Jaroslav Halak to start for Team Europe vs. USA

They seem like a team lacking cohesion but Team Europe could have the experience to be a top -2 finisher in Group A.

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal for Team Europe in the opening match of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on Saturday.

Halak beat out his New York Islanders teammate, Thomas Greiss, and Washington’s Philipp Grubauer for the job as Europe takes on the United States at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Europe, made up of players from European nations that are not Russia, Sweden, Finland, or the Czech Republic, went 1-2 in pre-tournament play.

Jonathan Quick has already been named the starter for the Americans, with Ben Bishop getting backup duties.

That leaves Cory Schneider as the odd man out, with Kyle Palmieri and Dustin Byfuglien joining him as healthy scratches.

Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with Canada and the Czech Republic rounding out Group A.

Sweden, Russia, Finland, and North America are in Group B.

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