Europe’s win leaves Team USA near elimination

The 2016 edition of the World Cup of Hockey officially began play on Saturday at the Air Canada Centre and highlighted signs of things to come for the upcoming National Hockey League (NHL) season.

Crosby had a goal and two assists with five shots and was a plus-4 against the Czech Republic.

Hanzal tied the game 2-2 on a power play at 8:31 of the third, picking up the bounce off the end boards off of a Vladimir Sobotka’s point shot and beating Halak. Lose that game, and it’s pretty much over.

With U.S. coach John Tortorella frustrated at his team’s inability to create quality scoring chances in the so-called dirty areas – in other words, on the doorstep of the opposing goalie – planting big, beefy Dustin Byfuglien’s 6-foot-5, 280-lb torso right in front of Price’s mask would seem to be, on the surface, a potential threat. Draisaitl knew to expect a pass back on an uncontested give and go, making the most of a pro hockey rarity.

The Team North America concept – a squad composed of the best players, 23 and under, from Canada and the United States, was met with skepticism when the World Cup was announced. The Canadians looked like a well-oiled machine after trouncing the Czech Republic, 6-0, on Saturday.

Canada handily won 5-2 the following night, outshooting the USA a combined 81-48 over the two games and 64-35 at even strength.

“I was just trying to stay big”, Mrazek said.

Tortorella said the club must embrace the adversity confronting them.

We asked Eichel-proud product of the USA development program-if he’d rather being wearing red, white and blue instead of black and orange.

“I think the biggest difference for me right off the hop and kind of knowing coming into this tournament is just the difference in the style of game on the ice sheet in Sochi compared to the National Hockey League sheet here in Toronto”, said Team Canada forward Jonathan Toews. We want to win just as bad, probably more than they do. “I just think Abby has given us some forechecking”. So, if you don’t (have frequent line changes), nothing happens.

Leon Draisaitl and Jaroslav Halak each had another big game for Team Europe.

With 33 seconds remaining and Russian Federation trailing Sweden 2-0, Alex Ovechkin got his team on the board.

To the Czechs’ credit, the goal fired them up. “There’s no pictures on the scoresheet”. Brad Marchand netted a goal and two assists and Patrice Bergeron scored once out of his four shots on goal.

So while the US jumbles its lineup and attempts to rediscover its identity, Canada isn’t fixing what completely broke the Czech Republic down Saturday night.

“We really got together within the room”, Draisaitl said.

“Bloodbath? I don’t want to call it that”, Tortorella said.

Babcock insisted that Canada knows what’s at stake and won’t get “fatter” with confidence after rolling over the Czechs.

One of Captain America’s less heralded superpowers is clairvoyance.

Said Josi, “Yeah, he was playing really well. Obviously they’re huge favorites at home, so we’ll try to surprise them”. We have to be ready for anything that comes our way – adversity, success, power plays, penalty kills, leads, deficits – and make sure we have the response at the right moment to bring to the game.

That belief extended to the locker-room, even if beating the US looked shocking from the outside.

Three days into the World Cup of Hockey, Europe is the first team to four points and has shown it belongs in this tournament. They’re so deep. Not a chance in the world’. But you can’t just think you’re going to throw pucks all the time at him.

“We’re coming (after Canada), Tortorella said”.

Tortorella, of course, would not confirm his roster plans on Monday, but the fact he made Byfuglien a healthy scratch against Team Europe certainly is a head-scratcher.

“Listen, that’s not a U.S”.

“You saw the first couple of (exhibition) games against them, ” Weber said. “When you play Canada, it’s more of a clash”.

Canada would clinch a spot in the semifinals for itself and Europe with a win.