The Olympics have been a huge draw ratings-wise but have provided a real challenge to the National Hockey League teams, who are forced to go on a midseason break.

They settled the score with their closest neighbors and biggest rivals.

Tavares had two goals to lead Team Canada over Team USA 5-2 Saturday night in World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament play in Ottawa.

Team Canada played pretty well despite dropping Friday's game 4-2 to Team USA.

While Schneider was blameless in the first two goals, he then failed to block a shot taken by defenceman Jay Bouwmeester pinching in from the left point - sending Canada up 3-0 on a weak goal.

Circle Sept. 20 on your calender when these two teams meet in the round-robin at the Air Canada Centre. Alex Ovechkin, captain of Team Russia, practiced twice a day to get ready.

If there was any concern this series wasn't going to produce strong hockey, that was erased by the Americans in Columbus. Held in Toronto, exhibition showcases are already underway, and fans have treated to epic shows already, including last night's game between the United States and Canada. "It didn't feel like an exhibition game at all". There will be games within each group, and the top two teams from each group will emerge into the "playoffs", or elimination hockey, until a champion is crowned. "That era of United States hockey players were one of the greatest that ever played, so we're trying to recreate that and establish ourselves as the next wave of great American players". The mindset is to keep the momentum and not allow Canada's best players to reach the elite game level.

The modest sized tournament will feature eight teams this year - the host nation of Canada, the U.S., Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, North America (a special team for players 23-and-under) and Europe (a team for players from assorted other European countries).

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He's joined by robust receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, not to mention a burgeoning star in tailback David Johnson. Is he ready for the role? Last season the Chiefs got the better of the Chargers, claiming a pair of wins in their two clashes.

John Tavares started the game off by running Ryan Kesler into the boards. Well this year, hockey fans should be very excited to see worldwide play, and get some competitive, pre-NHL-season hockey.

Even the second came to an end with every player on the ice in a shoving match and exchanging words.

Thomas Vanek, another new Red Wings forward, had an assist, a minus-1 rating and four shots in 14:12. It makes me someone who doesn't appreciate a hack coach implementing a hack style.

Bergeron made it 2-1 midway through the second when he converted a rebound off Sidney Crosby's shot. He wasn't tested a whole lot by the Americans but made the saves when needed by Team Canada.

With the Canadians icing such blue-line notables as Doughty, Brent Burns and Shea Weber, Muzzin could be overlooked. Only moments after Bouwmeester gave Canada a 3-0 advantage at 15:38, Kesler brought got U.S. on the board with a shot that appeared to deflect off Shea Weber.

With only one second remaining on the club's first man advantage, Couture opened the scoring on a flawless feed from Thornton to beat Schneider at 11:14. If his players choose to exercise their constitutional rights by sitting for the anthem, he has no problem exercising his right as a coach to bench them throughout the game. Forward Claude Giroux told reporters before the puck was dropped he was fine to play but he wasn't 100% after a hit from Joe Pavelski. When they play for real, it's going to be fast-paced and it's going to be fun to watch. You cant, youve got to get guys into situations where you think theyre going to produce for you.

Russian Federation is always in the conversation, but in recent tournaments they have all played as individuals rather than as a team, despite boasting enormous talent such as Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.