The Swedish mens hockey team capitalized on a quick start and some shaky opposing goaltending to skate to a 4-2 win over the Czech Republic in their opening game of the Olympic tournament at the Bolshoy Ice Dome on Wednesday. Ottawa Senators star defenceman Erik Karlsson scored two goals while his defensive partner Oliver Ekman-Larsson added two assists. Henrik Zetterberg and Patrik Berglund had the other two goals for the Swedes, who jumped to an early 3-0 lead thanks to some suspect goaltending by Czech starter Jakub Kovar. Head coach Alois Hadamczik made the surprising decision to not even dress the teams only NHL goaltender for the teams stiffest test of the preliminary round. Winnipegs Ondrej Pavelec was scratched in favour of KHL goalies Alexander Salak and Jakub Kovar. Kovar got the start, which backfired horribly when he let in three questionable goals before being pulled early in the second and replaced by Salak, who let in the Swedes fourth goal before the Czechs got on the board. Salak settled down after that and kept the Czech Republic in the game, and Marek Zidlicky and Jaromir Jagr scored two quick goals midway through the second period to spark the Czechs. But the Czech Republic couldnt put any more past Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who kept the lead intact while the Czechs outshot the Swedes 15-5 in the third. Lundqvist made 23 saves for the win, while Kovar and Salak combined for 25 stops in the loss. Swedens next game in Group C is against Switzerland, while the Czech Republic faces Latvia, both on Friday. Quick start from Swedes Sweden carried the play for most of the first period, capitalizing on a couple miscues by Kovar to go ahead 2-0 after 20 minutes. Karlsson scored the opening goal of the Olympic tournament from the point on a delayed penalty halfway through the period, as Kovar struggled to deal with the traffic in front of his net and saw the Swedes shot go through his glove. Berglund made Kovars opening 20 minutes worse by scoring Swedens second goal from a bad angle at 13:17, firing a shot right through the Czech goaltender from outside the left faceoff dot. It didnt get any better for Kovar in the second. Zetterberg scored on another shot that went through the Czech goalie only 51 seconds in. That goal ended Kovars night after Salak came in to replace him. But the switch didnt matter. Karlsson scored his second of the game with a laser from the point with little over three minutes after Salak made his debut. The Czechs clawed their way back into the contest with goals from Zidlicky and Jagr two minutes apart midway through the second, and pushed the Swedes hard for the remainder of the period. Nike Free 5.0 V4 Herr . At least he could smile. The Chicago Cubs? Numb, just like always. Jay Bruce hit a tying double and scored on Cesar Izturis two-out single in the 13th inning Monday night, rallying Cincinnati to a 5-4 victory that gave the Cubs their fourth straight loss. Nike Free 5.0 V4 Dam . Gretzky was asked if he believes Montreal Canadiens defenceman PK Subban should be on Canadas blueline in February at the Sochi Olympics. "Im not going to get in the middle of that controversy because Stevie Yzerman obviously knows what hes doing, he won a gold medal in 2010," said Gretzky. http://www.airmaxrea2015.net/nike-air-max-90/nike-air-max-90-herr.html .Y. -- Bills quarterback Thad Lewis missed his second straight practice on Thursday and remains questionable for Sundays game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Nike Air Max 90 Dam . The award is presented to the player "who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season." Alfredsson, the NHLs longest-serving active captain, leads the Senators in games played, goals, assists and points. Nike Air Max 90 Dam Leopard . Johnson will now pitch the series finale Sunday against the Rangers. The right-hander pitched five innings against Texas at home on Sunday, when he had a blister on his right middle finger. CHICAGO -- Matt Garza got enough run support to pull out a rare home win. Garza pitched effectively into the eighth, Aramis Ramirez had a tie-breaking two-run single, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Monday. "Garza was fantastic," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "He pitched around a couple of mistakes. He hasnt had many leads and he continues to pitch well." Garza (8-10) gave up six hits and three runs -- one earned -- while striking out eight and walking three to win for just the second time at home since June 27. He had to work around two errors, which increased the Cubs league-worst total to 118. "The toughest part is trying to control my own emotions," Garza said. "Im not going to worry about anybody else." Garza came in with just four wins in 14 starts at Wrigley Field despite a 2.76 home earned-run average. "I think (Garza is) a horse. I do," Quade said. "His ERA has been fine. I think hes capable of better. I think well see better." Carlos Marmol finished up for his 32nd save, setting down the Reds in order in his first appearance since allowing a two-out grand slam to Pittsburghs Derrek Lee on Saturday during his NL-worst ninth blown save. "I know its tough for everybody blowing some saves," Marmol said. "Tomorrow is a new day. Who knows whats going to happen tomorrow?" Ramirez had his two-run single in the fifth, walked twice and scored a run. Starlin Castro added a single, walk and two runs, which turned to be enough for Garza. Dontrelle Willis (0-5) allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking five. Drew Stubbs singled, walked and scored a run, Yonder Alonso had two singles, a run and an RBI. Willis made his 200th career start looking for his first big-league win since June 5, 2010. He has won just three of his last 38 starts, going back to 2008. "He was throwing the ball great, especially in the early innings," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. The Reds havent scored more than three runs for Willis in any of his 11 starts this season. "Its frustrating because Ive pitched worse and won," Willis said. "But at the same time, I like the way me and (rookie catcher Devin) Messoraco worked back there today.dddddddddddd Im going to continue to battle and fight and hopefully Ill get a win and then theyll come in bunches. With a game-time temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a 35 kilometres per hour wind howling in from centre field, it was a day made for the pitchers. Stubbs walked and scored on Alonsos single in the first to get the Reds on the scoreboard first. Willis retired the first nine Cubs in order, three by strikeout. He threw just 29 pitches in his first three innings, 24 for strikes. The left-hander lost track of the strike zone in the fourth, walking the bases full. Soriano tied the score with a first-pitch single to left but Willis recovered to leave the bases loaded. Willis got two quick outs in the fifth, but five straight Cubs hitters reached as they scored three runs. Castro singled with two outs. Willis could have escaped the inning, but Alonso couldnt track down Reed Johnsons high fly ball into the swirling wind in left. The ball stuck in the ivy, sending Castro back to third. Ramirez then lined a single to left, putting the Cubs up 3-1. Two batters later, Willis threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded, driving in Ramirez and capping the Cubs rally. The Reds cut the lead to two when Alonso scored an unearned run on a Mesoracos groundout in the seventh, the rookies first career RBI. Cincinnati pulled within a run when Castro misplayed Joey Vottos grounder in the eighth, allowing Brandon Phillips to score. Votto is a native of Toronto. NOTES: The Cubs activated RHP Andrew Cashner (strained right rotator cuff) from the 60-day disabled list. Cashner hasnt pitched in the majors since suffering the injury on April 5, his only outing of the season. Mesoraco made his first big-league start as Willis battery mate. The pair worked together at triple-A Louisville, where Willis went 5-2 earlier this season. The area around Bronson Arroyos left knee was wrapped and the righty walked with a slight limp before Mondays game, but Baker said he expected Arroyo to make his next start. Arroyo was hit in the fleshy area above the knee by a Rafael Furcal liner drive on Sunday. Mike Leake starts on Tuesday for Cincinnati against the Cubs Rodrigo Lopez. Leake leads the Reds with 11 wins on the season. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '