Some of the players to watch on the eight teams competing at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, which begins Saturday:Patrick Kane, U. Dave Valle Mariners Jersey .S.The reigning NHL MVP and three-time Stanley Cup winner gets another showcase stage in international play after not producing up to expectations at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Kane wont have usual Chicago Blackhawks teammate Jonathan Toews, but hell likely have either 30-goal scorer Joe Pavelski or Derek Stepan as his center. They will benefit from Kane at right wing, where the Americans also have Sochi shootout hero T.J. Oshie.Connor McDavid, North AmericaMcDavid, 19, is already a real threat to win the Art Ross Trophy next season as the leagues top scorer after posting 48 points in 45 games as a rookie. The tournament in Toronto will allow the Oilers star to show off his considerable skills against hockeys elite. Teaming up with other top youngsters like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Nathan MacKinnon and Johnny Gaudreau makes North America a team to watch.Vladimir Tarasenko, RussiaTarasenko hasnt quite reached the Alex Ovechkin stratosphere of goal-scoring, but hes rapidly moving in that direction for the St. Louis Blues. The 24-year-old hit a career-high with 40 goals last season and his 77 goals over the past two campaigns trail only Ovechkin (103) and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (79). Like Ovechkin, hes an explosive scorer capable of creating something from nothing. Almost unnoticed as a member of Russias disappointing 2014 Olympic squad (zero goals), Tarasenko is unlikely to go quietly on the big stage in Toronto.Patrik Laine, FinlandLaine thought that he and not Matthews shouldve been the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft, and at the World Cup hell get his first chance to demonstrate why. Laine is coming off an unbelievable year that saw him thrive everywhere: from a championship-winning squad in the Finnish league, where he was playoff MVP, to a gold-medal win on home soil at the world junior championships, to the world championship in Russia, where Finland won silver. Laine turned 18 in April, but hes already exceptionally confident and an especially enticing figure to watch.Erik Karlsson, SwedenNo other defenseman in hockey today is quite like the captain of the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson can be mesmerizing to watch for his ability to dish the puck. Over the past five NHL seasons Karlsson has 314 points, 76 more than the next closest defender, Nashvilles P.K. Subban. Karlsson put up eight points in six games for Sweden at the 2014 Olympics. When good things are happening for the Swedes its likely Karlsson is involved.Leon Draisaitl, EuropeOne of only a handful of German players in the NHL, Draisaitl is easily the brightest young star suiting up for a veteran-laden Europe squad. His first full season for the Oilers was promising, as the 20-year-old former No. 3 overall pick rung up 19 goals and 51 points. Skilled with a sturdy six-foot-one frame, Draisaitl and has been compared to Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar and the two will get a chance to play alongside one another at the World Cup. The Europeans are rich with veterans like Kopitar, Zdeno Chara and Marian Hossa, but short on excitable young talent. Draisaitl brings that element.Jakub Voracek, Czech RepublicThe Czechs could struggle without injured center David Krejci, so their tournament hinges on goaltending and Voracek leading the offense. Going into the first season of a $66 million, eight-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, the talented winger has plenty of pressure on him.Carey Price, CanadaWhen healthy, Price is without a doubt the best goaltender in the world. After missing almost an entire NHL season with a knee injury, the star of the Montreal Canadiens is Canadas backbone. If he plays like he did in Sochi, the rest of the teams may be fighting for second place. Kevin Mitchell Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Brandon Brennan Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. https://www.cheapmariners.com/1945k-haro...y-mariners.html . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Connor Hellebuyck finally made the statement he was looking for all season.Hellebuyck made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season, rookie Patrik Laine scored his NHL-leading 12th goal and the Winnipeg Jets beat the division-leading Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 on Tuesday night.Ive been chasing it for a while and now I got the monkey off my back, Hellebuyck said.The second year player got his third NHL shutout in a pivotal win for the second-place Jets.The statement, he said, was that weve figured it out and now we know how to play and now we know we can play it.Rookie defenseman Josh Morrissey scored his first career goal, while forwards Chris Thorburn and Nic Petan got their first scores of the season for the second-place Jets.Nikolaj Ehlers had two assists, helping Winnipeg stretch its points streak to five games.Chicago goalie Corey Crawford was replaced by Scott Darling after letting in four goals on 22 shots. Darling made two saves.It was the first of five games between the Central Division foes this season.The Blackhawks had points in each of their previous 11 games. It was their first game in a season-high seven-game road trip.Morrissey beat Crawford at 6:26 of the first period when his one-timer from the high slot went through the goalies legs.You dream of that one in the driveway, basement and the outdoor rink, Morrissey said. To finally be able to get that and see it go in was something special.It was only the 11th even-strength goal Crawford had allowed this season.Morrissey finished the period in the penalty box after he was called for charging against Hawks wing Vinnie Hinostroza with 26 seconds left, but Chicago couldnt take advantage of the extra man.The Hawks got two more power plays early in the middle period, including a two-man advantage for 1:07.Winnipeg handledd the puck often in the short-handed situation and got a standing ovation from the crowd at MTS Centre after the second penalty expired. Dave Niehaus Mariners Jersey. The Jets had their first power play midway through the scoreless second, but couldnt add to their 1-0 lead.Chicago outshot Winnipeg 20-13 after two periods.Thorburn scored at 4:41 of the third period with a surprise shot. The veteran got the puck along the boards, spun around and shot at the net. The puck went high past Crawford for the 2-0 lead.Laine scored after Dustin Byfugliens wraparound attempt went off a stick and Laine got the puck and flipped it by Crawford at 8:32.Eleven seconds later, Petan scored his first of the season when he missed shooting a loose puck but his second attempt beat Crawford.It was a tough few minutes, just (the puck) kind of going in off everything, finding its way through, Crawford said. I mean, that happens in games.Weve put together a good string of games, solid hockey. We played good tonight. They didnt really have much. Like I said, it was a tough few minutes, but we can forget about that one for sure.Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice, whose squad is now 6-0 when leading after two periods, said it was their best game this season.Theyre a good team, Maurice said of Chicago. They changed gears on us a bit at the end of the second and we found a way to come back.Game notes Chicago had scored at least two goals in each of its previous games this season. ... Blackhawks D Duncan Keith played in his 850th career NHL game.UP NEXTBlackhawks: At Calgary on Friday night in the second game of a seven-game trip through Canada and California.Jets: At Philadelphia on Thursday night in the opener of a five-game trip. ' ' '