STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- If the Tampa Bay Lightnings Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman was a man who liked to engage in the game of what-ifs, hed have a lot of material to work with.Theres the Stanley Cup finals defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. Then theres last Mays conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in which the Lightning held a 3-2 series lead before losing two straight. And before all that, in 2014, he was the most high-profile snub of the Swedish Olympic team in Sochi, the one that lost the final to Canada.But hes not that kind of guy.Instead, hes trying to use the disappointments as fuel for future success.The first weeks after the loss were tough and I was still mad, but then, once I got back to offseason training, it was easier to start looking ahead again, he told ESPN.com recently in Swedish. Now those losses are whats driving me, but its a long [wait]. Also, its a tough league, and all teams are good and getting better, so we cant get ahead of things too much, either.If it were an episode in ESPNs 30-for-30 series, the chance for redemption would come quickly for Hedman and the Lightning. But in real life, a 10-month wait for the next opportunity is long, and if the focus is 10 months away, the chance might never come, Hedman said.Today, there are 30 teams in the NHL fighting for the playoff spots, and only 16 make it there. Our first goal has always been, and is now, to make the playoffs, he said. You cant get ahead of things, but instead, our focus has to be on game No. 1, and then take it from there, and try to form good habits that carry us deep.The Lightning still have their Stanley Cup finals core group intact, thanks to team captain Steven Stamkos decision to re-sign with the team. Hedman sees that as an additional strength for the team.We have good chemistry in the group, and we have a system that we like, he said, but Im sure the fact that weve been through a lot together is a driving force for us all and pushes us to get better.With the Lightning going deep in the playoffs, Hedman hasnt been able to play for Sweden at the world championships the past two years, and since then-coach Par Marts famously left him off the Olympic roster in 2014, its been four years since Hedman has worn his countrys three-crown jersey in an important tournament. That will all change when he suits up for Sweden in the World Cup of Hockey, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.Im excited about [playing for Sweden in the World Cup] because it has been a while, even if the fact that its been for the right reasons -- that weve gone deep in the playoffs, he said.Swedens head coach for the World Cup, Rikard Gronborg, spent a decade in the U.S. college system before joining the Swedish federation 10 years ago. The players, without exception, like his style, which they consider more North American than Swedish.He knows the American terminology and what its like to play in the smaller rink, and he understands how big this event is in Canada, said Hedman. He also knows a lot of [opposing] players and their styles.Team Sweden held a preparation meeting in early August, during which the players socialized a bit and listened to their new coachs ideas and thoughts. And shared their ideas with the coach.The coach says how he wants us to play, but he certainly listens to our suggestions, said Hedman. After all, he can give us templates, but we have to execute them on the ice.With players coming from different NHL teams, and a head coach that the players call Americanized, will there even be a Swedish style?Youll see, Hedman said with a grin.We have a lot of talent in all positions. We have a great defense, forwards that are world class, and we have one of the best goalies in the world. Well be creative, use our defense in the offense. Then again, all teams want to play a possession game, and all teams play a similar style, with their own nuances. We just have to do it better than the other teams.But there is one very Swedish thing the Tre Kronor players do when they get together. They do fika, which is Swedish for sitting down with a cup of coffee, talking about this and that, and just taking it easy for a while.We do have a lot of fika, he said. I think Ive had seven or eight cups of coffee.Thats fuel, too.Cheap Pirates Jerseys . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/ . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Pittsburgh Pirates Store . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Pittsburgh Pirates Pro Shop .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious.Do the right thing.Kangaroos utility Michael Morgan says the simple motto is the only safeguard for concerned NRL players after an increase in illegally obtained footage being shopped around to the media.The Rugby League Players Association has taken a hardline stance on the issue, saying they will support legal action from NRL players who believe their privacy has been abused or if theyve been subject to an extortion attempt.Last week footage of Parramatta star Corey Norman and an unnamed Brisbane player was offered to networks for a large sum but was turned down.Queensland State of Origin star Morgan admitted the trend was a worry but believed the onus was still on players to behave themselves.It is unfortunate that some people are going out of their way nearly to make money out of it - its frustrating and annoying, Morgan said.But we are in control of that, no one else is.It does come back to us.Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robbinson on Sunday called on the NRL and RLPA to do more to protect the rights of players.ddddddddddddHis call came after Mitchell Pearce was suspended earlier this year after footage of the drunken Roosters halfback was obtained at a private party without his permission and aired without his consent.North Queensland pivot Morgan admitted sometimes it did not take much for situations with the public to get out of hand but was convinced good decisions by players would avoid any future controversy.I have been out and you see how things can go wrong, he said.But we have a very good group up here (North Queensland).We are pretty well behaved and pretty switched on, know when is the right time to do some things and not others.Its all about the position you are in and the only person in control of that is us. 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