that teams winning the Super title need to have a quality first fi

TORONTO -- Team Europe started fast and strong against Canada, getting three shots on Carey Price and drawing a penalty in the first 21 seconds of Game 1 in the World Cup of Hockey finals.They skated right by us on the first shift, Canadian coach Mike Babcock said.The eight-nation team seemed to be the better squad on the ice for long stretches before losing to Canada 3-1 on Tuesday night.Instead of skating off discouraged, Europe appears to have boosted its confidence with the relatively competitive game.There was quite a bit of time during the game that we were dictating the pace and dictating the game, Slovenian forward Anze Kopitar said. It certainly showed that we can play with them.Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Thursday night.We have a feeling in there that this is far from over, said forward Fran Nielsen, who is from Denmark. We know we can go out there and take a game. Take the next one and make this a one-game series.To win, Europe will likely have to figure out how to score on the power play.Europe didnt take advantage of its power play early in Game 1 and failed to make the most its second and last power play in the second period.In five games, the Europeans are 0 for 15 with an extra skater.Definitely need to get our power play firing, coach Ralph Krueger said.Kruegers team will also have to find a way to slow down Sidney Crosbys line.No one has been able to do it yet in the best-on-best tournament.Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each scored on goals set up by Crosby in Game 1 and the trio has combined for 22 points in the World Cup. Crosby, Marchand and Bergeron rank among the top three scorers in the tournament.Those guys are very good finding the little area in the open slot, Europe defenseman Dennis Seidenberg said. Youve just got to try to keep them to the outside, try to stay inside of them and try your best.Europe, meanwhile, has been getting a scoring boost from Slovakias Tomas Tatar.The Detroit Red Wings forward scored Tuesday night and has a team-high three goals, one more than the injured Marian Gaborik and Leon Draisaitl. Tatar scored twice in the semifinals, including the winner in overtime against Sweden on Sunday.In addition to solving its problems on the power play and stopping Crosby and Co., Europe must cut down on mistakes in even-strength situations.Shortly after failing to score on a power play, the Europeans turned the puck over and Bergeron carried it up the middle of the ice. He faded to the right and passed across the crease to set up Marchands fourth goal of the tournament 2:33 into the game.Slovakias Zdeno Chara was careless with the puck later in the opening period and it was costly. Ryan Getzlaf snatched the puck from the 6-foot-9, 39-year-old defenseman near center ice along the boards and faked a shot at the top of the left circle, leading to a tap-in goal for Stamkos on the right side of the net.Its so tough playing against them because you just cant make any turnovers, Nielsen said. When you look at their team, its all All-Stars offensively. If they have one weakness on the forwards, except for Bergeron and (Jonathan) Toews maybe, its playing defense. Weve got to make them play defense.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Adrian Houser Brewers Jersey .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Ray Black Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/669y-junior-guerra-jersey-brewers.html . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Keston Hiura Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Tyler Saladino Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Will New Zealand have four teams in the Super Rugby semi-finals? That is the potentially embarrassing question for SANZAAR competition organisers.While results may well make the question redundant, it has to be said there is every prospect that will be what happens, especially given the intensity of the New Zealand games this year.But the big factor will be how the Lions perform against the Crusaders. The Lions at least have played against each of the New Zealand franchises and set up their season with an outstanding win over the Chiefs in Hamilton in the second round of the competition.They look a formidable side, certainly the best of the South African teams and while they gave away the No.1 seeds home advantage through to the final by sending their second string team to Buenos Aires, they can counter that by saying they have a rested team ready to meet the Crusaders challenge.It is tough for the Crusaders; they disappointed in their loss to the Chiefs in Suva a few weeks back and then were considerably outplayed by the Hurricanes whose bonus-point win allowed them to come through as the Super Rugbys minor premiers.That also meant they were left with a daunting travel plan to Johannesburg by not flying out until Tuesday ahead of a Saturday game. Thats tough in anyones language.But they should have Sam Whitelock and Andy Ellis back at lock and half-back respectively. They were late absentees in Christchurch at the weekend and they are key players for the side. Whitelock especially is invaluable in lineout play and will be needed to compete with the Lions in that discipline.For so long the Crusaders had the measure of consistency and while that hasnt been as potent as in earlier days, there is still a core of it and I wouldnt rule them out of turning their game around in South Africa. They have to if they want to send coach Todd Blackadder out on a more positive note.But you have to admit the Hurricanes have found their form at the right time. They had quite a tough finish to the season with away games against the Blues, Waratahs and Crusaders, and they won the lot. That says something about their approach and the unity that has developed in the side.What I enjoyed about all the key games at the weekend was the passion with which teams with a playoffs chance competed. They definitely wanted to win and that was great to see. There was an edge to games and the Hurricanes were no exception; their forwards have really come on and have built on last years effort which saw them beaten in the final.Against the Sharks this week, they will be wary of slipping up at home. But it is difficult not to imagine them tuned to a high pitch, especially after the disappointment of their loss to the Sharks in regular season play.They also showed they had learnt from last seasons loss in the final too the Highlanders.dddddddddddd There were times in their game when the Crusaders were only a score away from being back in the contest, but the Hurricanes took their chances and capped it right at the end with Beauden Barretts try to seal a fine performance.In Dunedin, the pressure was on as well. The Highlanders have had such a good record against the Chiefs in recent times that they showed no fear going into the game and that was seen by the way they were prepared to back their mates when there was any hint of trouble. It was all handbags stuff, but it demonstrated how keen both sides were for the win.The pressure was on the Chiefs because they knew the Hurricanes had won in Christchurch with a bonus point and it was possible the Chiefs could get into position to be first and to secure that all-important home advantage.But the Highlanders showed just what a tremendous side they have become.I think No.8 Luke Whitelock demonstrates what they are about. Halfway through the season he wasnt getting regular game time, but since then he has been playing well enough to keep Liam Squire, a new All Blacks back-rower, out of the starting line-up. With Elliot Dixon playing so well they are very strong in that area while in the backs Lima Sopoaga has again shown his class.That penalty kick from halfway which ended up out just short of the goal-line was outstanding and he is right on top of his game, and that is crucial in Super Rugby. It has been said so many times that teams winning the Super title need to have a quality first five-eighths and there is no doubt that is what Sopoaga is.Just a final thought on the Blues, as a Blues fan and former player, I believe the way they finished the season with wins over the Brumbies, and then the Waratahs last Friday, was a great boost and with the players they have got there has to be great hope for the future.Some of the talent coming through in the side is very exciting and full marks to Tana Umaga for bringing that through. Now the challenge is to continue that growth next year.It was a tough night for prop Ofa Tuungafasi in the scrums when he was on the receiving end of some impressive Waratahs pressure. But that can happen and all props have been through it.He should apply the old adage to the lessons he was given in the scrum: I never lose. I win or I learn. That is the approach he has to take. He will need to go back to Mitre 10 Cup rugby and look at what he is doing and learn from it.He will be targeted by every prop he comes up against now as a result of that, but every player suffers that sort of experience. He is young enough, and has the body shape, to be able to cope and I am sure he can come back from that. ' ' '