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or another long, tough match against Nishikori.H
ANAHEIM, Calif. Jabari Parker Jersey . - Between the 20-year-old goalie with 39 saves and the 21-year-old forward with two goals, Teemu Selanne wasnt sure which youngster deserved the most credit for propelling the Anaheim Ducks veterans to the brink of the Western Conference finals. Selanne is only certain the Ducks youth movement is happening at an ideal time for their Stanley Cup hopes. John Gibson was outstanding in his second career playoff start, and Devante Smith-Pelly scored two goals 1:23 apart in the second period of the Ducks 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 on Monday night, putting Anaheim up 3-2 in the second-round series. Selanne is older than Gibson and Smith-Pelly combined, but the Finnish Flash knows the kids are why the Ducks are in position to finish off their Southern California rivals in Game 6 on Wednesday after a raucous meeting at Honda Center. "They answered the bell again," said Selanne, who had a sublime assist on Smith-Pellys first goal. "Devo has all the tools. Gibby is rock-solid. Theyre pretty special players, and they both took care of it for us tonight. You need special contributions from everybody to do what were trying to do." Nick Bonino and Jakob Silfverberg also scored for the Ducks, who jumped out to a three-goal lead in the second period and hung on behind their rookie goalie, earning the first home victory by either team in the series. Smith-Pelly is the Ducks unlikely leader with five post-season goals after a superbly energetic effort in Game 5. He has three goals in the past two games, capitalizing on his promotion to Anaheims top line with captain Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry after scoring just two goals in his 19 regular-season appearances for the Ducks. "Were just having a lot of fun," Smith-Pelly said. "This is what you dream about, playing in the playoffs." The Ducks also got another standout game from Gibson, who shut out the Kings in Game 4 to even the series in his Anaheim playoff debut. "I think I got tested more," Gibson said. "Its fun. Im just trying to take it all in and win some hockey games." Gibsons fifth career NHL appearance was tougher than the first four — but his teammates also helped out much more this time, scoring four regulation goals against the Kings for the first time in the rivals 10 total meetings this season. Marian Gaborik scored his NHL-best seventh and eighth goals of the post-season for the Kings, including a redirection with 5:48 left to trim Anaheims lead to one goal. Los Angeles pressed throughout the final minutes to finish with a playoff-high 42 shots, outshooting the Ducks 14-2 in the third period, but couldnt beat Gibson for the equalizer. "We were talking about how we have to get to Gibson, and if we do, things are happening," Gaborik said. "If we get shots through and try to go to the net, rebounds are there, and we got some chances. We have to keep doing that and we have to clean a lot of stuff up. Were coming home. Were confident we can win and come back here." Trevor Lewis also scored and Jonathan Quick stopped 20 shots for the Kings, who will face their fifth elimination game of the post-season at Staples Center on Wednesday. Theyre on their second three-game skid of the playoffs — bookending a six-game winning streak. The road team had won every game in the first series between these rivals separated by 30 miles of freeway, but the Ducks snapped the Kings four-game road playoff winning streak dating to their 0-3 comeback in the first round against San Jose. "Tonight isnt about the third (period), its about the second," Kings captain Dustin Brown said. "We made too many easy mistakes, and we had to try to come back the way we did. Its too hard." After Bonino and Lewis traded goals in the first period, Anaheim took the lead for good 1:11 into the second when Mathieu Perreaults shot off Selannes pass glanced off Smith-Pellys toe in the crease. "I didnt really do anything," Smith-Pelly said with a grin. Smith-Pelly then broke in alone on Quick 83 seconds later when Getzlaf intercepted Martinezs pass in the neutral zone, and Silfverberg put the Ducks up 4-1 midway through the period. The Kings gathered themselves and finally capitalized on a double-minor by Smith-Pelly when Gaborik scored in front, getting his fourth goal in the series three games in Anaheim. After several minutes of fruitless work for the Kings, Brown shovelled a backhand at the net and Gaborik redirected it home. NOTES: Perreault returned to Anaheims lineup after missing Game 4 with an injury, and rookie Rickard Rakell was scratched. Ducks F Matt Beleskey missed his second straight game after getting hurt in Game 3. ... F Jordan Nolan replaced Kyle Clifford in the Kings lineup. Nolan hadnt played since Game 3 of the first round against San Jose, sitting out eight straight games. ... The Kings are still without two key veteran defencemen. Willie Mitchell missed his sixth straight game, and Robyn Regehr sat out his fourth. Chandler Hutchison Jersey .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Zach LaVine Jersey . The Packers, Lions and Bears were a combined 35-15 and as long as Jay Cutler can say healthy, all three could make the playoffs in 2012.MELBOURNE, Australia - Its only been a couple of months since Kei Nishikori moved into the No. 5 ranking, and hes not yet comfortable with the number.Once success arrived it came quickly for the 25-year-old Japanese player who stands out as one of the games rising stars and one of its most modest.Nishikori spent the latter part of 2014 making history. He became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open and finished the year ranked No. 5, the highest ranking ever achieved by a man from Asia.At this years Australian Open he has powered through the first four rounds to secure a spot in the quarterfinals and has tried to explain on a few occasions what it is about the number five that makes him uneasy.Im really new to be No. 5, so Im still not comfortable, Nishikori told the cheering crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Monday, where Japanese flags were waving during the windy afternoon match as he beat the supremely athletic No. 9-ranked David Ferrer 6-3, 6-3. 6-3.I think I feel more pressure than before, he said earlier in the week, describing the different feeling of being on the pedestal with the worlds best players. I think I need more time to get used to it.Asked on Monday what number he might feel more comfortable with, Nishikori smiled. Maybe like, 15 or 20.There is a disconnect between the confident, aggressive Nishikori fans witness on the court and the self-deprecating person he becomes off the court.When he plays, Nishikori is aggressive, quick and energetic, with leaping forehands and an ability to take the ball early, which adds to his power and gives his opponent less time to react. HHe is also extremely focused, confident and calm. Cheap Bulls Jerseys China. hats what Im really trying to do, (be) patient always but at the same time aggressive, said Nishikori, who broke into the top five after adding Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champion, to his coaching team last year.Nishikori is a star in Japan but has been based since age 14 in Florida, where he moved to train at the Nick Bollettieris famed tennis academy.Living in the U.S. makes it easier for Nishikori to escape the limelight, but he says Japan still feels like home.In Florida nobody talks to me, Nishikori said. In Japan ... a lot of people recognize me. Its not easy to walk on the street.I feel more comfortable living in Japan. They have much better food, he smiled. But in Florida, they have great facilities... good players I can train with. They have everything.Maybe after he retires, Nishikori said, he will move back to Japan permanently. Not that retirement is on his mind just yet.On Wednesday, he faces defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals.It will be a rematch of their U.S. Open quarterfinal which Nishikori won in a gripping five sets before going on to beat No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He has only reached the quarterfinal in Melbourne once before — in 2012 — and followed that with consecutive exits in the fourth round.Wawrinka said he was bracing for another long, tough match against Nishikori.Hes a great shot maker. He can make winners. Hes always taking the ball really early. Its always tough to play against him, said the No. 4-ranked Wawrinka. Well see how Im going to deal with that. ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
