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TORONTO -- With the United States facing elimination against Canada at the World Cup of Hockey, coach John Tortorella chose to scratch two players hes very familiar with for the sake of what he hopes is the best lineup.Center Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Jack Johnson will be scratched for the Americans must-win game against Canada on Tuesday night. Tortorella coaches those players in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets and knows Dubinsky well from their time together with the New York Rangers.Winger Kyle Palmieri and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien replace Dubinsky and Johnson in the lineup after being out for the tournament-opening 3-0 loss to Team Europe. Jonathan Quick is expected to start in goal, with Ben Bishop backing up and Cory Schneider scratched.It kills me to take (Dubinsky) out because of how he competes, Tortorella said Tuesday morning. Its tough to scratch Jack Johnson, too. Its tough to scratch Cory Schneider. This is a really big game for USA Hockey, and to tell a couple guys, three guys, theyre not playing, that was hard.The United States must defeat Canada to remain alive in the tournament.Tortorella said the coaching staff agonized over the lineup decisions and combinations. Ultimately the group decided it wanted Palmieri, a 30-goal scorer, and Byfuglien, a big, physical force with a heavy shot, on the ice and on the power play.We hope (Byfuglien) scores a power-play goal, Tortorella said. He obviously was disappointed he didnt play the first game. I think hes really going to try to make a difference tonight. He needs to stay disciplined but also not test the waters and make a difference here.Dubinskys absence is a curious one given his experience shadowing Canadian captain Sidney Crosby throughout their careers. That job could now fall to David Backes or Ryan Kesler, who wants this to be as edgy a game as possible.Hopefully (the referees) let us play tonight, Kesler said.The U.S. needs to balance playing physical and finishing chances to score. Palmieri, an injury replacement for another Tortorella favorite, Ryan Callahan, is better at putting the puck in the net than putting an opponent into the glass.Palmieri doesnt mind being asked to do both.I think our team needs a little spark and hopefully I can go in there tonight and provide that, whether that be a goal and maybe a big hit, just a big play to get our team going tonight and get ourselves into it and just go from there, Palmieri said.Asked Sunday would it would mean to be in the lineup against Canada, Byfuglien said, Its everything.Getting Palmieri and Byfuglien in seemed like a no-brainer after the U.S. lacked quality scoring chances against Europe on Saturday. Choosing to sit two Blue Jackets players who have long histories with USA Hockey stood out, but Tortorella said that wasnt part of the consideration.No, I cant bring that into the process here, Tortorella said. Thats unfair. We have our 23 guys no matter whos coaching them. Its just for this team, this game, and we made the decision to go this way.Carey Price starts in goal for Canada, with Corey Crawford backing up and Braden Holtby scratched. Canada is expected to stick with the same lineup it used in a 6-0 rout of the Czech Republic on Saturday, which means forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Jake Muzzin out.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. China Jerseys . 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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings released?John Sullivan on Tuesday afternoon, parting ways with the veteran center after Joe Berger beat him out for the starting center job.Sullivan missed the entire 2015 season after two back surgeries, and while the Vikings held a competition for the starting center job between him and Berger -- who started all 16 games in Sullivans absence last season -- Berger appeared to have the job won, when he started the teams third preseason game while Sullivan watched in a baseball cap.The team had been trying to trade Sullivan before Tuesdays initial roster cuts, as USA Today reported on Monday evening, but after the Vikings were unable to find a trade partner, they released the 31-year-old. Sullivan was due to count $5.83 miillion against the teams salary cap this season, which likely made him more attractive to teams as a possible free agent than as a trade target.ddddddddddddOur entire organization appreciates everything that John Sullivan has done for this franchise, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. Sullivan led our team, not only with how he played the game, but also with how he handled himself in our community. We wish John Sullivan and his family nothing but the best as they move forward.Sullivan was named the Vikings Community Man of the Year in 2013, for his work with the University of Minnesota Masonic Childrens Hospital. ' ' '