4 thoughts from the United States' loss to Team Europe

With the World Cup of Hockey all but three periods old, Team USA is near the brink of elimination after a shocking 3-0 loss to Team Europe in the tournament's opening game.

Here are four observations from the massive upset:

USA loses its edge

Perhaps it was never the right strategy, but the physical brand Dean Lombardi and John Tortorella hoped to employ - and the game plan used to punish the Canadians in exhibition play - was eschewed in Saturday's opener.

"It surprised me a bit, that they didn't come out and try to run us over," Europe's Jannik Hansen told theScore.

But as Christian Ehrhoff explained, the absence of physical play from Team USA was as much, or more so, Team Europe's doing.

"I think they tried to be physical, but we quick to pucks and made the first pass really quick, and beat the forecheck that way," he said. "We didn't really allow them to be physical."

Even so, Tortorella's decision to scratch Dustin Byfuglien remains contentious in that it belied the identity laid out for this team.

Related: Tortorella's puzzling decisions put U.S. in danger of early exit

The fix ain't in

With the result critical to interest south of border, organizers, executives, and networks were not given any favors by the war room and officiating crew. It was deemed that while crashing the crease, James van Riemsdyk "deliberately directed" the puck into the net with his body, meaning Team USA's second-period goal was overturned.

It was a harsh ruling, because not only did the play appear legal, but the puck also looked like it hit Derek Stepan on the way in.

Tortorella agreed: "I think it's a goal. No matter what (van Riemsdyk) did, it hit (Stepan's) helmet before it goes into the net. I think it should be a good goal."

Krueger's counter

Who said Ralph Krueger's day job wouldn't offer value?

Mirroring the counterattack style dominating world football, Team Europe's coach - on hiatus from his position as Southampton F.C.'s chair - dropped five defenders in front of Patrick Kane in a critical moment of the second period. As the Chicago Blackhawks superstar tried to manufacture an attack, Tobias Rieder forced the turnover, and sprung Leon Draisaitl with Nino Niederreiter, who together shook Jonathan Quick out of the crease on the transition 2-on-0.

Hansen said that patience is a central component to Europe's strategy.

"We're not going to dominate these teams, and have a ton of zone time, and put up 40 or 50 shots. We need to take our chances when they come and capitalize on them," he said.

"We do have a lot of skill, and when we get the puck in those areas - we saw the result of it."

Ehrhoff added: "We knew we were going to get opportunities if we stayed patient. We did a great job with that."

What does this say about North America?

It's dangerous to read too far into exhibition results, or make inferences about one team from another's result, but Team USA's struggles in breaking down Europe certainly flatters Team North America. And of course, it raises more questions about USA's selection process.

North America's 23-and-under squad broke down Europe with speed, scoring 11 goals in two pre-tournament games, while the United States simply didn't force defenders into back-peddles, to create opportunities on the rush.