IMATRA, Finland -- Jake Virtanen scored twice as Canada opened its defence of the under-18 mens hockey title with a 3-1 win over Sweden on Thursday. Virtanen opened the scoring at 6:45 of the first period, then gave Canada a two-goal lead with a power-play goal 1:03 into the second. Sweden cut the lead in half when Daniel Muzito Bagenda scored a power-play goal at 10:57 of the second. Matt Barzal restored Canadas two-goal cushion with a goal 3:07 into the third period. Mason McDonald stopped 24 shots to help preserve the win. Canadas next game is Saturday against Germany. In other games on Thursday, Switzerland beat the United States 4-2, Russia edged Slovakia 3-2 in overtime, and host Finland trounced Denmark 6-1. San Francisco Giants Gear . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. Stitched Giants Jerseys . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/. His apology came before a pregame ceremony in which the team honoured its 2004 team that won Bostons first World Series championship since 1918. "I realize that I behaved bad in Boston," Ramirez said. Fake Giants Jerseys . Griffin scored 13 of his 31 points in the final 7:05 and Dudley got 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter, leading the defending Pacific Division champions to a 112-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "Dud is a shooter. Giants Jerseys China .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net.CLEVELAND -- The Nets lounged their way into the NBA playoffs. Brooklyn coach Jason Kidd sat his starters for the season finale and the Nets wound up with the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs following a 114-85 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Although the Nets could have clinched the No. 5 spot with a win, Kidd elected to rest Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston, who spent the night on the bench as the worlds highest-paid cheerleading squad. Kidd also limited the minutes of key reserves and used only seven players. Brooklyns loss, coupled with Washingtons win at Boston, dropped the Nets into the sixth slot because they lost the tiebreaker with the Wizards. Brooklyn will begin the post-season at Toronto on Saturday. The Nets and Raptors split their four games during the season. "I like right where we are," Kidd said. "A good place. Weve been playing some pretty good basketball of late. Weve rested and guys have gotten their work in at the same time of healing some of the injuries theyve had -- some nicks and bruises healed. Now its time to figure out a way to win a game on the road." Tyler Zeller scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and Dion Waiters scored 19 for the Cavaliers, who finished a disappointing 33-49 in coach Mike Browns first season back and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. All-Star Kyrie Irving scored 15 and afterward addressed the likelihood hell be offered a contract extension by the club this summer. "If they do offer me, that it would be exciting and Ill make the best decision for me and my family," Irving said. "Thats what its going to boil down to for myself. Ive been a part of this and I want to continue to be part of this. Were making strides in the right direction, especially in this organization and I want to be part of something special in Cleveland. "If they do, I dont have a definitive answer to that right now, but it will be something special." Marcus Thornton and Andray Blatche scored 20 apiece for Brooklyn. Before the game, a defensive Kidd dismissed the notion the Nets were "tanking" down the stretch so they wouldnt have to play Chicago in the first round. Broooklyn lost to the Bulls in the first round last year.dddddddddddd Kidd started Thornton, Blatche, Jorge Gutierrez, Marquis Teague and Jason Collins -- a group that had made a combined seven starts. It was the first start with Brooklyn for Collins, the leagues first openly gay player. Afterward, Kidd said hes not concerned about the Nets losing four of five heading into the playoffs. "Its the playoffs," he said. "Its a new season. Everybodys zero and zero. Its the first one to four." The Cavaliers showed better effort than in recent losses to Milwaukee and Boston, uninspired performances that brought Browns future into question. The Cavs endured injuries, inconsistency and the firing of general manager Chris Grant, dismissed one day after an embarrassing loss to a Lakers team that finished the game with just five players. Brown expects to meet with owner Dan Gilbert in the next few days to discuss what went wrong and what will happen next. "Dan gave me this opportunity," Brown said. "I wouldnt be sitting in this seat without him. Its his team and whatever decision he makes with anything Im going to support." Also, Gilbert has to decide whether to retain interim GM David Griffin. Gilbert had promised his team would not be back in the draft lottery, but the Cavs will once again be hoping for the lucky bounce of some pingpong balls to improve their draft position. There were a few positives in Clevelands finale. Rookie Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick last year, played for the first time since March 8 and had an impressive dunk. Also, rookie Carrick Felix returned after missing 38 games with a broken kneecap. NOTES: The Nets ended 2013 at 10-21, but went 34-17 the rest of the way. ... Before tip-off, Cavs F Luol Deng was presented with the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given annually by the Pro Basketball Writers Association for exemplary community service. Deng missed Clevelands last three games with a sore back. Hes an unrestricted free agent and unlikely to return. ... Deron Williams averaged 14.3 points, his lowest since his rookie season (10.8) in 2005-06. ... Several Browns players, including Pro Bowlers Joe Thomas, Josh Gordon, Joe Haden and Jordan Cameron attended the game. ' ' '