Russia again denies Canada gold medal

It was midway through the third period and Dany Heatley found himself in a place close to his heart — in the slot with the puck on his stick.

An instant later, the puck bounced off Ilya Bryzgalov's noggin and out of harm's way.

"I'd like to have that one back," said Heatley.

Then in the last minute of the third period, Shane Doan couldn't catch the puck on the fly and had he snagged it, he would have had a breakaway.

"That one will stick with me for a while," said Doan.

Those are just two of the memories the Canadians will mull over in the next few days as they decompress from losing 2-1 to Russia in Sunday's championship game of the world tournament in Bern, Switzerland.

The Canadians turned in a superb effort. They played with purpose. They went hard, carried the play and had scoring chances. But they will return home with a second straight silver medal.

'It always hurts'

The Russians, meanwhile, defended the world crown they won a year ago in Quebec City.