Dein erstes Forum » around [Hamilton] I crossed the wet patc

TORONTO -- Of all the teams in the World Cup of Hockey, its fair to say that the greatest pressure falls squarely on the collective shoulders of Team USA to hit the ground running.Granted, none of the eight teams can afford to start slowly, given that the tournaments pool will be cut in half after only three preliminary games.But for an American team desperate to prove it was put together correctly, desperate to prove that its style of hockey can trump the best the world has to offer, a matinee matchup against Team Europe on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) to kick off the 2016 World Cup of Hockey looms large.Is it a must-win?Lets call it what it is. So, yes, its a must-win.Team USA coach John Tortorella was asked Friday whether the mantra for this veteran, hard-nosed team might be, If not now, then when?He replied by refining it to, simply, Its time.That time is Saturday afternoon. Not Tuesday night against Canada, not later on against the Czech Republic.Im sure guys are going to have nerves, Team USA defenseman Jack Johnson?said. You love to get that rush of competing, thats what makes tournaments like this so great. Its the rush of nerves and the emotions and everything that goes into it. But we know how important these games are. I think, going into Saturday, its [about] that game and that game only. Were not thinking ahead because youve got to win that game before you can win the next game.If you figure two wins gets you out of the preliminary round, and if you figure Canada, Team USAs opponent in the second game of the preliminary round Tuesday night (8 p.m., ESPN), represents the biggest challenge, then beating both Team Europe and the Czechs is imperative for the Americans.Team Europe represents something of an unknown. After looking slow and disconnected in pretournament losses to Team North America, the Euros bounced back with a strong effort in their final tuneup match against Sweden, which is considered one of the tournament favorites.Everythings great, but then you play the first two games and the results were definitely not great, said Team Europe captain Anze Kopitar. Then you almost have a little bit of doubt. You dont know exactly how youre going. I think [beating Sweden] was a great confidence booster for us.The pretournament win was huge for Team Europe and serves as a kind of cautionary lesson for Team USA, reminding the Americans not to assume that they can come with anything less than their A-game on Saturday and expect to collect a victory.Finding that emotional balance will be key for Team USA. It must bring the same speed and physicality it showed against Canada in pretournament play, but not provide power-play opportunities to a Team Europe squad that figures to struggle offensively.There really is no easing into it, Team USA veteran?Zach Parise?said. With a three-game round-robin, and only taking two teams, you cant really afford to have a slipup. You cant afford to really have an off-game early or else youll need a little luck [to move on]. But I think were going to be ready to play.Team USA started the pretournament schedule with an emotional, physical effort against Canada. The Americans won that game 4-2, but Canada rebounded to take the rematch the next night in Ottawa 5-2 and outplayed Team USA in both meetings.Team USA looked much better in its final tuneup against Finland, a 3-2 victory, and the feeling among the American players is that they are finding their rhythm under head coach John Tortorella.I think were in a good spot right now, but theres definitely going to be things to clean up, forward T.J. Oshie?said. I think were heading in the right direction.It is hard, because if you get off to a bad start, you might be going home in a week. I think our teams got enough experience, weve got enough veteran guys, to where well probably stay pretty level-headed and not get overanxious or nervous or anything like that. It definitely could get to you, worrying about that. But I think this group is experienced enough to where we wont let it.Longtime NHL analyst and former NHL goalie Darren Pang wouldnt go as far as saying the U.S. absolutely must win Saturday, but he did say its crucial for the Americans to set the right tone.I think its about how they play, said Pang, who is providing analysis for ESPN during the tournament. How they want to play and how they set the tone, because I think they are a tone-setter for this tournament.Pang said he has been impressed with how players have accepted their roles as set out by the coaching staff.Youre starting to see an identity, Pang said. What Ive been impressed with is that it looks like players have checked their egos completely at the door and theyre going to play the way the coach says.Although Tortorella would not reveal his lineup Friday, he confirmed Jonathan Quick would start in goal and line rushes during practice on Friday suggested that Justin Abdelkader would be the extra forward.The coach admitted that some players have rounded into game shape more quickly than others. I looked at some guys early on and said, Theyre just not ready to give here, Tortorella said. You have talks along the way, and you see guys step up. I wont give away names, but I was really worried about a couple of guys, and then they came right to the forefront. Theyre going to be in the lineup.Some other guys have played themselves out of it. Nothing is fair with [only] five days of practice in determining a lineup, but thats the world that we live in this tournament, and thats the way weve gone about it.In other words, its time.Steve Busby Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Jeff Suppan Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. https://www.cheaproyals.com/357a-charlie-leibrandt-jersey-royals.html .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Salvador Perez Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Luke Hochevar Jersey .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play.Daniel Ricciardo believes Kimi Raikkonens grid penalty compounded his issues in Suzuka after the Australian lost out at the start of the race and ended up finishing a lonely sixth.Raikkonen was slapped with a five-place penalty two hours out from the start of the Japanese Grand Prix after taking a new gearbox, which meant Ricciardo jumped up to fourth, but on the slippery side of the grid. What seemed like a stroke of luck turned out to be anything but as Ricciardo and Hamilton -- who started on the same side in second -- both endured sluggish getaways.Raikkonens gearbox penalty was the opposite of a blessing in disguise. It put me on the wet side of the grid and it looked like all of us on that inside line struggled a bit, especially Hamilton, he said. My initial launch was not bad, but then having to go around [Hamilton] I crossed the wet patch and lost out, so then Perez got by.On the first stint we struggled to stay close, and it just seemed like we couldnt follow the cars that well with the dirty air and we diidnt have the straight line speed to make an attack.ddddddddddddRicciardo, who won last time out in Malaysia to break a two year race win drought, never seemed to have the pace of the frontrunners including teammate Max Verstappen who finished in second place for the second week in a row.Nevertheless, the 27-year-old is confident of turning it around for the United States Grand Prix in Austin in a fortnights time.I didnt feel that there was anything else we could do today. It was just a bit lonely out there trying to do my thing, but its one of those things, Ricciardo said. We will try improve the car were we can, but it was just more circumstances, and we will come back in Austin ready to not only eat plenty of barbeque but have a good weekend in track.Ricciardo is currently third in the drivers championship, 101 points behind leader Nico Rosberg and 42 ahead of fourth placed Raikkonen. ' ' '