Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby celebrates his game-opening goal against Team Russia.

 Canada defeats Russia in World Cup of Hockey semifinal, Jacob Trouba requests a trade & more in this morning’s NHL headlines. 

NHL.COM:  Sidney Crosby scored the game-opening goal and set up two others by Brad Marchand as Team Canada downed Team Russia 5-3 to advance to the final of the World Cup of Hockey. The Canadians outplayed the Russians for most of the game, but had to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the second period.

Russian goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves and kept his team in this game until the third period, when the Canadian broke it open on goals by Marchand, Corey Perry and John Tavares.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: At one point in the second period, it appeared as though Bobrovsky was going to steal this one for the Russians. But after the Canadians tied the game in the second, they took full control in the third and never looked back. Russian star Alex Ovechkin was held off the score sheet, thanks in part to the solid play of Canadian defenseman Shea Weber. 

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS:  Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba has formally requested a trade. In a statement released by his agent, Trouba said his decision is based on his desire to to play an expanded role on the right side of the Jets blueline, noting Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are ahead of him on the Jets depth chart. Trouba also said he and his agent met with Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to request a trade back in May.

A restricted free agent, Trouba’s contract talks have been stalled for months. The Jets released a statement saying they can’t compel Trouba to report to training camp and still consider him an important part of their future. They will offer no further comment until there’s a resolution. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have more on the Trouba trade request (including speculation on potential trade destinations) in my rumor section later this morning. I believe he’s played his final game with the Jets. The Trouba camp took great pains to state that this decision wasn’t based on unhappiness over playing in Winnipeg or the state of his contract talks.

As a restricted free agent coming off an entry-level deal, Trouba has little leverage other than to hold out and request a trade. He could receive an offer sheet from a rival club, but a trade seems the more likely outcome. If Trouba remains unsigned by Dec. 1, he will be ineligible to play the remainder of this season. I daresay both sides want to get a trade worked out before then.

Whether a trade happens soon or drags on until late-November remains to be seen. Much will depend upon Cheveldayoff’s asking price, how much it’ll cost an interested party to sign Trouba and where the Jets are in the standings if this standoff drags on into the regular season. 

NBC SPORTS:  Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was back on the ice with his Florida Panthers teammates Saturday participating in some individual workouts. It was initially reported he suffered a concussion playing in the World Cup of Hockey, but it’s been revealed to be a neck injury. Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said Ekblad “is going to be fine.”

TRIBLIVE.COM:  Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is sidelined three-to-six weeks by a broken hand suffered during the World Cup of Hockey. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Well, we can put the Marc-Andre Fleury trade rumors on ice for the time being. The Pens won’t move him while Murray is sidelined. 

OTTAWA SUN:  Senators winger Mark Stone is sidelined indefinitely by a concussion. 

DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Cody Eakins will miss six weeks after suffering a knee injury in practice on Friday, while Devin Shore will also miss some time with an undisclosed injury. The Stars are also missing forwards Tyler Seguin (fractured heel) and Radek Faksa (concussion symptoms). 

CSNNE.COM: Boston Bruins forward Frank Vatrano will miss the next three months due to torn ligaments in his left foot. 

NEWSDAY:  New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk suffered an upper-body injury in practice yesterday. It’s uncertain how long he’ll be sidelined. 

TWINCITIES.COM: Tomas Fleischmann won’t be playing for the Minnesota Wild after failing his team medical. He was on a professional tryout offer with the Wild.  

PHILLY.COM: The NHL has approved the Ed Snider estate’s sale of its shares of the Philadelphia Flyer to majority owner Comcast Corp.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Bill Foley, owner of the NHL’s Las Vegas expansion franchise, seeks a minor-league affiliate for his club.