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 [to] people [that] 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 helluva 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 aggressive. ... such a great team.Pekka Rinne made 39 saves for Finland and struggled at times but also kept the game 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 he beat 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. McLellan said the lapse was a good teaching moment for his team and will help as the World Cup goes on.Russia is up next on Monday 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. Authentic Nike NBA Jerseys Wholesale . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys China . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.wholesalenbajerseysfromchina.com/ . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Stitched Nike Basketball Jerseys . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Jonquel Jones had her first-career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds -- both career highs -- and Alex Bentley scored 21 points to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Chicago Sky 94-89 on Friday night.Alyssa Thomas and Jasmine Thomas added 16 points apiece and Chiney Ogwumike had 10 for the Sun (8-16).Jones scored five consecutive points to cap a 13-4 run that gave Connecticut a 78-74 lead with 4 minutes left and the Sun led the rest of the way. Connecticut hit all eight of its free-tthrow attempts in the final 42 seconds to seal it.ddddddddddddElena Delle Donne led Chicago (11-13) with 20 points. Cappie Pondexter added 16 points, and Tamera Young had 14.The Sun, ranked 11th in the AP WNBA power poll, made 26 of 32 free-throw attempts -- both season highs and committed a season-low seven turnovers.The fifth-ranked Sky shot 52.3 percent (34 of 65) from the field. ' ' '