Kritik und Anregungen » and Tim Hardaway Jr. ignited the n

PITTSBURGH -- Matt Murray spent the end of his rookie season helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup.The goaltender is ready for an entirely different challenge for Team North America during the World Cup of Hockey. Murray stopped 16 of the 17 shots he faced in a 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic on Wednesday in the final exhibition for both teams before the tournament starts in Toronto this weekend.While North America coach Todd McLellan has yet to officially name who will start in net when his team faces Finland on Sunday, it appears to be a mere formality.Im not prepared to anoint him yet ... but I think you had very good eyes, you saw him play extremely well, McLellan said. Thats the same thing we saw. Odds are hes our guy, but we have to respect the process.The group of players 23-and-under will head into the event after losing for the first time in three exhibitions after Tomas Plekanec banked a backhander off Connor Hellebuycks pads with just over eight minutes remaining. Murray was long gone by then, playing in the same building where hell report for work in October as Pittsburgh looks to defend the Cup it won after streaking through the postseason and beating San Jose in six games in the final.Heady territory for the 22-year-old Murray, who believes his run last spring will only help as the team of upstarts faces a massive test against the worlds best players.Thats probably the highest pressure you can have in hockey, Murray said. Going through that at a young age is only going to help me feel more comfortable.North America overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie it midway through the third period on goals by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews against Petr Mrazek.North America captain Connor McDavid was held without a point for the third straight game and took a big hit from Czech defenseman Roman Polak at the end of the second period. McDavid said he didnt believe the hit was dirty and that his scoreless streak is the result of passing up too many opportunities to shoot the puck.Its something Ive got to figure out and keep working on, he said.Plekanec answered 53 seconds after Matthews goal by taking a feed from Ales Hemsky from behind the net and knocking it off Hellebuycks leg and over the goal line for his third goal in as many exhibition games.Ondrej Palat and Radek Faksa also scored for the Czech Republic. Mrazek stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced after coming in for Michal Neuvirth at the games midway point. Vapormax Plus White Sale . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Vapormax Plus Mens Sale . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.airmaxplusstoresale.com/air-vapormax-plus-cheap/black-discount.html . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Cheap . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Vapormax Plus Discount .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. CHICAGO -- Dwyane Wade scored 22 points in a triumphant Chicago debut, Jimmy Butler had 24 and the Bulls won their season opener, beating the Boston Celtics 105-99 on Thursday night.Wade nailed a 3 from the corner in the final minute to make it a five-point game. Taj Gibson added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the new-look Bulls got off to a winning start after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008.Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 25 points. Avery Bradley had 16, and Jae Crowder 14 points, but the Celtics came up short after opening with a win over Brooklyn the previous night.The Bulls remade their roster in the offseason, jettisoning one hometown superstar and welcoming another when they traded Derrick Rose to New York and signed Wade to a two-year deal worth about $47 million in a move that stunned Miami.The three-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star is off to a good start with the Bulls after 13 seasons with the Heat. Wade hit 4 of 6 3-pointers in this game after making jjust seven all of last season.ddddddddddddHAWKS 114, WIZARDS 99ATLANTA -- Dwight Howard dominated the boards in his Atlanta debut, Paul Millsap scored 28 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. ignited the new-look Hawks in a victory over Washington.Howard grabbed 19 rebounds to go along with 11 points, just what the Hawks expected from their new center, and it certainly wasnt unusual for three-time All-Star Millsap to lead the way in scoring.But Hardaways performance was totally unexpected given the way he struggled in his first season with the Hawks, when he was largely confined to the bench and even forced to spend time in the D-League.He scored 21 points, matching his high in an Atlanta uniform, and broke open a close game with back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth. The Hawks, who led only 81-80 heading to the final period, outscored the Wizards 33-19 over the final 12 minutes. ' ' '