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SOCHI – If its not Canada, it could be the inspired bunch from the host-country. If its not the Russians, it could be the Swedes, Finns, Czechs or Americans. The gold-medal winner likely will come from this group in Sochi, but forecasting the Olympic champion in the mens hockey tournament has never been easy. Since the participation of NHL players in 1998 there have been three different winners in the Czech Republic, Canada, Sweden and Canada again in four Winter Games. Its a short-term event and things can go wrong in a hurry for the top teams. A hot goaltender can steal a game in the medal round and all of a sudden a favourite is sitting on the sidelines. Just ask Hockey Canada. Were the Canadian teams that won gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 or in Vancouver in 2010 any better than the 1998 group that was stoned time and time again by Dominik Hasek in Nagano? Just ask Sweden about 2002, when goalie Tommy Salo surrendered that fluky late-game winning goal off his bean from 70 feet out off the stick of Belarus defenceman Vladimir Kopat. Who would have thought Switzerland could have pulled off its surprise run to the final at the world championship last spring? Like the sophisticated watches the Swiss are known for, the hockey teams timing was impeccable. It peaked at the perfect moment for wins over the Czech Republic and United States in the quarterfinal and semi-final, respectively, only to lose to Sweden in the finale. So, with all that in mind, what country will give Canada the biggest challenge in its gold-medal defence at the 2014 Winter Games? Here are the odds as of Monday night from bodog.ca. • Canada 19-10 (about 2-1)• Russia 12-5• Sweden 9-2• USA 6-1• Finland 11-1• Czech Republic 12-1 And, if you like to play the long odds: • Switzerland 25-1• Slovakia 33-1• Norway 200-1• Latvia 400-1\• Austria 750-1• Slovenia 1,000-1 College Football Jerseys .com) - Eric Fehr and Marcus Johansson each registered a pair of goals, as Washington spoiled the head coaching debut of Peter Horachek by picking up a 6-2 victory in Toronto on Wednesday. Wholesale College Jerseys . A night later, he was back to help lead a rout of the Detroit Pistons. John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists, and Beal scored 10 of his 15 points during the second quarter as Washington pulled away for a 106-82 victory on Saturday. https://www.cheapncaajerseysjustwholesale.com/. -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. NCAA Jerseys For Sale . It certainly isnt a coincidence that Dwight Howard has scored at least 20 points in each game of the winning streak. NCAA Jerseys .com) - New England Patriots starting center Bryan Stork will not play in Sundays AFC Championship against Indianapolis due to a knee injury the rookie sustained last week.CLEVELAND -- Justin Masterson pitched neatly into the eighth inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the White Sox 2-0 Saturday night in a game highlighted by Chicago rookie Jose Abreus snazzy glove toss. Abreu, who leads the majors in homers and RBIs, struck out with two runners on base to end the eighth. Earlier, the Cuban first baseman made the play of the day. Abreu fielded Lonnie Chisenhalls grounder in the sixth and, unable to get the ball out of his mitt, flipped the glove about 10 feet to pitcher Scott Carroll covering the bag for the out. Masterson (1-1) held the ALs highest-scoring offence in check, allowing four hits and striking out six in his seventh start of the season. The right-hander won for the first time since last Aug. 21. Cody Allen struck out Abreu in the eighth. John Axford pitched the ninth for his ninth save, sending Chicago to its fourth straight loss. Cleveland centre fielder Michael Bourn left in the fourth because of tightness in his left hamstring. He strained the same hamstring in spring training and began the season on the disabled list. Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi left the game in the sixth with a cramp in his right calf. Errors by third baseman Marcus Semien and catcher Tyler Flowers made both of Clevelands runs unearned. The Indians also made two errors. Nick Swisher had a sacrifice fly in the sixth for the Indians, who have won two in a row after breaking a six-game losing streak. Carroll (1-1) didnt allow an earned ruun in six innings in his second major league start.dddddddddddd Semiens dropped popup handed the Indians a run in the second. Semien drifted under a ball near the mound hit by David Murphy with two outs, but it fell out of his glove and Chisenhall scored from third. Chisenhall started the inning with a double. Cleveland got another gift in the fifth. Flowers fielded Jose Ramirezs bunt, but threw wildly to first. Ramirez was credited with a hit and took second on the error. Mike Aviles sacrifice moved Ramirez to third and Swishers fly ball made it 2-0. Chisenhalls throwing error led to a Chicago threat in the fifth. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, but Swisher made a diving grab of Semiens line drive and doubled Flowers off first. Masterson also pitched around shortstop Asdrubal Cabreras fielding error in the third. Alexei Ramirez, the leading hitter in the AL, was hitless in four at-bats. NOTES: The Indians placed C Yan Gomes on the paternity list. Wife Jenna gave birth to the couples first child Saturday morning. Carlos Santana started behind the plate for the sixth time this season. ... The White Sox put OF Adam Eaton on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring. Jordan Danks started in centre field while Alejandro De Aza batted in Eatons leadoff spot. ... NOTES: Indians manager Terry Francona said RHP Josh Tomlin will be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start Tuesdays game against Minnesota. ' ' '