Canada holds off Team Europe in Game 1 of World Cup of Hockey final

TORONTO - Canadians unbeaten Tuesday showed that even at their worst, they are the best team at the World Cup of Hockey.

The line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Sidney Crosby has created a pair of goals to lead unusually sloppy Team Canada to a 3-1 win against the European team in Game 1 of the best-of- series three championship. Canada may enter the title with a victory Thursday (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN 2)

"We need more guys on deck we had tonight," said Canadian coach Mike Babcock.

Babcock said he did not think "we moved the puck out of our all tonight area."

His players shared his assessment of their level of play below normal, yet Canadians have found a way to win their fifth straight game of the tournament. They outscored the opposition 22-7.

"We showed that we can play with them," said EU Anze Kopitar captain.

Kopitar said the effort of the Europeans was "probably our best game of the tournament."

Brian Campbell enjoying return to Blackhawks

CHICAGO (AP) - 3 year old daughter of Brian Campbell had football on Saturday morning, so his family jumped the melee Blackhawks at the United Center. The defender grimacing said he did not know if his team was still playing games, but had to be there.

Not much. Campbell will get plenty of opportunities for family time this year.

"It's just great to wake up every morning and I know the area and very happy with my wife and children with the school and just be ready to go," he said.

The move was a highlight for Chicago, which lost Johnny Oduya during free agency last July and missed his veteran presence at times last season. With Campbell in the fold, the Blackhawks seem to be in great shape with their blue shirts, with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading a deep group of defenders.

Campbell, who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, has six goals and 25 assists in 82 games with the Panthers last season. He led the NHL defensemen with a plus-31 plus-minus.

"Just like a real smart player," said Blackhawks assistant Kevin Dineen, who was also Campbell coach for three seasons in Florida. "I think patience is a real key for us. He really quality games. It has been around for a while and he loves the game. He can skate all night."

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith practices as camp starts

Blackhawks defender Duncan Keith participated in practice on the first day of training camp Red Vs. White scrimmage on Friday.

Keith played in the World Cup of Hockey continue rehabilitation on his right knee. Two-time winner of the Norris Trophy had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October, and although he played after that, he determined that he was not ready for the World Cup.

"Well, today was the first skate," he said. "I was a little skating here this month, just trying to get away, trying to take it one day at a time."

Keith did not say if he would be ready for the season Oct. 12 at home against the Blues.

"I do not want to look too far ahead, but I like the progression," he said. "Today it was good to get back into the swing of things, even though it was a short practice."

Although his knee continued defender said that he regrets that he can not play in the World Cup.

"It was disappointing, especially when we had a long offseason this year," he said.

Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25: Nick Schmaltz awaits his NHL chance at No. 2

Nick Schmaltz has been one of the top prospects from the Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys since the team traded up to select him in the first round of the NHL Draft 2014 now ranking No. 2 on our list of Top 25 Under 25, the gifted striker is the edge of a potentially large role with the NHL team this season. Like any other young striker struggling for playing time in Chicago, he has a lot of competition, but Schmaltz has the biggest rise of the heap. If he is able to put it all together as a player three areas, Schmaltz could be one of the best plays in hockey.

discomposure
Schmaltz has been a good prospect for a long time, and the Hawks liked from the beginning. That's why negotiating to write the Madison, Wisc., native in the first round in 2014, and is why we pushed so hard to sign him to an entry level contract this summer. Since he agreed to leave college to become a professional, who has been constantly mentioned as a possible factor major contributor in Chicago this season.

What team will win the 2016-17 Stanley Cup?

What's the score 14 September 2016 - If there was a team that had to fight adversity over the last five NHL seasons, look no further than the Chicago Blackhawks. Each summer Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman faces tough decisions to keep the core intact.

Players So much so that he is being watched as Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and even Brandon Saad walk in free agency or traded to create cap space in an effort to preserve the club's core - led by captain Jonathan Toews and Hart trophy winner Patrick Kane Jersey.

Despite the frequent business sales, Bowman continues to find a way to keep them in contention Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup, where they won twice in the last four seasons.

Do not expect that to change much during the 2016-17 campaign either, as the Blackhawks are among the early favorites to hoist Lord Stanley Cup for the third time in four years.

Have a look at the schedule for the 2016-17 NHL find the best lines of paris for each game and consider a few tips on how to make more money from your hockey paris. "

Here are five legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup to consider before placing your paris this season.

Puck Daddy’s 2016-17 NHL Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks cruised to another championship and the Stanley Cup ...

... Wait, this can not be true ...

... Apparently, they lost to the St. Louis Blues in the first round in seven games.

Yes. Go figure.

This happened after the regular season, which saw a third finish in the Central Division Blackhawks (47-26-9, 103 points). As usual, there is a turnover of staff from the 2015 championship team Stanley Cup, and striker Brandon Saad was sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets while forward Patrick Sharp and defender Oduyya was in Dallas. (Trevor Daley, acquired from the stars to the Sharp, flopped to Chicago and eventually traded to Pittsburgh, where he helped them win the Stanley Cup.)

Beginning of the season was marred by an investigation of sexual assault, the target star Patrick Kane, in the Erie County District Attorney's office completed a three-month ordeal, without pressing charges.

Kane will have his best season statistically in the NHL (46 goals, 60 assists), thanks in no small part Panarin of Russia's arrival. The rookie had 30 goals and 44 assists, playing with Kane and Artem Anisimov; Kane won the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP, while Pararin won the Calder for rookie of the year.

But the Blues finished their cup push in dramatic fashion.

Potential Blackhawks contract motivating Alexandre Fortin at rookie tourney

Traverse City, Michigan -. Alexandre Fortin is, we can be sure of is that he is a professional hockey player.

His goal is to convince the now same the Chicago Black Hawks.

Fortin, a 19-year-old forward has certainly given his speed and impressed in the management of the attack skills and Black Hawks, such as invitation of a free agent in the organization of the prospect camp in July. Then, Fortin is, Traverse City, and you have to get the next week invitation to the NHL rookie tournament that begins on Friday in the training camp of the Black Hawks that starts with Chicago.

Hope of Fortin is to solidify the contract of the entry level from the Black Hawks by continuing to shine over the course of four games of Traverse City. Black Hawks will open the tournament against the St. Louis Blues at 6 pm CT. On Friday.

"I know what I can," Fortin was told on Friday after the Blackhawks Jerseys morning skate. If I'll not do drafting, "I just wanted the camp [invitation to the outlook] there were. Please I do not mind it. I just think I want to show what I what you can on the ice. So over.

"I'm certainly, you can be more high reproduction [in the rookie tournament] you want to display. I, I love to show what I can do to be able to play higher."

, Open the speed and skating up the game, but you can do what Fortin to create for himself and his team-mate. He led all of the Black Hawks of the outlook in the goal during scrimmages at the prospect camp, also, we set several team-mate "target.

Outlook of the camp was included players of some of the potential NHL it was a competitive environment. Rookie tournament in the competition, you need to further step up.

"It would be good, Rockford IceHogs coach Ted Dent is" Black Hawks rookie team coaching is, to say I was. "It is, in the summer rather than the other team, the game against your team-mates and friends. This will be a different atmosphere.

"He just maintains simply day-to-day getting better, continue from the summer, we had an excellent development camp."

Duncan Keith's status unclear for start of Blackhawks regular season

Does not play for the team Canada of knee problems that prolonged because of the hockey World Cup Blackhawks defense Duncan Keith, it is set to get underway this weekend without.

Keith, after the press conference of the team for North America during the media day of the World Cup Hockey Jersey at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ready for the start of the Hawks season and general manager Stan Bowman was uncommitted Thursday If you have questions it is now.

"I am that you do not put any expectations on it," a GM for North America Bowman said. "Are we just display. When he is ready, he is ready and I have. Although there is nothing to worry about, now, we are not trying to put it in the time frame. we you get if we ne exhibition game Ya of have a better feel in , if he was ready to play, he will play. "

Keith, he and suffered during the 2015 Stanley Cup final he received nearly a month of meniscus tears October 20 surgery to repair in his right knee, which missed the last season . On August 24, Keith had to withdraw from the World Cup because of the ongoing recovery of his knee.

"It was a decision of Duncan," said Bowman said. "He just he is he did not feel the run to the level required in such a tournament (possibility).

"You must respect it. He is doing better. I time in its surface. I would tell any of the bad news is never heard. At the end of this tournament , you will get some updated information to his performance. "

Twice Norris Trophy winner as the top defense in the NHL is a Hawks mainstay, his absence will certainly affect the depth of the team at the blue line.

"Your first course of action is always just to see how it reacts," Borman told about the injury of Keith. "If you will not be able to know that, to go through the time. Duncan did not want to leave the high and dry Canada. Many of all of us, have a thing of playing through their One year, they when the rest, they will feel the 9 times out of 10 at the training camp, the better. Duncan (and) it's just he was not to the point where he wants it. "

Kruger update: Hawks center Marcus Kruger is expected to be ready for the team Swedish tournament opener Sunday against Russia. Kruger has left the Sweden's first pre-tournament game in the upper half of the body of the injury.

"I am ready to play Sunday," Kruger said. "When something like this is soon to take place, it is you want to play for your team and your country you are in here, are you at the same time trying to be positive (and) stay of the patient. it is difficult. "