in early December due to a suspension.

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Miles KouARLINGTON, Va. -- Just three weeks ago, Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau sounded almost as if he didnt want to get the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He pointed out how it didnt help his team last year and added: "In the end, I dont care if were eighth or first." Now, in the final week of the regular season, the coach has changed his tune. "Its just as easy to go for No. 1 as it is to go for No. 5, so you may as well shoot for the top, right?" Boudreau said Monday. "If your expectations when you start are just to make the top eight -- If we can sneak into eighth, we can still win -- I think your expectations are too low." Coachspeak has a way to adapting to its surroundings, especially at crunch time. Having long since climbed their way out of their early-season doldrums -- they were tied for seventh after an eight-game losing streak in mid-December -- the Capitals are finding that No. 1 is a very realistic goal after all. They are tied with the Philadelphia Flyers atop the East, and both teams have three games remaining. "For a pride thing, you want to be No. 1 in everything," centre Brooks Laich said. "Thats the way we were born. "You want to be No. 1, but we were No. 1 last year and it didnt give us anything. In the grand scheme of things, if you get to a conference final, and you get to a game seven, it means that (game) is in your building. I guess thats about all it means." A year ago, in the first round of the playoffs, the Capitals became the first No. 1 seed team to blow a 3-1 series lead against a No. 8 and were eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens. Sportsmen -- particularly hockey players -- can be a superstitious lot, so the No. 1 spot isnt quite as appealing this time around. But no one wants to ease up, either. "What are you going to do? Are you going to try to finish second?" right-winger Matt Bradley said. "No, youre going to play your best for the rest of the games and whatever happens, happens." Still, the primary focus of the Capitals these days is to be in top form for the playoffs. That means getting as healthy as possible and avoiding bad old habits. Boudreau wasnt happy after a back-and-forth 5-4 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday because "it was way too close to looking like last year," when the Capitals were so score-happy that defensive intensity sometimes became optional. "Its nice to score goals, and we want to score goals," Laich said, "but we dont want to get into 5-4 hockey games like we were last year where we have to score five goals to win. "We want to be a team that, as soon as we get a lead, we clamp down and we almost suffocate them, we dont give them anything, any chance to come back in the game. Thats how youre going to have to play to win in the playoffs." Alex Ovechkin seems fine after recently taking a week off to nurse a nagging injury but now the defence cant make it through 60 minutes without losing a man. Dennis Wideman left Tuesdays game against Carolina with a lower ....... injury and isnt coming back anytime soon. John Erskine went down Thursday against Columbus with an undisclosed injury and Tyler Sloan departed early Saturday against Buffalo after getting "his bell rung," according to Boudreau. Boudreau had some good news Monday. He said both Erskine and Sloan will make the trip to Toronto for Tuesday nights game against the Maple Leafs. The hope is hell finish that game with the usual contingent of six defencemen. "Wed just like to get through a game with more than five D," Boudreau said. "Its been taking its toll fatigue-wise, but were glad that (Sloan) is better and ready to rock." Not yet ready to travel are Mike Green and Tom Poti. Green is battling concussion symptoms and hasnt played since Feb. 25, but thinks he might be ready later this week. Potis nagging groin injury has kept him out since Jan. 12. "Its the first day that Ive actually gone a full practice, and I felt great," Green said Monday. "I need a few more skates to get into game shape, and well see." Boudreau has been studying the standings and the possible matchups, but the logjams are such that its impossible to project the Capitals first-round playoff opponent. He knows which team he would rather play, but hes not about to give that away. "I think the combinations that can still happen are a crazy number I cant figure out, or dont have time to try," Boudreau said. "Its not like youre sitting there saying, Geez, I want to play this team, I want to play that team, and where we are here is where we want to be. "You could end up in first and play the team you least want to play, or you can end up in third and play the team you least want to play." Thus the push to win the final three games and go for first place. "Youve got to play them all," the coach said, "you may as well try to win every one." D. J. Swearinger Cardinals Jersey .C. -- Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B. Troy Niklas Cardinals Jersey . The outfielder hasnt played since April 26. Braun was hitting .318 with six homers and 18 RBIs when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 3. Braun took batting practice before the teams game Wednesday afternoon against Arizona. http://www.uscardinalslockroom.com/Blac ... ll-Jersey/. Tokarski is 2-0-0 with a 1.84 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage in three games for Montreal this season. He made 29 saves Sunday night in a 2-0 victory over the Sabres in Buffalo. Frostee Rucker Cardinals Jersey .com) - In a game between teams at the bottom of their respective conferences that could be key determining draft lottery odds, the Edmonton Oilers prevailed over the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, on Thursday. Tyvon Branch Cardinals Jersey . – The field is now set for the Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials next month in Winnipeg.VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks look to avoid a fifth straight loss this evening when they clash with the potent Pittsburgh Penguins. Watch all the action unfold live on TSN at 10pm et/7pm pt. The Canucks are 0-2-2 in their past four, the second-longest losing stretch of the season behind just an 0-3-2 skid from Nov. 9-19. Vancouver faded on Sunday versus the Anaheim Ducks, giving up a game-tying goal with under two minutes to go in the third period and then the overtime winner in a 4-3 setback with 0.6 seconds left in overtime. The Canucks were outshot 24-8 over the final two periods and overtime. "Weve beaten ourselves a little bit. Weve had a lot of struggles in a lot of different areas the past couple of games. We have to keep our heads and keep on working at our game," said Canucks coach John Tortorella. Henrik Sedin recorded a goal and two assists, while Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa scored for Vancouver. Daniel Sedin finished with three assists and Eddie Lack did his best with 45 saves. Lack got the start after Roberto Luongo got hurt in a collision in net versus the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Luongo had just returned from a brief three-game absence caused by a lower-body injury. It is unknown how long Luongo will be out and the team confirmed on Tuesday that Lack will face the Penguins for the first time in his career. Pittsburgh has won its last three versus Vancouver, the last two in a shootout. That includes a 4-3 home win on Oct. 19 in the first of two meetings this season. Malkin had the winner in the third round and Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists as Fleury made 36 saves.dddddddddddd Luongo turned aside 25 shots in the setback. Pittsburgh is leading the Eastern Conference with 63 points as it has been able to overcome a number of injuries this season. One of the most recent was to Evgeni Malkin, who sat out nine straight games with a lower-body injury before returning in Sundays 6-5 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Though understandably tired afterwards, Malkin didnt miss a beat by logging a pair of goals and an assist. That gave the forward 11 goals and 44 points in just 33 games this season. "Tough game for me. Im a little bit tired, but thanks to my linemates. They did a great job. Most of the time we were in the offensive zone," said Malkin. "I missed lots of game. Im excited to be back and just have fun." James Neal certainly enjoyed Malkins return, notching two goals and an assist himself. Neal has 16 goals and 34 points in 24 games this season, missing 15 earlier in the campaign with a lower-body injury before sitting out another five in early December due to a suspension. Matt Niskanen had the go-ahead goal in Sundays win and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 saves. Kris Letang returned from a 10-game absence caused by an elbow issue and had an assist. Pittsburgh won for the fourth time in its last five games and for the 12th time in a row at home to match a club record. The Pens will have to wait to try and set a new mark as their next three are on the road. The triumph was Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsmas 232nd career win, tying him with Eddie Johnson for the most victories in franchise history as well. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China ' ' '