VANCOUVER - Finding another gear didnt prove to be a problem for the Vancouver Canucks.
Matt Holliday Jersey . The Canucks showed no sign of fatigue and played a patient game to beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 Thursday night to open their NHL Western Conference semifinal series. After playing seven games of guns blazing, high-energy hockey in the first round of the playoffs, the Canucks took their time and waited for their chances against the stingy Predators. Vancouver controlled the play, made crisp passes and easily moved the puck around in the Nashville zone The game lacked the energy and flow of the Canucks thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Chicago in Tuesdays Game 7 of the conference quarter-finals series. The switch was like going to the opera after watching a rock concert. "We cant get frustrated," said Canuck captain Henrik Sedin. "Its going to be low scoring games, we know that. "We were extremely happy to win this game 1-0. We are prepared to do that. Thats the sign of a good team." While the Canucks were satisfied, Nashville coach Barry Trotz fumed. "Tonight we had too many passengers, not enough guys pulling on the rope," said Trotz. "Lets be honest. We didnt deserve to win this hockey game." Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday at Rogers Arena (CBC, 9 p.m. ET). Chris Higgins scored the games only goal on a strange play in the second period while goaltender Roberto Luongo stopped 20 shots for his second shutout of the playoffs. Vancouver was playing on just one days rest after beating Chicago, but showed no signs of being tired mentally or physically. The Canucks had speed and peppered Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne with 30 shots. "We came out with a lot of jump," said coach Alain Vigneault. "We were assertive on the puck, we were assertive getting pucks to their net. "We just met a goaltender that was real sharp tonight." There were fears the Canucks might not have much left in the tank after the Chicago series. Luongo said the playoffs are a marathon and the Canucks know they have barely started the race. "When we came into this season we didnt come in to beat the Hawks," said Luongo, who also had a shutout in the opening game against Chicago. "We wanted to take a run at the Cup. We think we have the team to do it. It was very nice to win the other night but it was only round one. We have bigger and better things we want to accomplish." Defenceman Kevin Bieksa said the Canucks cant be in a hurry to beat Nashville. The Predators use a stifling defence and relentless forecheck to wear teams down and force mistakes. "They are a really patient team," said Bieksa. "To beat them, you have to be just as patient. "We didnt force things. Thats when you get in trouble with these guys. They dont give you a whole lot. Eventually you get frustrated and start forcing things." Higgins scored at 12:14 of the second period. About the last person in the arena to realize he had scored was the referee behind the net. Higgins stepped into a shot that a sprawling Rinne got a piece of. The puck deflected up, hit just under the bar in the net, then fell back out on the ice. The red light game on, the horn sounded in the building, and the Canucks began to celebrate. But referee Marc Joanette waved the goal off. Play continued for several seconds before the whistle blew. The referees huddled while television replays showed the puck clearly in the net. Finally the officials signalled a goal. Higgins said he wasnt sure if one goal would be enough in the tight game. "You never want to think that," he said. "You always want to get another one. It was just that kind of game., There wasnt a lot of scoring chances. We managed to get it done tonight." Rinne was the biggest reason the game was even close. In the first period he got a blocker on Henrik Sedin drive. Later, he stopped a Keith Ballard shot, then denied the Canuck defenceman again on the rebound. In the second, Rinne was able to glove Bieksas tip of a Sedin shot. Rinne wasnt happy with the way his team played. "We played well in the third period (but) we cant be happy the way we played the first 40 minutes," he said. "That was unacceptable. I felt the third period gives us a little bit of confidence for the second game." Higgins praised the play of the big Finnish goalie. "He played phenomenal," said Higgins, who the Canucks obtained at the trade deadline from Florida. "He made a lot of hard saves look easy. I thought we did a good job of getting guys in front of him and he still made some good saves. He played a hell of a game." Both Luongo and Rinne are finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given to the leagues best goaltender. Luongo wasnt as busy but was there when needed. He got a left pad on a Sergei Kostitsyn shot and stopped Mike Fisher on a short-handed breakaway. That brought chants of "Luuu, Luuu" from the sellout crowd of 18,860 at Rogers Arena. One fan in the crowd waved a cardboard cutout of country star Carrie Underwood wearing a Canuck jersey. Underwood, a former American Idol winner, is married to Fisher. The Predators have been resting since eliminating the Anaheim Ducks in six games Sunday. Its the first time in the teams 13-year history that Nashville has advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Notes: Mats Sundin, a former Canuck and long-time Toronto Maple Leaf, attended the game. ...The Canucks and Predators have never met in the playoffs before. ...Alex Burrows became the second player in franchise history to score two or more series-winning goals in overtime. He scored the winner against Chicago on Tuesday and against St. Louis on April 21, 2009.
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Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Jers . After taking two of three from one of the top teams in baseball, the Braves will look to take advantage of a lesser opponent as they host the Kansas City Royals tonight in the opener of a three-game series at Turner Field.
Replica Tim Hightower Jersey . The 25-year-old free agent got a two-way deal that will pay him $900,000 if he sticks with the big club. We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Raphael Diaz, who we strongly believe has all the attributes to play in the NHL, general manager Pierre Gauthier said Friday in a statement.
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Minnesota Vikings Favre Jersey . Chinese and European leaders plotted their next steps as investors looked to governments to lead major economies out of recession because central banks could start running out of room to cut interest rates further. A woman walks past a board displaying the Hang Seng Index chart in Hong Kong, December 8, 2008.
New England Patriots Bruschi Jersey . Patrice Bergeron had the only goal of the shootout after Michael Ryder scored twice in regulation, lifting Boston to a 4-3 victory over Atlanta that snapped the Thrashers four-game winning streak Thursday night.The Formula One Teams Association says it will set up its own breakaway series after refusing to accept the FIAs terms for the 2010 F1 championship. Following a four hour meeting at the Renault F1 factory in Enstone, England, the eight remaining members of FOTA released a statement, saying they had "no alternative" but to create a breakaway series. "This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders," said the statement. "The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series." Only Williams F1 and Force India have entered unconditional entries into the 2010 FIA F1 Championship. Both said they were contractually obligated to do so. FIA claims Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso are also obligated to enter the F1 championship. However, Ferrari claims that is not the case, that the FIA has breached the terms of its contract with the recent imposition of the 2010 rules. FIA president Max Mosley had given five of the eight teams until Friday to remove the conditions attached to their entries or risk being left off the starting grid in 2010. While it appeared there was some ground on which a comprommise could be reached, Mosley has refused to negotiate any terms until and unless all the teams signed up under the proposed 2010 rules.
Arizona Cardinals Kolb Jersey. FOTA says they have been frustrated that their efforts to try and improve the sport have consistently been rejected by both the FIA and F1 commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone. "The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA," said the teams. "The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Despite this and the uncompromising environment, FOTA has genuinely sought compromise." The threat of a breakaway series has drawn comparisons to the 13-year open-wheel war between CART and the IRL which damaged the sport in North America. Many Formula One observers have warned of the same disastrous results should the F1 series split into two. It will be interesting to see just how far the FOTA is prepared to go in starting up its own series. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has publicly questioned the car makers appetite for putting in the time and investment in a new start up, especially in this economic climate. Ecclestone has also threatened legal action against anyone who attempts to sign any of the current circuits and promoters under contract to FOM (Formula One Management). ' ' '
