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Royals: RHP Brad

in FanArts 30.08.2018 07:56
von hongwei28 • Anbu Squad-Leader | 407 Beiträge

TAMPA Adidas Mika Zibanejad Jersey , Fla. — The way the schedule lined up, the Tampa Bay Lightning knew they’d be facing the Boston Bruins three times in the final 12 games of the regular season.

And now, having lost the first two games by a combined score of 7-2 and trailing the Bruins in the standings in the final week of the season, there’s much on the line when the teams meet Tuesday night at Amalie Arena.

“It’s going to probably have a big determination of which team comes first, let’s be honest,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of the divisional implications. “We win the game, we’re right back in it. They win it, they’ve probably got it. It’s Game 80, but it’s big Game 80.”

Boston (49-17-12) has picked up points in nine straight games and now has a two-point lead in the standings — with a game in hand — over the Lightning (52-23-4), who led the Atlantic Division most of the season.

Tampa Bay is reeling, having gone 1-4 in its last five and having star Steven Stamkos questionable with a lower-body injury sustained in Saturday’s loss to Nashville.

Boston is 4-0-2 in its last six, and now stands as the only NHL team ranking in the top five in scoring, goals allowed Troy Apke Jersey Redskins , power-play percentage and penalty-kill percentage.

“It’s fun to play together — we have each other’s backs,” Boston’s Torey Krug said after the Bruins rallied from 3-1 down Sunday, getting a tying goal with 3.8 seconds remaining to salvage a point in an overtime loss to Philadelphia. “It doesn’t matter what the time or the score is. It’s good to get that point.”

The Atlantic champion will face a wild card from the other division, either Columbus, Philadelphia or New Jersey, all within a point in the standings.

The runner-up will likely face third-seeded Toronto — the Lightning are 3-1 against the Maple Leafs this season — but it would still mean a tougher playoff path and losing home-ice advantage should they eventually meet the Bruins again.

Boston has won the last two meetings with Tampa Bay on the strength of its special teams. The Bruins have killed off the NHL’s No. 2 power play on six of seven opportunities in the two games, and their power play has converted three of five chances.

Cooper said whether to rest Stamkos this week or keep him on the ice to build momentum for the postseason will depend on his health, but the team has a long-term focus as the playoffs approach.

Beat Boston on Tuesday and their final two games are against non-playoff opponents Buffalo and Carolina for a shot at four points in the final two days of the regular season.

“We need (Stamkos) feeling his best a week and a half from now, and not necessarily right now,” Cooper said. “However, we can help that, we will. We want to get better as a team in the next three games. We want to make sure we’re ready as a group.”

Andrew Luck looked comfortable in his old spot Thursday.

He took command of the huddle, made all the required throws Youth Quenton Nelson Jersey , chatted with teammates and coaches and even critiqued himself. He avoided one personal concern by successfully handling the first snap, and he was serenaded by Indianapolis Colts‘ fans chanting his name.

Yes, after more than 19 months of answering questions about his surgically repaired throwing shoulder, Luck finally got a chance to show everyone exactly what he could do during the team’s first training camp workout Thursday.

”It was a good day, a solid day in windy conditions,” new coach Frank Reich said following a two-hour workout in shorts. ”I thought he looked strong, consistent, a good first day for him.”

The unofficial numbers: 4 of 9 with one interception in two rounds of 11-on-11 and 11 of 19 overall.

Of course, nobody expected Luck to be at his level best on Day 1.

The three-time Pro Bowler had surgery on a partially torn labrum in January 2017, missed all of last season with lingering pain and didn’t resume throwing again until May. He did light work during June’s three-day minicamp and ramped up his activity in California over the next six weeks.

Thursday marked the first time he worked out with the starting unit since the end of the 2016 season, and it was also his first real chance to get acclimated to Reich’s new offense.

”He doesn’t have the familiarity that we have when it comes to running the offense,” center Ryan Kelly said. ”I mean you can look at it on paper for so long, but until you’re out there and running it … So every so often in walkthroughs Youth Darius Leonard Jersey , he’d ask me a few questions. It’s usually the other way around, so it’s kind of weird right now.”

The Colts also weren’t about to ask anyone to do too much too fast. So rather than turn things loose, Reich instructed his players to slow it down for the first two days.

It showed.

But that’s not why so many fans showed up to the team’s new camp site, Grand Park Sports Campus, in Westfield, Indiana – a northern suburb of Indianapolis.

They wanted to see the team’s most anticipated camp appearance since Luck arrived in town with the title of No. 1 overall draft pick in 2012.

Some couldn’t wait. The line started forming more than two hours before practice began, and blue No. 12 jerseys were a favorite fashion option in the bleachers. When individual drills started to wrap up and it became obvious Luck was about to start throwing, one fan shouted: ”Get ready for the most anticipated pass.”

Luck did not speak with reporters after the workout though he was more talkative than usual on the field.

He started the afternoon with a brief conversation with Reich and could be seen discussing specific plays with receivers and offensive linemen throughout the afternoon.

Reich liked most of what he saw.

”Really good,” he said. ”Being under center, running team periods, making plays, seeing him hit the big play to (Eric) Ebron, you know Cheap Isaac Yiadom Jersey , taking control of the huddle, making some checks at the line of scrimmage, just doing what he does. I mean you could see it in his demeanor, you could see it in his eyes, working through his progressions. He was sharp.”

Luck is expected to throw again Friday. He will participate in Saturday’s practice, but will not throw and then will return to full action Sunday night when the Colts are scheduled to practice in pads.

The hope is he will be ready to play in the Colts’ preseason opener Aug. 9 at Seattle.

”Working together for so long, we just went through a walkthrough for an hour and as soon as we did it, it was like old times. Same cadence,” Kelly said before practice. ”It’s crazy how fast things come back to you.”

Notes: The Colts activated offensive lineman Denzelle Good from the non-injury football list. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo and backup offensive lineman Austin Howard have been placed on the non-football injury list. Castonzo hurt his hamstring while working out this summer. Howard’s injury has not been disclosed.



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