Team Canada cruises by Team Europe in Game 1
Canada's Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates his goal against Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) with teammates Drew Doughty (8), Ryan Getzlaf and John Tavares (20) during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Brad Marchand (63) scores on a pass by teammate Patrice Bergeron (37) against Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal as Europe's Dennis Seidenberg skates behind him during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal against Europe with teammates Patrice Bergeron (37) and Alex Pietrangelo during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Brad Marchand (63) scores on Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada coach Mike Babcock and players Sidney Crosby (87) and Patrice Bergeron watch during the second period against Europe in Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Europe forward Tomas Tatar (21) scores past Canada goalie Carey Price (31) during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)
Canada's Ryan O'Reilly (90) is tripped up by Europe's Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (78) in front of Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the third period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) looks back after allowing a goal as Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)
Europe's Andrej Sekera (2) skates in alone but is stopped by Canada goalie Carey Price (31) during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save on Europe's Thomas Vanek (26) during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) hits Europe's Leon Draisaitl (29) along the boards during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Brent Burns (88) collides with Europe's Thomas Vanek (26) during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Europe's Tomas Tatar celebrates his goal against Canada during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Europe's Tomas Tatar (21) celebrates his goal against Canada with teammate Dennis Seidenberg (44) during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Europe's Tomas Tatar (21) scores on Canada goalie Carey Price (31) during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Europe's Tomas Tatar (21) celebrates his goal on Canada goalie Carey Price (31) as Canada's Brent Burns (88) and Patrice Bergeron (37) stake near the goal during the second period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Steven Stamkos (91) scores on Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the first period of Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO— Brad Marchand and Steven Stamkos scored in the first period and Canada cruised to a 3-1 win over Team Europe in Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey finals on Tuesday night. Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Thursday night. Patrice Bergeron’s goal midway through the third period created a 2-goal cushion.
Carey Price finished with 32 saves for the Canadians, who have won two straight Olympic gold medals and 15 consecutive best-on-best hockey games since losing to the U.S. at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Slovakia’s Tomas Tatar scored his third goal in two games seven minutes into the second period to get Europe within 1.
Jaroslav Halak, who is also from Slovakia, stopped 35 shots for the unique team made up of eight European nations outside of the continent’s traditional powers.
The Canadians were playing at home, but didn’t seem to get much of an emotional boost in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ arena, where there were a lot of empty seats and suites.
