Group Info
me some uncharacteristic lapses at the other end of
The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed head coach Carl Robinson to a new multi-year deal. Damon Severson Devils Jersey . Robinson guided the team to a franchise record 50 points (12-14-8) and a playoff berth in his first season as boss and has been rewarded with a new deal. His previous one only took him through the end of 2015. The new contract is a tremendous achievement for the 38-year-old who, after one year on the job, has proven to the organization he is the man to lead them going forward. Speaking to TSN to break the news, Robinson admitted he is pleased to be with a team that shares his plans for the long-term. I stressed from Day One that I wanted to move this club forward in a certain way with playing young players and building a foundation for the club, he said. After one year, I think we were pretty successful, but it’s only the beginning, but obviously their vision of the club matches my vision, so we’re happy to tie things up. For the Whitecaps the agreement brings them some much-needed consistency at a position in which they have struggled to find continuity since joining Major League Soccer. Asked about his vision for the teams personnel moving forward, Robinson said there are still moves to be made. Im not done, he told TSN when asked about making additions. You can never have enough good players. I dont mind making tough decisions if Ive got a lot of good players. The Welshman, who was an assistant in Vancouver under previous coach Martin Rennie, was only hired in December 2013 following a long, thorough process by the club. “When he applied for the job and we sat down with him, we were impressed with his thoughts on how he could incorporate the experience he’s had as a player and as coach in MLS and his experience as international with the Welsh team into the job,” President Bob Lenarduzzi said at the time. “In the end, Carl quickly emerged as a top candidate and we felt strongly that he was the right choice.” A year on, the club no longer feels strongly he was the right choice. They know. In just one year, Carl and his staff have done an exceptional job in establishing a foundation, bringing in quality players and people, and taking this team to the next level, Lenarduzzi said Sunday. They are all highly respected not only within our club, but also around the league and the soccer world. We are confident that their eye for talent, dedication and hard work will continue to yield positive results. Robinson impressed the Whitecaps in all aspects of his job in year one. While achieving unprecedented success at the club, Robinson also gave many youngsters opportunities to shine in the first team, something that was very important to the Whitecaps front office who made it a priority to lock him up this offseason. Talks were already in the works prior to the last month of the season with Robinson sitting down with the club in September to discuss the framework of a deal that has now been completed. Robinson guided the Whitecaps through a year of transition in 2014 while still allowing the club to be competitive. After Camilo left, other big names followed in Kenny Miller and Jay DeMerit but throughout it all Robinson and his staff recruited well and signed the likes of Pedro Morales, Matias Laba and Kendall Waston to be the spine of the team for now and the future. In an interview with Marc Weber of the Province in October, minority owner Jeff Mallett was very complimentary of the head coach, saying: “I think Carl has overachieved.” He added: “The one thing we knew with Carl was his character, and I think that’s still the best attribute about him. Who he is and how he handles himself, whether it’s with media or owners or anyone, has brought what we’d hoped for: that clear, consistent communicator. He’s practical and he’s also very passionate about what he does.” Robinson guided the team to four wins and a draw in their last five matches to make the playoffs for just the second time, including a standout performance at Seattle when the club won 1-0 in their 32nd league match of the season. That victory got many fans in Vancouver wondering when the club would extend Robinson to prevent his head being turned to the English leagues with its 92 managerial jobs and where he played professionally for 11 seasons. Robinson’s name was publicly mentioned when his former side, New York Red Bulls, saw their head coach job briefly become available earlier this month and with his reputation growing worldwide clubs in England have also been monitoring his current situation very closely. The Whitecaps have now given him plenty of reasons to not look elsewhere. Robinson expressed his joy in committing to a city hes come to call home. When I moved to Canada in 2007 we made a big commitment - me and my family - and we were very happy there, he told TSN. Fast forward seven years and were still very happy. I was willing to commit, as my coaches were, because we think weve got something special on our hands here. Assistants Gordon Forrest and Martyn Pert, along with goalkeeping coach Marius Rovde, have also signed new multiyear deals. Mirco Mueller Devils Jersey . In the other Group A game, the Czech Republic stunned Canada, 5-4 in a shootout. Dominik Simon scored the deciding goal in the tiebreaker. The United States scored its first three goals on power plays. "Overall, I love to see the power-play goals we were able to get tonight," said U. Blake Coleman Devils Jersey .The rookie goalie made 36 saves to help the Calgary Flames blank their Pacific Division rivals 1-0 on Saturday following a 48-hour ordeal that included lost baggage, a cancelled flight and a new pair of contact lenses. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins acknowledge theyve been getting by more on talent than discipline recently even as theyve soared to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The perpetually rebuilding Florida Panthers have no such luxury. On Monday night, the Panthers hard work made up the difference. Drew Shore scored twice for the first multi-goal game of his career and the Panthers ended Pittsburghs club-record 13-game home winning streak with a 5-1 victory. "It was a big game," Shore said. "We kind of treated it like a playoff game. We only had a couple more games until the (Olympic) break so we wanted to make a strong push." Jonathan Huberdeau, Dmitry Kulikov and Shawn Matthias also scored for the Panthers, who won in Pittsburgh for the first time in five years. Scott Clemmensen stopped 35 shots in his first start in three weeks as Florida ended a two-game losing streak. "I asked them for 60 minutes and 200 feet," Florida coach Peter Horachek said. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma received neither. Matt Niskanen scored the only goal for the Penguins as Pittsburgh lost at home for the first time since Nov. 13. Marc-Andre Fleury made 23 saves but fell for only the fourth time in his past 37 starts at Consol Energy Center. "We were just awful," Niskanen said. "Bad execution. Bad work ethic. We just werent hungry enough to win the loose puck battle and they just beat the (stuffing) out of us." Pittsburgh defenceman Paul Martin played 20 minutes in his return from a broken leg, clearing the way for him to play for Team USA in the Olympics. Forwards James Neal, Chuck Kobasew and Jayson Megna also returned from injuries as the Penguins -- already with a comfortable 13-point cushion in the Metropolitan Division -- continue to get healthy with the Olympic break looming. While it may take a game or two for the Penguins to adjust to the familiar faces, they dont necessarily view it as an excuse. "Were assimilating players back into our lineup ... but thats not a new challenge for this group," Bylsma said. "Its not a new challenge for our team." Neither is winning in Pittsburgh for the Panthers. But Florida beat the Penguins for the second time in three meetings behind Clemmensen, a resurgennt penalty kill that has gone a franchise-record 10 games without allowing a goal and some unlikely offensive contributions. Scott Stevens Jersey. "I dont think we got lucky tonight," Clemmensen said. "I think we just willed it a little bit. It doesnt always go your way obviously. You stick with it and nights like tonight happen." Shore entered with just four goals in 54 career games and has spent most of this season in the American Hockey League. Still, he scored twice in less than 20 minutes to stake Florida to an early lead that was more than enough to end Pittsburghs two-month run of perfection. The Penguins entered the night having trailed barely 10 per cent of the time at home since their streak began. A significant chunk came in last weeks 4-3 comeback victory over Washington, when they rallied from a goal down three times to escape. It was the kind of game thats popped up frequently since Christmas, where Pittsburghs high-powered offence was able to overcome some uncharacteristic lapses at the other end of the rink. The miscues finally caught up with them. A rare breakdown by the leagues top power-play unit gave Shore the chance to stake Florida to an early lead. Clemmensen stopped Evgeni Malkins shot, then passed to Shore to spark a two-on-one that ended with Shore flicking a wrist shot over Fleurys shoulder 15:46 into the first period. The Panthers had three opportunities in the second to double their lead only to let three straight power plays go to waste before Shore struck again. Huberdeau stripped a Penguin behind the Pittsburgh net, slid the puck to Jesse Winchester, who found a streaking Shore down the slot. The wrist shot caromed off Fleurys shoulder and into the net to make it 2-0 at 13:34 of the second. Kulikov pushed the Florida lead to 3-0 by taking a long bounce off the end boards then beating Fleury just 1:17 into the third. Niskanens seventh goal of the season 5:11 into the period briefly gave the Penguins some energy, but it faded when Huberdeau and Matthias scored 12 seconds apart to send the Panthers to the upset. NOTES: Pittsburgh went 0 for 3 on the power play. ... The Panthers have killed 31 straight penalties. ... Florida is 10-0-1 when leading after two periods. ... Pittsburgh hosts Montreal on Wednesday. ... The Panthers play at Buffalo on Tuesday. ' ' '
miaowang123
Activity: May 25 '20
