Jagr auditioning?; "Radio" tunes; Zidlicky wrist purple

Good morning (afternoon back there) from the building formerly known as GM Place. You know how some sportswriters refuse to plug corporations when they attend a game in one of their named arenas?

I do the opposite. This will always be GM Place in my heart.

Find myself exhausted this morning, not because I got back to my Richmond hotel at 1 a.m., but because of how downright fun it was to watch last night's Czech-Slovak game. As I said on last night's blog, unarguably the best game of the short tournament thus far. Don't even think about arguing. Don't argue.

First two periods, great hockey, and Jaromir Jagr's breakaway winner came mere seconds after Marian Hossa, alone in the slot, rung the post.

"Hossa scores there, different game," Branko Radivojevic said.

You're eyes aren't deceiving you. Branko Radivojevic said!

"Radio" -- KHL All-Star and former Wild great -- Branko Radivojevic is back in North America. All these people were making this huge deal about Jagr's first game back in Canada since 2008 yesterday. Gimme a break. Yesterday was the return of Branko Radivojevic.

I chatted with Marek Zidlicky last night after his one-assist effort. He took off his glove to show me his left hand. It's purple. Not kidding. But he says it's just "sore." He rung one off the post last night and was overall real good. So was Marty Havlat, who had an assist.

As for Jagr, he looked like he didn't miss a step. The first period he was just getting his feet wet again, getting used to the speed on the small rink. He also took a hit from behind on his second shift and said the stick jabbed him into his chest.

"The first period, I felt like a soldier in Iraq," Jagr said after the game. "I didn't know where the shots were coming from. It was tough. But I survived."

Jagr was as affable as I've ever seen him, and there's no doubt with his KHL deal expiring after this season that he'll be looking to make an NHL comeback. So while these Olympics are about getting a medal for Jagr, you can bet it's as much about auditioning for some NHL teams. Most are assuming that the Edmonton Oilers have the inside shot since they went after Jagr hard before he signed in the KHL. But if Jagr continues this tourney to show he's still got game, the Oilers may need to get in line.

OK, three games today -- USA vs. Norway, Canada trying to seek revenge on Switzerland from four years ago and in what should be a sensational game, Slovakia (if they still have legs after playing 24 hours before) vs. Russia.