For the Philadelphia Phillies, they staved off elimination thanks, mostly, to the Soccer jerseys red hot bat of Chase Utley, who blasted two more home runs in Game 5 to give him five total in five games against the Yankees, tying Reggie Jackson (1977) for the most home runs in a single World Series. Watching Utley go about his business has been a sheer joy. He grinds out at-bats and when the pitcher makes a mistake, he makes them play. And the best part has been the fact that he refuses to take 'curtain calls' when the crowd gives him a post-homer standing ovation, something that the players in the opposite dugout can't claim.
The second guessers are starting to clear their throats after A.J. Burnett, pitching on three days, failed miserably to close out the series. Much like in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Angels, Burnett came out and laid an egg in the first inning, allowing the Phillies to jump out to a 3-0 lead before there were any outs courtesy of Utley's first of two home runs. After that, Burnett seemed to find a rhythm, although it was becoming painfully apparent for Yankees supporters that Burnett's backdoor curve, which was so effective in Game 2, didn't have as much bite and/or wasn't being called a strike by home plate umpire Dana DeMuth. The result was that Burnett was hooked four batters into the third which led to three more Phillies runs crossing. The Yankees did their darndest to claw their way back into it thanks to A-Rod and Johnny Damon, but tack-on runs, thanks to solo home runs by left-handed hitters off left-handed specialist Phil Coke provided the eventual margin of victory.
So it's back to the Bronx for a match-up of wily starters Pedro Martinez versus Andy Pettitte. The Yankees, with a 3 games to 2 lead have some wiggle room; the Phillies not so much.
Where the second guessers are starting to flash their 'I told you so' looks is in regard to Yankees' manager Joe Girardi's election to go with a three-man rotation in the series, which guaranteed, weather-permitting, that ace CC Sabathia would make two starts (if the series goes the maximum seven games) on three-days rest, while Pettitte and Burnett would make one apiece. So far, Girardi is batting .500 on that call. Sabathia pitched into the 7th in Game 4 as the Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the series. Burnett was not even close to being as sharp the next night and the series now heads back to New York.
For the New York Yankees, it's time to go home to the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium II to sew up their 27th World Series championship all-time and their first in their new digs. For Alex Rodriguez, it's his chance to finally be fully welcomed into fraternity of all-time Yankee greats, thanks to 18 RBI this post-season, most ever by a Yankee hitter in the playoffs and one short of the Major League record held by Sandy Alomar Jr. ('97 Indians), Scott Spiezio ('02 Angels) and David Ortiz ('04 Red Sox). That is, of course, if the Yankees sew this in the next couple of games. Nothing short of a World Series win would give A-Rod that acceptance no matter how many runs he drives in.
But it will all fall at the feet of micro-managing Girardi should the Yankees cough up a 3-1 lead and fail to close this out. His options for a fourth starter weren't that great: Chad Gaudin or Joba Chamberlain. Gaudin hadn't made a start since September 28th and has only thrown 2.1 innings over the last five weeks so his effectiveness would be very questionable. Chamberlain was the fourth starter all season and would be expected to at least give them five innings. But his value in the post-season has been in the set-up that he cut his teeth on in the past. So, I'm guessing that the choice to go with a three-man post-season rotation was the better gamble.
For the sake of Girardi, who would have to answer for this should he fail to win the Yankees first World Series title since 2000, there's a lot on the line.
The funny thing was that Burnett, coming into the start, had been successful pitching on short rest, having gone 4-0 with an ERA of 2.33 in four starts on three days rest. But pitching on short rest against the Royals in the middle of June is one thing, facing the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series is something altogether different.
For Pettitte, whose 17 career wins in the post-season are the most ever, this will mark the 22nd time that he will make a start on three days rest. His career stats are 8-7, 3.68 ERA, .252 OPP AVG. Not great, but certainly not horrible either. And if Pettitte falters, then it will all fall on the broad shoulders of Sabathia who was inked to a 7-year, $161 million contract last off-season just for starts like this.
2010年5月15日星期六
2010年5月13日星期四
Ex-closer in the fairway
"This is my first Masters," he told me, as he watched Woods’s group walk by. "Usually I don’t have a lot of free time this time of year."
Ryan dazzled in 2006, his first season with the Blue Jays after inking the five-year, US$47-million deal. His ERA was a solid 1.37 and he converted on 38 of 42 save opportunities.
In May of 2007, Ryan had season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow and he was never the same. His ERA more than doubled to 2.95 in 2008 and in the first couple of months of last year he rarely was given an opportunity to close the door. By the time he was told his services were no longer wanted, his line in 2009: 1-1, 6.53 ERA, 2-for-4 on save opportunities.
Then Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi was blunt in his assessment why: "The player we evaluated to sign to the player we have now, it’s two totally different guys. And we just don’t think he’s going to be the pitcher he was when we signed him."
Ryan, nine months later, seemed stung by the move and still maintains he was blindsided by the release.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Just when you thought nothing could stun you like the beauty of Amen Corner, Friday, after watching Tiger, K.J. Choi and Matt Kutchar blast tee shots on the par-5 13th to come out of that historic area at Augusta National, who was standing under a tree along the fairway having a cold beer with a buddy?
Still under payroll by the Blue Jays, who flat cut him just before the all-star break last season with a year-and-a-half left on his rich contract, the once dominant closer -- and a serious golf fan -- finds himself in the most unlikely position he could imagine at this point in a career that may very well be over.
"It was a stinker," he said. "Just unbelievable. I was in as good a shape as ever coming into camp and I really wanted to prove coming off Tommy John that I could perform. Then… Then that."
Ryan’s release drew a line in the sand with then pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, now in Houston in the same role, and manager Cito Gaston. Ryan was reluctant to take other swipes at his former club, other than he laments the fact that the franchise didn’t win more ball games -- 86 being the most victories in his time there.
"If another opportunity pops up, great," said Ryan. "I’m trying to stay and shape and see what may happen. You never know what may happen if you’re healthy."
So is he? Recovering from an elbow procedure in the throwing arm is never easy and there is the sentiment, on top of the fact that he is now 34, that the Tommy John procedure was the beginning of the end of his career.
"You ask yourself the same question," he acknowledged. "I knew the first year coming back from Tommy John was going to be tough, but I thought things would be okay and they weren’t.
"I miss the game, man. I really do. I still think I can help a team and hopefully the opportunity still arises."
Ryan makes his home in Texas, outside of Dallas, close to Vernon Wells in Arlington. He said he is in touch with the slugger and a few others, "but I’ve tried to stay away. What happened last year was a bad situation for a lot of people."
He says he’s ecstatic for his pal, Roy Halladay ("Doc is my main man") and that the chance to win will further fuel the Phillies ace.
"It’s a good place for him. I told him ‘I know you can’t hit’ and then what does he do? Man. I sent him a text after (opening day) and all I said was ‘c’mon dude -- a knock and an RBI? Really?’"
Ryan, a big golf fan, was one of hundreds following Woods Friday.
"Really, I’m just trying to do some things I’ve never had the opportunity to do and enjoy them," he said. "Look around here, isn’t this amazing? I love watching these guys play. Tiger is my guy. To see him play this venue, this course, and see a guy play at the top of his sport is real cool."
A week later he signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs but has done nothing in the bigs. He told me Friday afternoon that he worked out for some different major league clubs, but that was it. Ryan said in February he wasn’t ready for spring training, but wouldn’t elaborate if when pressed what he meant by that.
His only shot at the 2010 World Cup Jerseys Blue Jays organization: "You know you didn’t do anything to put yourself in that position (to be released)."
Ryan dazzled in 2006, his first season with the Blue Jays after inking the five-year, US$47-million deal. His ERA was a solid 1.37 and he converted on 38 of 42 save opportunities.
In May of 2007, Ryan had season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow and he was never the same. His ERA more than doubled to 2.95 in 2008 and in the first couple of months of last year he rarely was given an opportunity to close the door. By the time he was told his services were no longer wanted, his line in 2009: 1-1, 6.53 ERA, 2-for-4 on save opportunities.
Then Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi was blunt in his assessment why: "The player we evaluated to sign to the player we have now, it’s two totally different guys. And we just don’t think he’s going to be the pitcher he was when we signed him."
Ryan, nine months later, seemed stung by the move and still maintains he was blindsided by the release.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Just when you thought nothing could stun you like the beauty of Amen Corner, Friday, after watching Tiger, K.J. Choi and Matt Kutchar blast tee shots on the par-5 13th to come out of that historic area at Augusta National, who was standing under a tree along the fairway having a cold beer with a buddy?
Still under payroll by the Blue Jays, who flat cut him just before the all-star break last season with a year-and-a-half left on his rich contract, the once dominant closer -- and a serious golf fan -- finds himself in the most unlikely position he could imagine at this point in a career that may very well be over.
"It was a stinker," he said. "Just unbelievable. I was in as good a shape as ever coming into camp and I really wanted to prove coming off Tommy John that I could perform. Then… Then that."
Ryan’s release drew a line in the sand with then pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, now in Houston in the same role, and manager Cito Gaston. Ryan was reluctant to take other swipes at his former club, other than he laments the fact that the franchise didn’t win more ball games -- 86 being the most victories in his time there.
"If another opportunity pops up, great," said Ryan. "I’m trying to stay and shape and see what may happen. You never know what may happen if you’re healthy."
So is he? Recovering from an elbow procedure in the throwing arm is never easy and there is the sentiment, on top of the fact that he is now 34, that the Tommy John procedure was the beginning of the end of his career.
"You ask yourself the same question," he acknowledged. "I knew the first year coming back from Tommy John was going to be tough, but I thought things would be okay and they weren’t.
"I miss the game, man. I really do. I still think I can help a team and hopefully the opportunity still arises."
Ryan makes his home in Texas, outside of Dallas, close to Vernon Wells in Arlington. He said he is in touch with the slugger and a few others, "but I’ve tried to stay away. What happened last year was a bad situation for a lot of people."
He says he’s ecstatic for his pal, Roy Halladay ("Doc is my main man") and that the chance to win will further fuel the Phillies ace.
"It’s a good place for him. I told him ‘I know you can’t hit’ and then what does he do? Man. I sent him a text after (opening day) and all I said was ‘c’mon dude -- a knock and an RBI? Really?’"
Ryan, a big golf fan, was one of hundreds following Woods Friday.
"Really, I’m just trying to do some things I’ve never had the opportunity to do and enjoy them," he said. "Look around here, isn’t this amazing? I love watching these guys play. Tiger is my guy. To see him play this venue, this course, and see a guy play at the top of his sport is real cool."
A week later he signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs but has done nothing in the bigs. He told me Friday afternoon that he worked out for some different major league clubs, but that was it. Ryan said in February he wasn’t ready for spring training, but wouldn’t elaborate if when pressed what he meant by that.
His only shot at the 2010 World Cup Jerseys Blue Jays organization: "You know you didn’t do anything to put yourself in that position (to be released)."
2010年5月11日星期二
The Fan Test
So if you passed my original test and you are a legitimate sports fan, it's now time for you to take my second test. This time, there are no questions for you to answer.
You are simply about to learn what type of fan you are.
Fan Type #1 - Most Annoying Guy EVER
Favourite teams include: Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, Boston Celtics
Favourite saying: "How many championships has your team won? Talk to me when you have 20 banners hanging from your rafters."
Favourite hobbies: Buying CDs from music stores in the mall and relishing the way life used to be.
Fan Type #2 - Mr. New-Found Confidence
Favourite teams: Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots
Favourite saying: "How many championships has your team won in the last five years?"
Favourite hobbies: Pretending that everything before the turn of the millennium (especially the year 1986) never happened.
Fan Type #3 - The Eternal Pessimist
Favourite teams: Chicago Cubs, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Lions
Favourite Saying: "I just want to see one championship before I die."
In my previous blog, I wrote about the 10 Rules for Being My Friend. I was flooded with e-mails and notes from people saying they really enjoyed taking my artificial test.
Favourite Hobbies: Searching for Amelia Earhart's body, voting for the NDP in federal elections and participating in a number of other pointless endeavors.
Fan Type #4 - The Eternal Optimist
Favourite teams: Houston Astros, Ottawa Senators, Utah Jazz,
Favourite Saying: "Our window to win a championship has not closed."
Favourite Hobbies: Digging up statistics to show how your team has won more regular season games than any other franchise since 1998.
Fan Type #5 - The Bandwagon Jumper From the early 1990s
Favourite teams: Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Braves, Dallas Cowboys
Favourite Saying: "I just don't have the time to cheer for my teams now that I have a wife and two kids."
Favourite hobbies: Secretly cheering for the new wave of bandwagon teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fan Type #6 - Mr. Dull
Favourite teams: New Jersey Devils, San Antonio Spurs, Florida Marlins
Favourite Saying: "It's not boring when it's your team winning the title."
Favourite Hobbies: Eating vanilla ice cream while watching the National Paint Drying Championships from Brandon, Manitoba.
Fan Type #7 - Mr. Intimidation
Favourite teams: Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Flyers
Favourite Saying: "We have the toughest fans, so don't even think about wearing a visiting jersey to our stadium."
Favourite Hobbies: Wearing black and talking tough to female co-workers while failing to point out you haven't World Cup Soccer Jersey won a championship in a quarter-century.
You are simply about to learn what type of fan you are.
Fan Type #1 - Most Annoying Guy EVER
Favourite teams include: Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, Boston Celtics
Favourite saying: "How many championships has your team won? Talk to me when you have 20 banners hanging from your rafters."
Favourite hobbies: Buying CDs from music stores in the mall and relishing the way life used to be.
Fan Type #2 - Mr. New-Found Confidence
Favourite teams: Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots
Favourite saying: "How many championships has your team won in the last five years?"
Favourite hobbies: Pretending that everything before the turn of the millennium (especially the year 1986) never happened.
Fan Type #3 - The Eternal Pessimist
Favourite teams: Chicago Cubs, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Lions
Favourite Saying: "I just want to see one championship before I die."
In my previous blog, I wrote about the 10 Rules for Being My Friend. I was flooded with e-mails and notes from people saying they really enjoyed taking my artificial test.
Favourite Hobbies: Searching for Amelia Earhart's body, voting for the NDP in federal elections and participating in a number of other pointless endeavors.
Fan Type #4 - The Eternal Optimist
Favourite teams: Houston Astros, Ottawa Senators, Utah Jazz,
Favourite Saying: "Our window to win a championship has not closed."
Favourite Hobbies: Digging up statistics to show how your team has won more regular season games than any other franchise since 1998.
Fan Type #5 - The Bandwagon Jumper From the early 1990s
Favourite teams: Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Braves, Dallas Cowboys
Favourite Saying: "I just don't have the time to cheer for my teams now that I have a wife and two kids."
Favourite hobbies: Secretly cheering for the new wave of bandwagon teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fan Type #6 - Mr. Dull
Favourite teams: New Jersey Devils, San Antonio Spurs, Florida Marlins
Favourite Saying: "It's not boring when it's your team winning the title."
Favourite Hobbies: Eating vanilla ice cream while watching the National Paint Drying Championships from Brandon, Manitoba.
Fan Type #7 - Mr. Intimidation
Favourite teams: Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Flyers
Favourite Saying: "We have the toughest fans, so don't even think about wearing a visiting jersey to our stadium."
Favourite Hobbies: Wearing black and talking tough to female co-workers while failing to point out you haven't World Cup Soccer Jersey won a championship in a quarter-century.
2010年5月10日星期一
The Technology of Reading and Writing in the Digital Space: Why RSS is crucial for a Blogging Classroom
Although in the past fews years there has been a marked growth in the number of higher education classrooms that utilize an on-line writing component, adapting the teaching of writing to digital spaces has met with resistance on the part of both students and professors. While there are many hurdles to address in navigating technological changes in writing practices, I would like to suggest that part of the problem has been a lack of understanding about the ways that information is disseminated and archived in these spaces. We need to begin by framing the approach in a new way to contextualize writing better, and, more importantly, to make classroom blogging (and even more broadly writing in digital spaces) more productive for the students and professors. In particular, I want to show how the technology of RSS is crucial both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint to any digital writing, but especially to any blogging classroom.
When asked, those who work in information technology (I speak here not of those in the academy but rather those who work at technology industries) about the most significant transformations in communication in the past ten years, one of the most often cited developments is RSS. However, a large majority of internet users, by some estimations over 90%, have no idea about this technology, or how it is changing information dissemination on the internet. (I have found that among students, even though this is the tech-savvy generation, less that one in ten have used RSS. If you are one of those not familiar with RSS please indulge me for a short moment and I promise to explain.) Although in the past several years RSS use has expanded to include content from almost any type of website, its initial growth in usage can be traced to blogs (weblogs). And although RSS has so many uses beyond blogs, RSS can greatly enhance classroom blogging both in the pedagogical and the practical realms.
For those who are not familiar with RSS, allow me a brief explanation. Although there are more in depth resources available to explain RSS (see references at the end of this article), I am going to offer a short explanation to aim at the concept behind what RSS does. When I am asked by people, regardless of their level of network literacy, what RSS is, I try to explain it by analogy to a newspaper. Imagine that you could have a newspaper delivered to your house that had only the content you wanted. That is, let's say you want the sports section from Chicago Tribune, the education section from the New York Times, the editorial page from the Guardian, and international headline news from the BBC. Now lets say this newspaper would be compiled for you and presented to you whenever you requested, and, what is more, would only give you the information that has changed since last you asked. But, even better what if you could also add into this “newspaper” your best friend's blog on cooking, a travel blog from Asia, updates from the Chronicle of Higher Ed . . .or pretty much any website you want. This allows you to monitor all of the content that you select from the web without having to visit all of the sites. What RSS does is “syndicate” all of the content you want, and send you everything you have asked for. (RSS stands for either “Rich Site Summary,“ or ”Really Simple Syndication.“) Any site you have seen with the following Feed Icon XML Icon RSS Icon is offering these summaries, or syndication; all you have to do is subscribe. I am not going to go into the details of how you get the subscriptions, or what programs you need to do this (you can even do this all on-line so you do not need a separate program), but you can check the end of this article for a few resources that will help you set up the syndication. There are a lot of resources out there to handle these feeds, and each has advantages and disadvantages, so it is worth some time and effort to try out many of these to find out which works for your particular educational situation.
Abstract
Although in the past fews years there has been a marked growth in the number of higher education classrooms that utilize an on-line writing component, adapting the teaching of writing to digital spaces has met with resistance on the part of both students and professors. While there are many hurdles to address in navigating technological changes in writing practices, I would like to suggest that part of the problem has been a lack of understanding about the ways that information is disseminated and archived in these spaces. We need to begin by framing the approach in a new way to contextualize writing better, and, more importantly, to make classroom blogging (and even more broadly writing in digital spaces) more productive for the students and professors. In particular, I want to NBA jerseys show how the technology of RSS is crucial both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint to any digital writing, but especially to any blogging classroom.
When asked, those who work in information technology (I speak here not of those in the academy but rather those who work at technology industries) about the most significant transformations in communication in the past ten years, one of the most often cited developments is RSS. However, a large majority of internet users, by some estimations over 90%, have no idea about this technology, or how it is changing information dissemination on the internet. (I have found that among students, even though this is the tech-savvy generation, less that one in ten have used RSS. If you are one of those not familiar with RSS please indulge me for a short moment and I promise to explain.) Although in the past several years RSS use has expanded to include content from almost any type of website, its initial growth in usage can be traced to blogs (weblogs). And although RSS has so many uses beyond blogs, RSS can greatly enhance classroom blogging both in the pedagogical and the practical realms.
For those who are not familiar with RSS, allow me a brief explanation. Although there are more in depth resources available to explain RSS (see references at the end of this article), I am going to offer a short explanation to aim at the concept behind what RSS does. When I am asked by people, regardless of their level of network literacy, what RSS is, I try to explain it by analogy to a newspaper. Imagine that you could have a newspaper delivered to your house that had only the content you wanted. That is, let's say you want the sports section from Chicago Tribune, the education section from the New York Times, the editorial page from the Guardian, and international headline news from the BBC. Now lets say this newspaper would be compiled for you and presented to you whenever you requested, and, what is more, would only give you the information that has changed since last you asked. But, even better what if you could also add into this “newspaper” your best friend's blog on cooking, a travel blog from Asia, updates from the Chronicle of Higher Ed . . .or pretty much any website you want. This allows you to monitor all of the content that you select from the web without having to visit all of the sites. What RSS does is “syndicate” all of the content you want, and send you everything you have asked for. (RSS stands for either “Rich Site Summary,“ or ”Really Simple Syndication.“) Any site you have seen with the following Feed Icon XML Icon RSS Icon is offering these summaries, or syndication; all you have to do is subscribe. I am not going to go into the details of how you get the subscriptions, or what programs you need to do this (you can even do this all on-line so you do not need a separate program), but you can check the end of this article for a few resources that will help you set up the syndication. There are a lot of resources out there to handle these feeds, and each has advantages and disadvantages, so it is worth some time and effort to try out many of these to find out which works for your particular educational situation.
Abstract
Although in the past fews years there has been a marked growth in the number of higher education classrooms that utilize an on-line writing component, adapting the teaching of writing to digital spaces has met with resistance on the part of both students and professors. While there are many hurdles to address in navigating technological changes in writing practices, I would like to suggest that part of the problem has been a lack of understanding about the ways that information is disseminated and archived in these spaces. We need to begin by framing the approach in a new way to contextualize writing better, and, more importantly, to make classroom blogging (and even more broadly writing in digital spaces) more productive for the students and professors. In particular, I want to NBA jerseys show how the technology of RSS is crucial both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint to any digital writing, but especially to any blogging classroom.
2010年5月9日星期日
Stars beat Wild 4-3 in shootout to end season
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Mike Modano was denied but Jamie Benn scored in the shootout, giving the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the 2010 World Cup Jerseys Minnesota Wild on Saturday night to wrap up the regular season.
Brendan Morrow had a power-play goal, and Steve Ott scored twice for the Stars, tying the game at 3 early in the third period.
Mikko Koivu scored twice and rookie Casey Wellman got his first career goal for the Wild.
But this was about Modano, who drew a standing ovation when a video of highlights from his days with the Minnesota North Stars was shown during a first-period break. There were a few North Stars jerseys in the crowd, too, among the fans wearing Wild stuff.
Modano was overcome by emotion during an extended ovation in Dallas two nights earlier, the final home game of the season. He gave Stars fans quite a show, with a goal and an assist in regulation plus a score in the shootout.
The other No. 9, Koivu, tried to steal the show by scoring twice from the near edge of the right circle in the opening frame, the first during a two-man advantage for the Wild. The Stars were the only NHL team that hadn't allowed a 5-on-3 goal this season.
The Stars missed the playoffs for the second straight season, which hasn't happened since 1987 and 1988 when the franchise was in Minnesota. Modano was drafted with the first overall selection right after that, and away he went.
Coach Marc Crawford's attempt with his players to "recapture some greatness," as he put it before the season, didn't materialize. Loui Eriksson and Benn were bright spots, but the Stars were the epitome of mediocrity, failing to post a winning streak longer than two games.
Modano isn't the only high-profile player uncertain to return next season, as the Stars sort out their ownership situation. Goalie Marty Turco, who yielded to Kari Lehtonen for this game, is also playing on an expiring contract and might not be re-signed.
The Wild had a disappointing season, too, the first year for general manager Chuck Fletcher and coach Todd Richards. They were beset by injuries, but also inconsistency, and the final few weeks featured extended ice time for several young players.
Wellman is one of those, signed last month straight from the University of Massachusetts. He scored 9 seconds into the third period, drawing a loud roar from the crowd.
Niklas Backstrom was back in the net for Minnesota after leaving the last game early, when a slap shot struck him in the neck.
The 39-year-old forward didn't make much of an impact this time, misfiring on a backhander in the first period. This was about the appearance, though, and not the performance. Players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice when the Modano montage was shown, and the officials clapped. Again, he appeared to be crying during the honor with 9:09 left in the first period.
Modano even donned his old North Stars jersey after the game and skated around the ice to more claps and cheers.
NOTES: This was Koivu's eighth NHL two-goal game. He set a career high with 22 goals this season. ... Ott finished with six goals in his last six games to reach 22 for the season, a career high. ... The Wild called this the sixth largest regular-season crowd, 19,109, in their history.
Brendan Morrow had a power-play goal, and Steve Ott scored twice for the Stars, tying the game at 3 early in the third period.
Mikko Koivu scored twice and rookie Casey Wellman got his first career goal for the Wild.
But this was about Modano, who drew a standing ovation when a video of highlights from his days with the Minnesota North Stars was shown during a first-period break. There were a few North Stars jerseys in the crowd, too, among the fans wearing Wild stuff.
Modano was overcome by emotion during an extended ovation in Dallas two nights earlier, the final home game of the season. He gave Stars fans quite a show, with a goal and an assist in regulation plus a score in the shootout.
The other No. 9, Koivu, tried to steal the show by scoring twice from the near edge of the right circle in the opening frame, the first during a two-man advantage for the Wild. The Stars were the only NHL team that hadn't allowed a 5-on-3 goal this season.
The Stars missed the playoffs for the second straight season, which hasn't happened since 1987 and 1988 when the franchise was in Minnesota. Modano was drafted with the first overall selection right after that, and away he went.
Coach Marc Crawford's attempt with his players to "recapture some greatness," as he put it before the season, didn't materialize. Loui Eriksson and Benn were bright spots, but the Stars were the epitome of mediocrity, failing to post a winning streak longer than two games.
Modano isn't the only high-profile player uncertain to return next season, as the Stars sort out their ownership situation. Goalie Marty Turco, who yielded to Kari Lehtonen for this game, is also playing on an expiring contract and might not be re-signed.
The Wild had a disappointing season, too, the first year for general manager Chuck Fletcher and coach Todd Richards. They were beset by injuries, but also inconsistency, and the final few weeks featured extended ice time for several young players.
Wellman is one of those, signed last month straight from the University of Massachusetts. He scored 9 seconds into the third period, drawing a loud roar from the crowd.
Niklas Backstrom was back in the net for Minnesota after leaving the last game early, when a slap shot struck him in the neck.
The 39-year-old forward didn't make much of an impact this time, misfiring on a backhander in the first period. This was about the appearance, though, and not the performance. Players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice when the Modano montage was shown, and the officials clapped. Again, he appeared to be crying during the honor with 9:09 left in the first period.
Modano even donned his old North Stars jersey after the game and skated around the ice to more claps and cheers.
NOTES: This was Koivu's eighth NHL two-goal game. He set a career high with 22 goals this season. ... Ott finished with six goals in his last six games to reach 22 for the season, a career high. ... The Wild called this the sixth largest regular-season crowd, 19,109, in their history.
2010年5月8日星期六
Boston College hockey players involved in crash
Several of the NHL Jerseys college-age people in the Jeep Cherokee suffered minor injuries; no one on the trolley was hurt. Police found open and unopened cans of beer, as well as a bottle of vodka, in the SUV, the police report said. It doesn't appear the driver had been drinking.
Also expected to be summoned to court on minor in possession charges are driver Jane Stanton, Tina Dilandry, Reilly Corbett, Elizabeth Motley and Jessie Coffield.
Seven of the occupants are Boston College students, and no one in the SUV was over age 19, authorities said. The crash remains under investigation.
Samuelsson, Wey and Milner are all freshmen on Boston College's hockey team, which defeated Wisconsin 5-0 for the national title April 10. Samuelsson is the son of former NHL player Ulf Samuelsson.
Coffield was identified by MBTA police later Monday. The college confirmed she is a member of its women's lacrosse team.
The vehicle was making the U-turn when the trolley hit it at about 30 mph, according to the police report. Milner, Motley and Corbett left the scene and were tracked down at a hospital, the report said.
College officials say that they are cooperating with authorities and that the students could face disciplinary actions after the investigation is completed.
BOSTON (AP) - Three members of Boston College's national championship hockey team face alcohol charges after the sport utility vehicle they were in was hit by a trolley while making a U-turn across the tracks, officials said Monday.
Hockey players Philip Samuelsson, Patrick Wey and Parker Milner will be summoned to court on charges of being minors in possession of alcohol after the accident early Sunday, according to Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
He said five others in the SUV also will be summoned on minor in possession charges.
Also expected to be summoned to court on minor in possession charges are driver Jane Stanton, Tina Dilandry, Reilly Corbett, Elizabeth Motley and Jessie Coffield.
Seven of the occupants are Boston College students, and no one in the SUV was over age 19, authorities said. The crash remains under investigation.
Samuelsson, Wey and Milner are all freshmen on Boston College's hockey team, which defeated Wisconsin 5-0 for the national title April 10. Samuelsson is the son of former NHL player Ulf Samuelsson.
Coffield was identified by MBTA police later Monday. The college confirmed she is a member of its women's lacrosse team.
The vehicle was making the U-turn when the trolley hit it at about 30 mph, according to the police report. Milner, Motley and Corbett left the scene and were tracked down at a hospital, the report said.
College officials say that they are cooperating with authorities and that the students could face disciplinary actions after the investigation is completed.
BOSTON (AP) - Three members of Boston College's national championship hockey team face alcohol charges after the sport utility vehicle they were in was hit by a trolley while making a U-turn across the tracks, officials said Monday.
Hockey players Philip Samuelsson, Patrick Wey and Parker Milner will be summoned to court on charges of being minors in possession of alcohol after the accident early Sunday, according to Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
He said five others in the SUV also will be summoned on minor in possession charges.
2010年5月7日星期五
Backstrom OT goal gives Caps 4-3 win over Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) - Alex Ovechkin was kicked out early, soccer jerseys the Washington Capitals fell behind 3-0 and that's when they showed why they have the NHL's best record and highest-scoring offense.
Nicklas Backstrom scored unassisted with 1:50 left in overtime _ his second goal of the game _ to give the Capitals a 4-3 comeback victory Sunday.
"It's a strong sign, especially now at the end of the season," Backstrom said. "We know he (Ovechkin) is a key to our team and he scores a lot of goals. We have shown that we can play, that our other key players can, play, too."
After his sprint up the side, Backstrom maneuvered around Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook in the left circle and beat Antti Niemi.
Ovechkin, the two-time MVP and the league's leading scorer this season, got a game misconduct in the first period for knocking Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards.
"There's nothing I can do right now. He just fell and this happens," Ovechkin said.
Jonathan Toews had two goals and John Madden scored once for the Blackhawks, who had their second crushing defeat in as many days.
They lost 3-2 in Philadelphia on Saturday, giving up two goals in the final two minutes, including the game winner with two seconds to go.
Down 3-0 in the third Sunday without their top player and with Niemi playing well, the Capitals dominated play.
Brooks Laich scored on a power play at 5:29 to make it 3-1. A couple of seconds after the Caps' 5-on-3 power play had elapsed, Backstrom converted a rebound at 7:32. Thirteen seconds later, Eric Fehr scored from just outside the crease, tying the game, silencing the crowd at the United Center and forcing Chicago to take a timeout.
The Capitals had an 11-1 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period.
Ovechkin raced up the ice and from behind drove Campbell into the boards with 7:44 left in the first period.
Campbell stayed down for several minutes before he was able to leave the ice with a trainer at his side and then headed to the locker room. He did not return to the game. He has an upper-body injury and will not make the Blackhawks upcoming road trip to the West Coast.
Ovechkin went to the penalty box after being assessed a five-minute boarding penalty and then into the locker room after being given a game misconduct.
"I don't think it was a real good check. He just kind of fell and it was a dangerous moment. It was not a hard hit. I just wanted to push him," Ovechkin, the two-time MVP, added.
"I didn't hit him hard. I pushed him, but he fell bad. It probably looks bad. I thought it was going to be two minutes, but the linesman came to me and said 'Game over.'"
Ovechkin was given two game misconducts earlier this season, the first for a shoulder check and the second one for a kneeing incident that eventually led to a two-game suspension.
"The league will do what they do," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. "Soupy (Campbell) is going to be out for a bit here. It was a dangerous hit."
Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson would like to see Ovechkin penalized.
"I hope they take a good look and suspend him for a couple of games," he said.
The Blackhawks were able to capitalize on the penalty after Ovechkin's hit. They had a 5-on-3 power play after a second penalty on Alexander Semin, who crashed into Niemi at the end of a breakaway.
Toews scored for the second time in the first period, poking in a rebound from in front after a shot from Patrick Sharp. That made it 2-0.
Madden scored on a redirect on a long pass from Duncan Keith to make it 3-0 in the second.
"We've got the most skill in the league, on any team," Toews said. "There's no reason, up 3-0, we can't go out and finish the team off."
With the teams playing 4-on-4, Toews took a nice crossing pass from Hjalmarsson for the first score seven minutes into the game.
Niemi, in a battle with Cristobal Huet to determine the team's No. 1 goalie before the playoffs, made 26 saves. Jose Theodore had 20.
Notes: Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa, who scored his 20th goal and had his 20th assist in Saturday's loss at Philadelphia, was scratched with an upper-body injury. .. The Capitals reached 100 points in their 69th game. Backstrom also had an assist, giving him at least 55 in each of his first three seasons.
Nicklas Backstrom scored unassisted with 1:50 left in overtime _ his second goal of the game _ to give the Capitals a 4-3 comeback victory Sunday.
"It's a strong sign, especially now at the end of the season," Backstrom said. "We know he (Ovechkin) is a key to our team and he scores a lot of goals. We have shown that we can play, that our other key players can, play, too."
After his sprint up the side, Backstrom maneuvered around Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook in the left circle and beat Antti Niemi.
Ovechkin, the two-time MVP and the league's leading scorer this season, got a game misconduct in the first period for knocking Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards.
"There's nothing I can do right now. He just fell and this happens," Ovechkin said.
Jonathan Toews had two goals and John Madden scored once for the Blackhawks, who had their second crushing defeat in as many days.
They lost 3-2 in Philadelphia on Saturday, giving up two goals in the final two minutes, including the game winner with two seconds to go.
Down 3-0 in the third Sunday without their top player and with Niemi playing well, the Capitals dominated play.
Brooks Laich scored on a power play at 5:29 to make it 3-1. A couple of seconds after the Caps' 5-on-3 power play had elapsed, Backstrom converted a rebound at 7:32. Thirteen seconds later, Eric Fehr scored from just outside the crease, tying the game, silencing the crowd at the United Center and forcing Chicago to take a timeout.
The Capitals had an 11-1 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period.
Ovechkin raced up the ice and from behind drove Campbell into the boards with 7:44 left in the first period.
Campbell stayed down for several minutes before he was able to leave the ice with a trainer at his side and then headed to the locker room. He did not return to the game. He has an upper-body injury and will not make the Blackhawks upcoming road trip to the West Coast.
Ovechkin went to the penalty box after being assessed a five-minute boarding penalty and then into the locker room after being given a game misconduct.
"I don't think it was a real good check. He just kind of fell and it was a dangerous moment. It was not a hard hit. I just wanted to push him," Ovechkin, the two-time MVP, added.
"I didn't hit him hard. I pushed him, but he fell bad. It probably looks bad. I thought it was going to be two minutes, but the linesman came to me and said 'Game over.'"
Ovechkin was given two game misconducts earlier this season, the first for a shoulder check and the second one for a kneeing incident that eventually led to a two-game suspension.
"The league will do what they do," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. "Soupy (Campbell) is going to be out for a bit here. It was a dangerous hit."
Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson would like to see Ovechkin penalized.
"I hope they take a good look and suspend him for a couple of games," he said.
The Blackhawks were able to capitalize on the penalty after Ovechkin's hit. They had a 5-on-3 power play after a second penalty on Alexander Semin, who crashed into Niemi at the end of a breakaway.
Toews scored for the second time in the first period, poking in a rebound from in front after a shot from Patrick Sharp. That made it 2-0.
Madden scored on a redirect on a long pass from Duncan Keith to make it 3-0 in the second.
"We've got the most skill in the league, on any team," Toews said. "There's no reason, up 3-0, we can't go out and finish the team off."
With the teams playing 4-on-4, Toews took a nice crossing pass from Hjalmarsson for the first score seven minutes into the game.
Niemi, in a battle with Cristobal Huet to determine the team's No. 1 goalie before the playoffs, made 26 saves. Jose Theodore had 20.
Notes: Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa, who scored his 20th goal and had his 20th assist in Saturday's loss at Philadelphia, was scratched with an upper-body injury. .. The Capitals reached 100 points in their 69th game. Backstrom also had an assist, giving him at least 55 in each of his first three seasons.
Backstrom OT goal gives Caps 4-3 win over Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) - Alex Ovechkin was kicked out early, soccer jerseys the Washington Capitals fell behind 3-0 and that's when they showed why they have the NHL's best record and highest-scoring offense.
Nicklas Backstrom scored unassisted with 1:50 left in overtime _ his second goal of the game _ to give the Capitals a 4-3 comeback victory Sunday.
"It's a strong sign, especially now at the end of the season," Backstrom said. "We know he (Ovechkin) is a key to our team and he scores a lot of goals. We have shown that we can play, that our other key players can, play, too."
After his sprint up the side, Backstrom maneuvered around Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook in the left circle and beat Antti Niemi.
Ovechkin, the two-time MVP and the league's leading scorer this season, got a game misconduct in the first period for knocking Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards.
"There's nothing I can do right now. He just fell and this happens," Ovechkin said.
Jonathan Toews had two goals and John Madden scored once for the Blackhawks, who had their second crushing defeat in as many days.
They lost 3-2 in Philadelphia on Saturday, giving up two goals in the final two minutes, including the game winner with two seconds to go.
Down 3-0 in the third Sunday without their top player and with Niemi playing well, the Capitals dominated play.
Brooks Laich scored on a power play at 5:29 to make it 3-1. A couple of seconds after the Caps' 5-on-3 power play had elapsed, Backstrom converted a rebound at 7:32. Thirteen seconds later, Eric Fehr scored from just outside the crease, tying the game, silencing the crowd at the United Center and forcing Chicago to take a timeout.
The Capitals had an 11-1 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period.
Ovechkin raced up the ice and from behind drove Campbell into the boards with 7:44 left in the first period.
Campbell stayed down for several minutes before he was able to leave the ice with a trainer at his side and then headed to the locker room. He did not return to the game. He has an upper-body injury and will not make the Blackhawks upcoming road trip to the West Coast.
Ovechkin went to the penalty box after being assessed a five-minute boarding penalty and then into the locker room after being given a game misconduct.
"I don't think it was a real good check. He just kind of fell and it was a dangerous moment. It was not a hard hit. I just wanted to push him," Ovechkin, the two-time MVP, added.
"I didn't hit him hard. I pushed him, but he fell bad. It probably looks bad. I thought it was going to be two minutes, but the linesman came to me and said 'Game over.'"
Ovechkin was given two game misconducts earlier this season, the first for a shoulder check and the second one for a kneeing incident that eventually led to a two-game suspension.
"The league will do what they do," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. "Soupy (Campbell) is going to be out for a bit here. It was a dangerous hit."
Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson would like to see Ovechkin penalized.
"I hope they take a good look and suspend him for a couple of games," he said.
The Blackhawks were able to capitalize on the penalty after Ovechkin's hit. They had a 5-on-3 power play after a second penalty on Alexander Semin, who crashed into Niemi at the end of a breakaway.
Toews scored for the second time in the first period, poking in a rebound from in front after a shot from Patrick Sharp. That made it 2-0.
Madden scored on a redirect on a long pass from Duncan Keith to make it 3-0 in the second.
"We've got the most skill in the league, on any team," Toews said. "There's no reason, up 3-0, we can't go out and finish the team off."
With the teams playing 4-on-4, Toews took a nice crossing pass from Hjalmarsson for the first score seven minutes into the game.
Niemi, in a battle with Cristobal Huet to determine the team's No. 1 goalie before the playoffs, made 26 saves. Jose Theodore had 20.
Notes: Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa, soccer jerseys who scored his 20th goal and had his 20th assist in Saturday's loss at Philadelphia, was scratched with an upper-body injury. .. The Capitals reached 100 points in their 69th game. Backstrom also had an assist, giving him at least 55 in each of his first three seasons.
Nicklas Backstrom scored unassisted with 1:50 left in overtime _ his second goal of the game _ to give the Capitals a 4-3 comeback victory Sunday.
"It's a strong sign, especially now at the end of the season," Backstrom said. "We know he (Ovechkin) is a key to our team and he scores a lot of goals. We have shown that we can play, that our other key players can, play, too."
After his sprint up the side, Backstrom maneuvered around Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook in the left circle and beat Antti Niemi.
Ovechkin, the two-time MVP and the league's leading scorer this season, got a game misconduct in the first period for knocking Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards.
"There's nothing I can do right now. He just fell and this happens," Ovechkin said.
Jonathan Toews had two goals and John Madden scored once for the Blackhawks, who had their second crushing defeat in as many days.
They lost 3-2 in Philadelphia on Saturday, giving up two goals in the final two minutes, including the game winner with two seconds to go.
Down 3-0 in the third Sunday without their top player and with Niemi playing well, the Capitals dominated play.
Brooks Laich scored on a power play at 5:29 to make it 3-1. A couple of seconds after the Caps' 5-on-3 power play had elapsed, Backstrom converted a rebound at 7:32. Thirteen seconds later, Eric Fehr scored from just outside the crease, tying the game, silencing the crowd at the United Center and forcing Chicago to take a timeout.
The Capitals had an 11-1 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period.
Ovechkin raced up the ice and from behind drove Campbell into the boards with 7:44 left in the first period.
Campbell stayed down for several minutes before he was able to leave the ice with a trainer at his side and then headed to the locker room. He did not return to the game. He has an upper-body injury and will not make the Blackhawks upcoming road trip to the West Coast.
Ovechkin went to the penalty box after being assessed a five-minute boarding penalty and then into the locker room after being given a game misconduct.
"I don't think it was a real good check. He just kind of fell and it was a dangerous moment. It was not a hard hit. I just wanted to push him," Ovechkin, the two-time MVP, added.
"I didn't hit him hard. I pushed him, but he fell bad. It probably looks bad. I thought it was going to be two minutes, but the linesman came to me and said 'Game over.'"
Ovechkin was given two game misconducts earlier this season, the first for a shoulder check and the second one for a kneeing incident that eventually led to a two-game suspension.
"The league will do what they do," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. "Soupy (Campbell) is going to be out for a bit here. It was a dangerous hit."
Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson would like to see Ovechkin penalized.
"I hope they take a good look and suspend him for a couple of games," he said.
The Blackhawks were able to capitalize on the penalty after Ovechkin's hit. They had a 5-on-3 power play after a second penalty on Alexander Semin, who crashed into Niemi at the end of a breakaway.
Toews scored for the second time in the first period, poking in a rebound from in front after a shot from Patrick Sharp. That made it 2-0.
Madden scored on a redirect on a long pass from Duncan Keith to make it 3-0 in the second.
"We've got the most skill in the league, on any team," Toews said. "There's no reason, up 3-0, we can't go out and finish the team off."
With the teams playing 4-on-4, Toews took a nice crossing pass from Hjalmarsson for the first score seven minutes into the game.
Niemi, in a battle with Cristobal Huet to determine the team's No. 1 goalie before the playoffs, made 26 saves. Jose Theodore had 20.
Notes: Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa, soccer jerseys who scored his 20th goal and had his 20th assist in Saturday's loss at Philadelphia, was scratched with an upper-body injury. .. The Capitals reached 100 points in their 69th game. Backstrom also had an assist, giving him at least 55 in each of his first three seasons.
2010年5月5日星期三
Sedin has goal, 2 assists as Canucks top Coyotes
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Henrik Sedin scored a short-handed goal late in the second period and added two assists to regain the NHL scoring lead, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 on Tuesday night. soccer jerseys
Alex Burrows, Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin also scored, and Roberto Luongo finished with 32 saves as the Canucks won for just the third time in seven games to move seven points ahead of Colorado atop the Northwest Division.
Radim Vrbata scored, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves for Phoenix, which lost for the third time in 13 games (10-2-1) to remain four points behind San Jose for both the Pacific Division and Western Conference leads. The Coyotes were playing their first game since Saturday, when they clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 and the first 100-point season in franchise history.
Vancouver led 3-1 after a wild first period that had a little bit of everything despite ending a minute early, with the extra time added to the start of the second period after a pane of glass was broken behind the Canucks' net.
Burrows opened the scoring 37 seconds after Bryzgalov waved awkwardly at his unscreened slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle off the rush.
Raymond doubled the lead less than four minutes later, pouncing on a loose puck after being denied on a good chance earlier in the shift and cutting to the top of the left circle before firing a low wrist shot in off a defender's leg.
The Coyotes had a great chance to come back after Vancouver center Ryan Kesler was given a five-minute major penalty and tossed out of the game for a hit from behind that left Derek Morris bleeding after hitting his head into the boards with 6:18 left in the period. Neither referee signaled a penalty at the time, but Kesler was tossed after the hit touched off a full line scrum, putting the Coyotes on a 5-on-3 for 11 seconds as part of the five-minute power play.
Vrbata scored with 3:20 left, beating a stickless Luongo high after cutting through the slot, but Vancouver regained the two-goal lead 39 seconds later.
Bryzgalov stopped the puck behind his net and threw a blind backhand pass to Henrik Sedin at the other side. He tucked in his 29th goal, and added his second assist of the game _ and 104th point this season, three more than Washington's Alex Ovechkin _ on a pretty backhand pass of his own in the second period.
Shortly after Luongo made a diving stick save off Shane Doan at the other end, Sedin took a pass in the slot and made a blind, spinning backhand feed to twin brother Daniel for an easy backdoor tap-in behind a sprawled Bryzgalov.
Henrik Sedin has 10 points and Daniel has seven on their five-game point streaks.
NOTES: Canucks D Andrew Alberts took the lineup spot of Shane O'Brien, who was exiled after being late for practice Monday. Coach Alain Vigneault said there was "more to this than being tardy once, and O'Brien would not practice with the team before Sunday, or make this week s two-game road trip to California. ... RW Pavol Demitra missed his fourth straight game for undisclosed personal reasons. ... Mikael Samuelsson, who had nine goals in eight games before an injury to his shoulder March 16, returned to practice Monday and could play later this week. ... Mark Rypien, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Washington Redskins, was in attendance to watch second-cousin Rick Rypien, a Canucks forward.
Alex Burrows, Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin also scored, and Roberto Luongo finished with 32 saves as the Canucks won for just the third time in seven games to move seven points ahead of Colorado atop the Northwest Division.
Radim Vrbata scored, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves for Phoenix, which lost for the third time in 13 games (10-2-1) to remain four points behind San Jose for both the Pacific Division and Western Conference leads. The Coyotes were playing their first game since Saturday, when they clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 and the first 100-point season in franchise history.
Vancouver led 3-1 after a wild first period that had a little bit of everything despite ending a minute early, with the extra time added to the start of the second period after a pane of glass was broken behind the Canucks' net.
Burrows opened the scoring 37 seconds after Bryzgalov waved awkwardly at his unscreened slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle off the rush.
Raymond doubled the lead less than four minutes later, pouncing on a loose puck after being denied on a good chance earlier in the shift and cutting to the top of the left circle before firing a low wrist shot in off a defender's leg.
The Coyotes had a great chance to come back after Vancouver center Ryan Kesler was given a five-minute major penalty and tossed out of the game for a hit from behind that left Derek Morris bleeding after hitting his head into the boards with 6:18 left in the period. Neither referee signaled a penalty at the time, but Kesler was tossed after the hit touched off a full line scrum, putting the Coyotes on a 5-on-3 for 11 seconds as part of the five-minute power play.
Vrbata scored with 3:20 left, beating a stickless Luongo high after cutting through the slot, but Vancouver regained the two-goal lead 39 seconds later.
Bryzgalov stopped the puck behind his net and threw a blind backhand pass to Henrik Sedin at the other side. He tucked in his 29th goal, and added his second assist of the game _ and 104th point this season, three more than Washington's Alex Ovechkin _ on a pretty backhand pass of his own in the second period.
Shortly after Luongo made a diving stick save off Shane Doan at the other end, Sedin took a pass in the slot and made a blind, spinning backhand feed to twin brother Daniel for an easy backdoor tap-in behind a sprawled Bryzgalov.
Henrik Sedin has 10 points and Daniel has seven on their five-game point streaks.
NOTES: Canucks D Andrew Alberts took the lineup spot of Shane O'Brien, who was exiled after being late for practice Monday. Coach Alain Vigneault said there was "more to this than being tardy once, and O'Brien would not practice with the team before Sunday, or make this week s two-game road trip to California. ... RW Pavol Demitra missed his fourth straight game for undisclosed personal reasons. ... Mikael Samuelsson, who had nine goals in eight games before an injury to his shoulder March 16, returned to practice Monday and could play later this week. ... Mark Rypien, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Washington Redskins, was in attendance to watch second-cousin Rick Rypien, a Canucks forward.
Barcelona Cannot Afford Robinho
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 -- Reigning Spanish and European champions FC Barcelona cannot afford to sign Robinho from Premier League club Manchester City, according to latest reports.
ESPN reports that Barcelona do not have enough funds to sign either Robinho from Man City or Javier Mascherano from Liverpool. Both the players have been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou with some reports suggesting the duo would be playing for the Blaugrana from January itself.
But it has now been reported that Barcelona do not have the money to sign either of the World Cup Soccer Jersey players on a permanent basis and can sign Robinho only on a loan deal.
ESPN reports that Barcelona do not have enough funds to sign either Robinho from Man City or Javier Mascherano from Liverpool. Both the players have been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou with some reports suggesting the duo would be playing for the Blaugrana from January itself.
But it has now been reported that Barcelona do not have the money to sign either of the World Cup Soccer Jersey players on a permanent basis and can sign Robinho only on a loan deal.
2010年5月4日星期二
World Cup Draw; Who To Avoid
FIFA have announced the MLB jerseys top eight seeds and the four pots for Friday’s 2010 World Cup draw, so here’s Sports Pundit’s guide for who to avoid and who to get.
Pot 1 (seeds)
South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England
The team many will be hoping to draw are the hosts who are currently ranked 86th in the world. South Africa got through their group at this year’s Confederations Cup but nevertheless clearly remain the weakest side in this pot.
World Cup favourites Brazil and Spain will be very difficult but a point worth mentioning is sometimes it isn’t bad to have a team in your group who dominates and takes points off everybody.
Pot 2 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America)
Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras
New Zealand is likely to be the World Cup’s whipping boys and their performance at the Confederations Cup in South Africa didn’t suggest otherwise. Drawing the All-Whites would be well received by any nation as the Kiwis probably are satisfied with just making it. It’s been a while between World Cups for North Korea and Honduras but they’ll be an awkward unknown.
South Korea was recently named the 2009 AFC Team of the Year and are always difficult with their technical ability and pace. The USA performed well in Africa at this year’s Confederations Cup albeit belatedly after a slow start but could loom large as a danger.
Pot 3 (Africa and South America)
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay
For the African nations being on familiar turf may help but Algeria and Nigeria (who both snuck through their qualifying groups) may be the ‘easy draws’ here. The South American nations may find it tough in Africa too and Paraguay and Chile haven’t had a heap of World Cup success recently.
If there is going to be nation from the African continent to challenge for World Cup honours surely it has to be out of Ghana and Ivory Coast who boast world-class stars like Michael Essien and Didier Drogba respectively. Team will want to avoid them, especially on the back of decent showings last time out in Germany.
Pot 4 (Europe)
France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia
Unheralded Slovenia and Slovakia are the pair many nations are hoping to draw given their credentials but they won’t be easy by any means. The Swiss just got through a rather easy qualifying group and Ottmar Hitzfeld’s men may not be the worst team to be drawn with.
The big two to avoid are clearly France and Portugal despite their wavering qualification campaigns. Portugal, of course, possess 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo who can rip any side open while the French have many brilliant individuals who can produce a moment of magic such as Franck Ribery or Thierry Henry. Serbia have been strong recently too and should be avoided.
When is it?
The draw for the 2010 World Cup finals takes place in Cape Town this Friday at 19:00 UTC+2.
Pot 1 (seeds)
South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England
The team many will be hoping to draw are the hosts who are currently ranked 86th in the world. South Africa got through their group at this year’s Confederations Cup but nevertheless clearly remain the weakest side in this pot.
World Cup favourites Brazil and Spain will be very difficult but a point worth mentioning is sometimes it isn’t bad to have a team in your group who dominates and takes points off everybody.
Pot 2 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America)
Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras
New Zealand is likely to be the World Cup’s whipping boys and their performance at the Confederations Cup in South Africa didn’t suggest otherwise. Drawing the All-Whites would be well received by any nation as the Kiwis probably are satisfied with just making it. It’s been a while between World Cups for North Korea and Honduras but they’ll be an awkward unknown.
South Korea was recently named the 2009 AFC Team of the Year and are always difficult with their technical ability and pace. The USA performed well in Africa at this year’s Confederations Cup albeit belatedly after a slow start but could loom large as a danger.
Pot 3 (Africa and South America)
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay
For the African nations being on familiar turf may help but Algeria and Nigeria (who both snuck through their qualifying groups) may be the ‘easy draws’ here. The South American nations may find it tough in Africa too and Paraguay and Chile haven’t had a heap of World Cup success recently.
If there is going to be nation from the African continent to challenge for World Cup honours surely it has to be out of Ghana and Ivory Coast who boast world-class stars like Michael Essien and Didier Drogba respectively. Team will want to avoid them, especially on the back of decent showings last time out in Germany.
Pot 4 (Europe)
France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia
Unheralded Slovenia and Slovakia are the pair many nations are hoping to draw given their credentials but they won’t be easy by any means. The Swiss just got through a rather easy qualifying group and Ottmar Hitzfeld’s men may not be the worst team to be drawn with.
The big two to avoid are clearly France and Portugal despite their wavering qualification campaigns. Portugal, of course, possess 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo who can rip any side open while the French have many brilliant individuals who can produce a moment of magic such as Franck Ribery or Thierry Henry. Serbia have been strong recently too and should be avoided.
When is it?
The draw for the 2010 World Cup finals takes place in Cape Town this Friday at 19:00 UTC+2.
2010年5月2日星期日
Luis Suarez To Sign For Chelsea?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 -- Ajax Amsterdam striker Luis Suarez is NHL Jerseys set to join Premier League giants Chelsea very soon, according to latest reports in the Dutch media.
Suarez's agent Daniel Fonseca has reportedly said that Chelsea and Ajax have agreed on a deal for Suarez.
Suarez is regarded as one of the best players in the Dutch league and a number of major clubs in Europe have been linked with a move to sign the 22-year-old.
Suarez's agent Daniel Fonseca has reportedly said that Chelsea and Ajax have agreed on a deal for Suarez.
Suarez is regarded as one of the best players in the Dutch league and a number of major clubs in Europe have been linked with a move to sign the 22-year-old.
Mancini's Man City Have Ingredients For Success
After four victories from four starts, Roberto Mancini's reign at Manchester City couldn't have begun any better. It's provoked talk of World Cup Soccer Jersey a title hunt for the Sky Blues. But is it realistic?
The Italian boss seems to have arrived at the City of Manchester Stadium at the right time.
Carlos Tevez is in brilliant form, claiming December's Player of the Month award, before scoring a hat-trick against Blackburn on Monday. And the Sky Blues have had a good run of fixtures to greet Mancini's arrival.
There's no doubt under Mark Hughes, City were dropping points against the likes of Stoke City, Blackburn or Wolverhampton (whom Mancini's faced in his first three league encounters). Indeed, Hughes's Sky Blues had that unbelievable run of draws.
So credit where credit is due, Mancini's impact at City has been immediate but considering the opposition we shouldn't go overboard lavishing praise on the new gaffer, let alone brandishing them title contenders. That is a little early.
But there's certainly positive signs that City have the right ingredients for success. Perhaps they're heading down the right path (or recipe) to achieving that as well.
Nevertheless, after an inconsistent start to the campaign under Hughes, the Sky Blues are currently seven points behind leaders Chelsea. You could argue, they've offered them too big a headstart.
Indeed, Manchester City fans might deep down still hold hope of a title challenge, but realistically they should be content claiming a top four spot and qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Key midfielder Nigel de Jong echoed that sentiment when he said this week: “Of course the title is a possibility. Nothing is impossible.
“Though nothing is impossible, you have to work for it. You have to be realistic as well and remember this is only season number one for us after the big spending and we have to take it step by step.
“That's what it's all about at City at the moment, to try and make a difference between the past and the future. Right now you can see what's happening. Everyone is excited. It was a good performance against Blackburn and we've got to keep that going.
“Of course we can stay in the top four. You see how big the squad is. It's not only the first 11 but the 22 players in the squad. The important thing is the Champions League place and trying to continue in that position. Then, we will see in March and April where we are standing.”
Indeed, there is plenty of work ahead for the Sky Blues and immediate success can not be expected. We shouldn't forget that when Roman Abramovich arrived at Chelsea, it took the Blues a few years to claim the Premier League title despite his big-spending.
The point here is a title challenge takes work, and a little bit of time. Immediate results should not realistically be expected.
Mancini's early success at City has mainly revolved around re-organising the side's defence, which has only conceded once since his arrival. That has been the key for now, but more work needs to be done especially when they face the bigger clubs.
But the early indications from Eastlands are that Mancini's arrival has made a positive impact, despite a few grumblings from Craig Bellamy and Shay Given when Hughes was dismissed.
Indeed Mancini, who coached Internazionale to three Serie A titles, appears to know the recipe the Sky Blues need to succeed. Throw in their expensive playing purchases and it is clear this is a side with the right ingredients to go with it.
For now, aiming for this season's title may be a tad ambitious, but City finally seem to be heading in the right direction. How long it takes for that direction to reap rewards remains to be seen.
The Italian boss seems to have arrived at the City of Manchester Stadium at the right time.
Carlos Tevez is in brilliant form, claiming December's Player of the Month award, before scoring a hat-trick against Blackburn on Monday. And the Sky Blues have had a good run of fixtures to greet Mancini's arrival.
There's no doubt under Mark Hughes, City were dropping points against the likes of Stoke City, Blackburn or Wolverhampton (whom Mancini's faced in his first three league encounters). Indeed, Hughes's Sky Blues had that unbelievable run of draws.
So credit where credit is due, Mancini's impact at City has been immediate but considering the opposition we shouldn't go overboard lavishing praise on the new gaffer, let alone brandishing them title contenders. That is a little early.
But there's certainly positive signs that City have the right ingredients for success. Perhaps they're heading down the right path (or recipe) to achieving that as well.
Nevertheless, after an inconsistent start to the campaign under Hughes, the Sky Blues are currently seven points behind leaders Chelsea. You could argue, they've offered them too big a headstart.
Indeed, Manchester City fans might deep down still hold hope of a title challenge, but realistically they should be content claiming a top four spot and qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Key midfielder Nigel de Jong echoed that sentiment when he said this week: “Of course the title is a possibility. Nothing is impossible.
“Though nothing is impossible, you have to work for it. You have to be realistic as well and remember this is only season number one for us after the big spending and we have to take it step by step.
“That's what it's all about at City at the moment, to try and make a difference between the past and the future. Right now you can see what's happening. Everyone is excited. It was a good performance against Blackburn and we've got to keep that going.
“Of course we can stay in the top four. You see how big the squad is. It's not only the first 11 but the 22 players in the squad. The important thing is the Champions League place and trying to continue in that position. Then, we will see in March and April where we are standing.”
Indeed, there is plenty of work ahead for the Sky Blues and immediate success can not be expected. We shouldn't forget that when Roman Abramovich arrived at Chelsea, it took the Blues a few years to claim the Premier League title despite his big-spending.
The point here is a title challenge takes work, and a little bit of time. Immediate results should not realistically be expected.
Mancini's early success at City has mainly revolved around re-organising the side's defence, which has only conceded once since his arrival. That has been the key for now, but more work needs to be done especially when they face the bigger clubs.
But the early indications from Eastlands are that Mancini's arrival has made a positive impact, despite a few grumblings from Craig Bellamy and Shay Given when Hughes was dismissed.
Indeed Mancini, who coached Internazionale to three Serie A titles, appears to know the recipe the Sky Blues need to succeed. Throw in their expensive playing purchases and it is clear this is a side with the right ingredients to go with it.
For now, aiming for this season's title may be a tad ambitious, but City finally seem to be heading in the right direction. How long it takes for that direction to reap rewards remains to be seen.
2010年5月1日星期六
Obama halts offshore oil drilling
Barack Obama, the US president, has ordered all new domestic offshore oil drilling to be put on hold until the current disaster has been fully investigated.
Obama said on Friday that the government had dispatched teams to the coast "to inspect all deep water rigs and platforms to address safety concerns", after oil from a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico reached US shores on Thursday night.
"We've laid 217,000 feet of protected boom and there are more on the way," he said in Washington.
Officials said that the leak, from the oil rig that sunk after a massive explosion last week, was five times worse than previously thought, and could trigger a disaster of "national significance" on the Gulf coast.
The massive slick prompted the southern US state of Louisiana to declare a state of emergency and the White House to step up its response.
Al Jazeera's Sebastian Walker, reporting from a fishing port south of New Orleans, said fishermen were out in the early hours of Friday, trying to get as much of their catch as they could before the oil slick was expected to hit the shore.
"People have been hearing that they have about one or two days left to fish before the whole operation is shut down," he said.
"There's an atmosphere of extreme concern here, with fishermen trying to get as much as they can before things get even worse." soccer jerseys
Obama said on Friday that the government had dispatched teams to the coast "to inspect all deep water rigs and platforms to address safety concerns", after oil from a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico reached US shores on Thursday night.
"We've laid 217,000 feet of protected boom and there are more on the way," he said in Washington.
Officials said that the leak, from the oil rig that sunk after a massive explosion last week, was five times worse than previously thought, and could trigger a disaster of "national significance" on the Gulf coast.
The massive slick prompted the southern US state of Louisiana to declare a state of emergency and the White House to step up its response.
Al Jazeera's Sebastian Walker, reporting from a fishing port south of New Orleans, said fishermen were out in the early hours of Friday, trying to get as much of their catch as they could before the oil slick was expected to hit the shore.
"People have been hearing that they have about one or two days left to fish before the whole operation is shut down," he said.
"There's an atmosphere of extreme concern here, with fishermen trying to get as much as they can before things get even worse." soccer jerseys
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