TORONTO -- Getting skated out of two rinks by a group of players age 23 and younger was the best thing to happen to Team Europe.I thank the kids for spanking us so hard because we had adversity early, which brought us together and clarified what we needed to do, coach Ralph Krueger said.Melding together players from eight countries wasnt an easy job, but post-spanking Team Europe shut out the United States 3-0 on Saturday in the World Cup of Hockey opener. The upset, a shocker on paper, gives Europe a very real chance of getting out of Group A and advancing to the semifinals.It set us up for some fun now in the tournament, Krueger said. We didnt just come here to have one nice game. Weve come here to compete and to be around next weekend.Krueger said Saturday afternoon that his players were ready to look America in the eyes. A team thrown together from Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Norway, France and Slovenia didnt look like it could hang with the deep Americans, but Europe was opportunistic and efficient.We realize we cant really run and gun with teams and (our plan is) staying patient and waiting for our chances and help our goalie out and all those things, captain Anze Kopitar said. Its not the flashiest thing. Its actually pretty boring, but it works.Despite self-inflicted mistakes from roster construction and lineup decisions to poor execution and ill-timed turnovers, the U.S. credited Europe for putting together a winning recipe. Slovakias Jaroslav Halak made all the saves in goal while on the wrong side of a 35-17 shot differential, but Europe helped limit the quality scoring chances to almost none.Exhibition play against 23-and-under Team North America and Sweden gave Europe enough time to blend together on and off the ice. Krueger noticed players sitting at separate nation tables for meals early on but began integrating to the point where you dont know whos from where anymore.On the ice, Europe looked like a team in the purest sense of the word.We stayed as a unit of five, and I think the key is staying most of the time out of the (penalty) box, said Halak, who was playing his first meaningful game since March because of a groin injury. For the most part even tonight thats what we did.Gifted a 2-on-0 rush by Patrick Kane on an unacceptable turnover, Germanys Leon Draisaitl and Switzerlands Nino Niederreiter looked like they had been playing together for years. Draisaitl knew to expect a pass back on an uncontested give and go, making the most of a pro hockey rarity.Asked the last time he had a 2-on-0, Draisaitl said: Probably sometime in Pee Wee. I probably missed it, too.Draisaitl didnt miss Saturday, and neither did Slovakias Marian Gaborik or Frances Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. With goal differential a potential tiebreaker, every goal counts, and Europe will try to keep things rolling against the Czech Republic on Monday and Canada on Wednesday.These are going to be tough games, Krueger said. Weve got a lot of work to do.Europe has rightfully welcomed the underdog role at the World Cup, but now its game on with higher expectations.We didnt see ourselves as just a sideshow ever, Krueger said. We have a difficult challenge still ahead of us. We havent accomplished anything yet.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . Cheap Custom Soccer Jerseys China . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Custom Soccer Jerseys Outlet . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. http://www.soccerjerseyscustom.com/ . 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. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Wholesale Custom Soccer Jerseys Online . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Jahmel Taylor had missed three shots in a row, but he stayed focused and found open spaces on the floor. Then he made his next five shots from beyond the arc.Once I hit the first one, I was ready to hit the next one. It felt good and my teammates were getting me in the right spots, said the junior guard.Taylor had 21 points, shooting 6-for-10 on 3-pointers, and three steals as Fresno State held on to beat Oregon State 63-58 on Friday night.Fresno State coach Rodney Terry called Taylor a marksman who kept the team afloat when they were struggling early.He can really shoot the basketball. We dont win the Mountain West a year ago if hes not making big shots for us, he added.Paul Watson added 13 points and nine rebounds and Jaron Hopkins had 10 points for the Bulldogs (3-2).Tres Tinkle scored a career-high 31 points with 10 rebounds and six steals for the Beavers (2-4), who lost their fourth in a row. JaQuori McLaughlin added 12 points.Were not very united. Weve got a lot of individuals out there right now, said Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle, Tres Tinkles father.Were just not playing hard enough. Were playing soft, he added.The Beavers led 21-10 early, but Fresno State closed the half on a 17-5 surge, fueled by Taylors four 3-pointers in the final three minutes. The Bulldogs led 27-26 at the break.Fresno State took control with a 17-2 run in the second half, capped by a Watson 3-pointer with 10:30 left.Cullen Russo was fouled withh 35.dddddddddddd seconds left and he made both free throws to give Fresno State a 61-55 lead. On Oregon States next possession, McLaughlin made a 3-pointer but Watson was fouled and made both free throws to seal it.BIG PICTUREFresno State: Entering Friday, the Bulldogs were tied for ninth in the nation in steals, forcing 10.5 per game. They had 10 against Oregon State. . Taylor is now 16-for-28 on the season from long range (57 percent).Oregon State: Stephen Thompson Jr. missed his fifth game in a row with a foot injury. Wayne Tinkle said Thompson, last years third-leading scorer, could be out another week. . Drew Eubanks had five blocks for the Beavers.AFTER A LOSSFresno State has responded to a loss with a win 10 straight times, and Taylor said Thursdays practice, which came after Tuesdays loss to Cal State Bakersfield, was very intense. After a loss, we make sure we buckle down, he added.PRESSURETerry said the Bulldogs had to bring defensive pressure up the court against the Beavers to try and neutralize Oregon States height. They had a great size advantage and they had some really good players on the interior that we werent going to be able to match up with consistently, Terry said.UP NEXTFresno State hosts Menlo College, a NAIA school, on Wednesday.Oregon State hosts NAIA Division II foe Southern Oregon on Monday. ' ' '