to ever change. Jimmy Garoppolo Super Bowl Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Y.A. Tittle Super Bowl Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. https://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Garrett-Celek-Jersey/ . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Arik Armstead Super Bowl Jersey . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Emmanuel Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. After claiming gold in the womens 100-meter breaststroke and conquering her new nemesis, Yulia Efimova, U.S. swimmer Lilly King took aim at all Olympians who have been caught doping -- including her fellow Americans.The 19-year-old from Indiana was asked about fellow American and 2004 gold medalist Justin Gatlin, who has twice been suspended for doping but will be competing in track and field at the Rio Games.Do I think people who have been caught for doping offenses should be on the team? No, they shouldnt, King said Monday night after her victory. Its unfortunate that we have to see that and then its such a tossup in between sports and in between countries. Its something that needs to be set in stone that this is what were gonna do to settle this and that should be the end of it. There should not be any bouncing back and forth.Kings hard-nosed anti-doping stance became internationally known on Sunday night when King pointedly disparaged Efimova over the Russians drug history.The source of the feud is the suspension handed down to Efimova, who missed 16 months for doping and tested positiive this year for the now-banned substance meldonium.ddddddddddddThe positive meldonium test was placed on hold while world anti-doping officials conduct further studies on the drug. A smattering of boos greeted Efimova after she won her preliminary heat Sunday.After staring down Efimova in the ready room on Monday and giving her a look of disdain on deck, King led all the way to take the gold with an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 4.93 seconds.Efimova, who heard a round of boos and a few cheers during the introductions, settled for the silver in 1:05.50. The bronze went to another American, Katie Meili.It just proves you can complete clean and still come out on top with all the hard work you put in behind the scenes, behind the meet, at practice and in weight sessions, and there is a way to become the best and do it the right way, King said.King will look to collect a second gold as she is scheduled to compete in the womens 200-meter backstroke on Wednesday. ' ' '