|
Administrator
- Posts:
- 918
- Group:
- Admins
- Member
- #1
- Joined:
- Mar 17, 2014
|
EDMONTON - With his team mired in a three-game losing streak, veteran Edmonton Eskimos receiver Fred Stamps says now is not the time for panic. Now, he says, is the time for players to purge their minds of the memory of the last five games – four of them losses – and refocus on the road ahead. "Those losses, thats behind us," Stamps said as the 5-6 Eskimos prepared this week to meet the CFL west division leading B.C. Lions tonight. "We have the mentality that its a new season for us. Were going to take this game versus B.C. And focus on that. Everything else is behind us." Catch all the action live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game is also available on TSN Mobile TV. The Eskimos cant afford any distractions against the Lions, who enter the game with a league-best 8-3 record. B.C. has the best defence in the league, leading the CFL in 17 defensive categories and allowing the fewest points, touchdowns and net yards against of any team. The Lions also boast a dangerous running back in Andrew Harris, and quarterback Travis Lulay is coming off a huge performance in last weeks win over Toronto. Staying focused, however, may be easier said than done, given all thats whirling around the Eskimos these days. The running game has disappointed despite adding Cory Boyd and Jerome Messam to compliment Hugh Charles. And except for a few glimpses, none of the three quarterbacks have given the Eskimos the leadership they need. Stephen Jyles has been given the starting assignment again. He missed the first two losses with a calf injury and entered last weeks game in relief, only to throw an interception on one of his eight passes. The offence ranks last or next to last in virtually all offensive statistics. That prompted team management to bring in veteran offensive coach David Kelly as a consultant, which immediately cast doubt on the future of offensive co-ordinator Marcus Crandell. "Marcus is our offensive co-ordinator and will be throughout this season," head coach Kavis Reed said, insisting there is no controversy and no need for a vote of confidence. "David will not call a play, David will not be the architect of our offence, David is not the guy here to replace Marcus. "Were in a valley right now and were doing everything we need to do to make sure we get out of it very fast. Airlifting people in halfway through the season and having them be decision makers doesnt work in football." Reed is hoping Kellys skill in running an uptempo offence that "utilizes the passing game as a run weapon" will get the Eskimos back to playing a quicker offensive game. "He will be working closely with Marcus on first-and-10 in terms of the quick passing game and in terms of getting the pass out to receivers as an extended run play. Back to the quick game. "Run 20 plus times, have a quick passing game and efficient, methodical drives. When we did that we won football games. When we havent done that we lost games." Asked whether it was the running game or the quarterbacks who were more disappointing, Reed immediately named the running game because its important in controlling time of possession and presenting a balanced offence. With a badly struggling offence, the Eskimos lost back-to-back games to Calgary on last-minute missed field goals and then gave up 51 consecutive points in a humbling 51-8 loss in Hamilton last weekend. General manager Eric Tillman pointed out the team also suffered through a three-game losing streak last season that ended with a 36-1 loss to the Lions. The Eskimos then won six of their final 10 games to finish tied for first at 11-7. "When you have an extended season youre going to have situations like this," Reed said. "Theres only one team in this league that hasnt gone through a three game losing streak. The proper perspective is were 5-6, if the playoffs started today were in the playoffs. We still control our own destiny and I have to do everything I can do as a leader to make certain this franchise gets out of this slump." The defence has also struggled, giving up 102 points in those three losses. It will get some help with the expected return of explosive defensive end Marcus Howard, who has missed seven games with a hamstring injury, and defensive back Weldon Brown, who has been out three games with a groin injury. Linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who leads the CFL in tackles with 93, hurt his foot in the Hamilton loss and missed two days of practice but should be ready for the Lions. Wholesale Jerseys . Benneteau broke twice in each set despite Troicki serving 14 aces. The other local winners were Gilles Simon and Benoit Paire. Simon beat 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 7-5, 6-1, and Paire defeated Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-3, 6-4. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Ferri, who was released by the Alouettes in June, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Wednesday. http://www.nflcheapjerseysstitched.com/ . The former catcher had his first interview for a big-league job this week when he met with Miami Marlins officials in New York City. Cheap nfl Jerseys . Halischuk was chasing for the puck toward the side boards when Klesla pushed the Predators forward from behind, causing him to fall awkwardly into the boards. Halischuk left for the dressing room after the hit but returned to finish the game. Cheap Jerseys From China . Agent Eugene Parker confirmed Friday that Benson visited Green Bay, but did not indicate that a deal was in place. ESPN reported earlier Friday that Benson had visited the team and was expected to sign. PHILADELPHIA -- Adam Larsson watched Game 1 from the press box, dressed sharply in a suit and tie. From the rafters, he sat helpless as he watched his New Jersey Devils lose a tough road opener in this Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Flyers in overtime. In Game 2, though, he received his chance to shed the suit, and don a uniform. And the 19-year-old rookie took full advantage. Larsson scored the first post-season goal of his career off a wristshot in the third, igniting a four-goal explosion in the period, as the Devils rallied to a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night. The best of seven series is now tied at 1-1. "I know how the playoffs (are)," Larsson said. "I watched all the games from the stands. I know that everybody steps up a little bit. I knew in my mind, if wanted to stay in the lineup, I had to step it up." Larsson and Clarkson scored consecutive goals in the third period to rally the Devils past the Flyers and make up for the absence of Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils played without their regular-season leading scorer because of a lower body injury. Travis Zajac added a late goal to make it 3-1, and Bryce Salvador scored a late empty-netter for the Devils. Game 3 is Thursday in Newark, N.J. Matt Read scored 2:53 into the game to give the Flyers hope they could jump to a commanding series lead. Instead, the offence went into a funk and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov couldnt protect the advantage. Even without Kovalchuk, the Devils did what they wanted against Bryzgalov, taking close shots and dominating the play in the Flyers zone. They just couldnt score -- until the third. Bryzgalov, who signed a $51 million, nine-year deal last summer, was especially stout in the second when he bailed out the Flyers offence with a 12-save period. The Flyers went more than 18 minutes in the period before taking a shot on Martin Brodeur. "I didnt sense frustration. We were comfortable with how we played the first two periods," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. "And it was just a matter of keeping it going in the third. And the goals came." Bryzgalov had a brutal first five games of the post-season and allowed 20 goals against Pittsburgh. But he shut down the Penguins in the Game 6 clincher -- a 5-1 win -- and allowed three goals in the Game 1 victory against the Devils. He appeared to have turned the corner. Then came the final period. Kovalchuks injury opened a roster spot for Larsson, a rookie defenceman, to be activated. Larsson was a first-round pick last year, and is just 19 years old. He had two goals and 18 points in his first NHL season, but had not played a playoff game yet. Larssons shot from the circle beat Bryzgalov on his glove side early in the third for the tying goal. "Down a goal, third period, and it was huge," DeBoer said of the rookies goal. "I feel great for Larsson. Hes been out a few games, and he responded." Clarkson made it 2-1 minutes later when he scored off a rebound. The Devils won the faceoff and Zach Parise was stuffed with a pad save. Clarkson then crashed the net to knock in the puck and fly gut-first into the crossbar. He lay on top of the net briefly as his teammates mobbed him. Bryzgalov slammed his stick in frustration after the goal. Zajacs fifth goal of the post-season on a backhander made it 3-1 and gave the Devils the insurance goal they needed. "I really felt wed respond like this," DeBoer said. "I knew wed be better than Gaame 1.dddddddddddd Knew wed bounce back. Weve dealt with adversity and injuries all year. Its nothing new." Bryzgalov shook his head and remained motionless on his knees for at least a minute after Zajacs goal. He was still down on one knee for the faceoff before he finally stood up and got his head back into the game. He clearly wasnt happy about the goals. And he was probably angry with Philadelphias offensive ineptness, as well. At the end of the game, Claude Giroux stopped Bryzgalov for a brief chat before he was greeted by the rest of the team. Giroux has emerged as the leader of the team and whatever he was telling the goalie, Bryzgalov seemed to agree with, mostly nodding his head. "Bryz was phenomenal tonight, but we have to do a better job in front of him," coach Peter Laviolette said. "We were not skating the way we needed to be, but I dont think it was because of the fact that we were relying on him to win a game for us." The Flyers entered with an NHL post-season-high 34 goals, but failed to generate much offence after a move-the-puck first 10 minutes. Read scored from a tough angle outside the circle to beat Brodeur for the fast 1-0 lead. But it didnt hold up. Not even Giroux and Danny Briere could spark the Flyers. Each tick of the clock in the second period was like watching a no-hitter to see if the Flyers would finally put the puck on Brodeur. With 1:27 left in the period, the Flyers broke through for a shot and they only took one more. Brodeur, who had 19 saves, joked he needed an "old mans chair" to sit and rest. "I got lonely a little bit," he said. The Devils outshot them 12-2 in the second, in fact. And to make matters worse, the Flyers opened and closed the period on the power play. "Thats the answer, they were just quicker on the loose pucks," Flyers forward Jaromir Jagr said. "Not only on the power play, but 5 on 5. They looked fresher. Everybody knows we didnt play very well. We need to play a lot better next game to have a shot." The road win was New Jerseys third of the post-season. "We knew, if we lost tonight, it wasnt going to look good for us," DeBoer said. "Im not surprised to see us play the way we did." Though clearly they missed Kovalchuk for long stretches. In his third season with the Devils, Kovalchuk has three goals in eight playoff games and remains day to day. He walked with a pad on his back after Sundays 4-3 overtime, Game 1 loss, and walked around the locker room Monday at practice in Newark quite gingerly. Kovalchuk, a former Atlanta Thrasher who had 37 goals and 83 points this season, won his first playoff series ever in New Jerseys Round 1 triumph over Florida. The Devils say Kovalchuk was injured in that first-round series. Defenceman Peter Harrold, who had three points and five shots on goal in the post-season prior to Game 2, was moved up to a forward position to replace Kovalchuks spot in Game 2, allowing Larsson to play defence. Harrold had four shots on 12 shifts up front. "I couldnt get any better (of a) start," Larsson said, "with the goal and everything." Notes: The Flyers were 0-for-5 on the power play, and are now 1-for-11 on the series. New Jersey had the leagues top penalty-killing unit in the regular season. ... New Jersey has now won three of the last four games. ... Clarkson had 30 goals and 46 points in the regular season. ... Brayden Schenn had his fifth assist on Reads goal. ' ' '
|