TORONTO -- Left with nothing play for at the World Cup of Hockey, coach John Tortorella told his United States players to play a game for themselves.They played hard, gave effort in a meaningless round-robin finale but still lost 4-3 to the Czech Republic on Thursday night. With an 0-3-0 record and a minus-6 goal differential, the U.S. finished seventh among eight teams, ahead of only Finland.The bottom line is we leave here with nothing, Tortorella said. Certainly we cant be happy about that.Previous losses to Team Europe and Canada eliminated the Americans from contention. While Canada, Sweden, Europe and Russia prepare for the semifinals this weekend, the U.S. and Czech Republic played out the string in front of a half-empty arena.Joe Pavelski, Justin Abdelkader and Ryan McDonagh scored for the U.S., which did not unravel in a meaningless game like it did in the 2014 Olympic bronze medal game. Ben Bishop allowed four goals on 20 shots in two periods, and Cory Schneider made seven saves in relief.Petr Mrazek stopped 36 of the 39 shots he faced to backstop the Czech Republic to its first victory. Milan Michalek scored twice and Zbynek Michalek and Andrej Sustr each had a goal.U.S. players promised they wouldnt mail it in with nothing to play for. A result of human nature, it felt like an all-star game with a lack of real physicality as everyone wanted to get through without getting injured.I thought some guys gave some really true efforts, Tortorella said. We just didnt find a way to win the hockey game.Afterward, Tortorella broke from his usual routine and addressed the team.McDonagh said the message was, Keep your heads up, youre all great players. You all represent your country to the best of your ability and you were a great group to be around.Frustration boiled over for Dustin Byfuglien at the final buzzer as he went after Czech defenseman Michal Jordan. A healthy scratch in the tournament opener, the Winnipeg Jets defenseman had a beautiful pass to set up Abdelkaders goal and was one of the best players on the ice.A collection of fans spent stretches of the first period chanting, Lets go Kessel! and We want Kessel! Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins winger Phil Kessel was left off the U.S. team and made light of that on Twitter on Tuesday night after the Americans lost to Canada.That was a must-win game for the U.S. after opening the tournament with what Patrick Kane called a dud against Europe. General manager Dean Lombardi blamed not being prepared for that game for the U.S. bowing out of the World Cup.I dont think we showed enough respect for the talent on that team, Lombardi said Thursday morning.Lombardi said that the 3-0 loss to Europe put the U.S. behind the proverbial 8-ball that felt like a boulder. The Los Angeles Kings GM has seen his team come back from a 3-0 playoff deficit but described the locker room after losing to Europe as tight, and the U.S. was never able to adequately respond.We needed to do a better job than what we did, but theres a lot of good players in that room, captain Joe Pavelski said. We kind of beat ourselves a little bit.Getting almost skated out of the rink by Canada wasnt entirely unexpected, but players acknowledged their recipe to move on was to beat Europe and the Czech Republic. They didnt do either, and USA Hockey faces plenty of questions about how it will bounce back for the 2018 Olympics, if NHL players participate.Tortorella said he had a few ideas about changes that could be made but preferred to keep those to himself. He doesnt want USA Hockey to overreact despite a lackluster showing on a big stage.Weve just got to slow ourselves down and dissect whats happened, he said. It certainly isnt good. But not to the extent as far as the chatter all around us. I think weve got to block out the noise, re-assess where we went and see what we can do to get us better as an organization.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 Sverige . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Nike Vapormax Plus Sverige . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). http://www.airvapormaxsverige.com/air-max-tn-rea.html . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Nike Zoom Fly Herr .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Nike Zoom Fly Dam . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Wide receiver Andre Johnson has told the Tennessee Titans he is retiring after 14 seasons, the team announced Monday.Going back to his days at the University of Miami, Andre was one of the most impressive wide receivers Ive scouted, Titans general manager Jon Robinson said in a statement. He had a professional approach to the game both on and off the field and in my opinion is one of the best to have played the game. I enjoyed getting to know and work with him in his time with our team.A seven-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans, Johnson had been a backup on the Titans depth chart this season. He had nine receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in 2016 but hadnt made a catch since Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins.Johnson made his legacy in Houston, where he is by far the franchise leader in receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns.The 35-year-old steps away 10th in the NFL in career receiving yards (14,185) and ninth in career receptions (1,062).Texans owner Bob McNair told the Houston Chronicle that he would love to see Johnson in the Hall of Fame.That would be terrific. I think he deserves to be there, McNair said. Itd be a reflection on what we have done with our franchise in that weve produced a player who was of that quaality.ddddddddddddTexans linebacker Brian Cushing said Monday he was shocked to hear that his former teammate was retiring.Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, when asked whether in his mind Johnson is a Hall of Famer, said: In everybodys mind, not just mine.Hopkins, who now is one of the NFLs top receivers, remembered Johnson mentoring him in his first few seasons.It was very big to have a guy of his status and who has played a lot of football to teach me a lot of things about the game of football and about life in general. He basically groomed me my first couple years I was here, he said.Running back Arian Foster, Johnsons longtime teammate in Houston, also announced his retirement last week.Johnson led the NFL in receptions in 2006 (103 catches) and 2008 (115). He topped the league with 1,575 receiving yards in 2008 and 1,569 yards in 2009, two of his seven seasons with more than 1,000 yards.He bounced around the AFC South after being released by the Texans after the 2014 season. He played one season for the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 and joined the Titans this offseason.ESPNs Sarah Barshop contributed to this report. ' ' '