Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, right, has the inside track on Canada's Olympic starting job because he's playing better this season and has experience in big games. Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, right, has the inside track on Canada's Olympic starting job because he's playing better this season and has experience in big games. (Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press)

HNIC's senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information in the hockey world.

1. Olympic-sized goalie duel

Canadian Olympic goalies Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo will duel in New Jersey when the Canucks visit the Devils on Wednesday. The outcome will not determine which goalie snatches the No. 1 role on Team Canada.

There is still plenty of hockey to play between now and the opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. But Brodeur currently has the advantage because he's playing better this season and has more experience in big games.

Statistically this season, Brodeur has more wins (15 to 10), a lower goals-against average (2.05 to 2.56) and a superior save percentage (.925 to .910) than Luongo, who missed a handful of games with a rib injury.

By the way, Brodeur became a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen on Tuesday after passing his American citizenship test. But the 37-year-old will continue to play for Canada. Once a player competes in an IIHF event for one country, he can't switch to another.

2. Anger management

Florida Panthers defenceman Keith Ballard has yet to comment on his embarrassing fit of rage when he swung his stick in frustration and accidentally smacked his goalie Tomas Vokoun on the side of the head.

Vokoun suffered a laceration under his left ear and will not play for the Panthers against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

"It's unfortunate. We don't condone it," Florida coach Peter DeBoer said in a conference call. "The main issue right now is getting the message out to kids watching the game that it was a heat-of-a-moment play. It's not the way you want to handle your frustrations. I'm sure Keith Ballard will never do that again.''

3. Holiday tradition

Hockey Canada will deliver 36 invitations for its under-20 selection camp on Wednesday.

The camp will be held in Regina Dec. 12-16 to determine the 22-player roster for the world junior championship later this month in Saskatoon and Regina, when Canada will shoot for an unprecedented sixth gold medal in a row.

Expect St. Louis defenceman Alex Pietrangelo to be invited as well as injured Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson, who has yet to play this season because of back woes.

Besides the aforementioned pair, other returning players include Colton Teubert and Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats, Rimouski Oceanic forward Patrice Cormier, Barrie Colts forward Stefan Della Rovere and Windsor Spitfires defenceman Ryan Ellis.

Others likely to be invited are Windsor's Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz, London Knights speedster Nazem Kadri, Plymouth Whalers forward Tyler Seguin, Calgary Hitmen right wing Brandon Kozun (who leads the WHL in scoring), Brandon Wheat Kings centre Brayden Schenn and Louis Leblanc, a native of Pointe-Claire, Que., who is in his freshman season at Harvard.

4. Milestone mark

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville became the 14th head coach in NHL history to win 500 games when his club beat Columbus 4-3 in a shootout win at home Tuesday night.

Five other active coaches have more wins than Quenneville, who sports an impressive 68-28-14 record at the helm of the Hawks.

With 667 victories, Edmonton's Pat Quinn is tops among active bench bosses, followed by Toronto's Ron Wilson (558), New Jersey's Jacques Lemaire (557), Montreal's Jacques Martin (529) and Ken Hitchcock (524) of Columbus.

5. Fitting opponent

The Montreal Canadiens will celebrate their 100th anniversary with a game against the Bruins on Friday.

But why not against the Maple Leafs, who beat the Canadiens 3-0 on Tuesday?

Well, the Habs have actually played more regular season games against Boston (700 to 699) and have a fierce historical rivalry with Bruins in the playoffs.

The Leafs, who were part of the NHL's Western Conference for a while, haven't met the Canadiens in the post-season since 1979.

That was the 15th series between the two teams. Meanwhile, the Canadiens and Bruins have clashed a total of 32 times in the playoffs, including three times in the past five post-seasons.