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DENVER -- Patrick Roy was quite calm and even cracked a few jokes as his team went through a light workout. [url=http://www.blaz

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26.08.2019 03:56
von jokergreen0220 • 1.339 Beiträge

DENVER -- Patrick Roy was quite calm and even cracked a few jokes as his team went through a light workout. Jusuf Nurkic Jersey . No signs of stress at all. Of course, the first-year Colorado Avalanche coach has been in a few pressure-packed Game 7 situations as a Hall of Fame goaltender -- 13 to be exact. His players? Not as much experience. A dozen had never been to the post-season before this year. And yet Roys hardly fretting over his teams emotional state heading into a decisive final game Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild, with the winner moving on to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. On the contrary, Roys reminding his youthful team of one simple thing: Enjoy the moment. "How good is this?" Roy said. "Theyre excited about it and they should be. ... Were playing Game 7 in our building, in front of our fans." In this series, home ice is a pretty big deal. All six games in this tightly contested matchup have been decided during the waning moments, with the home team capturing each one. Wild coach Mike Yeo has a stirring pregame speech all prepared for just the occasion, a few well-chosen words to put into his players ears before they hit the ice and hear the clamour of the crowd. Care to share the highlights? "Then it wouldnt be very inspirational," Yeo joked. Minnesota will try to neutralize the noise with another sizzling start. The Wild have scored the first goal in four of the games. "(Game 7s) are the best and also the worst," Yeo said. "You have so much on the line -- the players laying it all out there, the passion and the energy of the building and the fans. Theres just so much at stake." Avs forward Maxime Talbot stressed "having fun" to rookie Nathan MacKinnon, whos tied with Zach Parise for most points (10) in the NHL playoffs so far. Talbot knows the butterflies will be present for players such as MacKinnon -- and its something to embrace. "Thats why we play the game," said Talbot, who scored twice in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup final to lift Pittsburgh to a 2-1 win over Detroit. "Thats the coolest thing about hockey. As much experience as you have, you have to take these butterflies and turn them into excitement and energy, and thats definitely the feeling I have right now." Roy believes that Game 7 will hinge on, what else, the goalies. Semyon Varlamov won a team-record 41 games in the regular season, breaking the mark held by Roy. The goalie nicknamed "Varly" has faced a barrage of shots in this series, coming up big in several games. "Varlys always the brick out there," Talbot said. "We know hes going to make the big saves." The same can be said of Darcy Kuemper, who has a 1.53 goals- against average since stepping in for Ilya Bryzgalov in Game 2. Although Kuemper cant ever remember playing in a Game 7, he said that Mondays game -- a 5-2 win in which the Wild sealed it and extended the series by scoring two empty-net goals -- was good practice. "Now, both teams are in the situation," Kuemper said. "So theyre going to be a little bit more desperate than they were last game. Weve been through it before, so we should be pretty calm and confident with it." The intensity level is something the Wild are embracing. They know its going to be a hostile environment, but its not as if the Wild have been blown out inside the Pepsi Center. No, the Avalanche have needed to rely on some late magic, pulling Varlamov for an extra skater in Games 1 and 5, get big late goals and to send it into OT, where they found a way to win. "We feel good about the way weve been playing," Parise said. "Hopefully, we can get a win here." Colorado received a boost last game with the return of Matt Duchene from a knee injury. The teams leading scorer in the regular season is still rounding into shape, but with every shift hes getting back his quickness. "This is just another game," Duchene said. "Thats how you have to treat Game 7s." The previous time the Avs were in a Game 7 was 2003, when they were eliminated by the Wild in Roys last game. "Thats not going to have a big effect on our team," Roy said, smiling. "Because there are not that many players from then that are still with us." Bill Walton Blazers Jersey . 1 status and was unable to prevent a late season collapse, James Reimer said he wants to put the past behind him and is looking forward to spending the next two years in a Maple Leaf uniform. Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys . Mike Vecchione tied it at 2 with 4:01 left in the first, Saskatoon native Eli Lichtenwald gave the Dutchman the lead 57 seconds later, and Daniel Ciampini capped the spree with 2:57 to go. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Brandon-Roy-Blazers-Jersey/ . Heck, we might just miss the BCS. Maybe? It sort of worked out this season. Top-ranked Florida State (13-0) was the only team to get through the regular season unbeaten, and the Seminoles did it in dominating fashion.The spotlight will be on Connor McDavid at the world junior championship. But here are 10 other players to watch in the tournament:Jack Eichel, centre, United StatesEven though McDavid is the front-runner to be picked first in Junes NHL draft, Eichel could give whoevers selecting second another franchise player. At six foot two and 194 pounds, Eichel has earned comparisons to Mario Lemieux for his reach and use of his size. Hes tearing up the college ranks at Boston University and could put on a show at the world juniors.William Nylander, forward, SwedenThe Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick this year, Nylander flashed plenty of offensive skill at training camp. Back home in Sweden playing for MODO, the 18-year-old has eight goals and 11 assists in 19 games. Nylander still has to polish his all-around game, but international hockey suits his style well.David Pastrnak, winger, Czech RepublicPastrnak is more than a point-a-game player in the AHL and has the Boston Bruins hoping hes part of their next generation of stars. He played at this tournament last year and had a goal and two assists. Pastrnak is part of an intriguing group of Czech forwards that also includes Pavel Zacha of the Sarnia Sting and Washington Capitals first-rounder Jakub Vrana.Josh Morrissey, defenceman, CanadaWith the likes of Samuel Morin, Joe Hicketts and Darnell Nurse, Canadas blue-line has a nice mix of size, skill and puck-moving ability. Morrissey, one of the Winnipeg Jets top prospects and a returing player from last year, can provide offence and get Canada out of some trouble exiting the defensive zone. Morrissey is also a well-spoken leader on an older team.Ivan Barbashev, winger, RussiaAfter saying at the scouting combine that the KHL is not for him, Barbashev has produced in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Moncton Wildcats. In three seasons, he has 179 points. Barbashev, a second-round pick of the St. Louis Blues, brings size at six foot one and offensive ability. C.J. McCollum Blazers Jersey. Juuse Saros, goaltender, FinlandSaros led Finland to world junior gold last year in Malmo, Sweden, with a 1.57 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Theres no reason why he cant be the key to another Finnish run through this tournament. A fourth-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2013, Saros has continued his strong play in Finlands SM-Liiga this season.Auston Matthews, centre, United StatesRemember this name for the 2016 draft, as the native of Scottsdale, Ariz., is the early favourite to be the first overall pick. Assuming its McDavid over Eichel in 2015, that would make Matthews the first American to go No. 1 since 2007. Matthews is a playmaking forward who puts up points and dominates wherever he goes.Robert Hagg, defenceman, SwedenThe big defenceman (six foot two and 203 pounds) is part of the blue-line of the Philadelphia Flyers future. But Hagg is getting a break from playing in the American Hockey League to help Sweden at the world juniors. Hagg isnt a lead-the-rush defenceman, but hes strong all around and can spring players like Nylander on breakouts.Kevin Fiala, winger, SwitzerlandThe Predators first-round pick in June, Fiala is a shifty skater who has proven he can hold his own against men in the Swedish Hockey League. Switzerland will need some help just to get past the quarter-finals, but Fiala has the kind of game-breaking offensive skills that can make the difference. Hes joined by a handful of CHL players on Switzerlands roster.Curtis Lazar, forward, CanadaIf opposing teams try to shut down Canadas other returning players, like Sam Reinhart and Nic Petan, and McDavid doesnt take over, it might still be OK. Thats because Lazar, released by the Ottawa Senators to play in another world junior tournament, could be Canadas best player. Coach Benoit Groulx could choose to put him on McDavids wing, which would be entertaining.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter ' ' '

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