linhui95's blog

CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks will try to snap a seven-game losing streak when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night at the United Center.

Chicago (24-25-8) has been outscored 29-12 during its skid Keke Coutee Super Bowl LI Jersey , which has included six losses in regulation and one loss in overtime. The Blackhawks have fallen 12 points out of the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference with 25 games left.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews knows the situation is bleak for him and his teammates.

“There’s no words left,” Toews said to the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s about what you go out there and do.”

Anaheim (27-20-11) is in better position in the standings but wants to avoid a mini-slump from turning into a major downturn. The Ducks are winless in their last two games and have posted a meager 2-5-2 record in their past nine contests.

Each of Anaheim’s last two losses have come by one goal. On Tuesday, they fell short 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.

“We weren’t sharp with the puck and we needed to go upstairs more,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told the team’s official website. “We put pucks into his feet. The puck was bouncing away from us. You can’t play that way. Two turnovers in the game gave them goals. Those are very easily correctable.”

Whether the Blackhawks’ mistakes can be corrected remain to be seen.

“We can’t string 60 minutes together,” Tommy Wingels said to the Sun-Times. “We have tidbits here and there where we’re hard Marshall Newhouse Super Bowl LI Jersey , we’re aggressive, we’re physical, we win battles — then it lets up, and the other team gets back in the game. Certainly frustrating. It’s frustrating for us, it’s frustrating for you guys following it Richard Rodgers Jersey Elite , and it’s frustrating for everyone watching.”

A lengthy injury to top goaltender Corey Crawford has not helped the Blackhawks’ cause. Backup netminders Anton Forsberg and Jeff Glass have split time in Crawford’s place, but the team placed Glass on waivers Wednesday afternoon.

Forsberg is 5-10-3 with a 3.05 goals-against average and .907 save percentage this season. He never has faced the Ducks.

Jean-Francois Berube could return from Rockford of the AHL to fill Glass’ spot on the Blackhawks’ roster. Berube has logged only 44 minutes, 14 seconds this season with the Blackhawks, stopping 12 of 14 shots.

Anaheim will counter with John Gibson or Ryan Miller in net. Gibson is 19-15-6 with a 2.58 GAA and .922 SP in 43 games. Miller is 7-4-5, 2.69 Authentic Tre'Quan Smith Jersey , .915 in 19 contests.

Both netminders have experience facing Chicago. Gibson is 2-2-1, 2.15, .936 in six games. Miller is 5-6-0, 2.84, .912 in 12 contests.

The Blackhawks are led in scoring by Patrick Kane Adidas Mark Stone Jersey , who has 53 points (21 goals) in 57 games. Rookie sharpshooter Alex DeBrincat has equaled Kane with 21 goals, including one in each of his past two contests.

Anaheim is led by Rickard Rakell, who has 46 points (22 goals) in 53 games. Veteran Ryan Getzlaf has 35 points (seven goals) in 34 games.

This is the second of three meetings this season. Chicago won the first matchup 7-3 on Nov. 27.

Four years ago Mikaela Shiffrin had a ”crazy” dream of winning five gold medals at the 2018 Olympics. That aim is seeming less and less unrealistic.

Just after becoming the youngest ever Olympic slalom champion at the Sochi Games Adidas Anze Kopitar Jersey , the then 18-year-old Shiffrin dreamed aloud ”of the next Olympics (and) winning five gold medals.”

Right away she admitted her ambition ”sounds really crazy.”

However, less than five weeks ahead of the Pyeongchang Olympics, that number seems more obtainable than ever before.

Shiffrin probably won’t win that handful of gold medals, but mainly because she is unlikely to enter five different events in South Korea.

She will only decide on short notice which events she is going to enter at the Olympics.

Unlike at previous games, this time the technical races of GS and slalom are the first events on the women’s Alpine Olympic schedule, enabling Shiffrin to compete in her core disciplines before making up her mind on possible starts in the speed events of downhill and super-G, and the concluding combined and team events.

Developed into a potential winner of every race she competes in, and even triumphing for the first time in a downhill in December M.J. Stewart Jersey Elite , Shiffrin has been dominating the Alpine skiing World Cup for months.

Her win in a slalom in Slovenia on Sunday was her ninth of the season, and seventh out of the last eight races, boosting her career total to 40.

That number leaves her one short of the all-time record for most World Cup wins by a 22-year-old, set by Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell in the 1970s.

With the World Cup season approaching the halfway mark, Shiffrin is leading the overall standings as well as every single discipline except for super-G, the only event she hasn’t won yet.

Her season stats are even far exceeding her achievements from last year, when she became the third American female skier after Tamara McKinney and four-time champion Lindsey Vonn to win the overall title.

Though winning is not all what Shiffrin is after.

”It’s a good way to put it that I am not competing, I am just enjoying every turn that I make Authentic Johnny Townsend Jersey , to make every turn aggressive,” Shiffrin said. ”Right now I am just enjoying that so much, the skiing, that it’s even more important than the winning.”

Still, the wins keep piling up.

With 100 points for every victory, Shiffrin has racked up 1,281 World Cup points after 18 of this season’s 38 races and looks set to break the record for the most World Cup points in a single season – 2,414 by retired Slovenian great Tina Maze Authentic Dontae Johnson Jersey , a record many deemed unbreakable.

In her main event, Shiffrin is not just winning, she is crushing the field. She triumphed in the past four slaloms by margins of 1.64, 0.89, 1.59 and again 1.64 seconds – a country mile in the sport.

Having won 20 of the last 25 slaloms she entered, it’s hard to see past Shiffrin for gold at the Pyeongchang Games, even if the American doesn’t regard herself unbeatable by any means.

”Every single of the competitors can match,” she said. ”That makes me even more motivated to keep moving forward.”

While a night race in Flachau on Tuesday will be the penultimate slalom ahead of the Olympics Authentic Tracy Walker Jersey , Shiffrin will be eager to keep her momentum going in weeks to come.

After Sunday’s race, Frida Hansdotter of Sweden praised the American for ”taking the sport to another level.”

But Shiffrin, who usually refrains from keeping track of her records and statistics, said ”it doesn’t feel like it’s something crazy that’s happening.”

This time, she said, ”it’s not like dreaming. And that’s really cool.”

SUNRISE Denzel Ward Jersey Elite , Fla. (AP) Aaron Ekblad helped the Panthers get a big win and spoil former coach Gerard Gallant’s return to Florida.

Ekblad scored 40 seconds into overtime to give the Panthers a 4-3 victory over Gallant’s new team, the Vegas Golden Knights, on Friday night.

Ekblad grabbed a rebound off a shot by Aleksander Barkov in the high slot and fired it past Malcolm Subban into the net.

”One of their players batted it out (of the net) and right on my stick,” Ekblad said. ”Got lucky it sat nice and didn’t bounce over.”

Gallant, fired by the Panthers in November 2016 Jason Sanders Super Bowl LI Jersey , was hired to coach the expansion Golden Knights last April. Making his first visit back since his dismissal, Gallant got a standing ovation during a scoreboard video tribute in the first period. Gallant acknowledged the tribute with a wave of his hand.

”I don’t get too emotional,” Gallant said. ”I enjoyed my time here, we had a good run, and the fans treated me well.”

Barkov scored his league-leading fifth short-handed goal of the season and had two assists. Evgenii Dadonov and Jamie McGinn also scored and James Reimer stopped 33 shots.

”It was a good start for the second half of the season Authentic Chad Thomas Jersey ,” Barkov said. ”We got a lucky bounce right on Ekblad’s stick. He’s not going to miss from that spot.”

William Karlsson had a goal and an assist, and James Neal and David Perron also scored for Vegas. Subban finished with 22 saves.

Dadonov broke a 2-2 tie when he poked in a rebound at 3:35 of the third. Barkov’s shot from the high slot bounced off Subban’s glove out to Dadonov to the right of the crease and he pushed the puck into the net. Dadonov has three goals in the past two games.

Neal tied the score at 3 with 2:09 left in the third when he roofed a shot past Reimer from in front.

”It was good to get that tying goal, and then in the overtime I liked our chances,” Neal said. ”It was a tough loss but we’ll be better next game.”

With the score tied 1-1 in the first, Barkov put the Panthers ahead on his short-handed goal. Vincent Trocheck’s shot was blocked as he rushed the net but Barkov was able to poke in the rebound from the corner of the net with 4:05 left. The Panthers lead the NHL with nine short-handed goals.

The Golden Knight tied the score on Karlsson’s goal at 6:57 of the second. Shea Theodore made a nice feed across to Karlsson Harold Landry Super Bowl LI Jersey , who swept the puck past Reimer. Karlsson leads Vegas with 25 goals.

”We were fighting back the whole game,” Karlsson said. ”We managed to tie it up twice. It could have gone either way.”

McGinn gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead on his goal 3:15 in. Subban tried to clear the puck from in front but McGinn corralled the loose puck and put it into the net.

Perron tied the score with 5:38 left in the first as he took a cross-ice pass from Erik Haula, tipped by Brad Hunt, and fired the puck past Reimer.

NOTES: Neal has scored 20 or more goals for 10 consecutive seasons. … Golden Knights forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith each played for the Panthers last season. … The Panthers honored original owner H. Wayne Huizenga by retiring jersey No. 37 in a pregame ceremony on Friday night. Huizenga’s lucky number is 37 and was also the year he was born. … Panthers D Keith Yandle played his 677th straight game, the longest active streak in the NHL. Yandle has not missed a game since March 22 Brandon Parker Jersey Elite , 2009, when he was with the Phoenix Coyotes.

UP NEXT:

Golden Knights: Visit Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

Panthers: Visit Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Since 1979 the NFL has been doing some sort of testing of players entering the NFL draft. Then in 1982 players and team scouts have gotten together to see player prospects put through many drills to see how players perform. This was the year of the first official combine. The Players were then put through interviews with teams and a comprehensive physical Wholesale Barkevious Mingo Jersey , medical and psychological testing program. This first combine took place in Tampa, Florida and was attended by one hundred and sixty-three players. An additional two camps were held elsewhere From 1982 - 1984.

In 1985 the National Invitational Camp (NIC) also known as the combine merged three camp locations as all 28 NFL teams agreed to participate in a single annual Combine to be held in Arizona. The NIC was then renamed the NFL Scouting Combine after the merger of the three camps.

In 1987 the Combine permanently moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to be held in the Hoosier Dome (later to be referred to as the RCA Dome).

In 2005 the surface of the RCA Dome was changed from AstroTurf surface to FieldTurf surface, resulting in faster 40m times.

The Combine stayed at the RCA Dome until 2009 when it then moved to the new Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Below is an outline of the tests conducted at the Combine:

Physical Testing:

Physical measurements:

Each prospect has measurements of height, weight Jason Sanders Super Bowl LI Jersey , arm length and hand length. Also running backs and linemen’s measurements include body fat percentage measured using the bod pod.

40-yard dash:

This is a power and speed test. They start from a three-point stance then the player runs 40 yards as fast as he can. Split times of 10 and 20 yards are then recorded to measure acceleration. the 10 yard dash time is very important for the offensive and defensive lineman because they usually don’t run any further than that when playing in games.

Bench press:

The bench press is to test prospects upper body strength. A player will lift 225 lbs. as many times as he can. The only players who are not required to take part in this test are the quarterbacks and wide receivers. This test is most important for an offensive or defensive lineman.

Vertical jump:

The player will jump off both feet straight up as high as he can to test his explosion and power. This test is one of the most important tests for receivers and defensive backs who often have to jump for the ball in games.

Broad jump:

Very much like the vertical jump, this tests a player's lower body strength, explosion, and power. The broad jump is a measurement of how far a player can jump, not how high. The player will jump from a standing position forward off two feet as far as he can jump. This test is most importantly to test running backs, lineman Tracy Walker Jersey Elite , and linebackers.

20-yard shuttle:

Also known as the 5-10-5 shuttle This is an agility test including speed, explosion, and change of directions. The technique is very important in this test. Players are timed as to how fast they can go 5 yards laterally, then 10 yards back in the opposite direction and finally finish 5 yards back to the starting line.

Three-cone drill:

This will test a players agility as the player runs around three cones placed in the shape of a capital L. The cones are placed with 5 yards between each other.

60-yard shuttle:

This anaerobic test is a ladder shuttle of progressing distances.the player stands at the starting line and runs 5 yards and back than 10 yards and back than 15 yards and back while touching the line each time.

Skill Testing:

The skill testing is position-specific drills. each player goes through football drill designed for their position. Sometimes these drills are overlooked due to the fact that everyone is more interested in the fitness test numbers. An example of the position specific drill is the one on one pass coverage.

Psychology:

The Wonderlic test, an intelligence type test has been given to Combine players since the 1970s. In 2013 a new 60-minute long test was added to the testing program. The new, expanded player assessment tool offered much more robust and comprehensive assessment of players capabilities Authentic Lamar Jackson Jersey , aptitudes, and strengths. This test measures a players competencies, of learning style, motivation, decision skills, responding to pressure Authentic Anthony Averett Jersey , and intellect.

聽Medical:

Injury evaluation:

Every player must go through X-rays and physicals to check their injuries and injury history. Any currently injured players at the combine will be looked at closely.

Drug screening:

Each Player takes a urine test to test for illegal substances not allowed by the NFL. They are mostly looking for marijuana, cocaine and performing-enhancing drugs.

Cyber test:

The Cybex test is not that important for prospects but injured and previously injured players results will be looked at closely by coaches. This test checks the flexibility and joint movement of every prospect. Prospects are connected to a machine to determine their results.

CLEVELAND (AP) Following four trades and a flurry of free-agent deals Wholesale Jeff Locke Jersey , the Cleveland Browns are looking better.

Maybe even good enough to win a game next season.

On the day one-of-a-kind left tackle Joe Thomas said goodbye after 11 stellar seasons, the Browns took the first steps without their perennial Pro Bowler, a player who might be replaced but never duplicated.

Hours after Thomas announced he’s retiring, the Browns confirmed the acquisition of quarterback Tyrod Taylor, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and cornerback Damarious Randall in three separate deals pulled off last week by new general manager John Dorsey, who also shipped quarterback DeShone Kizer to Green Bay and defensive tackle Danny Shelton to New England.

Dorsey stayed just as aggressive in free agency, reaching contract agreements with seven players, including offensive tackles Chris Hubbard and Donald Stephenson, who can help offset the loss of Thomas. Running back Carlos Hyde also is leaving San Francisco for Cleveland.

The Browns didn’t confirm their haul of free agents Wholesale Saquon Barkley Jersey , but a person with direct knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press that the team has contract agreements with Hubbard, Stephenson, Hyde, tight end Darren Fells, defensive end Chris Smith and cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie. Those deals are expected to be finalized Thursday, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contracts are not yet signed.

And while Dorsey acquired needed talent to a team coming off a 0-16 season, he hung on to all five of Cleveland’s picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. The Browns have the No. 1 and No. 4 picks and three in the second round.

”Anytime you can have a chance to acquire three good football players right off the bat in the trades, you’ve got to do it,” said Dorsey Tanner Lee Jersey Elite , hired in December after five years in Kansas City. ”I give a lot of credit to everyone in football operations because we sat there for two months. We made some plans and laid some plans in regard to free agency and how we were going to attack it. We identified certain players we thought would help this organization moving forward who had the qualities we were looking for with regard to do they love football? Are they leaders at their position? Are they guys that are going to be good in the locker room?

”I thought the three guys in the trades fit everything we were looking for.”

Taylor could be the team’s long-sought answer at quarterback. He led the Buffalo Bills to their first playoff appearance in 17 years last season and has the ability to move the chains through the air or on the ground.

”He’s a great kid. Great leader, smart as a whip,” said Dorsey, who sent the Bills a third-round draft pick for Taylor. ”He has the physical abilities to extend the play. He’s got more than enough arm talent and he doesn’t turn the ball over.”

Kizer led the league with 22 interceptions as a rookie and his turnovers in key situations sabotaged the Browns’ chances to win.

Taylor is expected to start next season as the Browns groom a young quarterback, and the team is doing its diligence to decide which one to take. On Wednesday, Alonzo Highsmith, the team’s vice president of player personnel, attended Baker Mayfield’s pro day at Oklahoma.

”We view Tyrod as a perfect fit to lead our team,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. ”He possesses the qualities we want of a starting quarterback. He’s smart Akeem Spence Jersey Elite , a leader, and an efficient passer that doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s a winner and has been very productive as a starting quarterback in this league. The expectation is for Tyrod to come in and be our quarterback, get himself acclimated to our offense and help us get to winning as quickly as possible.”

Landry will help that happen.

The three-time Pro Bowler, who has caught 400 passes in his first four seasons, gives the Browns a downfield threat to pair with wide receiver Josh Gordon. Landry had a league-leading 112 receptions last season for the Miami Dolphins, who received a fourth-round pick this year and a seventh-rounder in 2019 from Cleveland.

”It’s really exciting that we had the opportunity to put him on our team,” Jackson said. ”He’s going to bring a fire and competitive energy to our team that will make us better. He’s a playmaker and a difference maker that we expect to make our offense go.”

Landry is set to make $16 million under the franchise tag he signed with Miami – or more than $15 million more than Gordon, who received a qualifying offer for $790,000 in 2018 as an exclusive rights free agent.

The 25-year-old Randall played cornerback for three years with the Packers Adidas Andrew Cogliano Jersey , but the Browns intend to move him to free safety.

”Demarious is very versatile,” Dorsey said. ”I’ve long admired him when he was playing safety back at Arizona State. He’s a first-round pick a couple of years ago, which shows you what his skill set is. He’s proven his versatility where he can play corner, he can play safety. I’m glad we got all three of those guys.”

—

More AP NFL: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

JACKSONVILLE Joseph Noteboom Super Bowl LI Jersey , Fla. (AP) Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette doesn’t want to be known as a trendsetter.

Fournette was the first college player to skip a bowl game in 2016 when he announced he wouldn’t join LSU in the Citrus Bowl.

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey did the same a few days later. Both high-profile players opted to forgo the postseason to protect their bodies in advance of the NFL draft.

Now, a year later, those kinds of decisions are becoming more popular.

Florida State standout safety Derwin James announced Tuesday he would not play in the Dec. 27 Independence Bowl against Southern Mississippi.

His decision followed several Texas players who chose to skip the Dec. 27 Texas Bowl against Missouri. Cornerback Holton Hill, safety DeShon Elliott Authentic Kevin Hogan Jersey , offensive lineman Connor Williams and running back Chris Warren won’t play while preparing for the draft.

”Everybody makes their own decisions, just like I made mine,” Fournette said Thursday. ”They have a future. They have a family just like I did, so everybody’s their own man when it comes to that.”

Others could join them Armani Watts Super Bowl LI Jersey , especially since the decisions by Fournette and McCaffrey had no bearing on their draft stock. Fournette was the fourth overall pick, four spots ahead of McCaffrey.

It worked out well for Fournette, who battled an ankle injury throughout his junior season with the Tigers and felt he needed extra time to heal.

”For me, yeah Russell Bodine Jersey Elite ,” Fournette said. ”For the guys in college, I’m not saying follow behind me and not play in your bowl game. I did it because I was still hurting. I played the majority of my season hurt, and I felt like that was the best decision for my future, for my family.”

Fournette ranks seventh in the NFL with 822 yards rushing and is tied for ninth with eight total touchdowns.

McCaffrey has 1 Wholesale Christian Kirk Jersey ,005 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.

—

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

They came into the world together. Days removed from being teenagers Adidas P.K Subban Jersey , they made their NHL debuts together.

And after more than 2,800 regular and postseason games with the team that drafted them, they will leave the ice together for the final time late Saturday night.

Two of the league’s greats cap off sure-fire Hall of Fame careers as Daniel and Henrik Sedin lead the Vancouver Canucks against the Edmonton Oilers.

Sandwiched around Patrik Stefan and Pavel Brendl in the 1999 NHL Draft, Daniel was selected second, one spot ahead of Henrik. It took separate trades with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Atlanta Thrashers to put Vancouver in position to select the Swedes.

“Five minutes before it started, (Canucks scout Thomas Gradin) walked up to us. He was yelling from the floor telling us that it was going to happen Marquis Haynes Jersey Elite ,” Henrik told Canada’s Global News in a 2016 article.

The Sedins would quickly become synonymous with Canucks hockey and go on to win scoring titles in consecutive seasons. Henrik collected 112 points en route to an MVP season in 2009-10, followed by Daniel with 104 in 2010-11.

Now 37 years old and with their respective contracts expiring at the end of the season, the twins announced in low-key fashion last Monday that this would be their final season.

“I hope we can treat the final games the same way as any other game, but it’s going to be emotional,” Henrik said at a press conference.

The twins had a storybook ending to their final game in Vancouver on Thursday. Daniel scored his second goal of the game off a helper from Henrik in overtime to lift the Canucks past the Arizona Coyotes, 4-3.

“You couldn’t dream of a better ending in this building,” said Daniel Authentic Richard Rodgers Jersey , who is second in franchise history with 1,041 points — and trails only Henrik with 1,070.

Both players have bedeviled Edmonton for nearly 20 years. Henrik has 17 goals and 67 assists in 95 games; Daniel has 37 goals and 47 assists in 92 games.

“They’ve been mortal enemies of the Oilers for many, many years, but we’ve also been able to appreciate and watch their skill level and how they affected and changed the game in a lot of different ways. We’ll appreciate them (Saturday) night, and enjoy the evening,” Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said Friday.

Vancouver (31-40-10) is going for a split of the four-game season series Kendall Wright Jersey Elite , and its second win in seven games in Alberta.

Instead of playoff hockey and like the Canucks — Edmonton (35-40-6) will look ahead to where they will be slotted in the draft lottery.

With 106 points (41 goals, 65 assists), Connor McDavid is just about a lock to become the first player to win back-to-back scoring titles since the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jaromir Jagr took home four straight Art Ross Trophies between 1998 and 2001.

Making a bit of personal history is nice, but the Oilers’ captain would rather be playing past Saturday night.

“We have nights where we’re really good and we have nights where we’re really bad,” McDavid said after notching three assists in a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. “It’s definitely something we’ve got to figure out. We’ve beat some good teams, and we’ve lost to some teams that ultimately we should not have lost to.”

The reigning Hart Trophy winner has 14 three-point games this season, with Edmonton going 11-2-1. The Oilers are 24-38-5 when McDavid has two or fewer points.

McDavid also has posted at least one point in all six career home games against Vancouver Wholesale Robert Golden Jersey , totaling three goals and six assists. The Oilers are 5-0-1 in those contests.

A particularly trying season is coming to an end for Edmonton’s Cam Talbot, who has 30 wins — 12 fewer than last season. He also managed one shutout after collecting seven in 2016-17.

Since joining the Oilers, Talbot is 4-0-1 with a 1.18 GAA and two shutouts against the Canucks in Edmonton.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan doesn’t want to see Sidney Crosby Phillip Gaines Super Bowl LI Jersey , Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang drop the gloves every game.

But a frustrating first two periods led to a breakout third and a shootout victory.

Letang scored the deciding goal in the shootout, and the Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Thursday night.

”When the game got a little nasty at the end of the second period, I thought it brought a lot of juice to our bench, especially our top guys in particular,” Sullivan said.

Frustration boiled over for the Penguins’ stars in the final minute of the second period.

Pittsburgh trailed 1-0 when Malkin was given five minutes for fighting Nick Foligno and Crosby got a roughing double minor against Seth Jones. Letang was also given a roughing minor and Columbus’ Boone Jenner received a game misconduct for cross-checking.

Pittsburgh scored twice in the third period and Letang ended it in the fourth round of the shootout, beating Sergei Bobrovsky to the glove side after a series of dekes.

”(Crosby) told me that (Bobrovsky) was really patient, so I threw a couple moves at him Adidas Dylan Larkin Jersey , and he didn’t move,” Letang said. ”I knew if I kept dragging the puck further, he would be deeper, so I would have the shot.”

Cam Atkinson scored in the shootout for Columbus, but Matt Murray stopped Artemi Panarin, Jack Johnson and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Murray made 29 saves, while Bobrovsky stopped 39 shots. Malkin also scored for Pittsburgh in the shootout.

Patric Hornqvist and Malkin both scored their 12th goals of the season on the power play for the Penguins Wholesale Alex Cappa Jersey , who have two wins in their last three games following a three-game losing streak. Pittsburgh scored twice on the power play after a 0-for-15 slump.

Panarin and Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist apiece for Columbus. Panarin has 14 points in his last 11 games and Dubois has 12 points in his last 13 games for the Blue Jackets, who have lost four of their last six. Columbus defeated Toronto a night earlier, but lost three of their previous four and allowed 20 goals during that span.

”I think it’s just two teams with a lot of history,” Foligno said of the Penguins and Blue Jackets. ”Emotions are going to run wild. It’s a game we both really wanted, and that’s what happens.”

Hornqvist tied it at 1-1 for Pittsburgh at 2:25 of the third period when he tipped a shot by Phil Kessel underneath Bobrovsky. Hornqvist played after missing Monday’s game against Colorado with an upper-body injury. Kessel has points in nine straight home games and 27 of 36 games played this season for Pittsburgh.

Malkin briefly put Pittsburgh in front with a power-play goal. Bobrovsky made a blocker save on Crosby, but Malkin backhanded the rebound out of the air and into the net.

Columbus evened the score with a power-play goal just over a minute later, as Panarin scored with a wrist shot from the point.

”Whether it was 2-1 or 3-1 Alex Cappa Super Bowl LI Jersey , it doesn’t matter, we were going to push until we tied the game,” Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson said.

It was the first time the teams had played since Pittsburgh won a first-round playoff series in the spring. The teams have met in the first round of the playoffs two of the last four years, with Pittsburgh winning both times.

The emotion carried over and worked in Pittsburgh’s favor on this night.

”They’re competitive guys and it was a competitive game,” Sullivan said. ”It was a hard-fought game and sometimes emotions run high. The energy and emotion of the game … that’s as good as it’s been this year for us, and I think that’s when we play our best.”

NOTES: Columbus is entering a stretch where it will play five of its next seven against Metropolitan Division opponents. Pittsburgh will play six of their next eight within the division. Entering Thursday night, just 10 points separated first and eighth place in the Metropolitan. … Newly-acquired Jamie Oleksiak made his Penguins debut on his 25th birthday. The 6-foot-7 Paul Worrilow Jersey Elite , 255-pound defenseman, selected No. 14 overall in the 2011 draft, was acquired from the Dallas Stars in a trade on Tuesday. … Penguins D Matt Hunwick played in his 500th NHL game. … Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. … Pittsburgh scratched D Ian Cole and F Tom Kuhnhackl.

UP NEXT

Blue Jackets: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

Penguins: Continue a three-game homestand Saturday against Anaheim.

—

. Authentic Womens Randall Telfer Jersey , Authentic Womens Jessie Bates III Jersey , Authentic Womens Uchenna Nwosu Jersey , Authentic Womens Oren Burks Jersey ,

CALGARY Authentic Tanner Lee Jersey , Alberta — For the second time in less than a week, Dougie Hamilton will suit up for the Calgary Flames against the team that selected him 11th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft.

After Calgary fell 5-2 in Boston on Tuesday, Hamilton and the Flames (31-21-8) hope to bounce back against the Bruins (35-13-8) with a better result Monday afternoon when the teams meet for a rematch at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

“We challenged our group after that Boston game,” said Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan, whose team responded by skating to a 4-3 road victory over the Nashville Predators two nights later. “We felt we played 35 good minutes against (the Bruins) … but that’s not enough against a good team. We challenged our guys then to go 60 minutes against a really good team in Nashville and they did it and we came out of there.

“Our guys know there’s no secret here. If you’re going to beat a good team, you’ve got to play 60 minutes, so that’s an easy one for us (on Monday) to put in our heads.”

The Flames also have their sights set on rebounding from a disappointing 6-3 loss to the visiting Florida Panthers on Saturday that dropped their record on home ice below .500 (13-14-3).

After Hamilton scored all three goals against the Panthers for his first NHL hat trick in his 400th career game Cody Latimer Super Bowl LI Jersey , he will be looking to build on that momentum against his former team.

“It’s, I guess, one of those games that you know is coming up and you’re aware of it coming on the calendar,” said the 24-year-old defenseman, who played his first 178 NHL games for the Bruins before being acquired by the Flames in June 2015 for a trio of draft picks (one in the first round and two in the second).

“But it’s been a while now, I think I’ve … played more games in Calgary now, so it felt a little weird going back there this time and didn’t quite feel like home Authentic Mark Walton Jersey , whereas it used to. So it’s kind of changed as the years go by, but (I still) know some of the guys now and just try to shut them down.”

After beating the Flames, the Bruins had three days off before losing 6-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday to kick off a five-game road trip.

“We were getting away from what’s been good to us basically,” summed up center Patrice Bergeron, who scored twice against the Flames before being blanked by the Canucks. “Our defensive zone (coverage) has been lacking and the results showed for it.

“At some point, it’s going to bite you and it did (on Saturday). When you get down by three, four goals Adidas P.K Subban Jersey , it’s not easy to come back.”

During an afternoon practice in Calgary on Sunday, Boston coach Bruce Cassidy stressed that the Bruins need to defend better if they hope to return to the form that saw them win six of seven games to start February.

“Bad habits have been creeping in and we want to make sure we address it,” Cassidy said. “It’s been a few games now where we’ve been loose and you’re not going very far if you’re loose. You’ll win some games, but we want to get back to being a tighter, better defensive team.”

After facing the Flames, the Bruins head north to take on the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

“We play (Monday), we play Tuesday Authentic Barkevious Mingo Jersey , so we’ve got to be careful,” said Cassidy, while noting he plans to start goalie Tuukka Rask in Calgary before going with Anton Khudobin between the pipes in Edmonton.

EDEN PRAIRIE Chris Herndon Super Bowl LI Jersey , Minn. (AP) After winning 14 games, including his first postseason victory with Minnesota and a second NFC North title in four years on the job, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has a team set up to sustain such success.

The items on his to-do list are major issues, though.

Finding an offensive coordinator has become the top priority, following the departure of Pat Shurmur to become the head coach of the New York Giants. Then there’s the matter of working with general manager Rick Spielman to identify a starting quarterback for 2018, with contracts scheduled to expire for Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater.

The offensive coordinator will be determined first and likely have some input into the quarterback quandary, too, but sorting out the age, ability Wholesale Bryce Petty Jersey , cost, durability and unrealized potential of Keenum, Bradford and Bridgewater will be the more complicated and critical task.

Having been awake with angst until 3 a.m. following Minnesota’s 38-7 loss at Philadelphia in the NFC championship game on Sunday, Zimmer said at his season-ending news conference Tuesday that he hasn’t pointed his mind down that path yet.

”My whole focus was on the now and not so much the future,” Zimmer said. ”Rick and I talked about that earlier. We said, `Let’s just go through the season. Let’s figure it out after the season.’ We’ll go through that process and go from there and see how that goes. We’re just going to work through it.”

Though Zimmer was staying true to the status report, he also didn’t exactly offer a ringing endorsement of Keenum.

”I’m going to work through the process, just like I always do,” Zimmer said, when asked for a specific evaluation of the year Keenum had after going from unheralded backup to season-saver. ”We’re going to evaluate all the players. We’re going to evaluate everybody and go about our business like we always do.”

As for Bradford Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey Elite , whose knee injury yielded the position to Keenum, Zimmer said Bradford told him on Monday that he feels like he is past the trouble that limited him to two starts in 2017.

As for Bridgewater, who took Bradford’s spot on the active roster for the second half of the schedule only to be bumped back to third string and did-not-suit-up status for the playoffs, Zimmer said the Vikings naturally would have preferred to see a fuller picture of on-field action following his recovery from a major knee injury. Keenum’s success made that impossible for Bridgewater, who hasn’t appeared in a high-stakes situation in more than two years.

”For him to even get to that point to where he was and be able to come out and practice and compete, get in a game, was a true credit to him,” Zimmer said, adding: ”He’s at the point where he can play. You just have to figure out where’s he at, because obviously we didn’t get to see him through games.”

Not many teams in NFL history will have such a strong season to come within one win of the Super Bowl Adidas Aleksander Barkov Jersey , only to have the sport’s most important position in such an uncertain state, but that’s where the Vikings find themselves.

”I guess it’s unique, but it’s part of the process in the NFL,” Zimmer said. ”You work through it, and you go about your business.”

As for the offensive coordinator vacancy, Zimmer said he’ll take his time to try to get the right hire. He didn’t rule out internal candidates such as quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski, but he also acknowledged the benefit of new ideas from the outside.

The defense could not have been better in the regular season, ranking first in both fewest yards and points allowed, but it faltered over the final five quarters of the playoffs. Nick Foles and the Eagles torched this proud group for 456 total yards.

”I have to do a better job in some areas as far as maybe sticking to some things too much because we’re successful,” Zimmer said.

As for the Super Bowl that will be painfully played on the team’s home turf at U.S. Bank Stadium Jessie Bates III Super Bowl LI Jersey , Zimmer will not be in attendance, in case there was any question. He’ll be at his vacation ranch in northern Kentucky, inevitably cringing from time to time about coming so close to the franchise’s first championship.

”Our fans were unbelievable the way they helped this football team out. They talked about bringing the whole state together, the state of Minnesota and Vikings fans throughout the world,” Zimmer said. ”That made me feel good, that we were able to bring a bunch of people and try to work for something for a common goal. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish it for them, so that is one of the disappointments.”

—

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL