Pirate Galaxy » of Robert Gordon, 68, and Sharo

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- From a pure hockey standpoint, Team Canada is filthy rich in talent.But Team USA was built to steal that fame and fortune at the World Cup of Hockey.The two teams will square off in the round-robin portion of the best-on-best tournament on Sept. 20 at Torontos Air Canada Centre (8 p.m., ESPN). Theyve already split a pair of pre-tournament games in preparation for the World Cup, and their intense rivalry was on full display. The animosity is only going to increase once the puck officially drops.Team USA goalie Cory Schneider described Canada as arguably the best team in the tournament and said that having faced the Canadians in warm-up games will help the Americans.Playing against the best, prepares you the best, Schneider said.Is Canada really the better team, though?No.In terms of team concept, Team USA has the upper hand.Yes, I said it. Bring on the comments -- but just be ready for the I told you so when the tournament is over. Last week I picked Team Sweden to win the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but this isnt about who is going to win this tournament. Its strictly between Team USA and Canada.The American roster was built to slow down Canada. Every team has some level of depth in this tournament, but Team USA has the right kind of depth. Players have accepted their roles, and the management group quickly gave this team an identity when the roster was formed. The chemistry has been evident during training camp. Ive been covering Team Sweden and Finland, but now that Im back on American soil for games at Verizon Center on Tuesday (Team USA vs. Finland, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Wednesday (Team Sweden vs. Team Europe, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3), I want to give my impressions of the U.S. team -- whether you want them or not.I understand there are some extremely talented players --?Tyler Johnson, Phil Kessel, Kevin Shattenkirk and Justin Faulk -- who were not selected to the roster, but the vision of Team USAs management group, including coach John Tortorella, has built a team that can beat Canada.I like the fact that many teams in this tournament have focused on small-area games during practice, including Team USA. Those drills help players make quicker decisions in tight situations, and because the talent level throughout this tournament is off the charts, most of the goals scored will be in the dirty areas. Thats where size and skill will be a factor for the Americans.Were trying to get more work underneath the hashmarks so theres pressure and theres some combativeness within it, explained Tortorella. Its just, how much do you give them? Small-ice games are a very important part of hockey, especially early on when youre with your guys.Canada will score goals -- theres no denying that. If youre wondering how Team USA will produce offense against the Canadians, it has to come from secondary scoring. We know Patrick Kane is going to score, but others on the roster will need to produce, including the likes of Max Pacioretty, Justin Abdelkader, Ryan Kesler and T.J. Oshie. Team USA cant make any mistakes when facing Canada. When they play for real, its going to be fast-paced and its going to be fun to watch.Canada is loaded with plenty of two-way players, but if the U.S. can establish its speed early and maintain that structure and physicality, theres no reason not to think the Americans can beat Canada. Team USA isnt about to completely pound the Canadians into submission or try to beat them in one-on-one situations. The mindset is to keep the momentum and not allow Canadas best players to reach the elite game level.Team USA has to limit Canadas offensive zone possession time. If the U.S. makes a mistake in its own end, Canada will make it count.Im glad we played Canada, Tortorella said, because they are a really good team, probably the best team in the tournament right now. ... I think it really gave us a focus on that we just werent close enough to the puck on our breakout, so we didnt come out clean. We just werent supporting enough, and we certainly werent close enough or really even gave ourselves a chance to forecheck because we got stubborn at the blue line in trying to make too many plays instead of putting it behind them.For this story, I reached out to a few different hockey personnel on both sides of the border. I polled players from other teams in this tournament, and the majority believe Team USA will beat Team Canada.Both teams are talented, probably the best two teams in the tournament, said one current NHL player who is neither American nor Canadian. But the identity and chemistry and the role players, I like the U.S. more.Canada has won three of the past four gold medals at the Winter Olympics, including the 2010 Vancouver Games and 2014 Sochi Games. That international success will end against Team USA this time around.Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Penguins Jerseys 2019 . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Penguins Jerseys China . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury.NFLORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Matt Forte scored three touchdown runs and Ryan Fitzpatrick finally solved Rex Ryans defense, leading the New York Jets to a 37-31 victory over the Buffalo Bills.Fortes 3-yard run put New York ahead 27-24 with 2:12 left in the third quarter. He sealed the win by patiently waiting for a seam to open before scampering into the end zone from 12 yards to put New York up 37-24 with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter.Forte finished with 100 yards rushing, and the offseason free-agent addition became the 13th New York player to score three rushing touchdowns in a game.The Jets bounced back from a season-opening loss to Cincinnati and snapped a five-game skid against their AFC East rivals.LAS VEGAS -- A plan to build an NFL stadium in Las Vegas and lure the Raiders from Oakland crossed a major hurdle when a Nevada oversight committee voted unanimously to recommend $750 million in public funding for the project.The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee recommended raising the hotel tax in the Las Vegas area to help pay for a 65,000-seat domed venue that was promoted and would be partially financed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Proponents still need to win over the governor, the Legislature and three-quarters of NFL owners to make the project a reality, but its a significant milestone for a city thats never had a professional football team and has been hammering out the particulars of the Raiders deal for months.The Adelson family plans to put $650 million toward the stadium, which would also be home to UNLV Football, while the Raiders plan to kick in $500 million.BASEBALLCHICAGO -- Wrigley Field was dark and empty when a loud cheer reverberated throughout the neighborhood surrounding the iconic ballpark. While the Chicago Cubs decided to delay their party, their long-downtrodden fans were ready to celebrate.Chicago wasted its first chance to clinch the NL Central title when pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett delivered a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning Thursday night, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory. But St. Louis 6-2 loss at San Francisco completed the Cubs season-long dominance of the division.It appeared manager Joe Maddon and his players were long gone when the West Coast game wrapped up. But the final out in San Francisco touched off a celebration in Chicago that included honking horns and chanting in the streets.BOSTON -- Major League Baseball suspended Padres general manager A.J. Preller for 30 days without pay, hitting the San Diego executive with an unprecedented punishment for failing to disclose medical information when pitcher Drew Pomeranz was traded to the Boston Red Sox in July.The commissioners office announced the discipline without elaborating on what Preller did wrong.While baseball has suspended owners, including George Steinbrenner of the Yankees and Marge Schott of the Reds, for transgressions ranging from racism to gambling and other skullduggery deemed not in the best interest of baseball, it was believed to be the first time a general manager had been benched for hiding medical information from a trade partner.OLYMPICSGENEVA -- A two-time Wimbledon singles champion, two Tour de France winners and an Olympic discus gold medalist had the same answer to the latest leak by hackers of confidential medical information: so what?Petra Kvitova, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Robert Harting -- all Rio de Janeiro Olympians last month -- reacted with sarcasm and shrugs to the leak from the World Anti-Doping Agency database.The four athletes said their use of approved medications was already widely reported or they welcomed the oopenness resulting from an alleged Russian-led cyberattack that WADA believes is revenge for investigations into a state-backed doping program in Russia.ddddddddddddANTHEM PROTESTSStanding, kneeling or gesturing in support of Colin Kaepernicks national anthem protests has come at a cost for the dozen NFL players who have joined the cause against social injustices. Theyve faced vitriolic, sometimes racist reactions, forfeited some of their fan base, and at least one has lost endorsements.None is deterred by the backlash.Detractors accuse protesting players of being unpatriotic or disrespecting the American flag. Broncos linebacker Marshall said hes also gotten lots of love from military veterans saying they fought for his right to peacefully protest as much as they did for those who stand and salute the Stars and Stripes.While Kaepernick saw sales of his jersey skyrocket, Marshall has faced financial repercussions for taking a knee during the national anthem on opening night. Marshall lost endorsements from the Air Academy Federal Credit Union and CenturyLink before music mogul Russell Simmons offered him a deal with Rushcard this week.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem before a U.S. womens national team match against Thailand.Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem Sept. 4 before a game with her National Womens Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign. She said she wanted to express solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is not standing during the anthem to bring attention to racial inequality.After the United States 9-0 win, U.S. Soccer issued a statement to ESPN that said representing the country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach associated with the national teams.It was unclear whether Rapinoe would face any sanctions from the federation.COLLEGE FOOTBALLCINCINNATI -- Greg Ward Jr. threw an interception in the end zone. Cincinnati responded by going down the field, getting a touchdown and grabbing the lead and the momentum.For the first time this season, No. 6 Houston was on the road and feeling the pressure. How would the Cougars respond?Ward ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Cougars fabulous defense returned a couple of interceptions for touchdowns as they pulled away to a 40-16 victory over Cincinnati.AUTO RACINGORANGE, Calif. -- The father of former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon strangled his wife then shot himself in their Southern California home, police said Thursday.The deaths of Robert Gordon, 68, and Sharon Gordon, 57, were an apparent murder-suicide, Orange police Lt. Fred Lopez said a day after the bodies were found. No further details on the motive or circumstances were released.The couple were the father and stepmother of ex-NASCAR star Robby Gordon, who fought back tears and expressed disbelief outside the home on a Southern California hillside where he grew up and developed his love of racing.MMALOS ANGELES -- Chael Sonnen is coming back to the cage, and hes doing it with Bellator.Sonnen will return to mixed martial arts with the UFCs biggest competitor, the veteran fighter told The Associated Press. The 39-year-old Sonnen signed a multiyear, multi-fight deal with Bellator, the promotion also confirmed to the AP.Sonnen hopes to begin in November by taking on fellow UFC alumnus Tito Ortiz, but the brash, loquacious, self-styled American Gangster says he starts the next chapter of his remarkable career with no other preferences about opponents, fight locations -- or even weight classes. ' ' '