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TORONTO -- The question, which doesnt yet have an answer, is what a successful World Cup of Hockey means in the Olympic equation.On the eve of this tournament dropping the puck here in this hockey-mad country, one ponders: If the event ends up being a smashing hit, will that lead NHL owners to believe theyve found their new, best-on-best vehicle? After all, NHL owners have never been that enamored with shutting down their season in mid-February for an Olympic tournament they make no money from.To which Alex Ovechkin on Thursday reminded the hockey world that nothing replaces the Olympics, no matter how much fun and entertaining the World Cup of Hockey might be.I asked the Washington Capitals superstar if, as in the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, when he threatened to play even if the NHL didnt participate, he felt the same way about the South Korea Olympics in 2018.My decision is the same, he responded. So I dont know whats going to happen right now, but we just have to wait [for] what they say and well see. ...Its a situation where you dont know whats going to happen, he added. But obviously, I said Im going to play.Ovechkin doesnt speak for all NHL players; in fact, I think theres a wide range of thoughts and beliefs about how the league should proceed.First and foremost, though, its foolish to think that the level of success of this World Cup isnt related in any fashion to the Olympic discussion. It has to be, regardless of the decision. Theyre tied to each other in some fashion.Yeah, definitely, agreed Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby. This will be something that people are going to compare, that players are going to relate to when youre talking about making a decision like that. Theres so many factors: the timing of it, where the Olympics are, but the fact is, if theres an ability to put on an event like this, its an option and it probably makes the decision harder, especially if people enjoy it. You can only do so many things and you want to be involved in everything, but at the end of the day, this looks like its going to be a great event -- I havent been able to be part of it before. ... Ive had great experiences in the Olympics; well have to see what happens.Its all a moot point if the International Olympic Committee doesnt change its tune when it comes to paying for players insurance and travel costs, something the IOC has always done dating back to Nagano 1998.Still, I think the Olympic question goes beyond that. Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 were held in countries rich in hockey history. Will players care as much about wanting to travel across the world to nonhockey countries?Depends on whom you ask.One hundred percent, young Canadian phenom Connor McDavid said Thursday, without hesitation, when asked about wanting the NHL to stay in the Olympics. For some of the guys that have been there, the answer might be a little bit different, but for us young guys that have never had an opportunity to play and win an Olympics, I think it would be something a little bit different. For me, personally, Ive always dreamt of playing in the Olympics and representing my country there. The World Cup is awesome and all that, and its similar in that kind of sense. But do I hope it takes over the Olympics? Not at all. I definitely want the Olympics to be an option for NHL guys.Two-time Team USA Olympian Patrick Kane doesnt want the World Cup to be a replacement for the Olympics; rather, he wants the World Cup to be an important add-on to the best-on-best competitions.I dont know if you want to think of it as a substitution; for me, I look at it as having the chance to play for your country every two years at such a high level, said the Chicago Blackhawks star, last seasons Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP. Hopefully, its something thats put in there along with the Olympics.Echoed Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask of Finland: I dont think you can ever replace the Olympics, but if you can add to it, and keep them both in the picture, I think that would be a great thing.Besides, Rask said, the opportunity to sell the game in a new market like South Korea could be of great benefit.I think it would be a great thing for hockey to go there and kind of showcase for Asian people, show what hockey is all about, said Rask. I think Olympics are great. If we have a chance to go, I think we should go.Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price knows where his vote lies.The Olympics are a special event, and I really enjoyed my experience going to Sochi and being able to experience that world event, he said. It was really special for me and family to be able to go and take that in. It would be kind of sad to not be able to do that again.Perhaps, in the end, what a successful World Cup of Hockey truly means for the NHL and the NHLPA is enhanced leverage in talks with the IOC.As in: Weve got our own great tournament now, so if you dont play ball, were gone.First, however, this tournament has to be a hit.Were about to find out. Wizards Jerseys 2020 . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Chris Chiozza Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. https://www.cheapwizardsonline.com/609k-greg-ballard-jersey-wizards.html . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Darrell Walker Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Michael Adams Jersey . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Braden Shipley proved he is one quick learner.Arizonas 2013 first-round draft pick turned his second career start into his first major league victory with six scoreless innings Saturday night as the Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2.I was just sticking with my plan, you know, staying down in the zone, using my sinker effectively, said Braden, who got 11 ground-ball outs five days after surrendering three home runs in his major league debut. Thats kind of what I knew that I had to do coming into the night. Just work down in the zone, and mix pitches, and use that sinker.Shipley (1-1) held the Dodgers to five hits in his second career start as the Diamondbacks won for only the third time in 11 games. He struck out four and walked one.Obvioulsy, a lot of ground-ball outs, so hes getting the ball down. His ball had some movement downward, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. Curveball looked good. Changeup was better than it was the first night, and he just located the fastball.Jean Segura led the Diamondbacks out of the gate with a leadoff homer and Arizona had a 2-0 lead before Shipley took the hill.Segura hit Scott Kazmirs third pitch of the game over the left-field fence for his fourth leadoff home run of the season. He added an RBI double in the second, and is hitting .396 (19 for 48) over his last 12 games.Hes going to challenge Rickey Henderson pretty soon, Hale said with a smile. Hes done a really nice job for us.Kazmir (9-4) gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander entered the game as the National Leagues only undefeated pitcher -- minimum of 10 starts -- since May 14, going 7-0 with a 3.73 ERA in 13 starts.We just let this one slip away, Kazmir said. Giving up three early in the same, really setting the tone. Shipley, he was great out there. You have to tip your cap to him.Joc Pederson hit his 15th home run, and second in two nights, with two outs in the ninth inning for Los Angeles, which lost for the second time in six games.The Dodgers fell two games behind division-leading San Francisco. Los Angeles went 17-9 from June 26 through Friday night, and had cut the Giants division lead from 6 1/2 games to one since the All Star break.Brandon Drury singled home Phil Gosselin with two outs in the seventh for Arizonas final run. Gosselin had been called out stretching a single into a double, but the Diamondbacks challenged the call and it was overturned after a 1-minute, 27-second review.Jake Barrett got the final four outs for his third save.ddddddddddddChris Owings broke out of a 2-for-22 slump by flaring an RBI single to the opposite field in the second for Arizona, which came into the game with a NL-leading .277 batting average against left-handed pitching.Scott Van Slykes RBI single scored Andrew Toles, who walked and took second base on a passed ball, made the score 4-1 in the seventh.Corey Seager drilled his 30th double of the season with two outs in the third, tying the Dodgers rookie record for doubles set by Eric Karros in 1992.Shipley went 8-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 19 starts at Triple-A Reno before being called up. The 24-year-old right-hander lost his big league debut against Milwaukee on Monday night, giving up six runs in 5 1/3 innings.WINNING FORMULAThe Diamondbacks improved their record to 20-1 this season when allowing three runs or fewer on the road, trailing only the 1981 Cardinals (21-1) in this scenario since 1901.NO GOLD HEREPaul Goldschmidt, who torched Los Angeles for 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 74 RBI in his first 86 games against the Dodgers -- including 3 for 5 with 3 RBI in the series opener -- went 0 for 4 in this game.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: Zach Greinke pitched three innings in a rehab start Friday night in an Arizona rookie league game interrupted by a thunderstorm. Greinke, who threw 52 pitches, is expected to make one more minor-league start before returning to the Diamondbacks in 10 days or so, said Manager Chip Hale. ... Arizona sent LHP Zac Curtis to Double-A and designated RHP Josh Collmenter and INF-OF Micahel Freeman for assignment on Saturday.Dodgers: Los Angeles will make a decision in the next few days whether to activate INF Kike Hernandez (left ribcage inflammation). ... Nothing new on LHP Clayton Kershaw, who continues to rehab with core and back strengthening exercises. He has not resumed any baseball activities with no timetable for a return, said manager Dave Roberts.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin will make his fourth start of the season against the Dodgers in the series finale on Sunday. Corbin is 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA this year, but has a 2-1 record with a 3.25 ERA in five career starts at Dodger Stadium.Dodgers: RHP Bud Norris (6-9,4.27) makes his seventh start for the Dodgers since being acquired from Atlanta in June. Over his last 10 games -- including nine starts -- Norris is 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA, striking out 59 batters in 53 innings. ' ' '