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DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings have been playing better at home lately Authentic Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jersey , and they host the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday.

Detroit has struggled on home ice the past two seasons but has won three in a row at home for the first time since last Jan. 14-18. The most recent triumph was a 4-1 decision over the Pittsburgh Penguins on New Year’s Eve.

Right winger Gustav Nyquist scored twice against the Penguins, including the 100th of his career.

“It was nice to see the crowd get into it,” Nyquist said after the game. “That just helps us Adidas Evgenii Dadonov Jersey , it’s just a positive when the crowd gets loud and gives us energy. They were great tonight.”

The Red Wings are 15-16-7 and currently out of the playoff picture.

Coach Jeff Blashill thinks his team has deserved better.

“On a night by night basis, we’ve either been even or out-chanced our opponents. That generally translates into more wins than what we’ve had,” Blashill told the Detroit Free Press Tuesday after practice. “I see us playing the type of hockey that I know we are going to have to play to be successful Authentic Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey , and that’s managing the puck better, being a better forecheck team, being willing to put pucks behind people

“We still have to go out and win games. I think we are in a spot where we can continue to build as a team and in doing so Cordy Glenn Jersey Elite , continue to win more games.”

Defenseman Mike Green says Detroit’s transition game has improved.

“Moving the puck out of our zone has really improved,” he said. “And then we’ve really focused on our forecheck lately and it’s been working.”

Ottawa (12-17-8) are even farther out of the playoff race than Detroit. It is 12 back of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot and 16 behind third-place Toronto in Atlantic Division.

The Senators lost 5-0 at home to the Boston Bruins on Saturday for their fourth loss in five games for a final December record of 4-14-3.

“It starts at the top. Our best players haven’t been our best players and it’s a trickle-down effect,” Ottawa winger Mark Stone said on Sportsnet.ca. “Guys see top players cheat and they do too.”

Stone has been one of the Senators’ few bright spots this season. He has 15 goals and a team-leading 34 points and has emerged as a team leader after being named an alternate captain at the beginning of the season.

“He’s one of those guys that leadership just comes naturally Sylvester Williams Jersey Elite ,” Ottawa right winger Bobby Ryan said about Stone. “It’s not always about what you say, whether it be media or in the room or anything like that, it’s just about your actions and in (Mark) you have a guy that recognizes that if you’re going to lead by example.”

Craig Anderson is expected to get the start in goal for Ottawa on Wednesday night.

Red Wings right winger Anthony Mantha is expected to return to the lineup against the Senators after missing two games with a groin injury. Detroit captain and center Henrik Zetterberg didn’t practice on Tuesday but Blashill said it was just a maintenance day and said Zetterberg would play Wednesday.

ALAMEDA Adidas Tuukka Rask Jersey , Calif. (AP) Amari Cooper has spent most of this season answering questions about why he hasn’t been catching more passes after becoming the ninth receiver to top 1,000 yards in each of his first two years with the Oakland Raiders.

Instead of gloating after coming off the best game of his career with 11 catches for 210 yards last week against Kansas City, Cooper maintained the same even-keeled persona.

”I just play, man Wholesale Keke Coutee Jersey ,” Cooper said Wednesday. ”You try to play good every week. If it doesn’t happen I just move on. If I do play good, I just move on.”

While Cooper maintained that the lack of production after recording just nine catches for 51 yards during a four-game losing streak didn’t leave him frustrated, it must have come as some sort of relief for the Raiders (3-4) when he finally broke out in the 31-30 win over the Chiefs last Thursday night that might have saved Oakland’s season.

Cooper caught a 38-yard TD pass off a flea-flicker to cap Oakland’s opening drive. He added a 45-yarder for a touchdown later in the first when he caught a pass in the secondary and outraced the defenders to the end zone, becoming the first Raiders player with two TD catches in the first quarter since Mervyn Fernandez in 1989.

He didn’t slow down from there Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey , adding a key 39-yard catch to get the Raiders out of a hole on their game-winning drive as he ended up with the second-most receiving yards in a game in Raiders history and won the AFC Player of the Week award.

”He got back to being himself,” coach Jack Del Rio said. ”I thought we did a good job of getting him incorporated, which I’d like to see continue.”

The Raiders did that in part by moving Cooper around the formation more than usual. He spent much of the game in the slot, where he lined up on six of his catches – more than double his previous high in one game from the slot.

That helped keep Cooper away from Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters and helped dictate some favorable matchups for quarterback Derek Carr to exploit. Carr ended up targeting Cooper 19 times for the game.

”It’s just helped us when we move him inside Authentic Kerry Wood Jersey ,” Carr said. ”He can do certain things and then when we move him back outside, you see the structure looks different. How do they want to play him, whether they’re funneling him. What do they want to do? Just playing that game with him really helps our offense.”

Carr said the Raiders are able to do that because of Cooper’s intelligence and study habits. Carr compared Cooper’s ability to know all the different receiving positions inside and out to LeBron James’ ability to move from forward to point guard on the basketball court.

Cooper called that comparison a bit of ”hyperbole,” but acknowledged the advantages he gains from moving around.

”The benefit I see is you go up against different players throughout the game Authentic Jorge Posada Jersey ,” he said. ”If you’re constantly on one side, then you keep going against the same player. A smart player will learn your moves. If you’re going against all three guys you can use the same moves because the guys haven’t seen it yet.”

NOTES: The Raiders signed RB Elijah Hood to the active roster to take the place of the suspended Marshawn Lynch. … Oakland signed DL Jhaustin Thomas to the practice squad. … CB David Amerson, who left last week’s game with a foot injury, was not at practice. CB Gareon Conley remains sidelined by a shin injury. … Marshall Newhouse (foot) was back at practice after missing the game last week.

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THOUSAND OAKS Mark Andrews Jersey Elite , Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay expects to have linebacker Alec Ogletree available against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday after he left a game against Arizona with a hyperextended left elbow.

Ogletree was pulled in the first half of a 32-16 win over the Cardinals. The injury could limit Ogletree, who had a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown before leaving.

”I think we all know the type of competitor that Alec is and he’s going to do everything in his power to be ready to go,” McVay said Monday. ”He was in good spirits today, and I think he personally bumped up the treatment time for tomorrow morning. It was positive news.”

The Rams will need him in a game that could decide which team ends up with a first-round bye in the NFC.

After beating NFC South-leading New Orleans in their last home game, the Rams (9-3) can claim another crucial head-to-head tiebreaker with a win against the Eagles (10-2). Los Angeles clinched its first winning season since 2003 against Arizona Wholesale Josey Jewell Jersey , while the Eagles lost 24-10 at Seattle to start their two-game West Coast trip.

Bryce Hager, a third-year linebacker from Baylor, would be in line to start if Ogletree could not play. Hager had one tackle in relief of Ogletree, which came on the last play of the game. Cory Littleton, in his second season out of Washington Kalen Ballage Jersey Elite , could also be in line for more playing time.

Not having Ogletree would be a serious blow against the Eagles’ balanced offense, which has impressed McVay as he has watched them during the season. McVay was even able to see the Eagles-Seahawks game live while on the team’s charter flight back to Los Angeles and was struck by quarterback Carson Wentz.

The same could be said of Rams running back Todd Gurley, who had 74 yards rushing and 84 yards receiving against the Cardinals. Gurley had two carries for 20 yards and a 23-yard catch late in the first half to set up a field goal and reclaim momentum after Arizona had cut Los Angeles’ lead to 16-13, and receptions by Gurley from Jared Goff represented three of the Rams’ six longest plays.

”You look at it, when we really needed a big play Wholesale Alex Cappa Jersey , he had a couple of huge screen plays,” McVay said. ”When Todd’s having a good day usually that’s going to be good for our whole offense and for our team.”

McVay has featured Gurley’s ability to make defenders miss in the open field extensively in the passing game, with career-highs in catches (48), receiving yards (563), yards per catch (11.7) and touchdown receptions (3).

”I think one of the things I heard coach (Mike) Shanahan say when I worked with him in Washington: `Usually if you have to tell a runner how to run you probably have the wrong guy.’ I bet you when Todd was playing pee-wee football he just kind of knew how to work edges on people naturally Pernell McPhee Super Bowl LI Jersey ,” McVay said after joking that he and running backs coach Skip Peete deserve all the credit for Gurley’s elusiveness.

Getting Gurley into open space isn’t the only thing McVay is preparing for this week. After Eagles fans staged a takeover of StubHub Center for Philadelphia’s 26-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, McVay will have contingencies in place if the Rams need to use a silent count to deal with crowd noise.

With playoff positioning potentially on the line, every detail counts.

”When you look at the stakes because of the way that we have played and the way they have played as these games get further on into the season they mean a little bit more because of the implications,” McVay said.

NOTES: Outside linebacker Connor Barwin (forearm) will likely miss his second straight game. … McCay said he would have an update of the availability of wide receiver Robert Woods (shoulder) on Wednesday. Woods has missed the last two games.

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SEATTLE (AP) Doug Baldwin spent the week preparing for the inevitable reality Su'a Cravens Super Bowl LI Jersey , knowing that even with a victory it was going to be difficult for the Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

”For it to end this way is really just disappointing,” Baldwin said. ”Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for all the years we have played in the playoffs, for getting nine wins. But there is more out there. There is definitely more out there for us.”

Seattle will have an entire offseason to lament its issues after Sunday’s 26-24 loss to Arizona to finish the 2017 season.

The Seahawks started the day needing help for the first time in Pete Carroll’s tenure if they were going to make the playoffs. Seattle (9-7) needed to beat the Cardinals and get a Carolina victory over Atlanta to earn a wild-card berth.

Neither fell in Seattle’s favor. The Falcons beat the Panthers moments after Phil Dawson gave the Cardinals the lead with his fourth field goal.

Even with the playoff hopes dashed, Seattle had one more chance to still finish with at least 10 wins for the sixth straight season.

Russell Wilson led one final drive with key completions to Baldwin and Jimmy Graham along the way. But Blair Walsh’s 48-yard attempt with 32 seconds remaining missed wide right Armani Watts Jersey Elite , his eighth missed kick this season.

The way the finale played out and Walsh’s missed kick was a microcosm of Seattle’s season. Early struggles, followed by a second-half rally and ultimately too much inconsistency and too many missed opportunities that left the Seahawks on the outside of the playoffs.

”The slow starts, the getting in our own way, making it hard on us at times when it wasn’t about the opponent, it was about us Vita Vea Super Bowl LI Jersey ,” Carroll said. ”There is a lot of stuff that kind of showed up again today.”

Seattle went 4-4 at home, three times losing games because Walsh’s kicks were inaccurate. The losses weren’t entirely his responsibility but losses to Washington, Atlanta and Arizona were partly due to Walsh missing kicks.

”I had some big games and some moments where I came up short. So it’s a tough year, it’s a weird year,” Walsh said.

Then again Adrian Clayborn Jersey Elite , if Seattle didn’t have another awful first half on Sunday, it wouldn’t have come down to Walsh. Seattle was flat from the start with only Tyler Lockett’s 99-yard kickoff return touchdown keeping them close in the first half.

At one point of the second quarter, the Cardinals were outgaining Seattle 140-0 and had an 11-0 edge on first downs.

Russell Wilson was tentative with his throws, pressured too often by Arizona’s defensive front and Seattle’s run game was again absent. The result was a 20-7 halftime deficit which could have been worse.

And as was the case most of the season, Wilson woke up in the second half. He threw a pair of touchdowns to Baldwin Authentic Chipper Jones Jersey , including a great 29-yard TD catch early in the fourth quarter to give Seattle a 26-24 lead. But a trio of personal fouls in the second half ended up being significant.

Thomas Rawls was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and knocked Seattle out of field-goal range. Frank Clark and Bobby Wagner both picked up personal fouls for hitting Drew Stanton late. The foul on Wagner kept alive Arizona’s final drive that led to Dawson’s final field goal that proved to be the winner.

”We expected more out of ourselves, but that’s just the way it rolls,” defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said.

The Seahawks are likely facing their most extensive overhaul of Carroll’s tenure. They’ve gotten old and expensive in certain positions and trades for Richardson and Duane Brown in an attempt to win this season have left Seattle void of some key draft picks.

Both Earl Thomas and Michael Bennett questioned whether they’d be back next season. Seattle has injury concerns with Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril, who all had major season-ending injuries.

”I have no clue Adidas Jaden Schwartz Jersey , I have no clue. I know for sure that I’m going to win in the end, regardless,” Thomas said.

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As you enter the new fantasy football season Authentic Larry Doby Jersey , you would be well-advised to take a gander at your competition. It would be helpful for you to understand those who seek the league title that you surely covet. Of course, those of you playing in casual free league might not feel compelled to go overboard with your analysis, but playing against managers with high levels of success warrants your attention. By taking the time to assess your situation, you will better understand the effort it is going to take to claim the title or at least some level of respectability. For you money league managers, this is an imperative.

Rules for Managing to Win

For the inexperienced and novice managers out there Will Dissly Super Bowl LI Jersey , these simple rules are designed to enlighten you to things the experienced players have already learned. For those of you who believe you have it all under control, let this information serve as a friendly reminder.

Rule #1 - Manage Your Team - Year after year and league after league, the managers who consistently make the playoffs have one thing in common; They take the time to manage the their team on a weekly basis. They always seem to have the best players on their active roster and they never miss a chance to raid the waiver wire for the up-and-comers. Awareness is they key because a player listed as doubtful after sustaining an injury on Friday has tripped up more playoff hopes than you can imagine when the manager missed the opportunity to adjust their roster.

Rule #2 - Stats are King - Have you ever wondered why your opponent was astute enough to sit his number one quarterback in favor of number two? The answer is he probably took the time to find out his number one was playing against the best passing defense in the league. If that same team's offense has a great running game to boot, old number one is not going to get the number of opportunities needed to maximize scoring. All that astute manager did was use facts to make a decision that more times than not, works out to their benefit. If you play in money leagues Keke Coutee Super Bowl LI Jersey , you are competing against sharpies who use all the tricks. Review your stats and match-ups and don't select your players based on emotion or loyalty.

Rule #3 - The Waiver Wire in a Sanctuary for Winners - By week four if not sooner, the injuries will start piling up and the underachievers will be exposed. For every issue, there is a possible solution on the waiver wire that might end up being a diamond in the rough. You should keep a particular eye on #2 and #3 running backs on every roster. The casualty rate for RBs in the NFL sits at about 35%-40% every year. Remember, every opportunity you miss is one you opponent might claim.

Rule #4 - Set Aside Personal Biases - You might be fiercely loyal to a particular team or certain players. That said, fantasy football is not personal Authentic Tyler Naquin Jersey , it's a game. Don't get in the habit of loading your team with players you love if the facts don't support your action. Also, you have to be prepared to bench under-performers who stand to put you at a disadvantage every week you include them on your roster. This might come as a shock, but no one except the managers in your league will know you benched your favorite player.

Rule #5 - Get Help When Appropriate - There is plenty of free advice related to fantasy football on the Internet. Much of this advice comes from guys who do the statistical work and don't mind sharing their efforts with strangers in need. If you are playing in a serious money league, it might even be worth the investment to pay a small fee for weekly advice. You don't have to know everything. You will improve your management skills if you learn from the advice you get free or otherwise.

Rule #6 - Always Play to Win - Everyone has been caught in leagues where managers wave the white flag and stop managing their teams once they feel they are out of the playoff race. Don't be one of those guys. You be the guy who finished last, but cost someone a playoff spot the last week of the season by beating someone Wholesale Mike McGlinchey Jersey , not by letting someone beat you. It's called losing with dignity.

Hopefully, this advice will set you free to become the best fantasy football manager you can be. Experience is a great teacher and the one thing you must learn now is fantasy football is a game and it should be played for enjoyment, even in money leagues.

Article Tags: Fantasy Football, Waiver Wire

SANTA CLARA Adidas Marc-Andre Fleury Jersey , Calif. (AP) After beginning the season as an afterthought in New Orleans, Adrian Peterson showed he still has what it takes to be a workhorse just when Arizona needed it most.

Peterson carried a career-high 37 times for 159 yards to take pressure off backup quarterback Drew Stanton and lead the Cardinals to a 20-10 victory over the winless San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

”That’s the mindset I’ve always had since I came into the league,” Peterson said. ”I’m going to wear those guys down and see if they can do it for four quarters. That’s something they have to question themselves when it comes to the fourth quarter and I’m still coming in there.”

Peterson had 10 more carries in his third game with the Cardinals (4-4) than he had his first four weeks combined with the Saints. He posted the most carries ever for a player in his 30s and topped the 100-yard mark for the second time since being acquired in a trade last month.

”That’s why they call him All Day, AD Marquez Valdes-Scantling Super Bowl LI Jersey , because he can tote it all day,” Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. ”We’re very fortunate to have a back with his experience and his explosiveness in our backfield.”

Peterson’s tough running and Stanton’s pair of first-half touchdown passes were enough to help Arizona bounce back from a 33-0 loss to the Rams before last week’s bye.

The undermanned 49ers (0-9) extended the worst start in franchise history and have lost 23 of the past 24 games overall. Newly acquired quarterback of the future Jimmy Garoppolo was mostly a spectator as rookie C.J. Beathard got battered once again behind a patchwork line missing injured left tackle Joe Staley.

Beathard went 24 for 51 for 294 yards and an interception and also ran for a touchdown. He was also sacked five times and hit 16 times overall, but still managed to stay in the game and not force the 49ers to use Garoppolo just days after he was acquired for a second-round pick from New England.

”I’m not afraid of getting hit. That won’t affect me,” Beathard said. ”Never has. I’m tough and I’ve been able to take things. Obviously Authentic B.J. Hill Jersey , if I’m injured, I’m not going to force myself in there. But as of now, I haven’t been injured.”

Stanton, making his first start this season in place of the injured Carson Palmer Authentic Derrick Nnadi Jersey , went 15 for 30 for 201 yards with TD passes to Jaron Brown and Jermaine Gresham . He also was intercepted once.

FIGHT NIGHT

Arizona’s Frostee Rucker and Hasson Reddick, and San Francisco’s Carlos Hyde all were ejected for fighting in the fourth quarter. The teams got into a skirmish after former 49ers safety Antoine Bethea hit Beathard late as he was sliding following a run. The 49ers took exception to the hit and players from both teams started scuffling.

SPEED DEMON

Niners receiver Marquise Goodwin showed off his speed a few times in the first half. He got behind the Arizona secondary on multiple occasions and caught one deep ball for 55 yards from Beathard to set up a field goal by Robbie Gould. Goodwin also chased Patrick Peterson down from behind at the 6 on a return after Kyle Juszczyk lost a fumble to prevent a touchdown. Stanton ended up getting the TD anyway on a 3-yard pass to Jaron Brown that opened the scoring.

MILESTONE WATCH

Peterson reached the 12,000-yard rushing mark for his career in the second quarter. Peterson got the milestone in his 130th career game, fourth fastest in NFL history. Only Hall of Famers Jim Brown (115) Adidas Corey Perry Jersey , Eric Dickerson (118) and Barry Sanders (125) got there faster. Peterson also moved into 15th place on the career rushing list with 12,142 yards, jumping ahead of Thurman Thomas.

Fitzgerald also moved past Tim Brown into sixth place on the all-time list for yards receiving with 14,953 yards.

Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter Mike McGlinchey Jersey Elite , becoming the fifth player with at least 40 sacks and 20 INTs in a career.

MISSED CHANCES

The Cardinals led 14-3 at halftime and it could have been much more, except Phil Dawson missed a 38-yard field goal on the opening drive and Stanton was intercepted in the end zone by Eric Reid in the second quarter.

INJURIES

The 49ers lost safety Jaquiski Tartt to a broken arm that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season. Juszczyk (neck), WR Trent Taylor (rib) and LB Elijah Lee (knee) also left with injuries.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Host Seattle on Thursday night.

49ers: Host New York Giants on Sunday.

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FOXBOROUGH Authentic Lance McCullers Jersey , Mass. (AP) Marcus Mariota threw for a touchdown to give the Tennessee Titans an early lead, and had another TD pass that was the final score of the game.

In between, he spent a lot of time trying to limp away from the New England Patriots rush.

One week after leading the Titans to victory in his first career playoff game, Mariota took his first postseason loss – and took it hard – absorbing eight sacks while the Patriots scored five touchdowns in a row on their way to a 35-14 victory in the AFC divisional round Saturday night.

”Man, embarrassed Authentic Ted Williams Jersey ,” said Mariota, who sustained what coach Mike Mularkey said was a strained quadriceps muscle in the first quarter and went 44 minutes between scores.

”It felt like the momentum was on our side” after a 15-yard pass to Corey Davis gave the Titans a 7-0 lead, Mariota said. ”They’re a team that’s been here before, and they didn’t blink an eye. They just stuck to their game plan and it worked out for them.”

Just two seasons after going 3-13 when Mariota was a rookie, the Titans (10-8) reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Last week Lorenzo Carter Jersey Elite , they earned their first postseason victory in 14 years , rallying from a 21-3 halftime deficit to beat Kansas City in the wild-card round.

Against the defending Super Bowl champions, the two-touchdown underdogs jumped out to a surprising early lead but still trailed 21-7 at the half.

”We saw what happened last week in Kansas City, when Kansas City had a lead at the half similar to the one that we had,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. ”Our guys did a real good job of kind of keeping their foot on the gas and keep pressing it.”

Mularkey said Mariota’s leg prevented him from scrambling away from the New England rush. The Patriots sacked him four times in the third quarter – including back-to-back plays that left Tennessee with a third-and-31 from their own 2 – and three more in the fourth.

”They did a good job with the line game Adidas Justin Faulk Jersey ,” Mularkey said. ”Marcus was hampered. Tough to get away.”

Mariota completed 22 of 37 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the game, both of them to Davis. He also ran four times for 37 yards.

But Tom Brady was even better in leading New England to its seventh consecutive AFC championship game, completing 35 of 53 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Danny Amendola caught 11 passes for 112 yards, Rob Gronkowski had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown and James White scored twice, once running and one receiving.

The Patriots will host the AFC title game on Jan. 21 against the winner of Sunday’s game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be Brady’s 12th appearance in the conference championship.

”Obviously Wholesale Donte Jackson Jersey , this is the blueprint,” Mariota said. ”New England has been in the playoffs consistently. They’ve won a bunch of championships and we can learn a lot from this, and I think we will.”

The Titans also committed 10 penalties in the game after a season in which they had the second-fewest in the NFL. One of the calls was for an offside that allowed the Patriots to avoid punting from their own end zone; they went on to score and extend the lead to 21-7.

”You can’t make those mistakes against a really good team that’s waiting for you to do it,” said Mularkey, whose job was reportedly in jeopardy even after reaching the playoffs.

”They didn’t make a lot of mistakes. That’s why they’ve been successful all these years. You can’t go and beat yourselves Adidas Jaromir Jagr Jersey ,” he said. ”I’d like to see us play a complete game. … We didn’t.”

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CALGARY Authentic Mike Scott Jersey , Alberta (AP) It had been so long for Byron Froese that he wasn’t sure how to celebrate.

Froese scored for the first time in 22 months and had an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Friday night.

”It feels really good,” the 26-year-old Froese said. ”From the celebration, you could see Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey , I couldn’t think about anything else but to raise my hands.”

Nicolas Deslauriers and Brendan Gallagher also scored and Carey Price made 21 saves in his 12th straight start since returning from a lower-body injury. The Canadiens are 8-3-1 since Price returned.

Froese opened the scoring midway through the first period when he deflected Jordie Benn’s point shot past Mike Smith for his first goal since Feb. 20, 2016, when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Froese then assisted on Deslauriers’ goal in the second.

The line of Froese Authentic Craig Biggio Jersey , Daniel Carr and Deslauriers make up three of Montreal’s top four scorers for December with 23 combined points.

”You can’t call them a fourth line anymore because they’re not playing like one,” Montreal coach Claude Julien said. ”They’ve been doing that for a while. They just play the right way. They’re extremely solid and strong along the walls in both ends.”

Froese has one goal and six assists in eight December games. He had just two goals and five points through his first 72 NHL games.

”Once we had that little bit of success that first game with Carr and (Deslauriers), you grip the stick a little bit looser and feel more confident and more comfortable Authentic Randy Johnson Jersey ,” Froese said.

Gallagher gave the Canadiens a 3-0 lead in the third, before the Flames made it close on goals by Micheal Ferland and Matthew Tkachuk.

”There’s no system for outworked,” Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. ”We’ve put together a good string of games Authentic Greg Maddux Jersey , but the one that irks you the most is the ones when you get out-battled and that’s tonight and I’m not happy.”

NOTES: Smith made 32 saves for Calgary. … Montreal D Shea Weber (foot) returned after missing one game.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: At Edmonton on Saturday night.

Flames: At San Jose on Thursday night.

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For more NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

LAKE FOREST Authentic Nomar Garciaparra Jersey , Ill. (AP) As the interview unfolded, Matt Nagy could sense the Chicago Bears were a fit for him.

He saw a franchise poised to make a big jump, sensed a connection with general manager Ryan Pace.

”I’m here because of the organization and the direction,” Nagy, the Bears’ new coach, said. ”I could feel that from the moment I was in that interview process.”

Getting to work with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is ”a benefit.”

The Bears introduced Nagy on Tuesday, a day after he was hired as the team’s 16th head coach to replace the fired John Fox and help a charter NFL franchise emerge from one of its worst runs.

He takes over a team that missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season and hasn’t finished above .500 since Lovie Smith got fired after going 10-6 in 2012. The Bears are on their third head coach since then, with Nagy trying to do what Marc Trestman and Fox could not.

Both got fired with losing records, Fox’s 14-34 mark over three seasons giving him the second-worst winning percentage in team history. Chicago went 5-11 this past season on the way to its fourth straight last-place finish in the NFC North.

A day after his first season as the Chiefs’ sole offensive coordinator ended with a playoff collapse against Tennessee Authentic Jeff Bagwell Jersey , Nagy spent 4+ hours interviewing with Pace, president Ted Phillips and chairman George McCaskey at a hotel on Kansas City’s Plaza on Sunday morning. He and Pace, along with their wives, also had dinner that night.

In between, he met with the Colts and returned to the Chiefs’ practice facility for exit interviews.

”When I went into this interview in that room it felt… it’s a special feeling,” Nagy said.

”(Pace and I) walked out, we just had a conversation among the two of us and you just kind of knew that this could be really good. Again, I’m going to be right there by his hip.”

There are some big holes on offense, particularly at wide receiver.

But the Bears have two solid running backs in Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey , not to mention a quarterback they drafted with the No. 2 overall pick after trading up a spot with San Francisco to grab him.

”This is about more than the quarterback,” Pace said. ”Yes, that’s the most important position on our team, but this is about 53 players and it’s about leading a group of men and it’s about winning in all three phases.”

A former quarterback at Delaware who played in the Arena Football League, the 39-year-old Nagy spent the past 10 years working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Though he didn’t start calling plays until late in the season, he has drawn praise for his work with Alex Smith.

Nagy has also come a long way, from working in real estate while serving as a coaching intern with the Eagles during training camp in 2008 and 2009. Reid hired him as a coaching assistant during the 2010 season, and he’s continued to work his way up.

That wasn’t lost on Pace. Nor was this: Nagy didn’t shy away from what happened against Tennessee on Saturday.

He owned up to it during his interview with the Bears the next day.

”He owned it,” Pace said.

On Tuesday Authentic Steven Wright Jersey , Nagy said he called ”every single” play – not Reid – when the Chiefs got blanked in the second half and blew an 18-point lead.

”For me, that was a failure in my book,” Nagy said. ”But I’ll grow from it, and I’ll learn from it, I promise you that, and I’ll use it as a strength here for me with the Chicago Bears.”

Nagy said he will call plays on offense in Chicago. He also said he’s not sure if defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will stay or if the Bears will continue to run a 3-4 defense.

Fangio interviewed for the head coaching job, as did Philadelphia quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, offensive coordinators Pat Shurmur (Minnesota) and Josh McDaniels (New England) and Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards.

That the Bears hired an offensive coach was hardly surprising given how much they have riding on their quarterback’s development.

Pace had said they were considering involving Trubisky in the search, but he was not in the interview with Nagy.

The two are Authentic Yuli Gurriel Jersey , however, familiar with each other. Kansas City interviewed Trubisky at the combine and had him visit prior to the draft.

”I had an opinion of Mitch (at the combine) where he was kind of introverted and I felt scripted, which 95 percent of the guys are in that atmosphere,” Nagy said.

”But we went ahead and took several quarterbacks that we were interested in and brought them in and basically had them for six or seven hours and let their personalities show, let them be who they are just in front of us. After six hours of being with Mitch, it was unbelievable.”

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WINNIPEG Authentic Hanley Ramirez Jersey , Manitoba (AP) Connor Hellebuyck gave his teammates all the credit for helping look good as he picked up his latest shutout.

Hellebuyck made 25 saves for his fifth shutout of the season and the 11th of his career as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Saturday night.

”They’re bringing it every night and you can tell,” Hellebuyck said. ”Guys are getting a little banged up, that means they’re blocking shots and doing the right things. My hat is off to my teammates.”

Patrik Laine scored his team-leading 24th goal, rookie Jack Roslovic was credited with his second and Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-netter for the Jets Authentic Cody Allen Jersey , who improved to 5-0-2 in their last seven. Blake Wheeler had two assists.

Semyon Varlamov had 29 saves for Colorado in his return after missing 10 games with an injury and then backing up Jonathan Bernier in the overtime win at Edmonton on Thursday night.

”It was great to see him back in the net and he was our best player tonight,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.

Winnipeg led 1-0 after the first period and kept that edge until Wheeler’s shot bounced off Roslovic and went up and over Varlamov into the net at 5:17 of the third.

With forward Mikko Rantanen in the penalty box for tripping, Laine scored 2:27 into the opening period on a play that’s become familiar to Winnipeg fans. Wheeler threaded a pass through defenders across the front of the net to Laine on the left and he quickly fired in his 13th power-play marker past Varlamov on his blocker side.

Rantanen later rang a shot off the post as the Avalanche had a 10-6 advantage in shots after the first. The scoreless second period featured good chances, and bad luck Authentic Jose Quintana Jersey , by both teams. The Jets had three shots hit the post, while the Avalanche had a 2-man break while short-handed when Matt Nieto and Gabriel Bourque went in alone on Hellebuyck, but Bourque’s high shot missed the net.

”I think I might have intimidated (Bourque) a little bit,” Hellebuyck said with a grin.

Nieto described Hellebuyck as a big goalie who takes up a lot of the net.

”If he sees the puck he’s going to save it Authentic Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey ,” Nieto said. ”We just had to get guys in front of him and get more second and third chances.”

Bednar said his players looked good for the first half of the game.

”I thought the final 30 minutes of the game our execution was poor,” he said. ”We were passing into skates and turning the puck over and that led to them creating a bunch of good scoring chances in the second period. Eventually they took over the game.”

The Avalanche had a power play with 4:43 left in the third when Jets center Bryan Little was called for hooking, but Hellebuyck made a couple of stops from close in and Ehlers scored into the empty net with 18 seconds left to preserve the win.

NOTES: Winnipeg lost veteran forward Matt Hendricks to an upper-body injury early in the opening period. Coach Paul Maurice said later it didn’t look significant. ”In that we lost Matt so early and you get to a shorter bench and a kind of a grinding game, we handled it pretty darn well Authentic Chris Taylor Jersey ,” Maurice said. … The Avalanche wrapped up a season-high, six-game road trip at 2-3-1.

UP NEXT

Avalanche: Host San Jose on Tuesday night.

Jets: Host Arizona on Tuesday night.