ay his team executed the prepared game plan following a 6-2 loss to Team Europe in pre-tournament competition Wednesday.[We

TORONTO -- Jacob Markstrom showed up to the Air Canada Centre on Sunday thinking he was backing up star goalie Henrik Lundqvist in Swedens World Cup of Hockey opener against Russia.But Markstrom started in place of Lundqvist, who was sent home due to an illness, and stopped 27 shots to help the Swedes beat Russia 2-1 in Group B play.I didnt expect it, so, youre surprised, Markstrom said. Mentally, its a little different [preparation] because you cant really get in the zone (if youre not starting), but everything physically, I try to do the same thing so if stuff like this happens, youre ready.Gabriel Landeskog and Victor Hedman scored second-period goals for the Swedes.Alex Ovechkin scored for Russia, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots.Ovechkin thought he tied the game with seven seconds left, but officials waved it off, ruling the puck went off Ovechkins glove and in.I thought I touched it, Ovechkin said. To be honest with you, I didnt see the replay. But I felt the touch. I dont know if it was the puck or the stick. I definitely felt the touch on my hand on my stick.The Russians tested Markstrom early;?Vladimir Tarasenko one-timed a shot off Evgeni Malkins faceoff win, but Markstrom was able to get his left pad on the puck and steer it aside just 30 seconds into the game.Moments later, Tarasenko hit Markstrom in the mask with a shot that the Vancouver goalie was able to shake off.Landeskog got Sweden on the board with a power-play goal, one-timing Erik Karlssons pass over Bobrovskys blocker at 10:41 of the second period. Less than 2 minutes later, Hedman one-timed Carl Hagelins feed glove-side past Bobrovsky.Ovechkin scored with 33 seconds left in the third, putting a wrist shot from the point off the post and past a screened Markstrom.Swedish coach Rikard Gronberg was pleased with the way his team executed the prepared game plan following a 6-2 loss to Team Europe in pre-tournament competition Wednesday.[We] wanted to make sure their transition game didnt happen so quickly, Gronberg said. It was really important for us to have puck control. We didnt want to get into a run-and-gun type of game with the Russian team because thats where their strengths are.Russia will return to action Monday night against Team North America. The Swedes play Finland on Tuesday. Ultra Boost 3.0 Australia . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Ultra Boost Australia . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.nmdaustraliasale.com/nmd-racer-shoes-australia.html . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Ultra Boost 2019 Australia . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Ultra Boost Cheap Australia . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others.Ian Holloway is close to being appointed the new manager at Queens Park Rangers, according to Sky sources. The 53-year-old was interviewed on Monday about replacing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was sacked at the weekend.A deal for Holloway to return to Loftus Road a decade after he was axed by the club is set to be agreed. Sky Sports Football League expert Holloway played for the Rs for six years from 1991 and managed them from 2001 to 2006, winning promotion to the Championship in 2004. Holloway and Gary Rowett have been under consideration by QPR, say Sky sources As manager, Holloway is also known for his successful spells at Blackpool and Crystal Palace, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League on limited budgets.Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett was also believed to have been the other top candidate for the job at QPR, but there has been no official approach for him and Birmingham are expecting him to stay at St Andrews. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and QPR Rowett undertook Birminghams training sessions as normal on Thursday morning, with his team seventh in the Championship and 10 places above QPR.dddddddddddd Birmingham rejected an approach from both QPR and Fulham for Rowetts services last year, and he shares the same agent as Hasselbaink.Holloway, who was successful at Loftus Road despite the club going through administration during his first spell, could appoint Marc Bircham - another former QPR player - as his assistant after they worked together at Millwall. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Also See: Hasselbaink sacked by QPR QPR fixtures Championship table Get a ￡10 free bet here! ' ' '