Canada has drawn first blood in the World Cup of Hockey final, thanks in large part to the continued dominance of the host nation's top line.

On a night where Canada looked rather sluggish for long portions of play, and with Europe putting forth an effort worthy of an upset, the unit of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand combined for two of the team's three goals, providing enough offense to pull off the 3-1 win.

Europe was presented with a chance to open the scoring when Marchand took a penalty 21 seconds into the game. Unable to score on the man advantage, the Europeans watched as Bergeron set up Marchand only 12 seconds after his departure from the penalty box.

Later in the opening frame, Steven Stamkos scored his first goal of the tournament to give Canada a 2-0 lead.

It was Europe, however, that held a 13-9 shot advantage after 20 minutes.

The Europeans were deservedly rewarded for their hard work with a goal from Tomas Tatar - his third in two games - at the 7:00 of the second period.

Playing with a one-goal lead, Canada took the shot advantage back after forty minutes of play by a margin of 26-24, but Europe continued to generate chances, highlighted by a rare shorthanded breakaway opportunity by defenseman Andrej Sekera late in the second period.

With Europe looking for the tying marker in the third period, Canada's top line got the job done again, this time Bergeron beat Jaroslav Halak with a wrist shot off a feed from Crosby.

Canada finished the game with the advantage in terms of shots (38-33) and possession, but it clearly wasn't the dominant performance expected from the heavy favorites.

Canada now has a chance to hoist the World Cup trophy with a win in Game 2 on Thursday, but the Europeans at least proved they can hang in and perhaps can push the final to the limit, and earn a deciding third game.

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Andrew Shaw made quite a first impression with his new club Tuesday night.

The Montreal Canadiens forward was ejected from the club's preseason tilt against the Washington Capitals after hammering defenseman Connor Hobbs with a devastating hit from behind.

Shaw dropped the gloves with forward Nathan Walker following the hit, doing his best to get the home crowd into it by egging fans on mid-fight.

Shaw was handed 30 minutes worth of penalties on the play, including a game misconduct.

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The Las Vegas club is hoping that practice makes perfect.

The team's management, including their entire pro scouting staff, will hold a mock expansion draft on Oct. 7 and 8 internally as they prepare for the real deal slated to take place next June, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN's Insider Trading segment on Tuesday.

According to LeBrun, the club is hoping to make the expansion draft a regular occurrence, hosting one each month up until the real thing.

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Brent Burns and the San Jose Sharks are in the infant stages of a potential contract extension, and don't appear to be close to a deal, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

LeBrun was on TSN's Insider Trading segment on Tuesday where he gave an update on the current contract talks between the Sharks and Burns - who will become an unrestricted free agent next summer - which have not gone anywhere yet.

"They're not close at this point and I think the reason for that is Brent Burns isn't ready to make the biggest decision of his NHL career," said LeBrun.

According to LeBrun, Burns may take his time with the decision, also suggesting that the 31-year-old could test free agency next summer.

Burns hit career-highs in goals and points with 27 and 75 respectively last season and will enter the final year of his five-year, $28.8-million contract this season.

"There have been talks, it's been very cordial, but nothing imminent," said LeBrun. "Brent Burns wants the year to start and go from there."

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The Jacob Trouba saga may not be coming to an end anytime soon.

So says TSN's Bob McKenzie, who - on Tuesday's edition of Insider Trading - outlined the difficulties facing the Winnipeg Jets in regards to their asking price in any deal involving the young defenseman.

"Not an easy transaction to conclude because the Winnipeg Jets' desire - in what they get back for Jacob Trouba - is so very precise as to make it difficult," McKenzie said. "They're looking for a left-hand shot defenseman of similar age, experience, potential. And that's really difficult. Anaheim's not trading Hampus Lindholm, Toronto's not trading Morgan Rielly, Arizona's not trading Oliver Ekman-Larsson."

Still, McKenzie added, more than half the teams in the NHL have varying degrees of interest in the talented, two-way defenseman, with four standing out as most willing to make a deal.

"I can think of four teams - maybe more - that have a really significant interest in this player but don't have the proper fit right now," he said. "That would be Arizona, Boston, Colorado, and the New York Rangers, among others.

"Maybe the parameters change at some point, but this would suggest to me maybe this is going to be a long, drawn-out affair."

Trouba's agent has made it clear his client is looking for a top-pair role on the right-side of the ice, and the restricted free agent isn't looking to reach a new deal with the Jets at this time.

That the Jets have specific requirements in place and that the trade request was made public only further complicate the matter, allowing prospective suitors to wait and see if the parameters for a trade do indeed soften from Winnipeg's side.

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Team Europe may have already accepted their fate as they get ready to open the World Cup final on Tuesday.

The team will be faced with the grueling task of taking down tournament favorites Canada in a best two-of-three series, and Thomas Vanek understands that Europe's chances aren't great.

"We know this is the best team in the world," Vanek said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "To beat them is going to be tough. To beat them twice is gonna ... It's impossible. So, our mindset is: It's best of three, but we can't look at all three games. We look at tonight."

Of course Canada has already topped Europe in the tournament once in round-robin play, when they bested the club 4-1, outshooting the team by a ridiculous 46-20 margin.

But it's hockey, anything can happen.

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Wayne Gretzky, the most accomplished player to ever don a pair of skates, revealed Tuesday that he would not include himself if he ever had a chance to assemble a lineup of the NHL's all-time greats.

Related: Gretzky to serve as ambassador in NHL's Centennial plans

For The Great One's dream team, former teammate Grant Fuhr would be in goal, while Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey would easily form the top defensive pairing of all-time.

Up front, Gretzky said he'd roll a trio of Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, and Mark Messier.

To put that into perspective:

Not too shabby.

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The Great One is back.

In celebration of the NHL's Centennial anniversary, which officially begins Jan. 1, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Wayne Gretzky will serve as the official ambassador.

Gretzky, who owns a multitude of NHL records, will make appearances at various events throughout the year.

"Anyone who knows me knows that I have long revered the history of our game and the players, coaches and executives who built the league before I was fortunate enough to enter it," Gretzky said. "And it is no secret that I remain an avid fan who watches games every night and marvels at the young players who are leading the greatest sport in the world into the league’s next century."

The 100-year celebration kicks off with the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field. Other celebratory events include the Winter Classic between Chicago and St. Louis, the Stadium Series involving Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, as well as a countdown of the 100 greatest players of all time at the All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

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Justin Bieber brushed shoulders with Wayne Gretzky earlier this year, and now he's busy getting acquainted with another Edmonton Oilers great.

Prior to his concert Tuesday in Helsinki, the pop star skated with Finnish club Jokerit and snapped a photo with the team's general manager, NHL Hall of Famer Jari Kurri.

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Artemi Panarin has reportedly named his price, and it doesn't bode well for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The reigning Calder Trophy winner is seeking a six-year extension worth more than $6 million per season, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, citing a source.

Panarin's agent, Tom Lynn, revealed his client and the Blackhawks began contract discussions last week, and Chicago general manager Stan Bowman is optimistic a deal will get done.

"We're always confident," Bowman said. "You go into a negotiation expecting to get a deal done. That's the way I've been in the past and that's the way I am now.

"Each negotiation is different," Bowman added. "I wouldn't put any timetables or handicap it one way or another. It will get done when it gets done."

Panarin torched opponents alongside Patrick Kane last season, scoring 30 goals and adding 47 assists, which has already earned him several bonuses on his current contract, a $812,500 cap hit.

The problem for Chicago - the same problem that's hit them every offseason since catapulting into the NHL's elite - is cap space.

The Blackhawks are $2 million under the salary cap, and owe captain Jonathan Toews and Kane $10.5 million annually through 2023. Additionally, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook are all on contracts greater than $5 million per year until 2021, 2023, and 2024 respectively.

That, as evidenced by the Blackhawks' three Stanley Cups since 2010, is the price of success in today's NHL.

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