s. The Pacers suffered their first loss of the season Friday night wi

VANCOUVER, BC – Thursday night in St. Louis, Alex Edler will play his 500th National Hockey League game. Cynics would suggest the big Swedish defenseman has played 250 good games for the Vancouver Canucks and has had 249 tough ones with no middle ground. That’s not entirely accurate although it does speak to the inconsistency that has plagued Edler’s nine years in the NHL – from shift to shift and from season to season. So it is safe to say that while Edler will reach the 500-game milestone tomorrow, questions remain about what is possible for the 28-year-old with the tantalizing combination of size, skill and skating ability. Throughout his career, Edler has teased the Canucks and their fans with glimpses of the kind of blueliner who can control games at both ends of the ice. When living up to his potential, he clearly has the ability to play with remarkable efficiency making quick and effective decisions with the puck. Edler has also brought a physical edge to his game leaving his mark on opposing forwards in open ice, in front of the net or in battles along the boards. But last season, Edler was none of those things. He was a shell of his former self enduring a disastrous season in which anything that could go wrong did – and far too often. Perhaps it was a new coach or a new system, maybe it was confusion caused by an early season suspension in which he was penalized for being a touch too aggressive or it may have been the weighty expectations that accompanied his six-year $30 million dollar contract extension which kicked in last season. Whatever the reasons, Edler’s 2013-14 was a write-off with just 22 points all the while saddled with the embarrassment that goes along with a league-worst -39. Paired with reliable partner Chris Tanev from the outset of training camp and in Willie Desjardins’ up-tempo system in which defenseman are encouraged to jump into the rush, Alex Edler finds himself in a situation to thrive. However, the early season results are mixed. He has a goal and two assists and leads all Canucks defensemen in scoring, but there have also been a handful of the kind of miscues that dogged him last season. Edler doesn’t have to be a super hero for the Vancouver Canucks, but given the amount he plays and the situations he finds himself in he certainly has to be an offensive contributor and a 40-point season shouldn’t be out of the question. But for his offensive numbers to matter, he has to be significantly better in his own zone than he was a year ago. The Canucks would love to see Edler take charge out on the ice, but for that to happen the soft-spoken Swede needs to ramp up his intensity. Far too often, he looks indifferent and at times as if he doesn’t really care. That’s probably an unfair criticism, and yet because he shies away from the media and isn’t heard from often, it’s hard to get a read on what’s going on in Edler’s mind. Reaching the 500 game mark is an accomplishment for any NHLer – and, in this day and age, to do it with the same organization makes it that much more significant. Edler’s is a remarkable story of a kid from a small town near the Arctic Circle making the big time and earning all the trappings that come along with it. But the big question is – and it’s a fascinating one – have the Vancouver Canucks already seen the best Alex Edler has to offer? Or is there still room for growth in his game? While unlikely to ever enter the Norris Trophy discussion in an era of so many elite defensemen, Edler possesses the tools to be an All-Star. But in recent years there have been too many nights where you wondered if he had forgotten how to play the game. This is a new season and Alex Edler’s trying his best to wipe the slate clean as he tries to recapture the talent he has displayed at times throughout his NHL career. Thursday in St. Louis is a milestone to be sure. The Canucks have to be hoping that it’s also a stepping stone to the best hockey the big defenseman has ever played. Air Force 270 Deutschland .Corey Brewer had 19 points eight rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the third time since Ricky Rubio went out with an injured ankle on Nov. Air Force 1 Kaufen Deutschland . Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night. http://www.airforce1gunstig.de/air-huarache-deutschland.html ." Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. Air Force 1 Damen Sale .com) - Brad Stuart has yet to play a regular-season game for the Colorado Avalanche, but that didnt deter the club from signing the veteran defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Monday. Huarache Größentabelle .Y. -- When the New York Islanders lead was cut in half in the opening minute of the third period, the sense of impending doom began wafting through Nassau Coliseum.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Hawks will try to get into the win column Saturday night when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to Philips Arena for their home opener. The Hawks will also be seeking retribution from last seasons playoffs. Atlanta played the Pacers tough, but ultimately fell in seven games in the first round. The Hawks began the season after a summer littered with controversy. When general manager Danny Ferry read aloud a racist remark about free agent Luol Deng, it was revealed that controlling owner Bruce Levenson sent an e-mail with several racist remarks to members of the Hawks upper management. Levenson is in the process of voluntarily selling his shares. On the court, things didnt start well for the Hawks. They fell in Toronto to the Raptors, 109-102, on Wednesday. The Raps held a 17-point lead with under five minutes to play, but Atlanta fought back and cut the deficit to four. The Hawks failed to box out free- throw shooter DeMar DeRozan late and the game went to the reigning Atlantic Division champions. I think tonight there are a lot of areas where they were a little bit more physical, a little bit more active than us, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. I feel good about our guys fighting back. Kyle Korver shot a blistering 7-of-10 from the floor -- including 6-of-7 from deep -- to account for 200 points in the setback.dddddddddddd Jeff Teague and Mike Scott also scored 20 points for Atlanta, with Teague adding eight assists. Al Horford, who played in just 29 games for the Hawks last season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle, returned to the court and totaled 12 points and 13 rebounds. The Pacers suffered their first loss of the season Friday night with a 97-89 home setback to the Memphis Grizzlies. Indiana built a 13-point lead at the half, but Memphis went on a 26-2 run in the third. The Grizzlies won the period, 33-14, and that doomed the Pacers. They just imposed their will in that quarter, Indy coach Frank Vogel said of the third. They locked us down. We couldnt get any good looks. You have to credit their defense. Chris Copeland came off the bench to score 16 points, while CJ Miles and Donald Sloan contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Indiana, which opened the season with a 103-91 win over Philadelphia. Damjan Rudez chipped in 11 off the bench and Rodney Stuckey added 10. David West, George Hill and CJ Watson all missed their second straight with injuries. None are expected in the lineup on Saturday. The Hawks and Pacers split two regular-season meetings last season and the Pacers ended a 12-game, regular-season road losing streak in this series with their victory on Feb. 4. ' ' '