ekansekans's blog: "df"

When it comes to goaltending, Mike Smith and Braden Holtby have certainly had their share of headlines leading the Phoenix Coyotes and Washington Capitals in goal. Adrian Peterson Pink Jersey . Holtby, just 22 and third on the goalie depth chart to start the season, drew dramatic Dryden-esque comparisons with his playoff performance. Smith, who was placed on re-entry waivers by GM Steve Yzerman and the Tampa Bay Lightning just last year, has been instrumental in getting the Coyotes in the Western Conference Final. That said, you would think that Yzerman might be wanting Smith back on his side in the near future - not as the starting goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but perhaps as a No. 1 netminder for Canada at the Sochi Olympics. And at 22, does Holtby deserve some consideration? With less than two years to go before the Games, he may enter the discussion with other Canadian backstoppers like Carey Price, Cam Ward and Olympic holdovers Marc-Andre Fleury and Roberto Luongo. So heres Daves question to you: "Assuming theres NHL participation at the Sochi Olympics, who is your current choice as Canadas starting goalie?" Here are the answers that Dave liked best: "Imagine Carey Price with a good team in front of him." - John "Big goalie. No rebounds. I would vote for Smith and so would Chicago and Nashville." - K Larsen "Unless someone supplants the goalie who won gold the last time, and as yet, no one has earned that right, its Roberto Luongo again." - Ben "Im ready to pick Luongo the minute he gets traded to the Leafs." - James "Fleury and Claude Giroux would be teammates if both make it, but Fleury wont." - Nick "Im all for new blood, as long as Cam Ward is the tried-and-true option in a group of three." - Randy "Braden Holtby shows poise and maturity beyond his years and he certainly bears watching for Sochi." - Cyril And Daves Reply to All: A year ago, Im guessing the answer to this question would have been Roberto Luongo - gold-medallist from 2010, the Canadian goalie with the best stats from the 2010-11 NHL season, and lest we forget, a year ago it looked as though Luongo might become a Stanley Cup winner too. A year later, hes hardly out of the mix but a year later, the best answer, in my opinion, is a guy who wouldnt have been on anyones list 12 months ago and thats Mike Smith. That should tell us that Canadas next Olympic goalie isnt necessarily on this years list.And we do need to see more of Braden Holtby, who wouldnt have been considered a month ago. Oh, for an automatic choice. Oh, how Canada has been spoiled for close to 20 years by Marty Brodeur. He just turned 40, but maybe somebody should ask what he thinks hell be doing at 41. Chad Greenway Womens Jersey . The World Cup winner leads a European 1-2-3 from Germany and Portugal, which climbs one place. Canada moved up 12 spots to No. 61, two spots ahead of one-time African powerhouse Nigeria. Argentina rises three places to No. Christian Ponder Youth Jersey . The London, Ont. native said his strategy is to not put pressure on himself. "I set out my goal just to come out here and have fun," Warner said. http://www.vikingsfansroom.com/jared-allen-jerseys . The Orange Bowl is gone now. And A-Rod is raving about what took its place. He was in the lineup Sunday for the first game between two big-league clubs at the new $515 million Marlins Park, an exhibition between Miami and the New York Yankees. Jamarca Sanford Jersey . One, two, three, four -- five! -- offensive rebounds later, the ball finally surrendered and dropped through the hoop. A few minutes later, the truth was as undeniable as that 7-foot Spaniard. Although the Nuggets drove them to the brink of playoff collapse, the Los Angeles Lakers still have the tenacity to win on the biggest nights of the post-season. Christian Ponder Vikings Jersey . The Montreal native finished ahead of Olympic teammates Brittany MacLean and Alexa Komarnycky, both from Toronto, in second and third respectively. "I was happy with my race tonight," said Jardin, who clocked a time of four minutes 9.PHILADELPHIA -- Cole Hamels didnt hit any Washington batters this time, and the Nationals hitters barely touched Hamels. Hamels pitched eight scoreless innings, finishing up by retiring Bryce Harper on a grounder as the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a season-long four-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory over Washington. Hamels (7-1) didnt allow a hit until Danny Espinosa doubled with one out in the sixth. The left-hander won his seventh straight decision, allowing four hits and striking out eight. Hamels faced Washington for the first time since intentionally hitting the 19-year-old Harper on May 6. The incident sparked a firestorm, with Hamels earning a five-game suspension and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo getting fined for his critical comments of Hamels. "First and foremost, Im happy about stopping the skid weve had," Hamels said. "I felt confident in my stuff." Harper singled in the sixth. The Phillies led 3-0 in the eighth when Harper grounded out with a runner on third to end the inning. "We just couldnt get anything going off Hamels," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "You have to tip your hat to him. Hes tough. Hes done that to a lot of people." Shane Victorino homered, doubled and drove in two runs. Adam LaRoche homered with one out in the ninth off Jonathan Papelbon. LaRoche snapped an 0-for-19 skid. The Phillies victory ended Washingtons franchise-record six-game winning streak in Philadelphia. The Phils have won just two of their last 11 games overall against the Nationals, with Hamels victory at Washington on May 6 the other one. "It was a very good game," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I liked the way we played. I was trying to get us loose. I was trying to do some things to loosen things up. You shouldnt be tight on our team. Well let you play." Despite the Nationals recent dominance of the five-time defending NL East champion Phillies, Manuel has confidence in his club. "Both of us have real good starting pitching," he said. "I think its close. I think we got em, though." "Tonights win was big for us," he added. "Were going to win some more. We aint going nowhere." Carlos Ruiz doubled and singled twice while batting cleanup for the first time in his major league career. Manuel juggled a lineup thatt had scored four total runs in its last three games. Christian Ponder Authentic Jersey. . "It turned out pretty good," Manuel said. Ruiz got a bruise on his right wrist after taking a hard foul ball hit by Espinosa in the off the right wrist in the eighth inning. X-rays were negative and Ruiz is day-to-day. Edwin Jackson (1-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings. Mike Fontenot hit an RBI single with two outs in the second, and Victorinos two-out double in the third drove in Hunter Pence. After Espinosa doubled in the sixth, Harper followed with a single to right field. But Pence made a strong throw home and Ruiz made a good tag after a difficult hop in front of the plate for the out. "Thats where defence really saved us," Hamels said. "You dont want the opposing team to get the momentum. That was a really big play." The Phillies went up 3-0 in the seventh when Fontenot doubled, went to third on Hamels sacrifice bunt and scored on a suicide-squeeze by Juan Pierre. Philadelphia shortstop Freddy Galvis made two outstanding defensive plays, robbing Ian Desmond on a chopper up the middle and later adding an over-the-head grab on pinch-hitter Steve Lombardozzis medium fly. The crowd erupted in chants of "Fred-dy! Fred-dy!" Victorino homered with two outs in the eighth off Henry Rodriguez, making his first relief appearance since being demoted as the closer following Mondays game. Harper made an excellent running catch in the fifth, racing back to the warning track to snare Pierres liner. The ball hit and popped out of Harpers glove before he retrieved it after a step. NOTES: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins missed his third straight game after the birth of his daughter on Sunday night. Rollins is on the three-day paternity list. He is expected to rejoin the team for Thursdays game in St. Louis, and the Phillies opened a roster spot by optioning C Erik Kratz to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... The crowd of 43,926 was the 228th consecutive sellout in Philadelphia and 244rd counting post-season play. ... The Nationals travel to Atlanta for Friday nights game, with LHP Ross Detwiler (3-3, 3.65) scheduled to face Tim Hudson (3-1, 3.03 ERA). ... Philadelphia heads to St. Louis for the first of four against the Cardinals, with RHP Joe Blanton (4-4, 3.74) scheduled to meet Jake Westbrook (4-3, 2.41). ' ' '