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MONTREAL - After two years out of the NHL playoffs, there is new optimism among the Nashville Predators. Nike Air Max 270 React Triple Black .A stunning turnaround aided by a coaching change, the addition of veteran forwards James Neal and Mike Ribeiro and the emergence of 20-year-old forward Filip Forsberg have put Nashville in first place in the Central Division going into the all-star break.Now they believe theyve got enough pieces to keep up their strong play through the second half of the regular season and do some damage in the playoffs.Absolutely, veteran centre Mike Fisher said Tuesday. We really believe in this group.We believe were a top team in this league and we are. Weve shown it thus far. Were really confident in the group we have, that we can win any night against other top teams.The Predators had not lost twice in a row this season going into a game Tuesday night against the Canadiens in Montreal, where they were without star goalie Pekka Rinne for a third game due to an injury expected to last three weeks.Backed by Rinne and an impressive defence group led by Shea Weber, the Predators are the NHLs stingiest team, allowing only 2.25 goals per game. But Nashville has been known as a tight defensive side in recent years.The surprise is that they are tied for fifth in goals scored per game at 3.0.Part of that stems from the decision last summer to let the conservative Barry Trotz go after coaching the team through its first 15 NHL campaigns and bring in a more attack-minded Peter Laviolette.Trotz is now performing wonders in making the Washington Capitals a winning, two-way club, while Laviolette will also be a coach of the year candidate for doing much the same in Nashville.Its good for both sides, said Weber. You see the success theyre having (in Washington) and that were having.There was a different feel coming into training camp this year with a new face and I think the guys have responded very well.The second part of the season will determine if the Predators are for real, but it looks like it so far.They certainly have the goaltending with Rinne, considered one of the best in the world.With Weber, they have the big No. 1 blue-liner every team wishes it had, and he is backed by a group that can defend and move the puck. Among them is emerging talent Seth Jones, the fourth pick in the 2013 draft.Only a few months ago, they didnt appear to have much up front, but then Forsberg turned into a nearly point-per-game player and a strong two-way player on the top line with veteran Mike Ribeiro, who so far has shown a new commitment to discipline after being bought out by Arizona due to behavioural problems.Hes been an excellent addition to our team, Laviolette said of Ribeiro, who is on pace for his first 70-point campaign since 2010-11. Terrific in the room, terrific teammate, terrific on-ice play.Forsberg, playing his first full NHL campaign, was acquired from Washington in March 2013 for Martin Erat and Michael Latta in what is looking to be a spectacular steal for Nashville.Fisher centres James Neal, a one-time 40-goal scorer picked up in a trade with Pittsburgh in June, and Colin Wilson, who is having a breakout season and will soon top his career high of 35 points.Veteran Olli Jokinen, signed from Winnipeg, is playing on the fourth line. Another reclamation project, defenceman Anton Volchenkov, brings his stay at home style to the third defence pair and being dumped by New Jersey.Fisher likes the teams chances.With the goaltending we have, and look at our back end: everyone can handle the puck and skate, he said. And you look at the mix, the young guys, the leadership, energy, the way we play.Were all excited about what we can do. Its a tough league and the playoffs are tough, but we feel weve got a lot of pieces and character and we can be successful.The Predators have won only two playoff series in their history, the last against Detroit in 2012.The optimism now stems from adding some offence to a team known for tight defence. That comes from Laviolette.Id say were more aggressive, said Fisher. We want to be hungry for pucks, to forecheck really hard.The way our defence can move the puck helps us offensively. And defensively, we want to be hard to play against. He wants us to play both ends. He wants us to make plays and be creative, but be responsible.It has worked so far, but Weber, the captain, knows there is a lot of hockey still be played.I was on this team a while back when we were in first place for a while too, he said. Weve had good teams since Ive been in Nashville.Its just been tough the last couple of years. Theres still a lot of season left and we have to keep it up. Nike Air Max 270 Flyknit Sale . -- When Steve Blake checked in at the scorers table with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter, Stephen Curry shook his head and shouted across the court, asking Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson not to take him out. Air Max 270 Black And White Cheap . "I just think what it does for everybody in life is real simple," said Babcock early on Friday afternoon. "You dont give in. You just keep on keeping on. Is it going to go your way every time? No. But you choose your attitude and how you perform and how hard you dig in." Nearly four years to the day of the 2010 gold medal match in Vancouver, his team dug in with its best effort of these Olympics, snuffing out the high-powered Americans for another opportunity at gold.Jake Peavy can pitch the San Francisco Giants to their third World Series title in five years tonight when they attempt to close out the Kansas City Royals in Game 6 at Kauffman Stadium. Thats what you play for -- to be in the World Series and to win it, Peavy said. To be the guy who gets the ball with that opportunity. Its a special opportunity, I understand that. I just have to do all I can do to be in the moment, to think about executing pitches, to find any way, any how for the San Francisco Giants to win this game. While it may seem as if all the chips are stacked against Kansas City that may not be the case. Teams going home down 3-2 in a best-of-seven World Series have won it all in eight of the last 10 instances. Also, the Giants have lost both of their series when they have been in this position. And of course, Kansas City won Games 6 and 7 at home to win the 1985 World Series. I think the character in our clubhouse is at an all-time high, Royals pitcher James Shields said. I think thats what is going to get us through the next two games. Weve been in some situations where we had to get some wins in September, and we got it done. Theres no difference. Kansas City may have done its part in getting the series back to its ballpark, but the Giants also accomplished their goal of winning a game not started by Madison Bumgarner. Now, theyll have to win another if they want to secure the eighth world title in team history. Peavy will get the first crack at it, as he tries to reverse his postseason fortunes. Peavy ran into trouble against the Royals his third time through the lineup in Game 2 and left after allowing four runs and six hits in five-plus innings of work. Hes pitched to a 3.68 ERA in three starts this postseason, but is just 1-4 lifetime in the playoffs with a 7.05 ERA in eight starts. Im really excited about the opportunity, I really am, Peavy said. I never thought it would happen any other way. Thats not who I am. I never thought wed get swept in the three games (at home). The thought that I might not pitch again never really entered my mind. I prepared and I expectedd to pitch again, I really did. Nike Air Max 270 React Black. . San Francisco has been spoiled this postseason by Bumgarner, who has put together one of the better runs in recent memory. He followed up his brilliant Game 1 showing with an even better effort in Game 5 on Sunday, as he tossed a four-hit shutout in the Giants 5-0 win. Im just happy we won, Bumgarner said. That was a big game for us, being tied 2-2. Going back to Kansas City with two games, its a whole lot better that we have to win one now instead of having to win two. The Giants have scored first in four of five games in this series and are 7-1 during the postseason under this circumstance. Theyve also scored 15 unanswered runs since falling behind 4-1 in the third inning of Game 4. Neither team homered for the third straight game, marking the first time this has happened in a World Series since Games 1-3 of the 1948 Fall Classic between the Indians and the Boston Braves. Getting the call for the Royals will be 23-year-old rookie Yordano Ventura, who pitched well against the Giants in Game 1. After allowing a leadoff home run to Gregor Blanco, Ventura settled down and ended up surrendering just two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames. That kid has no fear, Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera said of Ventura. You either hit him or he hits you, but hes not going to be scared. Ventura will be pitching with a heavy heart Tuesday following the death of his friend, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, who was killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. Ventura plans on writing Taveras No. 18 and the initials R.I.P. on his spikes and glove in memory of his countrymate. Its going to be hard to put that aside, Ventura said on Monday, but Im going to throw everything I have out there. Im dedicating that game to him. These teams actually met in the regular season, as the Royals completed a three-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium. Going back to The K, said Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, with those fans and that electricity, were excited. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium. ' ' '
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