Two Canadian snowboarders who were critical of Shaun Whites decision to pull out of the Olympic slopestyle competition were among eight riders who qualified Thursday for the events final. Max Parrot posted the days best score, a 97.50 in his second run. Sebastien Toutant also made it through to Saturdays final as the Sochi Olympics opened with one of the new events debuting at the games. White, the American star known for his daring halfpipe tricks, withdrew from the event on Wednesday, saying he wanted to concentrate on winning his third straight gold medal in the halfpipe. He hurt his wrist during a training run on Tuesday but initially indicated he would not miss the event. His decision to withdraw was mocked by Parrot and Toutant on social media. In a since-deleted tweet, Parrot said he thought White was "scared" to compete and "knows he wont be able to win the slopes." "I just think me and Seb said something all the other riders would have loved to tell, but maybe are scared to tell," Parrot told TSN on Thursday. "He choked a couple contests this year with not really good reasons. With him here he has the potential to be...Why choke on it for nothing?" Toutant tweeted, "Its easy to find excuses to pull out of a contest when you think you cant win." Toutant also deleted his message, but clarified his stance after his runs on Thursday. "I think its sad for all Americans who trained hard for that spot," he added. "Cant replace him - pretty sad. If you think its too dangerous, go do something else." The slopestyle course drew criticism as being potentially dangerous and was modified after Norways Torstein Horgmo broke his collarbone on Monday. The event, making its Olympic debut, features riders doing tricks over rails and jumps, like skateboarders in a city park only down a snow-covered trail. Parrots first run was smooth, but for a dragged hand at the end of one of his jumps, and drew a score of 91.75. The reigning Winter X Games gold medalist was better on his second run, which had few obvious flaws. Toutant scored a 74.25 on his first run and qualified through his second with a score of 87.25. Canadian Mark McMorris, a two-time X Games gold medalist, fell on his first run and will have to qualify through the semifinals. McMorris, who suffered a broken rib at the X Games last month, pulled off a triple-cork on his second run but earned an 89.25, not among the four best riders in his heat. Americans Sage Kotsenburg, Ryan Stassel and Charles Guldemond will also have to try to qualify through the semifinals, which are Saturday. Moving directly to the final with Parrot and Toutant were Norways Staale Sandbech and Gjermund Braaten, Finlands Peetu Piiroinen and Roope Tonteri, Great Britains Jamie Nicholls and Swedens Sven Thorgren. Mitch Moreland Red Sox Jersey . New York secured second place in the Metropolitan Division when the Philadelphia Flyers lost at Tampa Bay later Thursday. The Rangers will face either the Flyers or Columbus in the opening round of the post-season. The Rangers struggled throughout against the lowly Sabres and goalie Matt Hackett, who played in just his seventh NHL game of the season. Ted Williams Jersey . Both the top-seeded Djokovic and sixth-seeded Fish took relatively easy paths, with the Serb winning when opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired in the second set with a sore arm and Fish dominating Janko Tipsarevic in two quick sets. https://www.cheapredsox.com/711z-nomar-garciaparra-jersey-red-sox.html . The day began ominously for the Rangers when star pitcher Yu Darvish was scratched from his scheduled start with stiffness in his neck. Fill-in Scott Baker gave up three hits over six innings and Chris Gimenez hit a tiebreaking two-out RBI single in the sixth off Phil Hughes. Rafael Devers Red Sox Jersey . The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt. David Price Jersey . Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets. Kupchak had one year left on his current contract.VANCOUVER - Anxiety filled the room as members of the Canadian womens soccer team gathered to watch the World Cup draw on TV.All that unease was washed away as soon as they were matched against a familiar opponent.Players clapped and cheered Saturday when Canada was drawn into a group that includes New Zealand, a country that head coach John Herdman led to the last two World Cups before assuming his current post.It just adds that little bit of bite to the game, said midfielder Sophie Schmidt. Theres so much more pressure associated with it. I think for John it will be that extra challenge. It drives us to want to perform because it means so much to him.Its nice to have that added little bonus backstory.The players burst into laughter when cameras immediately panned to Herdman, who was in attendance for the draw in Gatineau, Que.I think its exiting for everyone, not only John, said midfielder Kaylyn Kyle. Were just really looking forward to it.Canada will meet New Zealand on June 11 in Edmonton after opening the tournament versus China in the Alberta capital five days earlier. Canadas other group game is against the Netherlands on June 15 in Montreal.Herdman said his only regret was that Canada and New Zealand wont meet in the first game of the tournament.Theres only two groups of women Ive coached in my career and its that New Zealand team and that Canadian team, said the Englishman. New Zealand, I know those players, I know that team, Ive watched them evolve.Their teams peaking in their average age. Theyre actually at their peak now, so if any tournament theyre going to be successful it will be this one — but not at our expense.Herdman has been in charge of Canada since 2011 following a miserable performance at the World Cup, and led the team to a memorable bronze-medal finish at the London Olympics just a year later.ddddddddddddNew Zealand head coach Tony Readings knows Herdman from their time together with that countrys national program and said they shared a chuckle about the draw.We spoke about it before, said Readings, who was also in Gatineau. We said it was meant to be that we would play against each other in the group. He said, I told you so. Were looking forward to it. It will be a great game.I know him well. I know some of his tactics. Im sure I dont know them all, but he doesnt know all of ours.Canada is currently ranked eighth in the world, followed by China (No. 14), the Netherlands (No. 15) and New Zealand (No. 19).While there was a lot of talk about the game against Herdmans old team, Canadian defender Rhian Wilkinson said the focus has to be on all three matches in Group A.I think it will be a bit of an emotional game for (Herdman), she said. For us its just the second team well be playing.Added Kyle: There will be just as much prep for the New Zealand game as there will be for China and the Netherlands.For the Canadian players, Saturdays draw came as somewhat of a relief, as well as another big step towards a tournament that is now only six months away.Im just excited to have it done with. Its exciting to know who we have now, said Wilkinson. Weve talked about Canada 2015. Weve talked about this tournament coming and now all of a sudden its right around the corner and this draw is really what cements it.Its game on.———Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter. ' ' '