Crawford, Howard among goalies needing strong seasons for shot at Olympic teams

DETROIT — When the NHL season begins, a lot of players will begin tryouts of sorts for their Olympic teams.

Sidney Crosby, of course, is a lock to play for the defending champion Canadians, assuming he stays healthy while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Patrick Kane, likewise, has a secure spot after helping the U. S. win silver in 2010 — if he isn’t injured in a Chicago Blackhawks uniform.

But for some players in the league, such as Corey Crawford and Jimmy Howard, they won’t be only playing for the Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings early in the season. The goalies are also vying for the honour of being between the pipes at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games in less than five months.

Crawford insisted earning a spot on Canada’s team is not on his mind.

“That only puts more pressure on myself,” he said after a pre- season game in Detroit. “I just want to worry about what I have to do for our team. To spend any extra time thinking about the Olympic team would be a waste of a time.”

Crawford was one of five goaltenders invited to Hockey Canada’s camp last month. He was joined by Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo, Montreal’s Carey Price, Phoenix’s Mike Smith and Washington’s Braden Holtby. Three of them will suit up for the Canadians.

“It’s going to be a huge three months for everybody that’s in consideration because that’s when a lot of guys will make the team — or not,” said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who will be back on Canada’s bench after leading the team to gold at the Vancouver Games.