Neuigkeiten rund um das Forum » the Islanders had a chance to get off to

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. Discount Saucony Shoes . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Saucony Outlet Online .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. http://www.discountsaucony.com/ . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. Buy Sacony Shoes Online . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Saucony Shoes On Clearance . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. NEW YORK -- Coming off two 100-point seasons and their best playoff run in 23 years, the New York began this season with high hopes. Things havent been working out so well.Sixteen games into the season -- about one-fifth of the way through -- the Islanders are having trouble scoring goals and the losses are piling up.With just one win in the last seven games (1-3-3), they are just one point out of last place in the Eastern Conference and their 40 goals ranks in the middle of the pack in the conference and the league overall.I have not found the combinations to give us some offense, coach Jack Capuano said after the team was shut out for the first time this season Monday night. Its on me to find guys to play with certain guys. Our guys are well prepared for games. We have to be able to find some offense.The Islanders were booed through much of their latest loss -- 4-0 to Tampa Bay -- by the home fans looking for another strong season after finally reaching the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1993 .I understand the frustration of the fans and frustration of the players, Capuano said. but for me, as a coach, Im behind these guys. I want them to succeed.Two months after their postseason ended last spring, the Islanders lost long-time stars Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin on the first day of free agency , and replaced them with Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera. The departed trio combined for 52 goals and 83 assists last season, while the two newcomers have totaled three goals and five assists so far.Capuano has shuffled the lines all season, searching for the right combinations -- especially for captain John Tavares, who spent most of the latter part of last season on the top line with Okposo and Nielsen. Ladd and Chimera began the season with Tavares. Chimera was then replaced by Josh Bailey. Ladd was then dropped down, with Shane Prince initially taking his place, but Cal Clutterbuck has been moved up there the last five games. The changes have rippled on the other lines as well.Tavares is still confident the team can turn things around.Howw many games do we got left, he said.dddddddddddd You just keep going, keep working. You find your way out of it. Obviously we dont want to be in the spot that were in, but were not going to quit. We just got to stay positive and stay together. Therea plenty of time for improvement with 66 games remaining, but it needs to start soon. The Islanders began Tuesday only six points out of a playoff spot, but would need to jump over eight teams just to get in the Easts second wild card spot.Obviously it feels like everything is against us right now, Tavares said. Theres a long way to go at this point in the year. ... All you can do is work to sway the momentum, get some good results and try to build some momentum off that and build confidence.A strong home team the last two years, the Islanders had a chance to get off to a good start with their next game -- on Friday night against defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh -- being their 12th out of the first 17 at Barclays Center. The Islanders head into that 5-4-2 on home ice. That will be followed by a three-game trip to California next week with the team still looking for its first road win after going 0-4-1 in the first five.We have to get back practicing hard, get ready to go, obviously a big game Friday night and a big road trip, defenseman Travis Hamonic said. We just have to keep pushing forward. No ones feeling sorry for us.The poor start has put Capuano on the hot seat and with the coach repeatedly taking the blame for the teams scoring troubles, the pressure will likely only build.I can only control what I can control, Capuano said when asked if he was concerned whether general manager Garth Snow might consider a coaching change. Thats not my decision. I come to the rink every day like everybody else and work extremely hard. ... As Ive said, we have to find a way -- and it falls on me -- to try to get some offense out of this team.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP ' ' '