about staying focused in a wild road environment.

TORONTO -- One game into the World Cup of Hockey, the United States is on the verge of elimination.The U.S. goes into its showdown against Canada on Tuesday night needing a victory to survive and give itself a chance to advance to the semifinals.A loss in the opener to Team Europe and Europes overtime victory over the Czech Republic on Monday made this a win-or-go-home game for the Americans.U.S. players circled the game against Canada as the biggest game of the tournament as soon as the schedule was released. Based on their precarious position, it has become exactly that.We were looking forward to this game as a great measuring stick, and the result of not winning the first game is its also for our lives now, center David Backes said. We cant hold anything back. This is all the chips on the table for our team, and we need to play desperate.Coach John Tortorella called it the Americans championship game even before it was clear that they had to win to stay alive. He expects a charged atmosphere at Air Canada Centre, where the U.S is the enemy and is facing a must-win game.Playing there, against them, everybody wants us knocked out, Tortorella said Monday. I cant wait, and I think our players cant wait for this game to start. Its going to be a blast.The United States focus has been on Canada, but the host and tournament favorite is focused on itself. Goaltender Carey Price called facing the U.S. just another game, and Canada is going about its business as usual.The most important game youre playing in these tournaments is the one youre playing tomorrow, Team Canada coach Mike Babcock said.Canadian players even brushed aside eliminating the U.S. as a source of motivation. Canada just wants to beat everyone.I dont think we really look at their situation, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester said. I think we know the magnitude of the game just because of who were playing -- the rivalry and all that.For us, I dont think we should really be concerned. We know how important it is [for the U.S.], but its important to us, too, because weve got to win those games to move on.Canada would clinch a spot in the semifinals for itself and Europe with a win.Some things to watch when the U.S. faces Canada:Kane and Abdelkader -- Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane is expected to play on a line with grinder Justin Abdelkader and center Derek Stepan. Abdelkader isnt a linemate anyone expected to play with Kane, but Tortorella thinks the Detroit Red Wings winger has been strong and needs to play more.I need to get in on the forecheck, use my size, use my physicality to create opportunities, Abdelkader said. Wherever he uses me, wherever he puts me, Ill be ready. Im not going to change anything with my game.Containing Crosby -- If the U.S. is going to have any success, itll have to keep Canadas potent first line of Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron from doing too much damage. Checking center Brandon Dubinsky has guarded Crosby many times, but stopping the Canadian captain will require a team effort.Price perfect -- Price hasnt allowed a goal in international competition in 224:19, counting the World Cup opener and the semifinal and final at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. U.S. goaltender Jonathan Quick was brilliant against Canada in Sochi, allowing one goal on a deflection by Jamie Benn, whos injured and not playing in this tournament.Back to buff -- All signs point to defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and forward Kyle Palmieri being back in the U.S. lineup after being healthy scratches in the loss to Europe. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Byfuglien is a physical force with a big shot on the power play who can make a difference against Canada, which isnt changing anything.Stamkos chances -- Steven Stamkos, motivated by missing Sochi with a broken leg and by playing close to his hometown, looks due to break through after four shots on goal in Canadas opener.To try and keep a goal scorer like that off the sheet is not easy, especially when he has that many looks, center Ryan Getzlaf said. As long as were getting those opportunities, thats the main thing. Cheap Football Gear .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Cheap Tennessee Titans Jerseys China . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. http://www.cheapfootballchina.com/cheap-houston-texans-jerseys-china_455w.html . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys China . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Cheap Indianapolis Colts Jerseys China . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. Louisville coach Rick Pitino didnt need to look very far for a cautionary tale for his 14th-ranked Cardinals (6-1) as they head west to Phoenix to play Grand Canyon (3-3) at 9 p.m. ET Saturday at GCU Arena.Pitino started his film session Thursday with footage of Indiana losing to Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne earlier this season. Billed as the biggest home game in years for IPFW, the Mastadons jumped out to a big lead and knocked off the Hoosiers in a program-defining win.Well, that is the first real road game, Pitino said. ... The first clip I am going to show is the Indiana vs. Fort Wayne to get the guys to understand that its a true road game. We need it.Thats why I wanted it because we need it desperately. Look, I was hoping to be 7-0, but we are 6-1 and we are playing excellent defense. I have no complaints.Pitino wants to see his team tested in a tough environment. He compared it with the atmosphere they will see at small but intense arenas in the ACC like Dukes Cameron Indoor or home courts like Clemson or Georgia Tech.For Grand Canyon, the opportunity to host a recent national champion like Louisville is golden. The Antelopes have played teams like Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, San Diego State and Utah but never at GCU arena.Its huge for the school and the program, Phoenix Suns owner and Grand Canyon booster Jerry Colangelo said. A lot of times schools will say theyll come, but they want to play on a neutral court. The risk of possibly losing is too great. When Louisville was willing to do what theyre doing, that says a lot about their character and their willingness to help. I think its a good story.Grand Canyon senior Dewayne Russell cant wait for the Cardinals to come to town.Its going to be rocking, Russell said. I remember when I first got to the school and sitting right there with my grandmother. To see the whole thing build and a school like Louisville come in here its amazing.At 3-3, the Lopes (short for Antelopes) havent had the start to the season they would have liked, but a home game vs. Louisville might be just what the doctor ordered for coach Dan Majerles crew.We tried to beef up our schedule so the kids can see that were playing good competition, Majerle said. Our goal ultimately is to be a top-25 team.dddddddddddd Were still a long way away from that, but our guys need to see these kind of games. Its fun for our guys. Its not so fun for me, but its a good opportunity for our guys.Grand Canyon started the season with a 96-61 loss at Duke and an 85-76 loss at Penn State before beating Albany, Marist and Coppin State. On Monday, the Lopes missed 20 of 24 3-point attempts in a tough 76-64 loss to SIU Edwardsville, falling to 3-3.The lone bright spot from Mondays loss to SIU-Edwardsville was Russell, the 5-foot-11, 155-pound guard who scored 26 points. Majerle said Russell has come a long way.Ill be honest with you. When he first got here, he wasnt very good, Majerle said. He wasnt a very good teammate. I remember to this day when he stood up and said, Youll never have to worry about me again.Russell and 6-6 forward Keonta Vernon are the two players Louisville will have to focus on stopping. The pair take more than 57 percent of Grand Canyons shots so far this season.For Louisville, Saturday is about staying focused in a wild road environment. Pitino said he wants to see his team continue to play exemplary defense.For a young, inexperienced team we played super defense and for the last seven games weve played great defense, Pitino said. We just have to keep going inside and instead of playing east to west play north to south and go into the post and cut off the post.Louisvilles inside game was more impressive against Purdue than it has been for most of the season. Starting power forward Jaylen Johnson is averaging 9.9 points and 8.6 rebounds. Starting center Mangok Mathiang is averaging just 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds.The key for Louisville so far this season has been depth. Eight different players are averaging more than 5.0 points per game and nine players are playing double-digit minutes.GAME NOTES -- Louisville sophomore G Donovan Mitchell has 19 steals in the first seven games. ... The Cardinals are holding opponents to just 57.9 points per game. ... No Louisville foe has scored more than 66 points in a game this season. ... Grand Canyon has not scored uner 61 points in a game this season. ' ' '