efencemen, MacLean wont hesitate to mak

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss Steve Nash, the Spirits handling of Terry Traffords passing, Ralph Krueger and NHL shootouts. Bruce Arthur, the National Post: My thumb is up to Steve Nash, who was shut down this week with nerve pain, which has been limiting him since a harmless-looking collision early last year. Hes only played 10 games for the Lakers this season and he looked like himself once. If this isnt the end of his 18-year career, then were getting close. So why thumbs up? Because of how hes facing it. Nash is making short films for ESPNs Grantland that are incredibly honest - jarringly so, at times - about what its like to face your athletic mortality and was incredibly honest again when I spoke to him this week. Nash and I are the same age; we both came from B.C.; we both played basketball and thats where the comparison ends. And again, hes showing me what it would be like. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the eerie silence that has engulfed the Saginaw Spirit in the tragic wake of the passing of 20-year-old Terry Trafford.There are questions here – but, to date, no answers coming from the prominent junior hockey people, coach Greg Gilbert or general manager Jim Paliafito. We know, from Traffords father, that the Spirit sent Terry home for what Roy Trafford calls “disciplinary reasons.” And we know, from the same conversation, that the time away from the team was supposed to be temporary, a few days. Then something changed. What changed? We dont know. Telephone messages were left informing Trafford that he was no longer welcome to return to the team. What we dont know and may never know - is why. To date, the only people who have those answers arent sharing them. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: Forget the Dos Equis guy. My thumb is up to the truly most interesting man in the world, Ralph Krueger. Less than a month after being the big-ice guru for the Canadian mens Olympic hockey team, Krueger has switched continents and sports. He is now chairman of Southampton FC, having jumped to the rarified world of English Premier League soccer without prior experience in the game. Krueger can match resumes with anyone. The Manitoban played pro hockey in Germany, built the Swiss national program, coached the Edmonton Oilers before his premature firing and boosted Team Canada. He also is an active member of the World Economic Forum. Now, soccer. Bartender, Ill drink what Kruegers drinking. Dave Hodge, TSN: Thumbs down to the NHL and its inability to deal with its dislike of the shootout. At the GMs meetings in Florida, the NHL continued to look for ways to decrease the number of shootouts. One way would be to change overtime from four-on-four to three-on-three, but if youre making a list of ideas that are less popular than the shootout, start there. The NHL will consider a change of ends for overtime to put skaters farther from their benches, as they are in the second period, which, statistically, is the highest-scoring of the three periods. Okay. Keep trying. The easy solution would be for the NHL to give up and decide it likes the shootout. Oh, but as with visits from grandpa, it does - there just shouldnt be too many of them. Al Hrabosky Jersey . The three Calgary natives will compete after the sport was skipped by the Vancouver Games in 2010 but later included on the program for Sochi, Russia. The fight to include womens ski jumping prior to Vancouver went to the courts only to have the Supreme Court of Canada rule against the athletes appeal in 2009. Royals Jerseys 2020 . After falling 5-0 on home ice in a game that could have tied them for second in the wild card standings, Washington head coach Adam Oates had some strong words for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. https://www.cheaproyals.com/1917a-peter-moylan-jersey-royals.html . Therrien would not confirm his lineup for the game, but he did have the same line combinations practicing together for the third straight day which is usually a pretty good indication of what the lineup will be. John Wathan Jersey .S. - Nova Scotias Mary Fay guaranteed at least one more match and a shot at the Canadian junior curling championships final on home ice. Humberto Arteaga Jersey . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad.OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators hope to make the most of home-ice advantage this season after giving up too many valuable points at Canadian Tire Centre in 2013-14.After a successful season-opening road trip (2-1-0), the Senators play their home opener Thursday night as they host the Colorado Avalanche in the first of a four-game homestand.Players and coaches talked Wednesday of the normal excitement to play the home opener, but more important is setting the right tone for the season.Its a brand new season and we have to start things differently, said head coach Paul MacLean. I think this year coming home weve gained some momentum from our games on the road and we need to bring that to the rink (Thursday) night and start with one game. Weve got to make sure were ready to play and play hard.The Senators finished with an 18-17-6 record on home ice last season, compared to 19-14-8 on the road.It marked just the second time since 1997-98, minus the shortened lockout season, that they failed to win 20 games on home ice.The Senators finished last season five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and players cant help but wonder how a few more wins at home might have altered their season.Weve got a good crowd behind us here and we need to find a way to use that energy and find ways to win games, said forward Clarke MacArthur. We had some issues in the second period last year that kind of hurt us and this year its more about keeping our foot on the gas pedal I think. You want to play with the puck and have possession of the puck all game. Its a better way to go through any hockey game.Its the first of four home games we want to start on the right foot.Part of the Senators problems at home last year came from their defensive play as they gave up 133 goals at Canadian Tire Centre. Only Edmonton (134) gave up more goals at home.The Senators have allowed just five goals on the road through three games this season and players believe they are making progress.We know what we need to address, said captain Erik Karlsson. Obviously last year our defensive play wasnt the best, but I think its much improved this year, even though were only three games in. We made a few mistakes and ttheres a few things we need to clean up.ddddddddddddIts a long season and were going to have to change things as they go, but its just one of those things that everybody has to communicate about and make sure everybody agrees about what were doing out there.Better defensive play has been the theme for the Senators since the first day of camp, and MacLean has shown little patience for those who have made mistakes.Jared Cowen, who started the first two games as part of the top defensive pairing, was a healthy scratch in Ottawas 1-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night. He also found himself on the bench for much of the third period of a 3-2 shootout win at Tampa Bay on Saturday after he was on the ice when the Lightning scored the tying goal.The 23-year-old felt he played a decent first game against Nashville (a 3-2 loss), but said he could have been better against Tampa Bay. He was still caught off guard when he found out he wouldnt be playing Monday night.Yeah it surprised me, Cowen said. Only two games, so yeah it did surprise me. It sucks, only the third game of the year. I just need to be better though.With seven healthy defencemen, MacLean wont hesitate to make changes to his blue-line. Patrick Wiercioch, who sat out the first two games, took Cowens place on Monday.If Wednesdays practice is any indication, Cowen will likely find himself the odd-man out for Thursdays opener.Right now Jared needs to come to the rink every day and continue to work at his game, said MacLean. Hes still a young player in this game — just over 100 games — so theres still a lot to learn. There are still lots of good games left in Jared Cowen. Theres like 900 games left in him.Sometimes its hard to be that age and we dont want him to accept that youre being scratched from games. But we expect youre going to come in and work with us to become a better player because thats what its all about.Notes: MacLean did not name his starting goaltender for Thursdays game. ... Defenceman Marc Methot remains sidelined with a back injury and there is no timetable for his return. ... MacLean didnt confirm that Curtis Lazar would play Thursday, but the rookie centre is expected to dress for the home opener. ' ' '