the 4th star

1. Will Chris Osgood get a look for the 2010 Canadian Olympic team? I threw that out there last month and now it seems the notion might be getting some traction. Another story surfaced this week, and Mark Spector of SportsNet was echoing the same thought process on CJOB yesterday morning. If he keeps making the key saves like he did in the 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins — hello, Malkin breakaway — he has to be there. I can’t believe I just typed that.

2. Darren Helm is the new Dan Cleary. Last year, the CBC went crazy with the Cleary story, offering up a slice of his life at every chance. He’s from Newfoundland? OMG! This time around, it seems the St. Andrews-product has all the makings for the Hockey Feelgood Story in Canada broadcast. From Junior B in Selkirk to Stanley Cup champion. Canadian kid overcomes adversity to make the NHL. OK, got it. Tell us more about this Michigan-born Justin Abdelkader fellow.

3. Sidney Crosby was awful last night, no matter how the networks tried to spin it.

4. The active boards at Joe Louis Arena is not a story. Is this the first time CBC and NBC have done a game from Detroit? Everyone knows the puck comes back quick after a missed shot on net, and everyone knows the Red Wings actually practice a play designed around this feature. It has nothing to do with lucky bounces. Just because Marc-Andre Fleury — who should know the lay of the land at The Joe by now — looked like a fish out of water on the first two goals doesn’t mean the board-story is a new one. He’s a bad goaltender, and Detroit took advantage of that fact.

5. Best part of the night: Osgood plays to the crowd after blowing off a Pierre McGuire interview.