miaowang123: thats been like that in a long time

miaowang123

MINSK, Belarus -- In winning its group at the world hockey championship, Team Canada beat goaltenders Jan Laco, Jakub Kovar, Patrick Galbraith, Daniel Bellissimo, Anders Nilsson and Steffen Soberg. Lac Edwards Jersey . None of them are Finlands Pekka Rinne, who stands as Canadas biggest challenge in Thursdays quarter-final round. Even while a young Finnish team has struggled with penalties, turnovers and a lack of offensive depth, Rinne has been a rock with a 1.65 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and two shutouts. "Pekka is our most important player -- absolutely," coach Erkka Westerlund said Wednesday. "We built our whole system so that goalkeeping is No. 1, and then we try to build the strength (of) defence in front of him. Thats how it is, (how) hockey works." Westerlund said he was not yet satisfied with his teams defensive play but expects improvement. Even if that doesnt happen, Finland has a good chance in Canada if for no other reason than Rinne. Fortunately for the Finns, Rinne is not experiencing any injury problems after missing four months of the Nashville Predators season with a hip infection. Naturally, it took a while for him to get back to feeling right. "Its a process, and I think even when I came here (to Minsk) I thought that hopefully I can improve all the time and I didnt maybe feel 100 per cent," Rinne said. "But now I do, and Im really happy and I feel like my game has been getting better and (Im) just feeling more comfortable." Rinne is playing with confidence and instilling it in his teammates, only six of whom are back from the Sochi Olympics, where Finland won a bronze medal. Tuukka Rask and Kari Lehtonen were the goalies then, but as former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov pointed out, the best thing about his country is knowing there will always be great goaltending. Still, this isnt the Olympics. "Its a different roster, its a different tournament," said Komarov, who repeated his desire to return to the NHL last season. "Its a new day, a new life." But the same, old, reliable Rinne. Canadian defenceman Ryan Ellis knows all about that from parts of three seasons as a Predators teammate of Rinnes. Unlike a lot of other goaltenders, Ellis said Rinne doesnt let game action detract from his practices. "Every day, every practice its like a game," Ellis said. "He tries so hard in net in practice. I remember by first couple years there, I dont think I scored him in the first 10 or 15 practices. And then every time I did, I was pretty impressed with myself, pretty happy." Ellis said Canada was less concerned with how they were going to score on Rinne and more worried about his puck-handling thwarting attack time. "Hes active back there with the puck, so I think the biggest thing that were focused on is keeping the pucks away from him on dumps and stuff," Ellis said. "He gets out to play them a lot. Getting them in the glass and try to get them out of his reach." Thats especially important to a Canadian team that tries to play a hard, North American style on the bigger, international ice surface. Canada has succeeded at holding on to the puck to create chances and through seven games has averaged 34 shots a game. The strategy against Rinne is the same as many other elite goaltenders. "Were going to have to get pucks and traffic to the net," Ellis said. "Its tough for goalies when they get that kind of presence in front of him. Weve got some big guys, so hopefully we can get those guys going." Whether that happens or Rinne keeps rolling will go a long way to determining whether Canada has a date with the United States or Czech Republic in Saturdays semifinals. Westerlund said the Finns "dont have pressure (because) we are underdogs." Thats true. But Rinne still displays big-game confidence. "Im feeling good and Ive been enjoying hockey," Rinne said. "I think thats the biggest thing, when youre just having fun and just letting it go. Just dont think about anything, just play, and I feel like Ive been doing that." Quincy Enunwa Jersey . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Steve McLendon Jersey . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan.SAN DIEGO - More than 24 hours later, Antonio Gates still couldnt believe it — or explain it.The Chargers 37-0 loss at Miami on Sunday was their worst defeat in 18 years.Ive never been a part of something of that magnitude at all in my sports life, period, said the star tight end, whos been with the Chargers since 2003.What had Gates shaking his head Monday afternoon was that a Philip Rivers-led team crossed the 50-yard line only once, on the opening drive. That drive ended when rookie Branden Oliver was stuffed on fourth-and-1 from the Miami 22.In this league, you just dont lose like that. Guys are too talented, guys are too good. It just wasnt our day, Gates said.I dont want to blame absolutely no one. I take the blame about what I could have done to prevent that, he added. Thats the message that we as veteran leaders send to the rest of the group: What can you do better to help us win. What can you do better to help us prevent a situation like that. Thats real hard to do. I mean, for a team to beat us like that, it just wasnt the San Diego Chargers that Ive been a part of that, that weve built. It wasnt our best performance by far.The Chargers (5-4) are in a freefall going into their bye, having lost three straight games by increasingly larger margins.After rallying to beat winless Oakland, the Chargers lost at home to Kansas City, 23-20, and then on the road to Denver, 35-21. Theyve gone from being tied for the NFLs best recoord at 5-1 to now needing to rally to get a playoff berth. Joe Klecko Jersey. Sundays debacle was their worst loss since a 45-7 defeat to New England in 1996. It was their first shutout loss since a 34-0 defeat at Kansas City in 1999, when Jim Harbaugh was their quarterback.Rivers was intercepted three times and lost a fumble. It got so bad that Rivers made way for backup Kellen Clemens. The line played so poorly that San Diego had only 50 yards on 19 rushes.Coach Mike McCoy didnt have any answers on Monday.We flat out played poor, obviously. Look at the scoreboard. Its not going to lie, McCoy said.The coach said no one could blame the preparation.We had the right mindset going in, understanding the importance of the next game, playing a good team, on the road, going to Miami, what it means playing a conference opponent and whats at stake there, the importance of those games. We played poor as a team. We did a poor job coaching.When you get beat 37-0 you obviously did something wrong, McCoy said. Its hard for me to think of a game that Ive been involved in thats been like that in a long time. Its part of the game and its a perfect example of, you dont go out and play your best game, youre going to get exposed. We got exposed in a lot of areas.After their bye, the Chargers host the Raiders.___Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at twitter.com/berniewilson___Online: pro32.ap.org/poll and twitter.com/AP_NFL  Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Stitched Jerseys NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '