FIRST WORD

I’m sure the players that Putin wants over there, they’re going to wind up there somehow. I’m going to prepare as if it’s (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Ilya) Kovalchuk and all their big boys. ... I’m assuming we will still play that team.” U.S. men’s hockey coach Tony Granato to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on his expectations for a Russian team that must play as neutral at the Pyeongchang Winter Games.