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MINSK, Belarus - Thats more of what everyone expected from Team Canada. Not just the three goals in seven minutes in the third period, but a better effort in a 4-1 victory over Slovakia on Saturday at the world hockey championship than Canada showed in a stunning shootout loss to France. "Our team was much better tonight than it was last night for longer periods of time," coach Dave Tippett said. "We were harder on the forecheck, harder at the net. ... We put a lot of pressure on that veteran group today to make sure this gets done tonight and thats why its good to see the guys do it." That veteran group was led by Joel Ward, who scored twice, and Cody Hodgson and Kevin Bieksa, who each scored once in a game that was tied 1-1 until early in the third period. Those players arent seasoned internationally, but theyve been part of plenty of NHL games and came up big when Canada was in danger of losing two straight to start this tournament for the first time since pro players started going in 1977. A lack of familiarity between teammates contributed to the loss in the opener and there was some disjointed play early on against Slovakia. But Hodgson doesnt think that should be an excuse or that the expectations should be lowered for this Team Canada. "Its not something that were used to, losing, especially early on," he said. "Were Canadian hockey players and thats what we were born to do. It shouldnt take too long to get accustomed to each other." It will take some more time before things are perfect on that front, but its a process that will continue with Mondays game against the Czech Republic and beyond. Tippett sees improvement shift-by-shift. "The players, youre starting to find rhythms, find roles," he said. "They know when theyre going out there, they know situations that they play in. So they get more comfortable, they get more comfortable with the team game." One way to make Canadas team game work is to simply play five-on-five. Through two games, this team hasnt given up a goal at even strength, but after bad penalties against France, another parade to the penalty box led to Karol Slobodas power-play goal at 12:24 of the second period. Canada took three penalties in the second period, which was again problematic. "Its definitely a different game," Ward said. "It took us adjusting for sure. Its a different style. Were not used to the wide rink." What Canadian hockey players are used to doing on the international stage is putting up goals in bunches. Ward tied the score at 1 at the 17:24 mark of the second by tipping Jason Garrisons shot past Czech goaltender Jan Laco, and his first goal in a Team Canada jersey provided a spark. Hodgson scored what turned out to be the game-winner 7:07 into the third period, taking a pass from Nazem Kadri and beating Laco with a perfect shot from between the faceoff circles. Bieksa piled on with a goal that tipped up and over Laco and in at 17:56, then Ward put the icing on at 18:49. "I think we started to get a few bounces," Tippett said. "We had some great chances early, didnt capitalize. Its nice to see things even out in the end. It gives players confidence. Everybody worked hard tonight. Its good to see players get rewarded, even though it was late." It took until the third period before this Team Canada could breathe easy, but once Laco started wearing down and goaltender Ben Scrivens stayed strong in making 23 saves on 24 shots, the floodgates opened to make it look like more of a lopsided game than it really was. "I dont think were going to blow teams out," Scrivens said. "This was a tighter game than the score showed, but we stuck with it and thats what were going to have to do all tournament, I think." By the end, Canada was having fun after a night in which it dealt with plenty of jeers from a mostly pro-Slovak crowd at Chizhovka-Arena. "Any time youre winning, its always a good time," Ward said. "Regardless if youre up by one or two or four, youre excited to be winning." NOTES — Scrivens started the second game of the tournament as planned after James Reimer played against France based on seniority. ... Sean Monahan played more in the first two periods than he did the entire game against France as he split time with Mark Scheifele as the fourth-line centre. Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Chris Bassitt Jersey . A 19-game winner with the New York Yankees in both 2006 and 2007, Wang spent most of this year at Triple-A for the Yankees and Blue Jays. The 33-year-old right-hander was 1-2 with a 7. Oakland Athletics Shirts . Dumont, a fifth round draft pick of the Canadiens in 2009, has four assists and 20 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Bulldogs this season. The 23-year-old split last season between Hamilton and Montreal, recording 16 goals and 15 assists in 55 regular season games with the Bulldogs. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/. Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop . LOUIS -- St. Stitched Athletics Jerseys . Maximilian Arnold put Wolfsburg ahead in the eighth minute, when the stationary Fallou Diagne allowed him to guide Patrick Ochs cross beyond the helpless Freiburg goalkeeper, and Ivica Olic doubled the lead three minutes later after Luiz Gustavo did well to set him up.Lee Westwood feels confidence has returned to his game as he looks to continue his upturn in form at this weeks BMW PGA Championship. The 43-year-old followed his joint runner-up finish at the Masters in April by ending last weeks Irish Open tied-10th, increasing his chances of a 10th consecutive appearance in Europes Ryder Cup side this autumn. Westwood currently lies just outside of the qualifying places ahead of a busy summer schedule, but feels his level of performance is heading back in the right direction. Speaking ahead of his 23rd consecutive appearance in the BMW PGA Championship, Westwood told a pre-tournament press conference: Im a lot happier with my game than I have been for quite some time. Westwood is hoping to make a tenth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance later this year I started working with Pete Cowen again at Houston and it had a pretty immediate effect. We just did a couple of hours there and then an hour at the Masters and I think that showed at Augusta. I started hitting the ball a lot straighter and iron shots were a lot better.I did a bit of work with Bob Rotella on the putting green at Augusta, as well. He seemed to free me up a little bit and rolled a few more putts in there. I just feel a lot more aggressive but a lot more calm on the greens, and my short games good, as well. So theres no reason why I shouldnt be playing well and scoring well this week, really.The former world No 1 tees off alongside Soren Kjeldsen and recent back-to-back European Tour winner Jeunghun Wang for the opening two rounds, while Masters champion Danny Willett sits in the group before with Soomin Lee and Victor Dubuisson. Matthew Fitzpatrick is another of the afternoon starters on his Wentworth debut, featuring alongside former Ryder Cup winners Graeme McDowell and Stephen Gallacher. Round 1 tee times First round tee times for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth The British Masters champion has missed the cut in his last three starts since his tied-seventh finish at last months Masters, with Fitzpatrick making an early exit at the K Club last week.ddddddddddddFitzpatrick currently lies in an automatic qualification place for Europes Ryder Cup squad, but is not getting carried away about the possibility of featuring in Darren Clarkes side. Matt Fitzpatrick says the home support during his British Masters victory at Woburn last year was incredible ahead of the PGA Championship at Wentworth. Its not something Im solely focussing on, Fitzpatrick told a press conference on Tuesday. Im just trying to focus on each week as it comes, and Im just going to try and play as well as I can and get as many World Ranking points.Being here and being around the place, you know that its going to be a big event. Everyone speak so highly about this event.Im hoping to have a good week and just hope, again, that my game peaks at the right time. Watch the BMW PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: Wentworth ways to watch Willett: No added pressure First round tee times Golf live on Sky Sports 4 ' ' '