TORONTO -- Most of Team USAs players were on the Ricoh Coliseum ice before the resurfacing machine had even left it.It was a sign, perhaps, that the Americans are eager to put their miserable start to the World Cup of Hockey -- a 3-0 loss to Team Europe on Saturday night -- behind them.A fresh sheet of ice presented a fresh opportunity for them to play themselves back into contention with a pivotal game against powerful Canada looming Tuesday night.Pivotal, in fact, might be an understatement.Tuesday is our championship game, head coach John Tortorella said Sunday. We knew wed have to go through Canada. That game has just come earlier for us here, and thats the way were approaching it.The questions about how this might be achieved are twofold.First, what technical or personnel issues can be changed or addressed to make the U.S. a better team than the one that staggered through the shutout loss to Team Europe, a game marked by a lack of energy through the first 40 minutes and a series of defensive breakdowns that allowed the opportunistic Europeans to steal a game most believed the Americans would win.Sundays practice lines and drills suggest that veteran David Backes, a two-time Olympian for Team USA, will be the extra forward and Kyle Palmieri will draw into the lineup to give the Americans more speed and scoring touch up front.Palmieri had 30 goals last season for New Jersey. He worked Sunday with the teams top power play unit in practice along with John Carlson, Patrick Kane, Zach Parise and captain?Joe Pavelski.?Max Pacioretty, struggling to find his way with Team USA, was dropped to a checking line with Brandon Dubinsky and Palmieri.Kane is trying to shake off a disappointing turn against Team Europe that saw him cough up the puck, leading to an embarrassing 2-on-0 and a 2-0 Team Europe lead. He was working with Justin Abdelkader and Derek Stepan as Tortorella continues to try to find a combination that will unleash Kanes vast scoring potential.James van Riemsdyk, who started the tournament playing with Kane, dropped down to a line with Pavelski and T.J. Oshie.Ideally youd love to have four lines that youre rolling and youre scoring and are trusted in all situations, Backes said. But thats just not where were at at this moment. Weve got to deal with reality and not what wed hoped would be at the moment.First things first, were going to prepare to play the Canadians on Tuesday. We need to win that game, he said.Dustin Byfuglien?was?a surprise scratch for Team USAs first game. It would seem like his physical presence and booming shot in the lineup would be an advantage against Canada, although Tortorella declined to answer any questions about the teams lineup. Byfuglien did skate regularly with Jack Johnson and worked out with the teams second power play unit along with Ryan Suter, Stepan, Ryan Kesler and Oshie on Sunday.Thats not my decision, Byfuglien said. All I do is come here, put a jersey on and go to work when Im told. Im just waiting for an opportunity. Thats all.One NHL executive said that when Byfuglien is on his game hes a tremendous benefit to his team -- but when hes not on his game, he can be a negative influence.At this stage, its hard to imagine that he wont be in the lineup Tuesday, especially given that the U.S. was 0-for-4 on the power play.Tortorella said he hopes his players can finish more plays against Canada. He feels that his offense had several opportunities available on Saturday but couldnt complete them.Its about getting to the net, the coach said. Its about getting to rebounds. Its about being closer to the puck. And thats kind of the next play. When you have a good forecheck, a good first man, I thought we were late with our second guy to establish that type of forechecking when we had it.Taken in isolation, those elements arent likely to be enough to secure a victory against a Canadian team that rolled over the Czech Republic 6-0 in its tournament opener Saturday night.Technical and/or personnel changes have to be accompanied by a mindset from the get-go that the Americans are going to play the way they are supposed to play. They will need to conjure up the kind of emotion they showed when they defeated Canada in a hard-hitting, often nasty pre-tournament game on Sept. 9.That shouldnt be hard to do, but the same could have been said about Team USA starting the tournament with more energy and purpose, something that was curiously absent.Normally, in a tournament like this or in a playoff series, a losing team wants to get right back at it, but Tortorella said he thinks the extra off day will be important as the Americans try to digest the depth of the predicament in which they find themselves.I think the guys are disappointed, he said. They are going to tell you they put it behind them. I dont think they have. Im glad we have the two days. Not so much for the physical and practicing, but the mental. This is either you are afraid of it or its just a fantastic opportunity we have in front of us Tuesday. I have the belief in our guys they are going to relish this opportunity, and thats the way we have to approach it.Still, Canadian head coach Mike Babcock said something after his teams emphatic win that resonated when it came to examining the U.S. situation. Babcock said that in these kinds of tournaments -- or sometimes in playoff series -- teams that win early get fat and happy, and conversely, teams that lose often get better in a hurry.The Americans, seemingly focused and committed to being better than what they were, are hoping Babcock is right. Spencer Dinwiddie Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Jarrett Allen Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. https://www.cheapnetsonline.com/205g-jason-kidd-jersey-nets.html .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. David Nwaba Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Vince Carter Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. DENVER -- On the mound, Adam Wainwright likes to own the inside part of the plate.As hes only recently discovered, crowding it is a pretty good approach for hitting, too.Although shaky on the hill, Wainwright shined in the batters box with a career-high four RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 10-5 on Tuesday night to move into a three-way tie for the two NL wild cards.Wainwright credits inching just a little bit closer for his newfound prowess at the plate.My whole career, Ive fought trying to pull the ball and tried to stay up the middle and hit the ball to right field. It just doesnt work for me very well, explained Wainwright, who has 18 RBI this season. If its a pitch in the strike zone, Im going to swing at it.The free-swinging Wainwright lined a two-run double in the second inning and brought in two more with a bloop single in the fifth. Matt Adams and Jedd Gyorko homered for the Cardinals, now even with the Mets and Giants in the race for the final two NL playoff spots.The 35-year-old Wainwright (12-9) didnt have his sharpest command, yielding solo homers to Daniel Descalso, Charlie Blackmon and Gerardo Parra. But the right-hander was sharp enough -- especially his curveball -- as he gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.In a park like this, in a place where no lead is safe, a pitcher, if you can go out there and push something across ... youre doing your job, Wainwright explained.Jorge De La Rosa (8-9) struggled through what could be his final start in a Rockies uniform. The winningest pitcher in team history allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- in 4 2/3 innings. His contract expires after this season.It looked like he just didnt have a lot of depth to his stuff, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.Wainwright became the second straight Cardinals pitcher to play a starring role at the plate. Carlos Martinez had a two-run double in a 5-3 win on Monday.These days, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny just cant help but scoreboard-watch. Its hard to miss, since the scores are posted on the right-field fence and he stares at it from the dugout.And yes, he saw it when the Mets game went final.ddddddddddddJust keep playing our game, Matheny said. Not get caught up.Adams had a solo homer in the second and Gyorko added a two-run shot in the fourth -- a 452-foot no-doubter to center. Gyorko has 27 homers this season.DJ LeMahieus average remained at .349 after he went 1 for 3 with a double. He holds a slight lead over Washingtons Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race. Murphy is hitting .347.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) said of his potential return: I will be ready as fast as I can. To put a date on it doesnt make sense. ... INF Matt Carpenter got the night off.Rockies: Third base coach Stu Cole was hit in the head by a ball that caromed off another during batting practice. He checked out OK after being taken to the hospital. The Rockies moved Eric Young over to coach third, and Vinny Castilla served as the first base coach.MIGHTY BLOWHolliday good-naturedly admitted he hasnt received a bill for breaking the glass at a burger joint behind the left-field seats during batting practice Monday.Then again, the restaurant -- Helton Burger Shack -- does bear the name of his good friend, longtime Rockies first baseman Todd Helton.Hollidays drive shattered the window pane protecting the prep area.That was collateral damage, joked Holliday, who was with the Rockies from 2004-08. Maybe now they will put in Plexiglas.THIS & THATWainwright has 133 wins and is one from tying Dizzy Dean for sixth on St. Louis career list. ... Randal Grichuk had three hits, including two doubles, and scored four times. ... De La Rosa is 53-20 with a 4.31 ERA at Coors Field in 106 games with Colorado, including 99 starts. Hes the poster boy for showing that you can pitch in an offensive park here at altitude, Weiss said.UP NEXTThe Cardinals will send RHP Luke Weaver (1-3, 3.21 ERA) to the mound in the series finale Wednesday. The Rockies counter with righty German Marquez (0-0), who will make his first major league start after three relief appearances. ' ' '