Monday, Sept. 19, 2016

TORONTO – It was an upbeat and focused 50 minutes of practice here early this afternoon for Team USA at Ricoh Coliseum as the players and coaches prepared for a must-win game tomorrow against Canada.

Following practice, coach John Tortorella met with a gathering of some 30 or so media. A significant number of U.S. players also spoke to the assembled media after the team’s skate.

The players returned to the hotel following practice and had the rest of the day and evening to rest and prepare for tomorrow’s game against Canada.

The U.S. and Canada split two pre-tournament games, with Team USA winning 4-2 in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 9 and Canada coming out on top by a 5-2 count the next night (Sept. 10) in Ottawa.

NOTES: Team USA’s practice followed Team Canada’s and the teams were cordial in sharing the same main hallway area … The weather has been extremely humid the last couple of days in Toronto and yesterday the glass surrounding the ice was covered in fog. That was not the case at today’s practice … The U.S. will have a pre-game skate at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Air Canada Centre.

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FIVE QUESTIONS WITH TEAM USA FORWARD DAVID BACKES

Summer 2016 Highlight: It was a whirlwind summer with the trade to Boston. We spent some time house hunting. Probably the most relaxing part of the summer was a weekend on Cape Cod. Had never been there before.

Golf or Boating: Boating.

Advice You’d Give To Young Hockey Player: Keep your stick on the ice.

Last Concert You Attended: Night Ranger with Journey and Foreigner at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

What You Stream: HBO GO Real Sports.