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 Carlos Beltran Jersey . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? The Capitals were 5-4 winners in a shootout Oct. Jorge Lopez Jersey . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. https://www.cheaproyals.com/. Josh Mazzola drove in five runs to lead the Goldeyes (20-12) past the Capitales 11-5 Friday night at Le Stade Municipal in Quebec City. Jeff Suppan Jersey . On the day after Billy Horschel posted his 12th straight round in the 60s, won his second straight tournament against a world-class field and picked up an additional $10 million bonus as the FedEx Cup champion, Watson was kicking back in his seat at a Kansas City Royals game. Cam Gallagher Jersey . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p.NEW ORLEANS - As Stephen Curry watched his second 3-pointer in overtime go down from 26 feet out, he shrugged his shoulders then pounded his chest.Its as if Curry just cant help himself when the chance to hit a devastating shot arises, and the Golden State Warriors cant help but win — even when it looks like they shouldnt.Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime, and the Warriors won their 16th straight, 128-122 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.It was just a tough game to win. (The Pelicans) were playing well and hitting shots, Curry said. Obviously we had enough in the tank at the end to finish it up.Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories.This winning streak feels great and we dont want it to end any time soon, Thompson said.Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans before fouling out with three minutes left in overtime.Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation.Our guys fought their tails off tonight. We just came up short, Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. To have a chance to win against the best team in the league says a lot about our guys.Andre Iguodala had a season-high 20 points and Shaun Livingston scored 12 for Golden State.Coming off a victory a night earlier in Dallas, the Warriors were concerned about a let-down in New Orleans. Coach Steve Kerr warned his team about it before tip-off but it nearly became a self-fulfilling prophecy anyway.Golden State committed 20 turnovers.If we defend and take care of the ball, we have a chance. We didnt do either one tonight, Kerr said. Thankfully, weve got really, really talented players and we have an incredibly strong, competitive desire to win.After not hitting a field goal for the last quarter-and-a-half of regulation, Curry opened overtime with a pull-up jumper. Draymond Green followed with a three-point play on a driving layup as he was fouled by Ryan Anderson. Curry came back with a 3-pointer from 266 feet out, and a few possessions later added another.ddddddddddddAnderson scored 15 for the Pelicans, but was only 2 of 8 from 3-point range, one game after he tied a career high with eight 3s. Dante Cunningham added 13 points.Marreese Speights, who had 10 points, made one of two free throws with 43.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 111. Neither team managed to score again in regulation. Evans game-winning attempt at the horn was rushed and off-balance.Curry scored 13 of his points within the first seven minutes of the game, and the Warriors led by as much as 11 on Justin Holidays alley-oop dunk of Livingstons fast-break lob late in the first half.Golden State still led by double digits when Thompsons 3-pointer made it 82-72 midway through the third quarter, but New Orleans reeled off 11 straight points. Jeff Withey, who had 10 points, dunked twice during the spurt, which also included Andersons second 3 of the game.___TIP-INSWarriors: Golden State centre Andrew Bogut sat out his third straight game with right knee tendinitis, but went through limited warmups. He is slated to be re-evaluated Monday. ... Harrison Barnes temporarily left the game in the second quarter when he was elbowed in the face by Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham. Barnes returned for the start of the third quarter with one nostril plugged and team officials said he also had two stitches in his mouth.Pelicans: Williams said the team still hasnt pinpointed how Davis hurt his chest. He said Davis is eager to return but the team will be cautious with what Williams called a weird injury. ... New Orleans fell to 7-3 at home.MAINTAINTING PERSPECTIVEKerr laughed and said, No, when asked if this Warriors club, now 21-2, has a chance to approach the 72 victories by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, a team on which Kerr played.We had this guy named Michael Jordan on that team, Kerr said, adding that that Chicago team was 41-3 at one point.If the Warriors stay on pace by winning 20 of their next 21 games, Kerr said, come talk to me.UP NEXTWarriors: Visit Memphis on TuesdayPelicans: Host Utah on Tuesday ' ' '