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The World Cup of Hockey is just over a week away. With camps opening just days ago, all eight teams are about to embark on a three-game pre-tournament schedule as a tune up for the tournament. The exhibition slate starts Thursday, but most NHL fans will be keeping a closer eye on two games on the pre-tournament schedule.

The U.S. and Canada will play twice in the leadup to the tournament. They'll also be in the same group, meaning aside from the preliminary-round game, the only other chance they'd have to meet is in the tournament's final series.

Any time the U.S. and Canada meet up, whether it's pretournament or for a world title, the rivalry shows itself. There's a lot of tension in the meeting, but the U.S. is the team with a lot to prove after losing to Canada in the 2010 Olympic gold-medal game and in the Olympic semifinal in 2014. The World Cup is their next best shot for some sort of payback.

It all starts Friday night with the exhibition game in Columbus, Ohio. They'll play a second time in Ottawa on Saturday night. There will be plenty to watch for as the two teams won't meet again until Sept. 20 when the World Cup is for real.

Here's a look at how you can follow Team USA's and Canada's exhibition games, along with the full exhibition schedule with TV and streaming listings for every game below.

Friday, Sept. 9

USA vs. Canada, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU/ESPN3 (Live stream)

Three things to watch:

1. Carey Price makes first start since season-ending injury last November : It's been 10 months since the Montreal Canadiens goalie saw live action. His season-ending lower-body injury took a lengthy rehab, but now he's expected to pick up right where he left off as the best goalie in the world. This game will allow Price to jump right in and test his readiness and get his feel back for the game. The pace is going to challenge him after a long layoff, but as long as his skills are still there, he should be tough to beat.

2. First look at Team USA's plan of attack: With this being an exhibition game, it's hard to know if John Tortorella will have his team play possum or if he'll send them full tilt. There's no question that USA's management built a team for the specific purpose of beating Canada, but we don't know if their method will be a successful one. The U.S. wants to be an "in-your-face" team that grinds it out and plays physical. If the intensity is high to start, we'll know that they're not holding much back. Keep a close eye on if Tortorella starts matching lines right away. Odds are he wants Brandon Dubinsky to start his pestering Sidney Crosby as soon as possible.

3. Does USA's goalie picture become clearer?: Tortorella has not yet named a starter for the tournament and may not until just before it begins. He has a tough choice, but how he plays the goalies in Team USA's three exhibitions is going to be telling. The guy who gets the nod probably gets the most reps. So will it be Jonathan Quick, Cory Schneider or Ben Bishop? That picture becomes clearer starting Friday.

Saturday, Sept. 10

USA vs. Canada, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3 (Live stream only)

Three things to watch

1. Will there be any message sending?: There's been a lot of talk about whether or not the players are taking this tournament seriously. Based on the comments from Team USA's players, they're taking it pretty seriously. The feeling of disappointment coming out of Sochi has lingered for many of the players that were there and they want to make up for it. With this being the last exhibition game between the rivals, there could be a little extra physicality and after-the-whistles jostling between players as each team looks to remind the other of the tough game that will come Sept. 20.

2. Canada's backup battle on display: Head coach Mike Babcock will split the second game between Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford. Given Price's health and long layoff being primary concerns heading into the tournament, picking the right No. 2 is important. Odds are, it will be Holtby, fresh off of his Vezina winning season, but Crawford's two Stanley Cups and excellent play over the last two seasons keeps him in the mix. Both will be looking to prove themselves in this game.

3. Preview of the World Cup atmosphere: One thing we can almost definitely count on is raucous, sold-out crowds in Toronto for all of Team Canada's games. There are few better atmospheres to host a tournament in. Ottawa will get their chance to show off their Canadian pride in this exhibition and give the U.S. players and U.S. TV audience a chance to see what kind of environment this tournament will be played in.

Here's how to watch every exhibition game on the schedule:

ESPN3 is online only

Date Teams Time (ET) How to watch
Thu., Sept. 8 Sweden vs. Finland noon ESPN3
Czech Rep. vs. Russia 12:30 p.m. ESPN3
North America vs. Europe 8 p.m. ESPN2
Fri., Sept. 9 Canada vs. USA 7 p.m. ESPNU
Sat., Sept. 10 Russia vs. Czech Rep. 10:30 a.m. ESPN3
Finland vs. Sweden noon ESPN3
USA vs. Canada 7 p.m. ESPN3
Sun., Sept. 11 Europe vs. North America 6 p.m. ESPN3
Tue., Sept. 13 Finland vs. USA 7 p.m. ESPN
Wed., Sept. 14 Czech Rep. vs. North America 3:30 p.m. ESPN3
Sweden vs. Europe 7 p.m. ESPN3
Russia vs. Canada 7:30 p.m. ESPN2