TORONTO -- Tomas Tatar is relatively tiny, generously listed as a 5-foot-10 wing for Team Europe.His production, without a doubt, has been huge.The Slovak scored his teams only goal in a 3-1 loss to Canada in the World Cup of Hockey finals opener Tuesday night. In the semifinals against Sweden, his second goal gave his eight-nation team a 3-2 overtime victory.At 185 pounds, he is as many as 50 pounds lighter than some Canadian defenseman, but the 25-year-old Red Wings forward fearlessly uses the space in front of the net to deflect pucks past goaltenders or score off rebounds.His ability to go to the net and find spaces without being the biggest body is courageous, Europe coach Ralph Krueger said Wednesday. He was No. 1 on our roster in terms of penetrating into the areas that matter. To have three goals in two games is an amazing accomplishment in best-on-best hockey.Ive got seven highlight clips of him going to the net front, and thats where hes scoring. People might think its lucky, but its not. As a European skilled player, hes learned to mix and blend whats needed to be successful in North America by getting to the front of the net.Europe will need Tatar to keep up his pace, and for some of his teammates to contribute offensively, to likely have a chance to upset the Sidney Crosby -led Canadians in Game 2 of the best-of-three World Cup of Hockey finals .Tatar was in the right place at the right time for his latest goal, standing several feet in front of the net when a loose puck was there for him to shoot and score. The score 7 minutes into the second period of Game 1 pulled Europe within a goal of Canada.Hes going to the net, Canada coach Mike Babcock said. Tats has great skill and great determination to score. Hes a good hockey player. He was real good for me when I was in Detroit. He wants to be in big situations.Europe would not have beaten Sweden, a traditional power, without Tatar.He was perched by the right side of the net, perfectly positioned to stuff the winner into the net past Henrik Lundqvist in overtime on Sunday. Tatar scored an impressive, go-ahead goal earlier in the game. He shot the puck, raced past defensemen and made the most of an opportunity when Lundqvist failed to handle it by scoring off his own rebound.Zdeno Chara, a 39-year-old fellow Slovakian, has watched Tatar develop into one of their countrys top players.Hes playing hungry, Chara said. The first goal against Sweden, he shot and then outskated the defenseman, got the rebound and put it in the net. That just shows you how dedicated and hungry he was going for that goal.When praise from his coach and Chara are relayed to Tatar, he simply shrugs his shoulder and humbly says hes just doing his job.Im playing with two great players, Marian (Hossa) and Anze (Kopitar), and Im trying to create the most space I can for them, Tatar said. Theyve been in the league forever, theyve won Stanley Cups, and I accept the role. In front of the net, around the net, thats where the puck always ends up so I guess I get to a good spot. Ive got some good bounces the last two games and I was fortunate to put the puck in the net.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Red Wings Jerseys China . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Red Wings Jerseys 2021 . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. https://www.cheapredwings.com/ . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Detroit Red Wings Pro Shop . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Fake Red Wings Jerseys . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Golfs return to the Olympics after 112 years will have seven Americans, the most of any country for men and women.It just wont have their top two men.USA Golf nominated the players, who qualified through the world ranking last week. They require U.S. Olympic Committee approval.U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and two-time major champion Jordan Spieth withdrew, Johnson because of the Zika virus threat and Spieth for overall heallth concerns.ddddddddddddThe Americans have four men from the top 15 -- Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar. The women have three players from the top 15 -- Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller.Countries can have two players to fill each 60-player field, and up to four if all are inside the top 15. ' ' '