ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For a team that once appeared almost invi

Dołączył: 16 Lut 2019 Posty: 253

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For a team that once appeared almost invincible at home -- and dominated the NHL for two full months -- the Anaheim Ducks suddenly have slipped into mediocrity. By contrast, the Columbus Blue Jackets have become one of the leagues hottest teams. Sergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves, Nick Foligno scored twice in the third period and the inspired Blue Jackets also got goals from Ryan Johansen and R.J. Umberger in a 4-2 victory over the Ducks on Monday night. "We are really playing to our identity right now," Umberger said. "We are working hard. We are a gritty team. We let our forecheck do the work for us. We dont score too many pretty goals. Were just kind of a team that grinds it out. We got rewarded with some rebounds and some deflections tonight. And we get big saves from Bob when we need them." The Blue Jackets are 11-0-3 since Jan. 6, a stretch that began with a franchise-record, eight-game winning streak. Bobrovsky, last seasons Vezina Trophy winner, is 10-2-0 with a 2.17 goals-against average in his last 12 starts after missing 14 games because of a groin strain. "Theyre playing good hockey," Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "I mean, if you watch the game tape, every time they touch the puck in their zone they chip it out and they go skate onto it. That was a solid road game they played. Right now were playing teams that are fighting for that last playoff spot, and those are things weve got to notice and take into account." Getzlaf and Mathieu Perreault scored for Anaheim. Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots. The Ducks, who started 22-0-2 on home ice and enjoyed a comfortable lead atop the overall standings about two weeks ago, are 4-5-0 since Jan. 15 and have lost three of four on their five-game homestand. But they still lead Chicago by three points for the leagues best total with two games left before the Olympic break. "If we were a .500 hockey club, this would be the norm. But its not," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It all boils down to will and want, and they wanted it a lot more than us. You could see it on the loose pucks. They were getting them and we werent. And anytime there was a 1-on-1 confrontation, I didnt see us winning the battles. Thats a pure indicator, to me, that we didnt have a sense of urgency." The Ducks host the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks on Wednesday night, less than three weeks after Chicago ended Anaheims phenomenal 18-1 surge with a 4-2 win at United Center. "Its never good to see Chicago because theyre a great team, but its probably great that Chicagos coming in," Boudreau said. "Thats maybe what we need, because if we dont play up to our best level against a team like that, then were going to get our butts kicked." Bobrovskys best save came at 5:25 of the second period, when he flicked out his right leg at the last instant to thwart Andrew Cogliano at the end of a 2-on-1 rush with Corey Perry. The Ducks got on the board at 5:45 of the third when Perreault converted a centring pass from Patrick Maroon at the edge of the crease to trim Columbus lead to 2-1. "We havent had a lot of emotion lately. Were just going through the motions," Perreault said. "Weve been winning so much that we kind of got into a lull right now. We have to find a way to get out of it." Foligno got that goal back with 11:12 remaining, popping the puck over Andersens shoulder after the Ducks goalie stopped Umbergers wide-angle shot from the right corner. The other assist went to Artem Anisimov. Foligno added his 15th goal with 6:53 to play, converting a rebound with 17 seconds left on a 5-on-3 advantage after Saku Koivu and defenceman Hampus Lindholm were sent off simultaneously for high-sticking and cross-checking. Johansen won all six faceoffs he took in the first period and opened the scoring at the 11:10 mark with his team-high 23rd goal, sending a one-timer between Perrys legs and over Andersens glove from 25 feet out after Nathan Horton set him up in the left circle. "Its frustrating, as far as the start of the game. We werent ready to play," Getzlaf said. "They came out and played hard and did their thing. Their goaltender played well early, and we just didnt respond. We kind of showed 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there, but we didnt play a complete game. Were not focused. Were not playing the way we can and doing the things we do well." Umberger made it 2-0 at 16:43 of the second with his 15th of the season, after Ducks defenceman Bryan Allen was sent off for tripping him. Former Anaheim defenceman James Wisniewski got the puck at the top of the left circle from Mark Letestu and took a slap shot that ricocheted into the net off Umbergers right skate. NOTES: Andersen came in 7-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average at home. ... Anaheim is 4 for 26 on the power play since scoring six times in 11 opportunities against Vancouver on Jan. 15. ... D Sami Vatanen played his first game with the Ducks since Jan. 17. He spent the past 1 1/2 weeks with Norfolk of the AHL, but was recalled Monday when D Mark Fistric was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Ryne Sandberg Cubs Jersey . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. Carlos Zambrano Cubs Jersey . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-brandon-morrow-jersey/ .com) - Jahlil Okafor erupted for 25 points and 20 rebounds as No. Addison Russell Cubs Jersey .5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2. Anthony Rizzo Cubs Jersey . The Rays hope to stay alive for the postseason and salvage the finale of this series Sunday at Rogers Centre, where they dropped a 7-2 decision Saturday. Chris Archer lasted 2 1/3 innings in the no-decision, charged with a run and five hits, and Alex Torres suffered the loss in relief. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Even with a runner on second and an open base at first, Coco Crisp fully expected Boston closer Koji Uehara to come right after him. For the second straight game, Oaklands speedy leadoff hitter guessed right. Crisp singled in Alberto Callaspo with one out in the 10th inning and the Athletics beat the Red Sox 2-1 on Saturday to extend their winning streak to five games. "I was taking the approach they were going to come right after me," said Crisp, who also drove in the game-winning run during Fridays 4-3 win. "I didnt want to wait around for the splitter so I was hoping that he would come in to what I was looking for, and he did. Another lucky guess." Its the second game-ending hit for Crisp this season and seventh of his career. It also took Oakland off the hook after Bostons Dustin Pedroia scored the tying run in the eighth following a controvesial call that resulted in the ejection of As manager Bob Melvin. Boston put runners on the corners with two outs when Oakland reliever Luke Gregerson appeared to strike out Mike Napoli. Napoli argued that he fouled the ball off the dirt, and home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott agreed although television replays appeared to indicate otherwise. The umpiring crew met to discuss the play before upholding the original call. Under the current replay system, balls and strikes are not reviewable. "The plate umpire heard sound and thought the ball hit the ground and called it a foul ball," said crew chief Gerry Davis. "This type of play happens quite often actually, its a difficult call for us. And in order to change it we have to positive (proof)." Gregerson, who had celebrated the apparent strikeout, bounced his next pitch in front of home plate. The ball ricocheted off the chest protector of catcher Stephen Vogt and rolled toward the mound as Dustin Pedroia scored from third. After Napoli flew out to end the inning, Melvin raced out from Oaklands dugout and angrily confronted Wolcott before getting tossed. "My feeling is that if theres a play that needs to be reviewed, you should review it. You just cant on that one," Melvin said. "What I was told the call was was a foul ball that hit the dirt. And no one saw anything conclusive to overturn it.dddddddddddd. But after looking it, it was caught." The play prevented Oakland starter Jesse Chavez from winning his second straight start. Chavez took a no-hitter into the sixth and held the Red Sox scoreless through seven before giving way to the bullpen. He struck out four and walked four. The As have won the first three games of this four-game series by a total of four runs. Callaspo drew a leadoff walk against reliever Edward Mujica (2-3) in the 10th and was sacrificed to second. Uehara replaced Mujica before Crisp lined his first pitch into right field. Boston right fielder Brock Holt made a strong throw but Callaspo slid home with the game-winner. "Coco being Coco," Chavez said. "He did it last night and he did it again today." Boston was shut out for the first seven innings before Pedroia scored on a wild pitch in the eighth. The Red Sox missed a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th when Oakland reliever Dan Otero struck out David Ortiz with two on and two out. "Weve had situations get away from us in terms of men in scoring position," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Weve got to continue to build opportunities. Whether or not we cash in on those, thats what we got to continue to focus on" Boston starter Rubby De La Rosa nearly matched Chavez in his first career appearance against the As. De La Rosa, who struck out four and walked four, retired the first six batters before Vogts triple off the extended wall in right-centre. Vogt scored on Alberto Callaspos sacrifice fly despite a stellar play by Holt, who had made a diving catch on Callaspos sinking liner in the gap in right-centre then threw home. Oakland managed only six runners over the next six innings until Callaspos leadoff walk in the 10th. NOTES: The As are 7-2 on this homestand. ... Melvins ejection is his first this season. ... Bostons Jon Lester (8-7) faces Oaklands Tommy Milone (5-3) on Sunday in a battle of lefties. Lester had a career-high 15 strikeouts against the As on May 3. ... Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, who pitched for both franchises, threw out the first pitch. Eckersley currently works as a television analyst for the Red Sox. ' ' '

Dołączył: 28 Sty 2021 Posty: 16926

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