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TORONTO -- Of all the teams in the World Cup of Hockey, it's fair to say that the greatest pressure falls squarely on the collective shoulders of Team USA to hit the ground running. Granted, none of the eight teams can afford to start slowly, given that the tournament's pool will be cut in half after only three preliminary games. But for an American team desperate to prove it was put together correctly, desperate to prove that its style of hockey can trump the best the world has to offer, a matinee matchup against Team Europe on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) to kick off the 2016 World Cup of Hockey looms large. Is it a must-win? Let's call it what it is. So, yes, it's a must-win. Team USA coach John Tortorella was asked Friday whether the mantra for this veteran, hard-nosed team might be, "If not now, then when?" He replied by refining it to, simply, "It's time." That time is Saturday afternoon. Not Tuesday night against Canada, not later on against the Czech Republic. "I'm sure guys are going to have nerves," Team USA defenseman Jack Johnson said. "You love to get that rush of competing, that's what makes tournaments like this so great. It's the rush of nerves and the emotions and everything that goes into it. But we know how important these games are. I think, going into Saturday, it's [about] that game and that game only. We're not thinking ahead because you've got to win that game before you can win the next game." If you figure two wins gets you out of the preliminary round, and if you figure Canada, Team USA's opponent in the second game of the preliminary round Tuesday night (8 p.m., ESPN), represents the biggest challenge, then beating both Team Europe and the Czechs is imperative for the Americans. Team Europe represents something of an unknown. After looking slow and disconnected in pretournament losses to Team North America, the Euros bounced back with a strong effort in their final tuneup match against Sweden, which is considered one of the tournament favorites. "Everything's great, but then you play the first two games and the results were definitely not great," said Team Europe captain Anze Kopitar. "Then you almost have a little bit of doubt. You don't know exactly how you're going. I think [beating Sweden] was a great confidence booster for us." The pretournament win was huge for Team Europe and serves as a kind of cautionary lesson for Team USA, reminding the Americans not to assume that they can come with anything less than their A-game on Saturday and expect to collect a victory. Finding that emotional balance will be key for Team USA. It must bring the same speed and physicality it showed against Canada in pretournament play, but not provide power-play opportunities to a Team Europe squad that figures to struggle offensively.  "There really is no easing into it," Team USA veteran Zach Parise said. "With a three-game round-robin, and only taking two teams, you can't really afford to have a slipup. You can't afford to really have an off-game early or else you'll need a little luck [to move on]. But I think we're going to be ready to play." Team USA started the pretournament schedule with an emotional, physical effort against Canada. The Americans won that game 4-2, but Canada rebounded to take the rematch the next night in Ottawa 5-2 and outplayed Team USA in both meetings. Team USA looked much better in its final tuneup against Finland, a 3-2 victory, and the feeling among the American players is that they are finding their rhythm under head coach John Tortorella. "I think we're in a good spot right now, but there's definitely going to be things to clean up," forward T.J. Oshie said. "I think we're heading in the right direction. "It is hard, because if you get off to a bad start, you might be going home in a week. I think our team's got enough experience, we've got enough veteran guys, to where we'll probably stay pretty level-headed and not get overanxious or nervous or anything like that. It definitely could get to you, worrying about that. But I think this group is experienced enough to where we won't let it." Longtime NHL analyst and former NHL goalie Darren Pang wouldn't go as far as saying the U.S. absolutely must win Saturday, but he did say it's crucial for the Americans to set the right tone. "I think it's about how they play," said Pang, who is providing analysis for ESPN during the tournament. "How they want to play and how they set the tone, because I think they are a tone-setter for this tournament." Pang said he has been impressed with how players have accepted their roles as set out by the coaching staff. "You're starting to see an identity," Pang said. "What I've been impressed with is that it looks like players have checked their egos completely at the door and they're going to play the way the coach says." Although Tortorella would not reveal his lineup Friday, he confirmed Jonathan Quick would start in goal and line rushes during practice on Friday suggested that Justin Abdelkader would be the extra forward. The coach admitted that some players have rounded into game shape more quickly than others. "I looked at some guys early on and said, 'They're just not ready to give here,' " Tortorella said. "You have talks along the way, and you see guys step up. I won't give away names, but I was really worried about a couple of guys, and then they came right to the forefront. They're going to be in the lineup. "Some other guys have played themselves out of it. Nothing is fair with [only] five days of practice in determining a lineup, but that's the world that we live in this tournament, and that's the way we've gone about it." In other words, it's time.
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