Maybe some people had doubts about Rick Nash’s selection this week as cover athlete for 2K Sports’ “NHL 2K9″ game, but Game Guy believes they were squelched Friday as Nash scored the go-ahead goal to put Canada in the finals of the World Hockey Championships.

Nash’s goal broke a 3-3 tie in the second period. The Canucks went on to defeat Sweden 5-4 and now face Russia in the title game Sunday. Russia defeated Finland 4-0 to advance.

Nash earned his props for 2K Sports stardom by scoring 38 goals in 80 games last season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. At age 23, he already has 154 goals to his credit and was named Blue Jackets captain after Adam Foote was traded.

Nash’s star turn for Canada on Friday was just sauce for the goose.

The latest installment in 2K Sports’ “NHL” series supposedly will be reworked from the base code up and arrive looking remarkably different from its predecessors. Those details and the release date have not been announced.