Phil Kessels star continues to shine. John Smoltz Braves Jersey . One of the hottest scorers in the NHL prior to the Olympic break, Kessel has been Team USAs most dynamic player through the preliminary round scoring four goals and seven points in three games to help his team remain undefeated. Kessel scored three goals and was the first star of the game as the United States registered an easy 5-1 win over Slovenia Sunday. The Toronto Maple Leafs right-winger shot Team USA into a quick 2-0 lead scoring on his teams first shot of the game and then batting a puck out of mid-air a few minutes later. Kessel completed his hat trick at 11:05 of the second period when he popped a rebound past Slovenian goaltender Luka Gracnar. "Im just trying to help my team win; do whatever I can," Kessel said. He added it is a bonus to be playing on a line with James van Riemsdyk, his linemate in Toronto. Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks in the lines centre. "It helps a lot that I play with JVR all year," Kessel said. "I played with Pav at the last Olympics and were just trying to keep going." Slovenia, coming off a thrilling 3-1 victory over Slovakia Saturday, had nothing left in the tank to face the United States. It was as though its win over Slovakia was its Stanley Cup victory and the team checked out mentally. Likewise, the Americans celebrated a monumental shootout win over the host Russians knowing they could go at half speed and not lose on this day. A goal in the final minute by Slovenia was inconsequential other than the fact it affected Team USAs goal differential. The Americans complete the round robin with a 3-0 record having outscored their opponents 15-4. The game had all the intensity of two last-place teams in a beer league hooking up late in the season. The Slovenians had a couple of decent scoring chances, but that said, they were never really in the game. The United States took the lead and then coasted to the victory. With 13 goals since Jan. 2, Pavelski has been one of the hottest scorers in the NHL in 2014. He has continued to hold a hot hand in the Olympics scoring a goal and adding three assists through three games. Ryan Miller was the hero of the 2010 Olympic Games for Team USA, leading his team to the gold medal game and earning most valuable player honors. He had a 5-1 record in Vancouver, but has been designated as the teams backup goalie in this years tournament, giving way to Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings. Miller made his first start against Slovenia. Forward Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers also saw his first action replacing Max Pacioretty in the lineup. Slovenias best player, Anze Kopitar, was late joining his team for the second period and then skipped the third period all together. No reason was given for his absence. Hank Aaron Jersey . They never thought it would take some blood, too. Kevin Love grabbed his 4,000th career rebound as part of a 19-point, 13-board effort to lead the Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 112-97 on Tuesday night. Max Fried Jersey . Second-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States made lighter work of her day as she beat 2009 champion and Swiss wild card Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-3. Two seeds fell: No. 4 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium lost to Katarzyna Piter of Poland 6-4, 6-2, and No. https://www.cheapbraves.com/1113o-anthony-swarzak-jersey-braves.html . The Calgary skip fell 10-8 to Swedens Oskar Eriksson in semifinal action Saturday and will face Switzerlands Peter de Cruz for the bronze medal (Saturday at 10pm et/7pm pt on TSN2).MINNEAPOLIS -- The New York Yankees have a bunch of proud, highly paid and accomplished hitters who have been performing much of this season as if they are well past their prime. Signs of a turnaround have emerged in this series at Minnesota. Brian Roberts had three doubles and a triple for the first four-extra-base-hit game of his 14-year career, and the Yankees used their bullpen to preserve a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday. "Hitting is contagious. I think it goes both ways," said Roberts, who raised his batting average by 11 points to .248. "When a couple guys start struggling, sometimes everybody starts struggling. A couple guys start hitting, it can kind of roll. So hopefully well fall in that direction." David Huff (2-0), the first of four New York relievers, struck out three in three perfect innings after starter Chase Whitley faltered. David Robertson notched his 20th save in the ninth. "Its always big when the bullpen can pick up six innings and we still get a win out of it," Robertson said. The veterans in the lineup did the heavy lifting early on. Jacoby Ellsbury delivered a two-run single in the second to help finish off Twins starter Kyle Gibson (7-7), and the Yankees had 10 hits for the second straight game. "It was probably the most frustrating part, looking back," Gibson said of Ellsburys hit that pushed the lead to 6-1. Gibson brought the American Leagues best home-ballpark ERA among qualified pitchers at 1.54, but he only lasted two innings against the Yankees. One of the runs on his line was unearned, due to a passed ball by Kurt Suzuki that let Mark Teixeira move up and later score on Carlos Beltrans sacrifice fly in the first, but almost every ball was hit hard. "They jumped on him and never let him breathe," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Brett Gardner led off the game with a triple, Roberts drove him in with a double and Gibson was on his way to that kind of day. He gave up six hits and one walk, without any strikeouts. Teixeira had an RBI double, and Brendan Ryan added a sacrifice fly. "Weve said all along these guys are good hitters, and eventually its going to turn," Yankees managger Joe Girardi said. Ralph Garr Braves Jersey. The matchup on the mound between Whitley and Gibson quickly deteriorated, but a legitimate duel between Huff and Sam Deduno developed. Whitley gave up eight hits, four runs and one walk in three innings with four strikeouts, putting his spot in the injury-depleted rotation in a tenuous place. The rookie was unbeaten in his first seven starts, allowing three runs or fewer each time, but he has allowed a whopping 27 hits and 17 runs in 10 1-3 innings over his last three turns. "Its very frustrating, but youve got to keep working to give the team a chance to win," Whitley said. Brian Dozier led off the Minnesota first with his 16th homer, and Chris Colabello went deep the next inning in his first at-bat since May 23. Oswaldo Arcia had an RBI triple and scored on Trevor Plouffes single to pull the Twins within two before Huff took charge. "Whether he goes eight or he goes three, were always going to be ready for him. Were there to back him up and get him through the game," Huff said. Dellin Betances dodged trouble in the eighth inning after Colabello cut the lead to one with an RBI groundout. Teixeira made a diving stop to his right at first base on Eduardo Escobars sharp grounder, recovering in time to throw to Betances for the third out with a runner on third. This Independence Day game, pitting the Yankees and Twins at Target Field for the second straight year, was preceded by a ceremony for the 75th anniversary of Lou Gehrigs moving farewell address, shortly after he was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological disease that later took his name. Players from both teams read prerecorded portions of the speech. NOTES: The Yankees are 15-3 at Target Field, including two post-season wins. ... University of Minnesota basketball coach and lifelong Yankees fan Richard Pitino sat in the first row behind home plate. ... David Phelps (3-4, 4.26 ERA) will pitch for the Yankees Saturday, and Yohan Pino (0-2, 6.32 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins. The Twins will honour retiring Yankees captain Derek Jeter before the game with a farewell gift. Jeter had Friday off to rest. Brendan Ryan played SS instead. ' ' '