decision making as to when to press as a team | Forum
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Feb 10 '18
TORONTO -- When Steven Stamkos crashed into the post in Boston on Monday afternoon, the shock waves could be felt all the way to Sochi, Russia. Corey Seager Jersey . The Tampa Bay Lightning star is out indefinitely with a broken right tibia, an injury that could be a significant blow to Team Canada in its efforts to defend gold at the Olympics. Stamkos was tied with Alex Steen as the NHLs leading goal scorer, and with Sidney Crosby for the points lead at the time of his injury and figured to be a lock to make the team. "Certainly from a Canada perspective, I dont know of a time frame, but certainly probably going to be questionable if he can play in the Olympics," said Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, whos part of Canadas management team. "Big loss for Tampa, big loss for our league." Stamkos lost his balance and crashed into the net during the second period of the Lightnings 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins. He writhed in pain on the ice and appeared to tell a trainer, "Its broken." The broken tibia will require surgery to repair. The Lightning did not release a time frame, likely in part because the complexity of the fracture could affect things. Surgery is set for Tuesday morning. "The biggest concern for me, and the rest of the Lightning, is that decisions are made in Stevens best long-term interest, and we feel this is the appropriate course of action," Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said in a statement. Yzerman is also Team Canadas GM, making this potentially a double loss. Stamkos had 14 goals and 23 points in the first 17 games of the season, helping Tampa Bay climb to first place in the Atlantic Division. Stamkos was just 20 years old when Canada won gold in Vancouver in 2010, and he did not make the cut for that team. In three world championships, Stamkos has 16 goals and 10 assists. Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson said the major priority right now is Stamkoss health, not the impact on the Olympics. "This isnt about the Olympic team," Nicholson said on the red carpet before Monday nights Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "This is about Steve Stamkos making sure he takes care of himself." Of course it would hurt Team Canada if Stamkos is unable to play. Nicholson said theres an injury clause in the Olympic agreement that could allow Canada to name Stamkos and replace him before the Games, but he said its "too early" to talk about that possibility. "Well see what happens in the next 48 hours and then start to discuss that," he said. "We were looking at naming the team by the first of January, but there is the injury clause and so well have to explore all of the those options." Team Canada had an injury question going into the 2010 Olympics when Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf was questionable with an ankle injury. Jeff Carter was flown into Vancouver just in case, but Getzlaf was able to play. That could happen again for Sochi, but with more complex travel. "Theres lots of complications around it, but its just devastating that it happened to him today," Nicholson said. "Weve got a lot of time to figure out where were going to go, and we just hope things go well with him." Babcock, Team Canadas head coach, was on the opposite bench with the Red Wings on Saturday night when Stamkos roofed a shot on Jimmy Howard. In Toronto for three former players being inducted into the Hall of Fame -- Chris Chelios, Brendan Shanahan and Scott Niedermayer -- Babcock expressed sadness over Stamkos injury. "Tough for him," he said. "Who knows. Well see what happens." While Holland conceded Monday evening that he hadnt seen the play Stamkos was injured on. But former NHL great and Canadian Olympian Wayne Gretzky did. "Its horrible,"said Gretzky, a former GM for Team Canada . "(You) dont want to see anybody get an injury like he sustained today. Its unfortunate, and thats the risk of being of being a National Hockey League player or a professional athlete. It really is difficult. Hopefully he mends from this and comes back even stronger. Hes a wonderful young man, and Im sure hell come back a better player." If he cannot come back in time to help Team Canada in Sochi, it could open the door for someone like Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars or perhaps Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks. Neither of those players were invited to Olympic orientation camp in Calgary, but preparing for an Olympic tournament without Stamkos is not something Canada wanted. "Youre never replacing Steve Stamkos," Nicholson said. "We have a lot of great players. Steve Yzerman has a very difficult job putting this team together, but you dont replace Steve Stamkos and well just have to find another way to make sure the lineups strong." Enrique Hernandez Jersey . As the only competitor to try two quads, much less complete them, Kovtun ended the day nearly nine points ahead of Japans Tatsuki Machida, who opened with a clean quad but then stepped out of the triple toe loop that was the second jump in his combination. Brandon Morrow Jersey . -- Pelicans coach Monty Williams does not expect guard Eric Gordon to play in any of New Orleans final five games this season.Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert expects a battle and fight.Goalkeeper David Ousted is prepared for a brawl.There are usually fireworks when the Whitecaps meet FC Dallas and Wednesdays one-game, first-round playoff matchup in Texas should be no different.You can see every time we play each other its a real battle, said Teibert. We know its going to be a fight but these are the games you play for. These are the games you really get up for. If you cant get up for these then you cant get up for any.Vancouver and Dallas split three spirited games during Major League Soccers regular season. Each team won at home with the other match ending in a 2-2 draw at B.C. Place Stadium.The encounters were chock-full of emotion, with plenty of extra-curricular activities, on and off the field.Both teams want to win. Both teams are working really hard, said Ousted. Last time was a scrappy game and I think its going to be a scrappy game again. Its going to be a little bit of a brawl and its just the intensity of wanting to win games.Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja and Vancouver assistant Martyn Pert were fined for their involvement in a post-match confrontation in the Whitecaps 2-0 home win Oct. 4. The altercation came less than a month after Pert and Dallas assistant Josema Bazan were sent off during a 2-1 Dallas victory Sept. 13 in Frisco, Texas.Were very competitive, no one likes to lose and you can see the rivalry on the field in all three games, Dallas midfielder Victor Ulloa told the clubs official website. Thats just the intensity that we bring.Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson was asked why the teams dont get along and provided what he called a politically correct answer to reporters.Weve both got a lot of respect for each other and we both want to win the game. Each team will be giving 100 per cent, said the Welshman. Its players wanting to win, managers wanting to win.While they remain focused on the No. 4 versus No. 5 game at Toyota Stadium, a win Wednesday would move the Whitecaps into a two-legged Western Conference semifinal against the Seattle Sounders.Weve got a fantastic opportunity to make a little bit of history for this club, but its going to take a lot of hard work, Robinson said. Getting in the playoffs is good, but we dont stop there. We go ahead now and if we can get over this hurdle, and its a very tough hurdle, what a battle weve got — a game against our rivals.Vancouver pushed hard to make the post-season, going 4-0-1 over its last five games to just get over the line ahead of the Portland Timbers by a point thanks to a dramatic 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Dallas, meanwhile, had a chance to avoid the extra playoff game but dropped a 2-0 decision at home to Portland in its finale, something Teibert said could benefit the Whitecaps.I think you could call it an edge, said the Canadian international. I think they were trying to play their way out of this situation whereas we were trying to play our way into this situation. Were up for it.Thee Whitecaps have had a successful campaign regardless of Wednesdays result — winning the regional Cascadia Cup tournament and qualifying for the 2015 CONCACAF Championship League — but are far from satisfied. Clayton Kershaw Jersey. We have everything to play for, said Teibert, whose team finished four points behind Dallas. The possibilities are endless for us this season.Weve been underdogs all season long and weve been proving people wrong all season long. So why not keep proving people wrong?For all the good feeling, Vancouver has had trouble scoring in 2014 — going the equivalent of five games without a goal at one point. But Robinson expects his forward-thinking players to get their chances in the winner-take-all matchup.Well be organized defensively as we have been the last five, six games and well make sure that when we get into attacking areas we can try and exploit their weaknesses, he said. They leave holes. If we can get our attacking players in those pockets of space then it will be down to whether we can finish.The Whitecaps are the only Canadian team in the MLS playoffs and are making a second post-season appearance in three years. Vancouver lost on the road to the Los Angeles Galaxy at the same stage in 2012, but defender Andy OBrien said the mood is different this time around.I think were a lot more confident going into the game, he said. With the pressure games that weve had, I think that will stand us in good stead. I think our decision making as to when to press as a team and when to sit back is certainly better than it was two years ago.I think thats demonstrated in the fact that were a difficult team to play against.The Whitecaps have recorded four straight shutouts thanks in large part to the play of OBrien and fellow centre back Kendall Waston. Theyll have to be especially wary of Dallas striker Blas Perez, who has three goals in three games against Vancouver this season.From a defensive perspective we know what to expect. Its going to be physical, said OBrien. With Perez up front its important not to react to some of things that go on.Added Waston: We know how (Perez) works and we know what weve got to do to beat that.The Whitecaps know that keeping their heads against Dallas will be key but Robinson was a tough customer during his playing days and the rookie coach has no problem with things getting a bit nasty on the pitch.Id prefer to have that than just be matey matey and friends all the time and on the field (when) the players pick each other up when theres physical contact because the games not about that, he said, before adding with a smile: I watch hockey. Its brilliant, so maybe I can turn my team into that a little bit without the fighting.Note: Whitecaps defender Steven Beitashour limped off with a hamstring injury against Colorado and will miss out Wednesday. Robinson could go with 19-year-old Sam Adekugbe — who was subbed on in the first half against the Rapids — or 20-year-old Ethen Sampson to fill the void.Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter Cheap 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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