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TORONTO -- When the United States filled out its roster for the World Cup of Hockey, it looked heavy on grit and physicality and light on skill and scoring.That became reality in the Americans stunning 3-0 loss to unheralded Team Europe on Saturday in the World Cup opener. With offensive defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and 30-goal scorer Kyle Palmieri scratched, the U.S. struggled to generate quality scoring chances and finds itself in trouble one game into the tournament.It was just tough to score, winger Zach Parise said. There are guys that have different roles and different jobs on the team. Guys that play with grit, play hard -- but it was just tough to score for us tonight.Jaroslav Halak stopped all 35 shots he faced to earn the shutout for Team Europe, a mix of players from Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Norway, Denmark, France and Slovenia. Marian Gaborik, Leon Draisaitl and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored on U.S. goaltender Jonathan Quick, who made 14 saves.Despite the lopsided shot total and the Americans dominant puck possession, Europe was in control for most of the game because of major mistakes. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh made an ill-advised pinch to set up a 2-on-1 rush that became Gaboriks goal, and Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane turned the puck over to give Europe a 2-on-0 rush that became Draisaitls.You saw on a couple of our mistakes -- turnovers, pinching, giving them odd-man breaks -- they were able to capitalize, Kane said. On that second goal, Ill definitely take the fault on that one. Thats a play that Ive made a million times in my career. Just kind of lost the puck and the next thing you know they go down 2 on 0. Thats unacceptable from me.It was an unacceptable performance for the U.S., which now has been shut out in three consecutive major international tournament games dating to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Leaving skilled players like Tyler Johnson and Kyle Okposo off the roster sparked plenty of second-guessing of the U.S. management team, and that wont slow down after losing to Team Europe.Defenseman Ryan Suter called Sochi a setback, and the first game of the World Cup wasnt a step forward.If you go back nine (international) periods where you dont get anything, its frustrating but weve had some looks along the way, captain Joe Pavelski said. We had the power plays, we had some chances, we had a few looks. Weve got to strike when we get those.The U.S. had a power-play goal disallowed when James van Riemsdyk was ruled to have intentionally directed the puck in with his chest. Coach John Tortorella believed it should have been a goal because the puck went off Derek Stepans helmet, but the NHL explained that it had no bearing and the goal should not count.Tortorella defended his decision to sit Byfuglien and Palmieri, saying this was what the coaching staff believed was the best lineup. The result didnt prove that out, and the top offensive players accepted responsibility for not being sharp enough.Europe coach Ralph Krueger knew his team had to play a perfect game to beat the U.S. Captain Anze Kopitar called this a boring game, but it got the job done as Europe made good on Kruegers pledge that the team was ready to look America in the eyes.That belief extended to the locker room, even if beating the U.S. looked shocking from the outside.From the outside, we got stamped up as the underdog here, Draisaitl said. I think we all understand that, but at the same time, we have some really good players on our team as well. A lot of experience. A big win for us.For Europe it was a long way from blowout losses to the 23-and-under Team North America in exhibition play. Krueger emphasized that the Europeans werent satisfied to play one strong game.We didnt see ourselves as just a sideshow, ever, Krueger said. Weve come here to play nine periods and like everybody else we want to play next weekend.To advance to play next weekend in the semifinals, the U.S. must either beat favored Canada on Tuesday or hope for a miracle elsewhere in Group A. With only three games of round-robin play, a regulation loss is a significant blow.Weve put ourselves in a spot now were chasing, Tortorella said. Were chasing the tournament. Its a spot we didnt want to be in. Its a very dangerous spot, but we are here.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhynoMark Canha Athletics Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Miguel Tejada Athletics Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/1215m-ray-fosse-jersey-athletics.html . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Oakland Athletics Gear . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Vida Blue Jersey . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie.DENVER -- Welcome back to Raiders-Broncos, a rivalry thats lost some of its luster in recent years.Now, both teams are 6-2 and headed for a showdown next weekend with the AFC West lead on the line.You have to go all the way back to Week 16 of 2002 to find the last time these old AFL foes had this much at stake in a game against one another.The Raiders won that one, 28-16, ending Denvers hopes of taking the division, sending Brian Griese to the bench, Steve Beuerlein to the huddle and the Broncos on an offseason quarterback quest that ended with Jake Plummer under center in Denver.The Broncos and Raiders both stayed a step ahead of Kansas City (5-2) on Sunday in the NFLs top division.Oakland overcame 23 penalties to beat Tampa Bay 30-24 in overtime. Then, Denver beat San Diego 27-19 by hitting Philip Rivers 17 times, batting down 13 of his passes, picking off three other throws and sacking him four times.Thats the type of defense that we play, said Von Miller, who had a sack, along with Jared Crick, Justin Simmons and T.J. Ward. Theres enough to go around for everybody. Its great on our team. No one is waiting around for somebody else to make a play. Were all out there trying to make a play from left corner to right corner and everybody in between.We feel like the next play is our chance to make a play for our team and that type of mentality really drives the type of style that we play on defense.Rivers took solace in this as he left: We split with the Denver Broncos this year.And thats saying something.Other takeaways from Denvers win that avenged a 21-13 loss at San Diego 17 days earlier:GROUNDED GROUND GAME: Rookie Devontae Bookers first NFL start was a mixed bag: a 3-yard TD run and a fumble at the 2 to go with just 54 yards on 19 carries (2.8-yard average per carry).It was non-existent, coach Gary Kubiak said of his run game just six days after it had produced 190 yards against Houston. We come out and go right down the field and look like a good, sharp football team and then we couldnt get out of our way about the next three or four series. Im disappointed. I know that we were missing C.J. today, but thats a done deal. We have to improve.Kapri Bibbs ran twice for 4 yards and Juwan Thompson ran once for a 1-yard TD.SAFETY DANCE: Ward and Darian Stewart both had interceptions on the day they were featured on the Broncos program .ddddddddddddI told him on the sidelines, `Stew, we both got picks and we was on the cover today. Weve got to be on the cover every week, Stewart said.Stewarts 25-yard interception return to the San Diego 10 set up Bookers 3-yard TD run. Ward picked off Rivers pass at the 30, spun around and made it to the Chargers 7.Ive been telling you dudes that Im a natural running back, Ward said. I just dont like getting hit.He was lamenting not getting in the end zone like Bradley Roby did on his 49-yard pick-6 in the first half, however, when Booker fumbled the ball away at the 2 moments later.DINGED DENVER: The Broncos were missing two defensive starters in linebacker Brandon Marshall (hamstring) and cornerback Aqib Talib (back) to start the game and lost cornerback Kayvon Webster to a hamstring injury.The Broncos also lost their defensive leader when coordinator Wade Phillips was taken to a hospital after getting knocked down during Robys return in the second quarter. He was released a couple of hours later and is expected back at work Monday.San Diego running back Melvin Gordon was blocked into the 69-year-old assistant by Miller, and Phillips was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field in a scary scene that concluded with him giving a thumbs-up on his way to the tunnel.With linebackers coach Reggie Herring taking over Denvers defensive calls, the Broncos had a goal-line stand in the closing minutes and picked off Rivers twice more in the second half.I got on the headset a couple of times and he told me shut the hell up, hes got it, said Kubiak, who gave Herring a game ball.BACKUP BACK UP: Cornerback Lorenzo Doss surrendered Travis Benjamins 14-yard touchdown catch and came down hard on his back. But he returned to the game and broke up Rivers fourth-down pass to tight end Hunter Henry in the closing minutes.OFF THE MARK: San Diego kicker Josh Lambo had a forgettable day by pushing a 45-yard field goal wide left just before halftime and watching Shaq Barrett block an extra point in the third quarter.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '