Pirate Galaxy » weekend.Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shou

TORONTO -- Even in defeat, there is something dignified, maybe even inspiring, about Team Europe.For much of Game 1 of this World Cup of Hockey best-of-three finals Tuesday night, there was a sense not of anticipation but of boredom -- not just from the fans at the Air Canada Centre but from host Team Canada as well.This, after all, is the World Cup of Hockey finals few predicted and even fewer, it appears, wanted.Everyone in attendance, except maybe those few folks in the upper concourse with Team Europe jerseys, knew in advance not just the outcome of the game but also the manner in which Canada would win. That manner would be in the form of a shellacking.It has been the backstory since Team Europe defeated favored Sweden in overtime Sunday afternoon in semifinal action.How could they beat Canada? Simple answer: They couldnt.How could they avoid being embarrassed? Simple answer: They couldnt.In spite of all that, it appeared Team Europe was interested in something else entirely, and that single-mindedness gave us a strangely compelling and wholly unexpected 3-1 victory by Canada.Even after giving up a goal by Brad Marchand on Canadas first shot of the game, Team Europe did something no other team has done in this tournament. They played their game -- not Canadas.Even when they fell behind 2-0 on Steven Stamkos first goal of the tournament after a grisly turnover by Team Europe defenseman Zdeno Chara, Team Europe pushed the pace.They played smart. They were patient. They forechecked with great diligence. For the first time in the tournament, Canada had to rely on goalie Carey Price to keep things under control.At the end of the second period, it was 2-1 after Tomas Tatar scored his third goal in two games for Team Europe.It was finally around the midway point of the third period, after a particularly impressive sequence for Team Europe, that the slumbering crowd, seemingly oxygen-deprived for the previous two-and-a-half periods, noticed that the outcome wasnt all that assured and the expected crushing of Team Europe wasnt going to happen according to plan and actually made their presence felt.Patrice Bergeron scored an insurance marker, and Canada won Game 1, as they were expected to, even if many Canadian players expressed disappointment at their play.We didnt play our best -- thats for sure, Canadian defenseman Drew Doughty?said. They played well, though. We kind of had spurts where we really let them outplay us.Head coach Mike Babcock agreed.I thought they were better than us for long stretches of the game, the routinely blunt Canadian said.Just as I wasnt sure whether this would it be an embarrassing rout, sucking the last of the air out of the event, I likewise werent sure just how Team Europe would respond to Game 1. What was impressive was it seemed to be equal parts defiance and excitement.I think it gives us a lot of optimism, Team Europe defenseman Mark Streit?said. Before the game, we didnt really know how were going to start, what kind of game its going to be.The mindset is not that you want to have a close game, he added. The mindset is you want to win the game. You know we dont really care what people think or fans think. We know what we can do. We know what kind of potential we have on our team.If it seems like the latter half of this tournament has been a total love-in for Team Europe head coach Ralph Krueger, well, get over it. From the opening shift, Europe showed they werent the least bit afraid of Canada, driving the net and drawing a penalty.Krueger insisted there are lots of good things that can be taken out of Tuesdays game. But make no mistake: His players are ticked off.Were very angry right now, which is a good thing, but we also are confident with what we felt today, Krueger said. Im sure were going to come out fighting very strong in Game 2.As he pointed out, in a best-of-three series, it doesnt matter?what order you win your two games.Frans Nielsen said no one in the Team Europe locker room feels that they are done.Third [goal] was tough. Because we were right there, and we played well, said Nielsen, one of the teams best forwards in the tournament. But same time, this for sure gives the group a lot of confidence, and I think we have a feeling in there that this is far from over. We know we can go out there and take a game, take the next one and make this a one-game series.OK, so heres the thing. Canada will likely win Game 2 on Thursday and take home that weird trophy that was trotted out on the ice before Tuesdays game. They should. Theyre the better team, even if they might have played their poorest game of the tournament Tuesday. Maybe on Thursday theyll win by four or five.But until that happens, Team Europe deserves more than theyve been given here. They deserve our attention and our respect.At the very least, Im pretty sure theyve gotten that from Team Canada.Jack Coleman Jersey Signed .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Bob Sura Jersey Signed . 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Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off.PITTSBURGH -- The Houston Astros got a glimpse of their future while veteran Doug Fister helped keep them in the pennant race in the present.Fister pitched seven scoreless innings, Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Monday night.Hernandez connected off fellow rookie Jameson Taillon (3-3) in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie after A.J. Reeds leadoff walk. It was the third home run for Hernandez, who was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Aug. 12 to make his major league debut.Im just trying to be patient at the home plate, Hernandez said. Im trying to make adjustments during games to make sure I swing at pitches I can hit. Im just trying to do the best I can to see the ball well and do some damage.Alex Bregman, another Astros rookie, hit his fourth homer in the ninth inning off Neftali Feliz.Bregmans at-bats, even when he doesnt get hits, are high quality, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I really like the way he swings the bat. That was real power to center field on the home run.Houston won its fourth straight game and Pittsburgh lost its fourth in a row. Both teams are competing for wild-card spots.Fister (12-8) struck out six, walked one and retired 11 of the first 12 batters. He had allowed nine runs and 11 hits over nine innings in his previous two starts.I was just kind of mixing things up, Fister said. (Catcher) Jason Castro had a good game plan and it came down to executing it. We had a couple of tricky fly balls and our guys out there wound up running them down. With our outfielders, theyre very athletic and theyll run down most pitchers mistakes.Ken Giles got his fourth save despite allowing David Freeses RBI single in the ninth. Freese was thrown out at second base when he tried to advance on an overthrow to end the game.You cant be out there at second base, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Youre two runs down. That probably was some emotional baserunning. The only way it woorks is if youre safe.ddddddddddddTaillon (3-3) made his seventh consecutive quality start since being activated from the disabled list July 19. He pitched eight innings, allowing two runs and four hits with a career-high eight strikeouts.Gregory Polanco had a pair of doubles and scored Pittsburghs lone run.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: INF/OF Yulieksi Gurriel grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth a day after leaving his major league debut with right hamstring tightness. Gurriel signed a $47.5 million, five-year contract in July after defecting from Cuba. He is expected to start Tuesday night. ... 3B Luis Valbuena (strained right hamstring) will be examined by doctors Wednesday to determine whether he needs season-ending surgery. ... OF Preston Tucker (strained right shoulder) is likely to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder soreness) pitched three scoreless innings and threw 57 pitches Monday night in his second rehab start with Double-A Altoona, allowing two hits while striking out six and walking three against Harrisburg in the Eastern League.PIRATES NEWSFreese signed a two-year, $11 million contract prior the game that takes him through the 2018 season. Freese will make $6.25 million in 2017 and $4.25 million in 2018. Theres a $6 million club option for 2019 or a $500,000 buyout.Rookie 1B Josh Bell, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, made his second straight start. Hurdle said the 24-year-old switch-hitter will see the majority of playing time in place of slumping 1B John Jaso.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1, 4.18 ERA) will make his fourth career start Tuesday night since being called up Aug. 1 from Triple-A Fresno.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (9-6, 4.83) is 2-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts since being acquired Aug. 1 from the New York Yankees in a trade. ' ' '