Here We Go Again

Stop me if you've heard this one before.
The pairs short program at the BMO Canadian figure skating championships goes into the books. And when the results are posted, Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison find themselves staring up at someone else at the top of the leaderboard.
Yeah, the reigning world bronze medallists know this story.
Dube and Davison stand second after Friday night's proceedings in Saskatoon, earning 62.22 points for their efforts at the Credit Union Centre. Ahead of them are Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin, who'll carry 65.74 points — and a 3.52-point edge — into Saturday's free skate final. Well below them in third are Quebec's Mylene Brodeur and John Mattatall of Nova Scotia (55.63).
For Dube and Davison, it's a familiar refrain, although this time the situation isn't nearly as dire. A year ago in Vancouver, then finished a shocking fifth in the short program but rallied strongly in the free and came within less than a point of overhauling Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay for the gold. So they know the drill for Saturday.
"We would have liked to be first after the short," said Dube, 21, of St-Cyrille de Wendover, Que. "But we know we can do it and we’re going to come back strong for the long."
Dube's fall on their side-by-side triple Salchows made the difference between first and second. But Davison called it a "huge improvement" over short programs they performed at two Grand Prix events earlier this season.
"We really can't even compare them," said Davison, 22, of Cambridge, Ont. "Other than the (Salchow), everything else was very smooth ... With a short like that, I hope people noticed a difference in quality of our skating, especially. We just really look forward to getting back out on the ice (for the free program)."
Added Dube: "The rest of our program was pretty good so we can’t be disappointed with that. I am a little bit for my jump — I know I can do it — so the next time I’m going to land it."
They look forward to a duel for the gold with Duhamel and Buntin, who have clearly taken their game up a notch since last season.
"It’s good to see for them and it’s great to have competition inside our nation," said Davison. "It forwards our sport."