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TORONTO -- Patrick Kane looks at 2010 Vancouver Olympic final loss to Canada as the United States being one goal away from gold. Jonathan Quick looks at the 2014 Sochi Olympic semifinal loss as the U.S. being one goal away from playing for gold.This generation of U.S. players has always been one goal away and unable to finish the job. With Kane, Quick, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and captain Joe Pavelski among those back for another crack, the realization is setting in that this World Cup of Hockey is the Americans best and perhaps last chance to win an international championship.Coach John Tortorella has told his team, Its time.Were probably in the prime and peak of our careers right now where we feel that its time to make something happen, Kane said. You can think about that pressure, you can do whatever you want with it, but it comes down to this tournament for us and this tournament only.The Americans open tournament play in Toronto on Saturday against Team Europe, and the showdown against Canada is Tuesday. With only three games in round-robin play, theres urgency for every team to start strong and no breathing room.Kane pointed out that previous American generations won at the 1960 and 1980 Olympics and 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Kane, Quick, Parise, Suter, Pavelski, David Backes and Ryan Kesler have been around for six years and through two Olympics and its not just time, its about time.Weve been there and weve had our chances and its time to break through, Pavelski said. Weve been close, but were looking for a little bit more out of each other and to really find that right ingredient and that big play at the right moment.Look no further than Kane, who won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP last season for the Chicago Blackhawks and led the league in scoring with 106 points. Hes the brightest of the U.S. stars and will have to do better than the zero goals and four points he produced in Sochi. Winger Max Pacioretty called Kane the best player in the game and the World Cup the perfect situation for him.Id go as far as to say our team has a good chance because Patrick Kane is in his prime, Pacioretty said. This tournament sets up perfectly for him. ... A guy like that can change a game in one shift so I think for the rest of the team our identity is be hard to play against, make life difficult for them, but Kaner, let him do his thing.Some things to watch as the United States faces Europe:LINE SHUFFLETortorella has Kane with left winger James van Riemsdyk and center Derek Stepan, and Pavelski centering Parise and Blake Wheeler, but wont hesitate to shake things up. Already Pacioretty has been bounced around the lineup, and everyone is on a short leash.We cant wait and its not about feeling our way through, Tortorella said.LAST CHANCEEurope coach Ralph Krueger isnt professing its time for a team that has never played together before, but he does know the clock is running out on players like 39-year-old Zdeno Chara, 38-year-old Mark Streit, 37-year-old Marian Hossa and 35-year-old Dennis Seidenberg.For a lot of them it might be the last time on this big a stage to have an opportunity to do something special, and we can feel the hunger for that, Krueger said.QUICK VS. HALAKQuick starts in goal for the U.S. against Europes Jaroslav Halak, who was impressive in the exhibition finale against Sweden. Anze Kopitar, Marian Gaborik and Europes top offensive players could be a tougher test for Quick than anyone thinks.EARLY JITTERSThe teams are full of veteran players who are familiar with elite tournaments, but the first game of the entire World Cup could see some early butterflies. A first-period mistake could have a long-term impact, especially because goal differential is a tiebreaker.BRUTE STRENGTHIf theres anything U.S. has more than other teams in the tournament its size and strength. Europe cant match that and will have to use finesse and playmaking to counteract the Americans power.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno Duke Johnson Jr Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. 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Hayden Farquhar and Jalone Friday had 11 points apiece and Jaylen Franklin chipped in 10 for Abilene Christian.The Wildcats scored 34 points in the paint while holding Schreiner to 22. Abilene Christian also had 119 second chance points and picked up 14 off fast breaks.dddddddddddd.The Wildcats were up 35-27 at the break and stretched that to 56-39 at the midpoint of the second half.Abilene Christian won the rebound battle 43 to 31 and forced Schreiner into 14 turnovers.Keenan Gumbs was 6 of 11 from the field for 15 points for Schreiner. Wes Miller added 11. ' ' '