SOCHI, Russia – Since that highly-anticipated day in early January when he was officially named to the Canadian Olympic team, the nerves have not stopped pumping for John Tavares. "I think Ive had em for about a month," he said. "As much as the travels been tough, I think [youre] losing a lot of sleep just because youre so anxious and so excited." Four years ago in Vancouver, it was a then-21-year-old Jonathan Toews who emerged from the lower ranks of a powerhouse roster to steer Canada to gold. Nerves aside, could the 23-year-old Tavares prove a similar dark-horse in the Canadians bid for back-to-back golds in Sochi? Save for the incomparable Sidney Crosby, no Canadian player enters the tournament with more impressive recent credentials than the captain of the New York Islanders. Tucked just behind Crosby and eventual winner Alex Ovechkin in the 2013 Hart Trophy race, Tavares has only continued his rise up the NHL ranks this season. He is now third in league scoring after a 20-point month of January which matched Phil Kessel for the league lead. In fact, only Kessel has more points (28) in 2014 than the Toronto native (22), who is on pace for a career-high 33 goals and 91 points. "I think my mindset is just to go out there and play the best I can and contribute where Im asked in the role Im asked to play in," said Tavares, who, like Toews in Vancouver, is among the younger Canadian Olympians in Sochi. "If that leads to more opportunity, responsibility thats great, but at the end of the day, its about winning one game [Thursday] and building off that and going onto the next one and hopefully, obviously to win a gold medal." Toews was Canadas 13th forward at the outset of the Games in 2010 and though Tavares enters the tournament on a first-unit power-play – alongside Crosby and Chris Kunitz – he is stationed to start Thursdays opener against Norway on a prospective bottom forward unit with fellow Olympic rookie Jamie Benn and vet Patrice Bergeron. With dangerous offensive weaponry, experience on the big ice and versatility, Tavares looks to be a prime option to rise in the lineup if chemistry elsewhere fails to materialize. The Canadian coaching staff, led by Mike Babcock, has promised that patience in that respect will be short. "Its a competitive environment," Babcock said, "and we expect our guys to compete for their ice-time." Though he has yet to appear at the Olympics, Tavares does hold excellent credentials in past appearances on the international stage. He has amassed 16 goals in 22 world championship games, adding 15 points alone in the 2009 world juniors. During the most recent NHL lockout, he produced 17 goals and 42 points in 28 games with Bern of the Swiss league. A natural centre, it was during that stint overseas that he played mostly left wing, offering Babcock versatility with a glut of centres on the roster. He even advised Tavares of that possibility during the summer orientation camp in Calgary. "Those are all things that I can draw on, experience-wise," Tavares said of his international forays. "I think the more youve played on [the big ice], the more youve been in it, the better understanding you have." For Tavares to snatch more opportunity, hell have to make the most of limited ice. Canadian executive director Steve Yzerman said earlier this week that the greatest challenge facing his group of Olympians was not the larger Olympic ice dimensions but the difficulty of making the most of a shrunken role. "He really has to park his ego at the door," said assistant coach Ken Hitchcock, speaking generally about the roster at large. "You have to understand that when its your time and its your time to go, go! Dont sit there and wonder what the coach is thinking, dont sit there and think am I going to get on the ice?, whats my family thinking?, when its your turn to go, go. "Whatever youve got, give us quality and forget about the quantity. Youve got to park the quality right up front and youve got to forget about the quantity because its not going to be the same. No player is going to play the minutes that he plays in the NHL. It isnt even going to be close. Youve got to park it." Toews averaged fewer than 15 minutes in Vancouver and yet finished as the tournaments top forward and Canadas leading scorer. He also helped shut down Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin in a dominant quarterfinal win over Russia. "Theres no time to look around and be wide-eyed," Toews advised of his mindset in 2010. "Youve got to go out there and play and just let it happen. Thats what the Olympics is all about. Theres not much time to adjust." A potent weapon, both as a sniper and playmaker – he is nearing a career-high in assists – Tavares can also be of aid to the Canada power play. The first overall pick from the 2009 draft is tied for fourth in power play points this season, trailing only Crosby, Ovechkin and the league-leader, Nicklas Backstrom. "You understand the responsibility of coming here and having to accept your role," Tavares said. "So youll be ready whenever your names called to go over [the boards] and execute." Nike Shoes Sale . - After sewage backups, toilet overflows and foul smells surfaced the past two years, nothing at the Oakland Coliseum surprises the home team anymore. Vapormax Sale . On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/air-max-plus-sale/.B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan had ideal preparation for the playoffs at the Ford World Curling Championships with a pair of hard-fought wins over tenacious opponents Thursday. Wholesale Shoes USA . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. Under Armour Shoes Sale .com) - The disappointing Ottawa Senators hope to record consecutive wins for the first time since early November, as they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home series.Manchester United travel to struggling Swansea on Sunday in desperate need of a win to get their stuttering season back on track. Jose Mourinhos side arrive in the Principality on the verge of making their worst start to a Premier League campaign. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho serves a one-match touchline ban at the Liberty Stadium this weekend Should the Red Devils be defeated at the Liberty Stadium this weekend, the club will have recorded its lowest Premier League points total after 11 games. Even a draw will mean eighth-placed United have equalled their lowest haul. Football Score Centre app Sky Sports customers can watch goals and highlights during Swansea v Man Utd at no extra cost And, with United currently sitting eight points off joint-leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, and seven adrift of Chelsea in the fourth and final Champions League berth, victory is imperative for Mourinho and Co in South Wales.The relegation-threatened Swans are themselves in a perilous position, five points from safety and still without a win since the opening day of the season.Manager Bob Bradley, who recently took charge of the club, has so far collected just one point from his first three matches. He has called for his players to be mentality tough when they take on the 20-time top-flight champions. Bob Bradley is looking to win his first match since taking over at Swansea when Manchester United visit There needs to be a mentality [of being] not the least bit afraid, that still understands every time we step on the field, this is the chance to turn things around, not one that hides that part of it, Bradley said in his pre-match press conference.Team newsSwansea winger Jefferson Montero is in contention for his first league start of the season.Montero has not featured since picking up a calf problem in September, but has returned to full training this week. Paul Pogba is a doubt for the clash at Swansea with a thigh injury Kyle Naughton has recovered from the illness which forced him off in Monday nights 3-1 defeat at Stoke, and Stephen Kingsley and Leon Britton are pushing for recalls with Bradley admitting he is yet to discover his best side.Paul Pogba is a doubt for the clash at Swansea, and Mourinho will serve a one-match touchline ban. Mourinho was left unimpressed as Manchester United lost 2-1 against Fenerbahce in the Europa League World-record signing Pogba was forced off 30 minutes into Thursdays Europa League defeat at Fenerbahce with an apparent thigh injury, with the midfielder to be assessed ahead of a match that Ander Herrera will miss through suspension.Antonio Valencia (arm) and Eric Bailly (knee) are out, while fellow defender Chris Smalling (foot) is a doubt. Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to be involved, having only just returned to training, but Michael Carrick and Memphis Depay are back in contention after being left out of the squad that travelled to Turkey.Opta statsSwansea have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with United, losing the other. Watch highlights of Stokes 3-1 win against Swansea United have lost their last two Premier League visits to Swansea.dddddddddddd#160;Theyve only lost three in a row away to the same opponents on four occasions (Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Southampton).Six of the last eight meetings between these sides in all competitions has ended with a 2-1 scoreline (four wins for Swansea, two for United), including each of the last four in a row. Watch highlights of Manchester Uniteds 0-0 draw with Burnley United have covered the lowest distance in the Premier League so far this season (1055.3km) and have outrun their opponents only once, a league low.The Red Devils have scored with just one of their last 91 shots in the Premier League and have failed to score with any of their last 67 in the competition since Martials goal versus Stoke on October 2.After scoring with four of his first 15 shots in the Premier League, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now failed to score with his last 42 in the competition. After scoring with four of his first 15 shots in the Premier League, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now failed to score with his last 42 Swansea have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last nine Premier League matches.Paul Mersons predictionI was disappointed in Swansea on Monday night. They were pretty light and average. United, meanwhile, cant score a goal. They had so many shots against Burnley last week but couldnt find the back of the net and thats worrying. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. I think this is a hard game for United and I wouldnt be surprised if they didnt win this, but Im going to back them here. Id bring Wayne Rooney back in. They havent done anything without him in the team and they need big players. Im sure if hed been playing up front for as many games as Ibrahimovic without a goal, he would have been dropped by now. If he makes something happen and wins the game, that will give him confidence and it may get the team on a little run.Paul predicts: 1-2 (7/1 with Sky Bet) Paul Pogba only played half an hour in Uniteds 2-1 Europa League defeat to Fenerbahce BettingUniteds season took another turn for the worse when beaten by Fenerbahce in the Europa League and are 8/11 to get back on track with victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. The hosts are 18/5 as they go in search of their first win under American manager Bradley, while the draw can be backed at 14/5. Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson is backing Ibrahimovic to end his frustrating run of form with a goal against the Swans and hes 7/2 to net the opener on Sunday. ' ' '