TORONTO -- Canada is turning to Carey Price to start the World Cup of Hockey.Coach Mike Babcock designated Price as Canadas starter Saturday night against the Czech Republic .Price has always been the presumed No. 1 for Team Canada. The lone question was the 29-year-olds readiness after a long layoff. He started and completed two of Canadas three exhibition games, including his first game action in nearly 10 months last week.He looked predictably rusty in that 4-2 loss to the Americans, allowing three goals on 24 shots. Babcock said the performance wasnt Carey-like for obvious reasons: Price hadnt played since late November after a knee injury cost him nearly all of last season with the Montreal Canadiens.Babcock was satisfied with Prices second start, against Russia. The 2015 Vezina Trophy winner stopped 24 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory.Its just about getting minutes played and getting a few shots and getting the tempo of the game going, Price said Friday.His backup for the opener will be Corey Crawford, and not Braden Holtby, the 2016 Vezina Trophy winner.More pressing for Babcock in the waning minutes of training camp, however, were matters up front and on the power play.Babcock was happy with how John Tavares looked alongside Ryan Getzlaf during training camp, but was still debating whether Steven Stamkos or Corey Perry was a better fit at right wing. A prospective top unit of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand looked good in exhibition play, as did the pairing of Jonathan Toews and Logan Couture.The Canadians looked dominant in winning two of their three tournament exhibition games. They had a 129-74 shots edge, including 99-52 at even strength. Canada fired more than 40 shots twice, including a 48-shot barrage against Russia in the pre-tournament finale.Still, the games were tight and Babcock said he believes that is how the tournament will be, too.Weve got nothing to lose, Czech forward Michael Frolik said. Just play hard, make sure were ready and go after them.Canada is seeking its second straight World Cup title, albeit 12 years after the last one in 2004.Tomas Plekanec led the Czechs with three goals in three pre-tournament games. Ondrej Palat, Michal Kempny and Ales Hemsky each had three points.With Canada there is going to be lots of pressure on them for sure, defenseman Roman Polak said. Home building and everything, in Toronto. Theyre going to be desperate to win. If (we) have a good start and maybe we score a goal (early), it could be a different story.Jaromir Jagr declined an invitation and Tomas Hertl and David Krejci are sidelined by injuries.Were more confident than we were at the beginning when everybody was saying that were underdogs, Polak said. We could be a good surprise in the tournament and we can start tomorrow against Canada.Game notes Canadian defenseman Shea Weber sat out the final practice Friday but is expected to play against the Czechs. ... Czech forward Vladimir Sobotka was expected to be available after injuring his shoulder in a loss to Russia in the pre-tournament opener. Custom Panthers T-shirts . 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. Custom Brian Burns Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. http://www.custompanthersjersey.com/ . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Brian Burns Jersey Large . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Custom Panthers Jerseys . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006.Celtic travel to Firhill on Saturday lunchtime looking to restore their four-point advantage at the top of the Premiership in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Aberdeen narrowed the gap with a 2-1 win at the same venue on Tuesday night, and Ronny Deilas men will be boosted by the return of Nir Biton as they look to put some daylight between themselves and their nearest challengers.The midfield lynchpin has missed the last three games and fellow-midfielder Stefan Johansen (ankle) is rated 50/50 after coming off during last weeks Scottish Cup win over Morton. Striker Carlton Cole is not available as he is on personal leave while Jozo Simunovic remains sidelined with a knee injury and fellow defender Dedryck Boyata is suspended. Celtic may have failed to win their last two Premiership games - they have not gone three league matches without a win since November 2012 - but Hamilton Academicals Eamonn Brophy is the only man to have breached their defence in their last six games. Scott Brown says Celtic can still have a successful season and win the double Deila said: If we can get our quality out on the pitch then we can give Partick Thistle a hard time. Thistle did well against us last time while we should have performed better. We want to show how good we really are and build on Sundays positive performance and get the three points.Thistle boss Alan Archibald is taking heart from his sides narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park in January but knows exactly where the main opposition threat lies.We were onlyy one minute away from drawing with Celtic at Parkhead last time out, although it seemed to help them when Nir Bitton was sent off midway through the second half, he told the Evening Times.dddddddddddd. Thistle boss Alan Archibald wants to turn up the heat on their Glasgow rivals They then sat back and hit us on the counter attack and Leigh Griffiths ended up doing what he does best. Hes undoubtedly been the Player of the Year so the first thing we need to do to give ourselves a chance is to stop him.I think we need to stay strong for the first 15-20 minutes. Theyll have a big support at our place - we want to silence them and get them on their players backs. Partick boss Archibald is expecting a great game this weekend We need to try and use that. If theyre under more pressure because Aberdeen are doing well then good. Well use that as motivation.Thistle midfielder Stuart Bannigan again misses out with a knee injury while right-back Mustapha Dumbuya (ankle) will also be absent. Get a Sky Sports Day Pass Dont miss Partick Thistle v Celtic. Watch live on NOW TV for ￡6.99. No contract ' ' '