TORONTO --?Henrik Lundqvist was not present at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday, but he unknowingly still found a way to help Sweden post an entertaining 2-1 victory over Russia at the World Cup of Hockey.When the team arrived at the rink, the world-class goalie was scratched because of illness and sent back to the team hotel. Backup netminder Jacob Markstrom was called into action. Sweden entered this best-on-best tournament as one of the favorites, and losing Lundqvist was not a perfect scenario. Hes one of the strengths of the team, and not having him between the pipes could have had a negative effect on the teams chances against Russia.It didnt.Markstrom, 26, finished with 26 saves in a performance worthy enough to make Lundqvist proud.Originally selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round (No. 31 overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Markstrom had a reputation for subpar practice habits earlier in his career. After four seasons with the Panthers, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, along with Shawn Matthias, in exchange for Steven Anthony and Roberto Luongo on March 4, 2014.Since that trade, he has become more diligent and more disciplined in his game. He has matured. His positioning has become much stronger and no longer relies solely on his 6-foot-6, 199-pound athletic frame. He has improved tremendously over the past few seasons. He wants to be the No. 1 goalie for the Canucks. He no longer wants to be described as a backup. It also helped that he performed well and helped Sweden win on Sunday. It could be a major confidence boost.Ever since, pretty much for four years now, every day in practice I feel like I can get better and I improve my game, Markstrom said. When I got traded it was kind of a wakeup call for me that Im not young and talented. Ive got to work hard. Ive got to earn everything. Ive got to earn every NHL game I play, or NHL practice. I didnt know if I was going to get called up [from the AHL], so I felt I needed to bear down and work harder and thats what I did.Part of his maturation process was watching Lundqvist on and off the ice.Hes an unbelievable goalie and its very inspiring to see him on the other side. I kind of learned coming up, every time I play, or Im the backup or the third goalie -- Ive been in the minors a lot -- I try to look at the goalie on the other side and learn, Markstrom said. If I have a question, I ask and see what their take is on things. I just try to be very open-minded and see if I can pick something up. It could be everything from equipment to how to play. Obviously were two different goalies, but I try to learn as much as I can from him. I would love to play games, but Lundqvist is one of the best in the world and I know where we stand. I want to play games. Thats the fun part. But for now Im just trying to learn from him every day.At the start of this tournament, Markstrom understood that his chances of playing were slim. Only if something happened to Lundqvist would Markstrom see any action. That happened on Sunday, and Markstrom took advantage of it. He settled in after the first couple of shots by the Russians and looked comfortable in the net. It also helped that Swedens defensive core is the strongest in the tournament.During Swedens training camp, Markstrom and fellow goalie?Jhonas Enroth would share reps and work together at one end of the ice, while Lundqvist worked on his game at the other end. Based on the way the 2015-16 NHL season ended for Lundqvist and the New York Rangers?-- in a first-round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins?--?the 34-year-old goalie wanted to use this offseason to prepare to be at his best once puck dropped on the World Cup. He felt that if he could play well in this tournament, then it would help him get off to a better start during the regular season.Playing behind one of the best goaltenders in the world, Markstrom and Enroth had no delusions of grandeur that either one of them would sniff playing time. Coach Rikard Gronborg wanted to make sure all three of his goalies were ready just in case. Markstrom would exit the practice ice dripping with sweat long after Lundqvists work day was complete.Everyone talks about Lundqvist not wanting to let a goal in, but [Markstrom] is the same way too; he gets mad, Daniel Sedin said. He works hard. Our goalie coach in Vancouver [Rollie Melanson] made him work hard, and hes been slowly getting better the last couple of years. And [during] the two weeks leading up to this hes been looking really good. Im so happy for him.You can be sure Lundqvist was watching the game back at his hotel. As disappointed as he probably is that he couldnt help his fellow countrymen on this stage, its a safe bet hes happy for Markstrom.Hes a great goalie, Markstrom said of Lundqvist. Hes a great professional on and off the ice. He paved the way for Swedish goalies, [along with] Tommy Salo. After Lundqvist, more clubs started to choose Swedish goalies in the draft. Lundqvist was the big, big superstar, especially for people my age.Before anyone jumps to conclusions, or tries to start a goaltending controversy, if Lundqvist is healthy in time for the teams next game against Finland on Tuesday, he will no doubt be in net for Sweden. Even if Markstrom had made 60 saves on Sunday, a healthy Lundqvist would still start the next game.On Sunday, Team Sweden held a 2-0 lead until late in the third period as Russia pulled its goalie and scored to cut the deficit to one. Then, with seven seconds remaining in regulation, it appeared Russian forward Alex Ovechkin scored the game-tying goal, but after review it was determined that he knocked the puck in with his hand. Markstrom never saw the puck. He was in the crouch position and thought the puck was under him. He never saw it in the air. Fortunately for him, Lundqvist and Team Sweden, it was disallowed.I was crossing my fingers and toes that it wouldnt count, Markstrom said.It didnt, and Markstrom recorded what could be one of the biggest games of his career.?Chris Jones contributed to this story. Air Jordan 6 Cheap Australia . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Wholesale Air Jordan 6 Australia . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. http://www.airjordan6australia.com/ . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Buy Air Jordan 6 Australia . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Air Jordan 6 Australia Outlet . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Each week during the 2016 college football season Ill offer up my selections and scores for the weekends biggest games, along with a handful of other key matchups to keep an eye on.Last year my selections went 104-33 (76 percent) when picking the straight-up winners during the regular season and 74-61-2 (55 percent) against the spread. The past two weeks have been rough here with my Insider picks and have dropped the straight-up record to 44-26 (63 percent) and the ATS record to just 26-41-2 (39 percent). On the Friday ESPN podcast, the record this past week was 2-2 and now stands at 14-13-1.Here are this weeks selections.Note: Lines from Westgate SuperBook as of Wednesdday morning.dddddddddddd (+) indicates a pick in which Phil Steele is taking an underdog with the points.No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers (-13.5) at South Carolina GamecocksSaturday, 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN2The Volunteers went through the gauntlet of Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M and Alabama and got extremely banged-up, losing their past two games. Fortunately theyre coming off a bye and, while not anywhere near full health, they do get some players back, like linebacker?Darrin Kirkland Jr.?and?three offensive linemen who missed most of the Alabama game. ' ' '