The Swedish mens hockey team capitalized on a quick start and some shaky opposing goaltending to skate to a 4-2 win over the Czech Republic in their opening game of the Olympic tournament at the Bolshoy Ice Dome on Wednesday. Milwaukee Bucks Pro Shop . Ottawa Senators star defenceman Erik Karlsson scored two goals while his defensive partner Oliver Ekman-Larsson added two assists. Henrik Zetterberg and Patrik Berglund had the other two goals for the Swedes, who jumped to an early 3-0 lead thanks to some suspect goaltending by Czech starter Jakub Kovar. Head coach Alois Hadamczik made the surprising decision to not even dress the teams only NHL goaltender for the teams stiffest test of the preliminary round. Winnipegs Ondrej Pavelec was scratched in favour of KHL goalies Alexander Salak and Jakub Kovar. Kovar got the start, which backfired horribly when he let in three questionable goals before being pulled early in the second and replaced by Salak, who let in the Swedes fourth goal before the Czechs got on the board. Salak settled down after that and kept the Czech Republic in the game, and Marek Zidlicky and Jaromir Jagr scored two quick goals midway through the second period to spark the Czechs. But the Czech Republic couldnt put any more past Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who kept the lead intact while the Czechs outshot the Swedes 15-5 in the third. Lundqvist made 23 saves for the win, while Kovar and Salak combined for 25 stops in the loss. Swedens next game in Group C is against Switzerland, while the Czech Republic faces Latvia, both on Friday. Quick start from Swedes Sweden carried the play for most of the first period, capitalizing on a couple miscues by Kovar to go ahead 2-0 after 20 minutes. Karlsson scored the opening goal of the Olympic tournament from the point on a delayed penalty halfway through the period, as Kovar struggled to deal with the traffic in front of his net and saw the Swedes shot go through his glove. Berglund made Kovars opening 20 minutes worse by scoring Swedens second goal from a bad angle at 13:17, firing a shot right through the Czech goaltender from outside the left faceoff dot. It didnt get any better for Kovar in the second. Zetterberg scored on another shot that went through the Czech goalie only 51 seconds in. That goal ended Kovars night after Salak came in to replace him. But the switch didnt matter. Karlsson scored his second of the game with a laser from the point with little over three minutes after Salak made his debut. The Czechs clawed their way back into the contest with goals from Zidlicky and Jagr two minutes apart midway through the second, and pushed the Swedes hard for the remainder of the period. Bob Dandridge Jersey . According to TSN Edmonton reporter Ryan Rishaug, agent Rick Valette met with Oilers senior VP of hockey operations Scott Howson and general manager Craig MacTavish on Monday to kick off the talks. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/1106t-frank-mason-iii-jersey-bucks.html . Last year, Islanders forward Colin Mcdonald released a "Do It For Colin" campaign to promote his teammate and friend John Tavares for the EA sports honour:The most popular sports voting video ever has to go to Chris Bosh who showcased his comedic abilities in his effort to get fans to vote him into the 2008 All Star Game:You can vote for TJ and other star players for the NHL 15 cover vote here.CHICAGO - The microscope is out, and every move is being watched closely. A few loose pucks could make the difference between playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and a trip to the minors. The loaded Blackhawks return mostly intact after losing to eventual NHL champion Los Angeles in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on June 1. While injuries or an upcoming salary-cap move could shake up the picture a bit, it looks as if there are very few open spots in the lineup heading into the preseason. "You look at our roster, most guys are in place," coach Joel Quenneville said. "But there are still some things to be sorted out. As you go along, competition for quality ice time internally will be in place as well. We dont have our lines set in stone game in and game out. I guess well call that competition. As far as spots, well see how that plays out." After four days of testing, practice and scrimmages at Notre Dame, the competition for that precious little roster space shifted to the United Center on Monday night for the teams training camp festival. Marcus Kruger had two goals and an assist to lead the White team to a 5-1 victory over the Red squad in the featured scrimmage. Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith and forward Teuvo Teravainen were among a group of players who rested during the festivities, which attracted a sold-out crowd even with the Chicago Bears playing on Monday Night Football. "Really impressive," said centre Brad Richards, who signed with Chicago in the off-season. "For a Red and White game ... I havent been a part of something like that. So it just makes you feel better about choosing to come here." It was the Blackhawks first public appearance at their longtime home since they were eliminated by the Kings on Alec Martinezs overtime goal in Game 7. Adrian Dantley Jersey. Martinezs shot went off Chicago defenceman Nick Leddy and fluttered over goaltender Corey Crawford, a nightmare for the Blackhawks that ended their bid for a repeat title and lingered into the summer for many of the players. "You dont want to say its one situation. We got beat by a good team," Quenneville said. "But I liked how we played that game. There were a lot of positives which made it tougher than saying we threw it away." Chicago plays its first exhibition game Tuesday night against Detroit, and the preseason schedule could go a long way to answering the biggest question about the team. The Blackhawks are about $2.2 million above the salary cap and will have to make a move before the regular-season opener Oct. 9 at Dallas. General manager Stan Bowman has said the preseason will give the team a chance to take a look at which position it feels can afford to lose a veteran player. It also could create demand for Chicagos players if there is an injury on another club. But right now, it looks as if the only competition when it comes to the lineup is one of the wings on the fourth line and the last couple of defencemen. Teravainen, one of the teams top prospects, also could force his way into the mix. "We say the players make the decisions for us," Quenneville said. "How theyre competing is one way to look at it. If theyre competing hard, you know they want to be here in the worst way and they want to get better in the position theyre at as well. The battle level and how bad they want it is probably the best way to measure guys in those positions." ' ' '