Kunze-IT » e. The Stars are right back at it on Thursd

MALMO, SWEDEN – Bringing Griffin Reinhart to the World Junior Hockey Championship, even though he would miss the first three games due to a suspension, was a major gamble. And it almost backfired. Without the big Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman in the lineup, Team Canada stumbled in a shootout loss to the Czech Republic and then trailed Slovakia 3-1 late in the second period of its third roundrobin game. A loss to the Slovaks would have meant Canadas hopes of topping Group A would be dashed and a date with the Russians in the quarter-finals would be looming. But Canada found a way, barely, to beat Slovakia. Reinhart then returned against the United States on New Years Eve, solidifying the blue line and helping Canada beat their North American rivals and secure an easier quarter-final opponent. Reinhart then scored the opening goal – the first time Canada struck first in eight games, including three pre-tournament ones – and added an assist in a 4-1 win over the Swiss. He was named player of the game. Meanwhile, the United States was eliminated by Russia. All the sudden, the decision to bring Reinhart is looking mighty good. "The only people questioning it was everybody on the outside," insisted head coach Brent Sutter. "We didnt have any question on the inside. After assessing where we were throughout the country with our back end, it became very clear to myself, after being told what I was told from the scouts side of it, that we had to take that chance of him not playing in the first three games and having him for perhaps the last four and thats how its going to work out." Reinhart, the son of former NHL defenceman Paul Reinhart, is the whole package. Thats why the New York Islanders made him the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NHL draft. And he certainly seems motivated to repay the trust Sutter has shown in him. "All year, it was pretty unpredictable whether they were going to take him," said Sam Reinhart, Griffins younger brother and Canadian teammate. "You know everyone in the locker room is happy they did now and hes probably the happiest guy here, too." Griffin Reinharts return had an immediate impact on defence partner Mathew Dumba, who was forced to carry a large load in the first three games, despite suffering from an energy-sapping virus. (If Dumba had been forced to miss a game, that would have left Canada with just five defenceman, yet another possible pitfall of bringing Reinhart despite the suspension.) Dumbas game was a bit off at times early in the competition, but he has meshed well with Reinhart in the last two outings. "Its huge having Griff here," said Dumba, who played 13 games with the Minnesota Wild this season before being loaned to Hockey Canada. "Hes a veteran player. Hes that calming presence definitely on the back end. I love playing with him. He makes it real simple for me out there. I always know where he is and vice versa." Reinharts presence has had ripple effects throughout the entire roster. "Hes meant a lot," said forward Curtis Lazar, "and you saw his offensive side today, but also in the D zone, he uses that big body to get the puck out of pressure and makes that first, crisp pass. Were really glad to have him back in the lineup." "Its been huge," said Sam Reinhart. "That experience he brings, the level of play, he just calms everything right from the forwards back to the goalie, just a calming presence on the ice." As for Griffin Reinhart himself, well, he is pretty happy with what hes brought to the table thus far. "Felt better that game," he said, moments after the quarter-final victory, "starting to get my legs under me and the team played well. Just skating, starting to get my hands back, just more comfortable on the ice. Its different practising, situations are different in games. The States game went well and its only getting better." Reinharts calm demeanour on the ice is replicated off it. "Ive known Griff for a quite a while and hes not the loudest guy in the dressing room, but when het gets on the ice, he loves to control the game," said Lazar, Reinharts teammate in the Western Hockey League. "I sort of have the inside track on Griff and hes not going to show much emotion, but its good to have him and hes really happy with the performance hes put out the past couple of games." Was the desire to make an impact eating him up while he waited for a chance to contribute earlier in the tournament? "Oh yeah," Lazar said, "no doubt." Notes: * Charles Hudon (shoulder) and Mathew Dumba (knee/leg) did not take part in the practice; head coach Brent Sutter described the absences as "maintenance days" and said both players are expected to be the lineup on Saturday. * It was Canadas first practice at Malmo Arena, which is much larger than the Malmo Isstadion where the team played its previous five tournament games; "It is what it is," Sutter said. "The game is played on the same sized ice no matter where youre playing." In conversation with Nabil Karim after the quarter-final win on Thursday, Sutter said moving rinks was akin to playing a "road game." The Finns have been based at Malmo Arena all tournament. * Sutter was asked for his take on facing Finland: "I see a hard-working team. I see a team thats very structured. I see a team thats going to play some North American hockey. Theyre a gritty group. Theyre getting some decent goaltending and they got three forwards on their team that are as good as any forwards in this tournament. Theyre going to come and theyre going to come hard and we have to be ready for it." * Here is a link to Canadian players talking about Fridays practice and facing Finland: http://bit.ly/1gwWvc4 Jerome Robinson Jersey .com) - Will Conant booted a 39-yard field goal as time expired and Air Force played spoiler with a 27-24 win over 21st- ranked Colorado State on Friday. Discount Clippers Jerseys . When a game is in the balance, however, they still have the personnel and the experience to end up with the two points. http://www.cheapclippersjerseyschina.com/ . Cesar said the difficulties he went through after the 2010 World Cup helped him become "a better professional" and made him "more focused" on his career. He admitted that he took things for granted before the World Cup in South Africa, when he arrived considered the worlds top goalkeeper. Clippers Jerseys Outlet . Completely. Two days after releasing Peyton Manning, the longtime face of the franchise, the Colts announced they were cutting four fan favourites: running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jersey . After overcoming a three-goal deficit the Senators forced the game to overtime only to watch it slip away as Seth Jones scored the winner 3:49 into the extra period as the Nashville Predators defeated the Senators 4-3 Monday night.EDMONTON -- The lack of scoring at home for the Edmonton Oilers has reached a historic low. Kari Lehtonen only needed to make 22 saves to record his 23rd career shutout as the Dallas Stars defeated the struggling Oilers 3-0 on Wednesday night. The Oilers (4-14-2) have lost four in a row and gone 1-8-1 in their last 10 to slip to second last in the NHL. It was the third consecutive home game the Oilers have been shut out, setting a franchise-worst record. Edmonton has only scored two goals in its last five home games. "This is extremely frustrating, not to be able to put a puck into the back of the net," said Oilers captain Andrew Ference. "It was one of these games again that you can point to positives, but at the end of the day you have to get the job done and score. Its obviously a huge challenge for everybody to keep their heads up right now and not grip their sticks too tight." Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said their inability to score is almost baffling. "The last three games at home, I dont know what it is," he said. "You are not going to win without scoring. We have to find a way to get the second and third opportunities. "Its not a good sign. I thought we played pretty good in the last three games, we just have to find a way to score. This is not something you want to keep doing, putting yourself in this situation. I cant stress enough how we have to bear down in front of the net." Rich Peverley, Antoine Roussel and Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars (9-7-2), who have won four of their last five games. Stars centre Shawn Horcoff credited Lehtonen for giving his team the time to find their footing in the contest. "Hes one of the best in the league and he gives us a chance to win like that every night," said Horcoff. "I think in the first, we started real slow and we gave up a number of key opportunities and he made a couple of real, big saves that allowed us to get our feet. Once we settled in a little bit, we were able to take the game over." There was a good pace to start the game as the Stars controlled much of the early play, but the Oilers had by far the best chance to that point when Jordan Eberle got the puck in tight in front of the net, only to robbed by an impressive glove save by Lehtonen. Edmontons Sam Gagner hit the crossbar two minutes later. The game remained scoreless through the first with the Stars getting 11 shots on Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk and the Oilers responding with nine.dddddddddddd After the Oilers continued to squander power-play opportunities, including a lengthy 5-on-3 early in the second, Dallas took a 1-0 lead. Peverley got a shot away and was then able to outmuscle defender Jeff Petry to get to his own rebound and chip his fourth of the season past Dubnyk from the doorstep. The Stars came close to taking a two-goal lead on a power play with six minutes left in the second, but Cody Eakin rang a shot off the post. Edmonton survived a pair of 5-on-3 penalty kills before the midmark of the third period and even a penalty-shot attempt by Valeri Nichuskin with three minutes remaining. But the Oilers couldnt get the equalizer they needed before Seguin dumped a shot from his knees in his own zone into an empty net to give the Stars the 2-0 lead. "I was tired and I aimed for the net," Segiun said of his eighth goal of the season. "If it missed, I didnt care at that point. It was one of those shifts where we were out there for a solid minute at least. They were making some good plays and I just wanted to get it out." Roussel added yet another empty netter to ice the game. The Stars are right back at it on Thursday night as they play the second game of a three-game road swing in Calgary. The Oilers return to the ice on Friday when they host the San Jose Sharks. Notes - It was the first of three meetings between the two teams this season, with the Stars having claimed 11 of the previous 13 games they have played against each other. ... Dallas centre and former Oilers captain Horcoff made his first appearance against his old team since an off-season trade that sent him from Edmonton to the Stars in return for defenceman Philip Larsen. Horcoff played nearly 800 games for the Oilers in 12 seasons. ... Recently-signed free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has yet to join the Oilers as he has been sent to the teams AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City for a conditioning stint. ... With young Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz still suffering from a groin injury, Corey Potter was called up and made his season debut. ... Stars winger Ray Whitney suffered a lower-body injury in his teams last game on Saturday and will miss at least the next two games. The veteran 41-year-old has recorded one goal and seven assists this season. 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