OTTAWA --- In the world of hockey the NHL All-Star game is fun to cover but when news breaks about Sidney Crosby all of a sudden that’s the top story.

Pat Brisson, Crosby’s agent shed some light on his recent diagnosis of a vertebrae injury which may be a clue into getting Crosby out of the concussion zone and back on the ice. The Penguins reacted well after getting the news.

“They have always been very supportive, Mario and Ron. They were very pleased to hear that.”

Last night while enjoying a frothy beverage I had some visions. Some hockey visions that might help predict the future. Instead of making a book of them in quatrains I decided to list them.

1) The team in the nation’s capitol might hoist a glass or a cup this June to signify a victory.

Philadelphia - - Pittsburgh forward Chris Kunitz got the shootout winner and once again the Flyers and Penguins played a tight game. The Flyers were on the short end of the 2-1 loss but they did get a point and there was a more important point for the opposition.

“This was as close of a game as we expected,” said Penguins center Jordan Staal. “There will definitely be games like that in the playoffs, tight games, one-goal games.”

If you thought that Dan Bylsma was an overrated NHL head coach when he stepped in and inherited a team of superstars and won a Stanley Cup, think again.

Not only are the Pittsburgh Penguins, without their two biggest stars, for real, but Bylsma is proving that he is for real.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that all of Sidney Crosby’s equipment from the gold medal game at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games has been recovered and is in the process of being returned.

47% of the captains in the NHL were drafted by that franchise. Here’s the current list:

Hurricanes – Eric Staal
Blackhawks – Jonathan Toews
Flyers – Mike Richards
Avalanche (Quebec) – Adam Foote
Blue Jackets – Rick Nash
Stars – Brenden Morrow

Hockey Canada has been waiting for this moment. Their entire country will be watching and the players know that. The players can feel that. Team USA has been happy go lucky the entire time. GM Brian Burke made sure of that from day one.