Themen über das Spiel! » theyre the games you want to play in, he said

TORONTO -- The fastest team made a fast, strong first impression at the World Cup of Hockey.With blazing speed and uncontainable skill, Team North America skated circles around Finland on the way to a 4-1 victory Sunday night at the World Cup of Hockey.Led by goals from Jack Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon, the group of 23-and-under Americans and Canadians toyed with a proud Finnish national team that has the most Olympic medals since NHL players began participating.Were here to play, Gaudreau said. Hopefully, teams dont take us lightly. I think were a fast, speed, skilled team and hopefully we can keep proving people we belong here.North America doesnt just belong in the elite tournament full of almost 200 of the best players in the world; it might be one of the most skilled from top to bottom. Four of the past five No. 1 picks were at their best Saturday night offensively and defensively.Playing his first of what should be many games at his new home arena with the Toronto Maple Leafs, No. 1 pick Auston Matthews had an assist and showed he was ready to face NHL competition.I thought he was going to have a hell of a game and he did, coach Todd McLellan said. There was no fear of playing.Captain Connor McDavid, the 2015 No. 1 pick of the Edmonton Oilers, also had an assist and several nifty moves that confounded Finnish defenders.Much like Team Europe, a collection of players from eight European countries, North America made a great first impression after plenty of criticism about being a gimmick. North Americas blazing fast play in exhibition games made it the most intriguing part of the World Cup, and that fascination is only stronger now that it showed it can thrive when it counts.Just because were younger doesnt mean that were not as good or something like that, McDavid said. Its just we have a little bit less experience.Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Matt Murray made 24 saves but mostly had an easy night as North America outshot Finland 43-25, including an 18-6 domination in the second period.The second period was a cold shower for us, Finland coach Lauri Marjamaki said. They got better, they won every battle, they skate hard, they are so impressive. ... Such a great team.Pekka Rinne made 39 saves for Finland, struggling at times but also keeping it from turning into even more of a blowout.Goals came in every possible way: Eichels greasy rebound at the side of the net, Gaudreaus jumping, spinning deflection, Drouins toe drag, and MacKinnons backhand-forehand move after beating everyone else to the puck. North Americas apt goal song, Opposite of Adults blared on the Air Canada Centre speakers all night.I think all four lines really brought something tonight and everybody was out there kind of doing their part, Matthews said. We were utilizing our strengths, and I think we put them on their heels.Sometimes the pace was so quick that Gaudreau said players stood up on the bench in anticipation of the next fancy move. North America owned the puck against Finland, which had nine players back from the bronze-medal team in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.They really took it to us and showed their individual skill, but also as a team, they were extremely dangerous, Rinne said. Im not going to take anything away from them, but we werent ready to go. We made too many mistakes. We werent skating. That was the result.Valtteri Filppula scored the only goal for Finland, late in the third period after the result was decided. That lapse was something McLellan said is a good teaching moment for his team that will help as the World Cup goes on.Russia is up next Monday night after a 2-1 loss to Sweden earlier Sunday. Despite Russia losing and North America winning, McDavid doesnt see his team as the favorite in the game.Russias a hockey giant and theyre one of the best hockey nations in the world, McDavid said. Its going to be a good test for us.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Wholesale Jerseys China . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. http://www.wholesalechinajerseysfreeshipping.com/ . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Wholesale Jerseys . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Wholesale Jerseys USA . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is unlikely to rest any of his players in Sundays crunch NRL clash against the Wests Tigers after giving his team a three-day break earlier this week.Stuart caused a stir following last weeks win over Manly - the teams ninth in a row - after admitting he would consider sitting players out in preparation for the upcoming finals series.However the coaching staff have since lightened the players training load right off over the first part of this week, with their first field session coming on Thursday.Its a good break from the last game we had. He did gave us a couple of days off so we can freshen up for todays session, centre Joey Leilua told reporters on Thursday.I think its our longest break this year. Its good for us to freshen up our legs for this game coming up and coming into the finals as well.Skipper Jarrod Croker said the squad should be well recovered following their break.Well get a short, sharp session in today and have tomorrow to travel. We want to build momentum. The boys should be nice and fresh from the couple of days we have off, he said.I dont think anyone would be putting their hand up to hhave a rest, put it that way.dddddddddddd I know I wont be.Ive played a couple of games at Leichhardt on Sunday afternoon, sun shining and a full house, theyre the games you want to play in, he said.The third-placed Raiders will be keen observers of the Melbourne-Cronulla match on Saturday, with a Sharks loss opening the door for Canberra to steal second spot and a home final.However a Sharks win would leave the Raiders simply playing for momentum against a Tigers side relying on Gold Coast losing against North Queensland to keep their finals hopes alive.Were in a position where it doesnt really affect us as much as it does a couple of other sides. Its not the be-all and end-all, Croker said.Regardless of where we play next week, were going to be firing and ready to go. We just want to go out there and win on Sunday and keep the momentum going.Five-eighth Blake Austin has begun rehab on his hand after a successful surgery last week, while prop Junior Paulo is on track for a return in week one of the finals. ' ' '