5 Sharks vie to make vaunted Canadian team for Olympics

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Whereas the Sharks had four representatives on Team Canada's gold-medal winners during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, they have five strong candidates this time for the Sochi Games.

But landing a spot on the world's most difficult team to make is no easy task.

Forwards Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture and defensemen Dan Boyle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are in the running for Team Canada, which will announce its 25-man roster Tuesday.

Thornton, Marleau and Boyle - along with the since departed Dany Heatley - made it in 2010, but none is considered a lock. In fact, all three are on the bubble. Both Couture and Vlasic seem to have a better chance than their more experienced teammates.

Tampa Bay general manager and former Red Wings great Steve Yzerman has the task of picking the team. He'll be looking for players who are responsible defensively, versatile, efficient and strong as skaters to cover the larger Olympic-sized ice. They also must be able to bounce back quickly to handle the physical rigors of a schedule that features seven games in 12 days.

In addition, it seems players who have excelled in pressure situations, have not shied away from the spotlight and who are thick-skinned to criticism will have a better chance to succeed.

Thornton is simply the best passer in the world, and it's hard to imagine him being left off despite the fact he didn't play a large role in '10. Marleau is one of the game's best skaters, is having a consistent season as a scorer, and is versatile because of his speed and smarts. Couture is the best forward shot-blocker whom no one talks about. Dynamic and versatile, Couture is ready for this big stage.

Somehow, I get the feeling one or two will get left off, which is no fault of theirs. The depth at forward is incredible, considering Thornton bumps up against centers Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, John Tavares, Patrice Bergeron and Ryan Getzlaf.

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2010 file photo, Steve Yzerman, Executive Director Canada's Olympic mens hockey team, speaks to reporters at a news conference at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Olympic gold medalists Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom, both Stanley Cup-winning captains for the Detroit Red Wings, will enter the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Ryan Remiorz, CP) less FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2010 file photo, Steve Yzerman, Executive Director Canada's Olympic mens hockey team, speaks to reporters at a news conference at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. ... more Photo: Ryan Remiorz, Associated Press Photo: Ryan Remiorz, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 5 Sharks vie to make vaunted Canadian team for Olympics 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Couture likely gets moved to a wing where he and Marleau compete with scorers such as Jeff Carter, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos (if healthy), Corey Perry, Eric Staal, Patrick Sharp, Milan Lucic, Rick Nash, Claude Giroux, Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn and Chris Kunitz, who has great chemistry with Crosby.

Vlasic may have a better shot than Boyle simply because the list of left-handed blue-liners is not as deep as on the right side. Duncan Keith, Jay Bouwmeester and Marc Staal would appear to be left-hand locks. Boyle, meanwhile, has to battle Shea Weber, Drew Doughty, P.K. Subban, Alex Pietrangelo and Brent Seabrook on the right side.

However it shakes out, Canada will have the deepest roster, with enough castoffs to make not one but two more competitive teams. Unfortunately they'll be selecting players for only one, and you can count on disappointment for some.

Ratings buster: No question the Winter Classic at the Big House on Wednesday was a smashing success, from the visuals with snow falling, to the huge and enthusiastic crowd, to the competitive game and to no unforeseen problems. Ratings-wise, the 4.4 million viewers for NBC's broadcast tied the 2009 New Year's Day game at Chicago's Wrigley Field as the highest-rated NHL regular-season game (2.5 rating) since 1975. And it was second only to the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh as the most-watched game in 39 years.

Sudden death: The NHL needs more games tied at the end of regulation to end as they did on Thursday when three were decided in the opening 80 seconds of overtime. Too many games are going into shootouts, and the skills competition is starting to wear thin. Look for the league to extend OT sessions as early as next season in hopes of having more games decided the old-fashioned way.

Slap shots: St. Louis' Brian Elliott leads all goalies with 15 shutouts since the start of the 2011-12 season despite ranking 31st in games started (69) over that time. ... How rare was Subban's game in Dallas on Thursday when he scored a goal and added three assists? It's only the second four-point game by a Montreal defenseman in six seasons, and the last was by Subban (three goals, one assist) on March 20, 2011. ... Nathan Horton finally made his Columbus debut Thursday after recovering from shoulder surgery and scored the game-winning goal.