d in the NFL in averaging 6 yards per carry in | Forum
miaowang123
Dec 27 '17
TAMPA, Fla. John Wall Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. Despite being swept in the first round of the NHL playoffs, the young team led by Steven Stamkos has plenty of reasons to feel encouraged about the future. One year after struggling to the 28th-best record in the league, the Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division and posted the third-best mark in the Eastern Conference. The Montreal Canadiens eliminated them from the post-season in four games, but coach Jon Cooper said none of his players should hang their heads because the Lightning had a successful season. "Its been a transition year for us in an unbelievably positive way," said Cooper, whos completing his first full season behind the bench. "I dont want this series to be looked at as they were a failure," Cooper added. "Those guys got swept in the first round, but they had a heck of a year." Stamkos missed 45 games because of a broken right leg but still amassed 25 goals and 40 points in 37 games to help Tampa Bay return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The 24-year-old captain has scored more goals than any NHL player since the start of the 2009-10 season. His absence from early November to just before a late-season trade sent Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers created unexpected opportunities for several young players who helped the team stay afloat while Stamkos was out. Goaltender Ben Bishop set a franchise record with 37 victories before a left elbow injury sidelined him for the final week of the regular season and the playoffs. Rookie Ondrej Palate led the team with 59 points and another first-year player, Tyler Johnson, set a club record for rookies with 24 goals. In all, Tampa Bays rookies combined for 201 points, more than twice as many for first-year players from any other team. "Its been well documented what this team has gone through this year," Cooper said, adding that few people gave the Lightning much of a shot at making the playoffs when the season began. Stamkos said its important young players learn from their post-season experience. The Lightning dropped the first two games to the Canadiens at home and didnt feel they played their best hockey until the third period of Game 4 in Montreal on Tuesday night. "Everyones probably feeling a little embarrassed. But in the long run, you probably had to go through something like this," Stamkos said. "I think we will learn," the captain added, "that sacrifice, determination and work ethic is what wins at this time of year." Ryan Callahan, the former Rangers captain obtained in the deal that sent an unhappy St. Louis to New York, agreed. "This means nothing if as a group (the Lightning) doesnt realize how hard the playoffs are and how consistent you have to be moving forward," Callahan said. "Its a waste if you dont learn from it." Eight rookies made their playoff debut in Game 1, while another key player -- goalie Anders Lindback, standing in for Bishop -- entered the series with just 13 minutes of post-season experience. Six first-year players notched their first playoff points in the opener, won by the Canadiens 5-4 in overtime. The next step is returning next season and proving this years success wasnt a fluke. "The amount of youth that we have here is very promising," Stamkos said. "We want to be a perennial playoff team. This is a start." Michael Jordan Jersey . HEROES P.K. Subban – Scored the overtime winner and assisted on Montreal’s earlier goal, both on the power play, in a 2-1 win over Nashville. Chris McCullough Jersey . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Six weeks after breaking his collarbone, Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller returned to practice Wednesday in a move that opens the possibility of him being eligible to resume playing in two weeks.Though Spiller remains on reserve/injured designated to return list, he was allowed back on the field after being activated by the Bills earlier in the day. The Bills have two weeks to determine whether to add Spiller to the active roster before they play at Oakland on Dec. 21, or place him on the season-ending injured reserve list.Spiller has been out since being hurt in the second quarter of a 17-16 win against Minnesota on Oct. 19. He was tripped up from behind during a 53-yard run and fell awkwardly on his left shoulder while tumbling out of bounds.He had surgery the following day.Spiller has spent his time recovering and rehabbing with the team in Orchard Park. After initially being limited to lower-body work to keep his legs fresh and cardio-therapy, Spiller began lifting weights about two weeks ago. Jason Smith Jersey. he chances of Spiller playing again this season are partially linked to whether the Bills remain in the playoff hunt. At 7-5, Buffalo is in the thick of a jumbled playoff AFC playoff picture but faces a pair of daunting tests over the next two weeks.The Bills play at the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (9-3) on Sunday, before returning home to face current NFC North-leading Green Bay (9-3).The injury sidetracked what had already been an inconsistent season for Spiller, who was experiencing difficulty getting steady playing time. The 2010 first-round pick was limited to 287 yards rushing on 69 carries through six-plus games.Spiller, who finished second in the NFL in averaging 6 yards per carry in 2012, is completing the final year of his contract and eligible to become a free agent this off-season.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFLCheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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