ekansekans's blog: "df"

PITTSBURGH -- James Neal saw the puck roll to the corner and sprinted to dig it out. T.Y. Hilton Womens Jersey . The sight of hockeys most intimidating player standing in his way hardly mattered. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward shoved Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara -- all 6-foot-9 of him -- in the back then nudged the puck to teammate Evgeni Malkin. The NHLs leading scorer fed Matt Niskanen at the point, and when Niskanens slap shot hit the back of the net the leagues hottest team was on its way to a 5-2 win. "We wanted to get on (Chara) and be physical and affect him as much as possible," Neal said. "We did a good job at that from the first shift on." Neal finished with three points -- including his first goal since signing a $30-million contract extension last month -- for the Penguins, who have won nine straight to keep the pressure on the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers. Chris Kunitz, Arron Asham, Pascal Dupuis and Niskanen also scored for Pittsburgh while Malkin had three assists to move into the NHL points lead with 84, two ahead of Tampa Bays Steven Stamkos. Malkin also became the 17th Russian-born player to top 500 career points, though he was hardly concerned with the milestone. "I not think about my points now," Malkin said. "The season continues and playoffs come soon." And Pittsburghs post-season prospects appear to be improving by the day. The Penguins started the day four points behind the New York Rangers for the Atlantic Division lead and could get captain Sidney Crosby back by Thursday, when they start a pivotal three-game road trip at Madison Square Garden. Crosby hasnt played since concussion-like symptoms returned in early December but was cleared for contact last week and said on Saturday playing soon is a possibility. Whenever he comes back, Crosby will join a team thats starting to look like a Stanley Cup contender even without the former MVPs talents. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 34 shots to run his personal winning streak to eight, as the Penguins jumped on the Bruins early. David Krejci scored twice for Boston, but the Penguins chased Tim Thomas after the first period. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner stopped just seven of the 10 shots he faced before making way for Marty Turco. "I think it was a good opportunity for Marty to go in," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "When youre down by three goals against Pittsburgh, give the guy an opportunity. I wanted to see how he responded. Tims has played a lot lately. It was an opportunity to give him some rest." Something the defending Stanley Cup champions need. Pittsburghs winning streak is the second-longest in the league this season behind a 10-game run the Bruins put together in November. The Bruins have been stuck in a holding pattern since that streak ended Nov. 23, unable to play with any kind of consistency. They appeared to be ready to bust out of their funk last week with wins over Toronto and Buffalo, but the momentum evaporated in a span of 28 hours. The Bruins let enigmatic Washington race to a quick two-goal lead and hold on for a 4-3 victory on Saturday afternoon in Boston before hopping on a plane to Pittsburgh to prep for a game that was moved up seven hours to accommodate national television. The sluggishness showed during Pittsburghs dominant first period. The Penguins attacked from the opening faceoff, winning every important puck battle while slapping the Bruins around. "We came out as physical as we have been in a long time," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "It had an effect early on. One of the things we were wanting to do is establish our offensive zone from a physicality standpoint." Ashams fourth goal of the season came after one such victory, as Craig Adams dug the puck out of the corner then passed it to Ben Lovejoy at the point. Lovejoys slapshot was blocked, but Asham pounced on the rolling puck and beat Thomas with ease less than four minutes in. Niskanens goal came in much the same fashion thanks to Neal and Malkins hard work in the corner against Chara. By the time Neal netted his 31st goal of the season on the power play with 1:18 left in the first the Penguins were in complete control. "We were caught chasing a two-goal deficit before the game even started," Boston forward Shawn Thornton said. "Really it wasnt for lack of effort, just bad bounces ... but for the last 40 minutes we played a solid game even with a short bench." By then, however, it was too late though Turco did his best to pick up his teammates. The 36-year-old veteran played in Austria this winter before the Bruins signed him last week to replace injured backup Tuukka Rask. Turcos appearance was the first for Boston by a goaltender other than Thomas or Rask since Manny Fernandez took the ice for Boston in 2009. Turco let in an early goal by Kunitz but was sharp otherwise, making a sprawling save on Jordan Staal a few minutes after entering, and the Bruins seemed to settle down. "It was good to get in there," Turco said. "Every minute I felt a little better and more comfortable." Boston closed with 4-2 midway through the second period on Krejcis second goal but Fleury made sure the Bruins would get no closer and Dupuis 18th goal of the season late in the third period gave Pittsburgh extra breathing room. NOTES: Boston D Adam McQuaid and forwards Max Sauve and Patrice Bergeron all left with injuries but Julien said they didnt appear to be serious. ... Pittsburghs winning streak is the franchises longest since 12 straight during the 2010-11 season ... Staal assisted on Dupuis third-period goal to extend his points streak to a career-best seven games. Andrew Luck Shirts . -- Robert Griffin III is the first rookie quarterback to win an offensive player of the week award after his debut game. Reggie Wayne Womens Jersey . The reliever was ejected in the Rays 5-4 victory Tuesday night when Washington manager Davey Johnson asked the umpires to check Peraltas glove while the pitcher was warming up in the eighth inning. http://www.coltsteamstore.com/andrew-luck-jersey . Its time for others in the NL to recognize the first-place team in the NL East. Aiming for a fifth straight win overall and an eighth consecutive victory against the Phillies, the NL East leaders hope to complete a three-game sweep tonight at Nationals Park. Pat Angerer Womens Jersey . The second half didnt get off to a good start. The division-leading Washington Nationals stretched their lead over the Marlins to 10 games with a 5-1 win Friday night that was powered by a two-run home run by Ryan Zimmerman. Reggie Wayne Youth Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan examines a Canucks team that has registered 100 points or more in seven of the last nine seasons, but remains in the hunt for the franchises first Stanley Cup.INDIANAPOLIS -- Roger Penskes strategy beat Michael Andrettis team by inches Saturday -- 9.168 inches to be exact. In the closest pole duel in Indianapolis 500 history, Team Penske sent points leader Will Power onto the track with two minutes left in the Pole Day shootout -- a shrewd move that prevented three Andretti drivers from taking one last shot at the pole and preserving the No. 1 starting spot for Ryan Briscoe. It was a remarkable finish on a wild afternoon. Briscoe was the surprise winner with a four-lap average of 226.484 miles per hour. He completed the 10-mile qualification run 0.0023 seconds quicker than Canadas James Hinchcliffe. The previous record was set in 1970 when Al Unser edged Johnny Rutherford by 0.01 seconds over the four-lap qualifying run. "My name will go down forever for something that I won here at the Indy 500," Briscoe said after claiming his first Indy pole after narrowly missing in 2008, 2009 and 2010. This one will go straight into the record book. How close was the battle on Indys historic 2.5-mile oval? Everybody had an answer. When Hinchcliffe left the post-race news conference, Briscoe held his fingers about an inch apart and explained it was that close. Hinchcliffe knew better. "Its a gust of wind, its a shadow over a part of the track," the Oakville, Ont., native said before holding up his name card and explaining that was the distance. "Im going to lose a little bit of sleep at how small the margin was to Ryan." Eventually a series spokesman came in and blurted out the actual distance right down to the thousandth of an inch. Nobody knows how to play this game better than Penske and he proved it again Saturday. The iconic racing owner has won five of the last seven poles at Indy and extended his own Indy record to 17 poles. Briscoe is the 11th driver to win a pole for The Captain, and it comes one week before Penske celebrates the 40th anniversary of his first career Indy win 1972. Hell get a shot at win No. 12 here May 27. As usual, Penske didnt rely on conventional wisdom. Penskes three drivers -- Briscoe, three-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves and Power, the points leader -- spent most of this week just trying to crack the top 10 of the speed charts. Some around Gasoline Alley thought the only IndyCar team to win a pole or a race this season was sandbagging. Maybe it was. When Castroneves arrived at the track Saturday morning, it didnt take him long to top 227 mph in the early morning practice, and once qualifying began, it quickly became apparent this would be a two-team race between Penskes drivers and the resurgent Andretti team. Still, most thought the battle would be waged between Castroneves and Marco Andretti, Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay or some combination of the four. It turned out to be Hinchcliffe who created the most tension for Briscoe, who started putting his gloves back on after Hinchcliffe ran a 227.009 warm-up lap. When Hinchcliffes first qualifying attempt in the shootout ended just short, Briscoe pumped his fists and started trading high-fives with crew members. The scene played out about one hour later when the track was closed. "I dont know how many times Ive been here and Ive been in both those seats before and the next thing I know, Helio goes out and goes 1 mph quicker than everyone," Briscoe said. "Im just glad its my time.&quoot; Penske made sure of it. Coby Fleener Womens Jersey. With only minutes left in qualifying, Power took one final shot at earning his first Indy pole. He wasnt quick enough to claim it, he stayed on the track long enough to protect Briscoe. "Its just that sort of place," Power said. "I think in 2010, Helio punched out a megatime, I think 28.0. Where did that time come from, you know?" This time, Briscoe turned the tables on his teammate and the rest of the Indy field. And it was Andrettis team that made the big splash. After last Mays debacle in which Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti nearly missed making the race, Mike Conway failed to qualify and Ryan Hunter-Reay only got back into the field by jumping into one of A.J. Foyts car, Andretti Autosport rebounded by taking three of the top four starting spots and putting the most pressure on Briscoe. "Theres three Andrettis in the top four, you tell me?" Hinchcliffe said when asked if Michael Andrettis team is ready to make this championship a three-team race. The replacement for Patrick in the Go Daddy car is starting second, the middle of Row 1 with a qualifying speed of 226.481. Hunter-Reay will start on the outside of Row 1 after going 226.240, and Andretti will start on the inside of Row 2 with a speed of 225.456. Power and Castroneves close out Row 2. Rookie Josef Newgarden, from Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, was the slowest of the shootout qualifiers at 224.037 and will start seventh. Hes the highest qualifying rookie since Danica Patrick was fourth in 2005. Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que., last years Indy 500 polesitter, qualified 11th. Tony Kanaan and E.J. Viso took the green flag, and then pulled into the pits before completing a full qualifying run during the shootout. "I know we arent the quickest right now, but I really think we have the quickest car in the field," said the first Tennessee native to qualify for the 500. And after plenty of questions about whether the new compressor covers would give Honda engines an advantage over Chevrolet, Newgarden wound up as the only Honda in the first three rows. Fishers other driver, rookie Bryan Clauson, crashed on his fourth qualifying lap and didnt get another chance to qualify. Hes expected to take another shot Sunday when the final nine spots in the 33-car field are filled. Clauson drew the ninth spot in the qualifying line. There were some notable absences from the front of the field, too. Team owner Chip Ganassi has won four straight IndyCar championships, but failed to get any of his four cars into the shootout. In fact, none of the cars even made a second attempt Saturday. "Were not where we need to be to qualify for the pole," two-time Indy winner Dario Franchitti said, about 30 minutes before the first qualifying segment ended. "My situation with the 50 car, were not even as quick as some of the other Honda runners. Theres a bit of head scratching going on. Weve tried a lot of different things to make it." But the grand finale came down to Briscoe, the man once a target of Patricks ire, and Hinchcliffe, who was trying to join Tagliani as the only Canadians to win Indys pole. Briscoe won it -- barely. "If we had to go, I was ready to go," said Briscoe, who was sitting in his car when qualifying ended. "I felt like we could have done the same again." ' ' '