tive game, tying Johnny Wilson for the ninth lo | Forum
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Mar 9 '19
Essendon star Dyson Heppell admits teammate Jobe Watson has returned to Melbourne looking like he is ready to resume his AFL career. Authentic Jason Sanders Jersey .Watson is the last of the 17 banned current or former Bombers players still on AFL lists yet to announce his football future.Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said on Wednesday that he would meet with Watson this week to discuss the matter.While Heppell and the other current players returned from their doping bans on Wednesday, Watson must wait an extra week because he played in last years international rules series.Heppell said he had no idea of Watsons intentions.Honestly, hes kept his cards that close to his chest, Heppell told AFL360.I dont think his dad or anyone knows what hes doing.Hes in really good condition - hes prepared his body as if he is coming back.Hes obviously taking his time to make that call and when hes ready and when the time is right, hell announce that.Watsons father Tim, the AFL commentator and former Essendon premiership captain, said on Thursday that the midfielder would soon go back to New York - but is unsure for how long.The Bombers player had spent time in that city during his season-long suspension.Tim Watson said he had no idea what his son has planned.Look, whatever way that goes, everyone obviously really respects that decision, Heppell said.Id love to have him back at the footy club, but ... it will play out in the near future.Also on Thursday, Heppell said he would love to captain Essendon.There is speculation that even if Watson returns to the club, it will not be as the skipper.Heppell was Watsons deputy last year and Brendon Goddard captained the team this season.Id love to captain the footy club ... growing up, (I was) barracking for the club, Heppell said.Its a childhood dream, I guess.Ive developed a lot as a leader over the last few years and really thats under Jobes guidance.There are a lot of fantastic leaders at that footy club and weve seen the emergence of a couple of others this year in Zach Merrett and Joey Daniher.Heppell said fellow returning players Cale Hooker and David Myers would also be strong captaincy candidates.You have a core group of fantastic leaders, he said.He added Essendon would not make a decision on next seasons captain in the near future. Sale Dolphins Jerseys Store . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Stitched Dolphins Jerseys . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. http:///...-jerome-baker-jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. SUNRISE, Fla. -- Aleksander Barkov has put an extended scoring slump behind him, and that finally helped the Florida Panthers end a losing streak Saturday night.Barkov had a goal and an assist and has 11 points in his last 12 games, including four goals in the past six. Earlier in the season, Barkov slogged through a drought of 21 games without a goal.Those recent points hadnt done the Panthers much good, though, until the Canucks came to town. Aaron Ekblad gave Florida a three-goal lead early in the third period and the Panthers held on for a 4-2 victory over Vancouver to end a five-game slide.I couldnt score in (21) games, and then I scored finally. And now Im feeling more confident, Barkov said.The Panthers won their first home game under interim coach Tom Rowe. The win was the Panthers first in regulation since a victory over Ottawa on Nov. 19, a span of 11 games.I love that. A bunch of teams in our division lost so we gain ground on everybody in front of us, Rowe said.Vincent Trocheck scored his first goal in 18 games. Derek MacKenzie also scored for Florida. Roberto Luongo made 37 saves, and Jaromir Jagr recorded an assist and now has 1,883 points, four behind Mark Messier for second on the NHL career list.The play of Barkov seemed to lift the Panthers offense, which hadnt scored four goals since the Ottawa game.Hes playing the way we expected him to, Rowe said. Hes being Barkov. It removes a lot of pressure from other guys.Stress had been building for the Panthers. Theyre still reeling from an unexpected coaching change, with Rowe replacing Gerard Gallant in late November.It feels like theyre all must wins, Luongo said. Everybodys bunched up together. You want to look at it one game at a time.Daniel Sedin and Jack Skille scored in the third period for the Canucks. Jacob Markstrom stopped 38 shots.With the Panthers clinging to a 3-2 lead, Trocheck scored an empty-net goal with 47.1 seconds left.Trailing 3-0, the Canucks scored twice in the third.Skille took a shot from low in the right circle that got past Luongo on the glove side at 8:06 of the third. Skille has three goals in two games.A power-play goall by Sedin made the score 3-2. Wholesale Dolphins Jerseys Authentic. Troy Stecher shot from the point, and the puck hit Sedins stick and was redirected into the net at 11:45 of the third.We had our chances for sure, Sedin said. Luongo was good. But its still too late. Chasing being down 3-0, its tough. We made it tough on ourselves.The Panthers had stretched their lead to 3-0 at 1:05 of the third. Jagr took a shot from above the right circle that was blocked by Markstrom. Ekblad backhanded the rebound and beat Markstrom on the stick side.Barkov gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead 2:22 in. Seth Griffith passed from behind the net to Barkov in front, who poked the puck past Markstrom. Barkov has points in 11 of his past 12 games.The Panthers went ahead 2-0 on MacKenzies goal. MacKenzie corralled a bouncing puck and pushed it into the net at 9:35 of the second. Paul Thompson recorded his first NHL point with the first assist on the goal.Canucks goalie Ryan Miller could return Sunday against the Capitals. He left Thursdays game with a lower-body injury.I wont know yet. Ryan will probably try to take some shots in the morning. Well get a read on him in the morning and then well make our decision, Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said.Game notes Canucks D Erik Gudbranson, who was the first-round pick by the Panthers in 2010 and played for the Panthers for five years, received a video tribute and an ovation from the crowd in his first return since being traded to Vancouver last June. I definitely didnt expect that from them. I really appreciate it, Gudbranson said. ... G Thatcher Demko was called up from Utica of the AHL because Millers injury. ... C Jayson Megna was born in nearby Fort Lauderdale. ... Panthers D Keith Yandle played his 580th consecutive game, tying Johnny Wilson for the ninth longest stretch in the NHL. ... Jim Craig, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won a gold medal, attended the game.UP NEXT:Canucks: Visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday.Panthers: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. ' ' '
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