PITTSBURGH -- Coach Dan Bylsma knows that the disappointing finish of the U. Walt Hazzard Jersey .S. Olympic mens hockey team in Sochi will linger. But now he has shifted his focus back to the Pittsburgh Penguins and looks to get his first-place team to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs. "I dont think you get rid of the disappointment," Bylsma said Tuesday. "But you have to put it behind you. The task at hand is coming back here and playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and I think thats the best way to put it behind you." The U.S. nearly knocked off Team Canada in Vancouver in 2010, falling just short of a gold medal and instead settled for silver. The Americans wanted to win an elusive Olympic hockey gold for the first time since the "Miracle on Ice," in 1980, and U.S. executives felt Bylsmas team had the right blend of skill, speed, and grit to get the job done. The U.S. offence got off to a strong start through the first four games of the tournament, outscoring the opposition 20-6. Included was the exhilarating, 3-2, eight-round shootout victory against the host Russians, one of the most memorable games of the tournament. "The Russian game was as unique of a game as Ive ever coached," Bylsma said. "The stage in terms of the tournament doesnt mean a whole lot because everyones going to play a fourth game, but trying to compare it to a Stanley Cup or a Game 7 was completely different. It had a different feel." The U.S. cruised past the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal showdown with Canada. "Its a game we all wanted," Bylsma said. "Maybe the biggest disappointment is that it wasnt the gold medal game." Regardless, the U.S. had to get through Canada to win gold, and for the second straight time in Olympic competition, the Canadians topped the U.S. Canada, which went on to win its second straight gold medal, blanked the Americans in a suffocating 1-0 effort that wasnt as close as the final score. Bylsma was criticized after the loss, some drawing comparisons to the Boston Bruins four-game sweep of a punchless Penguins team, which had trouble scoring during the 2013 Eastern Conference finals. "You can draw the comparisons, but I dont know if theyre valid or applicable," Bylsma said. "The one thing we would like to go back to in that game was playing faster and playing quicker, allowing us to be on the forecheck in a better manner." Penguins GM Ray Shero, also the associate general manager for Team USA, credited Team Canada. "That might be the greatest Olympic hockey team ever," Shero said. "You can look at how we wanted to play, but sometimes the opponent doesnt let you get to your game." The Canadians, who never trailed in the tournament, flexed their defensive muscle, allowing just three goals in six games to become the first team in 30 years to go unbeaten through an Olympic tournament. "Canada was very good," Shero said. "We came in with high expectations and theres nothing wrong with setting a high goal." Both wanted to see a different outcome after a humiliating 5-0 defeat the following day against Finland in the bronze medal game. "The bronze medal game was a tough one for us to rebound and get to," Bylsma said. "Thats the biggest disappointment of the tournament." But now the attention shifts back to Bylsmas Penguins where Olympians Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz are back with gold medals from Team Canada, while Jussi Jokinen and Olli Maatta earned bronze with Finland. Bylsma returned empty-handed along with U.S. Olympians Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin, who broke his hand in the quarterfinal round and is out four to six weeks. Russian star Evgeni Malkin is also without a medal, motivation that Bylsma hopes will further fuel a deep playoff run for the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins. The Penguins return to action when they host Montreal on Thursday. "We have 24 games to get back and focus on this team being the best it can be, getting to the Stanley Cup and winning it," Bylsma said. Kent Bazemore Jersey . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth. Dan Roundfield Jersey .C. -- The Steve Smith era in Carolina is over.SEATTLE -- Yohan Pino has the game ball to prove he belongs in the majors, even if he doesnt have a big league job anymore. The Minnesota Twins rookie right-hander earned his first major league victory -- beating the Seattle Mariners 4-2 Thursday night in his fifth big league appearance -- and was told after the game that hes being sent back to the minors to make room for LHP Kris Johnson to start Friday at Colorado. Throwing 100 pitches, Pino (1-2) allowed one run and seven hits in his five innings, walked two and struck out four. "I have to go down and do my job and try to get back," Pino said. His efforts didnt go unnoticed. "This works out for us, roster-wise ... but Pino was fabulous," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We gave him the game ball for his first major league win. We saw he had to battle for it. He made it through the fifth, which was huge." Kendrys Morales had the big hit, a two-run double in the fifth inning that gave the Twins a 4-1 lead. Morales, who played for the Mariners last season, came up with two outs and runners on first and second. He lined his double over centre fielder James Jones extended glove. Both runners scored without a throw. Glen Perkins worked the ninth to pick up his 22nd save in 25 opportunities. Tom Wilhelmsen (1-2) made his first major league start after 191 relief appearances for the Mariners, never pitching more than three innings in his career. He worked 2 2-3 innings, allowing two runs, one hit and three walks with three strikeouts. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon used six relievers to cover the nine innings after Taijuan Walker, who would have started, was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma to keep him in rotation during the All-Star break. The decision also gave staff ace Felix Hernandez an extra days rest to be available to start Friday against AL West-leading Oakland As. McClendon also made his decision knowing his bullpen had a 0.77 ERA with 63 strikeouts in the previous 18 games. Wilhelmsen had little trouble through the first two innings, throwing just 27 pitches. But he laboured in the third, issuing a one-out walk to Sam Fuld before Brian Dozier singled. With Kurt Suzuki at the plate, the runners pulled off a successful double steal. Caatcher Mike Zuninos throw to third sailed into left field allowing Fuld to score and Dozier to reach third. Moses Malone Jersey. Dozier scored on Suzukis sacrifice fly to centre. Kyle Seager, heading to the All-Star game Tuesday, had given the Mariners a 1-0 lead with his 14th home run in the second inning. Seager has a team-leading 60 RBIs. He is hitting .352 in 45 games at Safeco Field this season. Pino twice survived bases-loaded, two-out threats. In the third with a 3-2 count on Corey Hart, he threw a 79 mph slider that Hart chased to end it. "I just want him to put the ball in play. I dont want to walk him," Pino said. "I throw it over the plate. Whatever he wants to do." In the fifth, Hart again came up with the bases loaded and Pino induced him to ground out weakly to first, as the ball spun around the infield grass and was chased down by first baseman Chris Parmelee. That continued a poor offensive trend for the Mariners. They are just 2 for 33 with runners in scoring position over the past seven games. "We just havent got that big hit to put us over the top yet," McClendon said. "Listen, its hard to win ball games at this level on a nightly basis." Seattle reliever Danny Farquhar left with two outs in the fifth after Suzuki and Parmelee singled. Joe Beimel entered and was victimized by Morales. In the seventh, the Mariners loaded the bases again, with one out. Endy Chavez scored on Seagers sacrifice fly to left, but the rally ended when James Jones was ruled out trying to advance to third after a video review. "I was not only eating the (sunflower) seeds, I was eating the bag," Gardenhire said. NOTES: Colorado 1B Justin Morneau, who played 11 seasons for the Twins before being traded to Pittsburgh last August, will be part of the All-Star game festivities next week in Minneapolis. He was selected to compete in the Home Run Derby, which he won in 2008. ... Wilhelmsens start after 191 appearances is the third-most in club history behind Luis DeLeon (206) and Dwayne Henry (225). ... Cano is hitting .484 over his last 16 games against the Twins. ... The Mariners Michael Saunders held his side after checking his swing in the eighth. He was replaced by Dustin Ackley. ' ' '