导出博客文章OTTAWA, Ontario -- Mike Babcock had it written down back in May.
Brendan Perlini Jersey .Not in stone, mind you, but certainly the idea of putting Sidney Crosby between Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron was born a long time ago -- the first thing that the Team Canada head coach wanted to tackle ahead of the World Cup of Hockey.By now you dont need to ask why. For whatever reason, it has proved a chore for Team Canadas coaches at the past two Olympics to quickly find wingers who jelled with the best player in the world.Crosby thinks the game at such a high level, does things on the ice that are so above the norm, that finding wingers who can mesh with him has been a difficult mission.Babcocks idea born months ago is looking brilliant so far, that Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron line looking like a thing of beauty through the first week of camp and their one game together Friday night.So content is Babcock with that line that he said after Saturdays 5-2 win over Team USA that part of the reason he sat Crosby for that game is that he already knows what he has in that line and wanted to focus on trying to find other combinations in the second pre-tournament game.Babcock is about forward pairings, such as the Crosby-Bergeron pairing; other pairings that so far have been untouched include?Jonathan Toews with Logan Couture and?Ryan Getzlaf with John Tavares. There have been moving parts around them.The coaching staff is under the gun to figure out all these lines with just one more pre-tournament game left, Wednesday in Pittsburgh against Russia (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).A lot of people overlook the way the coaches do it, veteran winger Rick Nash, outstanding for Canada in both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, said in a phone conversation with ESPN.com on Sunday. Its a tough job for them to find the pieces that fit, and at least in the tournaments that Ive played in, they always seem to find it sooner or later.The New York Rangers star certainly wishes he were here playing again for his country. He found nice chemistry with Toews in Sochi. Nash also had a front-row seat to Babcocks trying line combo after line combo around Crosby.Hes the best player in the world, and its just a matter of finding the fit, a guy that complements his game and vice versa, Nash said. I dont know, its a different thing, hes so good at finding open ice, and the puck comes to him so easy. Its just finding guys that can sort of just stay out of his way and help his game instead of hurt it.So preoccupied with figuring out Crosbys line was Canada that it is absolutely why Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Chris Kunitz made the Olympic team for Sochi. Problem was, once Kunitz got to the Olympics, the pace and game were too high for him, and he found himself taken off Crosbys line as the tournament went on.As for Marchand, a player who some fans were surprised to see make this team, Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong was confident that if the experiment on the Crosby line didnt work out, the Boston Bruins winger would still have a place on the team where he could have an impact.So far through two pre-tournament games, Marchand has stood out the most for Team Canada, and perhaps thats because he wanted to make a statement early.The opportunity for Marchand in the World Cup is to use the best-on-best event to shed his tag as being just an agitator.I definitely have the agitator name, and it stuck with me for a while, he said Saturday night after the win over Team USA. Which is fine; its what I had to do to get in the league. But nowadays I want to be a player. Being in an event like this can show that theres more to my game than agitating. I try to be an overall player like Bergy, obviously not to his ability, but Im trying. Hes a great role model, a guy Ive looked at for a number of years now.Bergeron had a quick answer a few days ago when asked in his native French what he would tell people who view his Bruins teammate Marchand just as a pest, as an agitator and nothing more.The first thing Id mention is that he scored 37 goals last season, Bergeron said in French. But after that, his talent, the way he retrieves pucks on the forecheck, his backcheck, hes really on the puck. He gets under the skin of other players, thats part of his game, but hes also very talented.That 37-goal season, in Bergerons mind, was a whole other step for Marchand.He earned his way on this team with the way he played last season, Bergeron said. He took a big step forward. Hes improved year to year, but last season he became truly an elite player in my mind.But this whole first-line experiment doesnt work, of course, without the comfort that Team Canada has in reuniting Bergeron with Crosby, a partnership that has its roots back to the 2005 world junior tournament.Although Bergeron didnt start the 2014 Olympics alongside Crosby because I think the coaching staff was a bit worried about his foot speed on the bigger ice, eventually they found each other like two magnets.Hes such a versatile player, he can play with anyone, that guy, Nash said of Bergeron.What makes it so unique to play with Crosby?Hes always the kind of guy thats thinking one step ahead of the play, Bergeron said. His vision is incredible.With Sidney, its about how you position yourself because hes a guy that can make plays that can surprise; like maybe youre not expecting him to come out of the corner with the puck when theres two or three guys on him, but he does it. So part of it is realizing he can do things like that.
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Christian Dvorak Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville.
http://www.coyotesauthority.com/authentic-clayton-keller-coyotes-jersey/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Every now and then, the regular season presents us with one game that looms larger than the rest.Here it is, in Week 8: No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama, the One Game that dwarfs all others.Both teams are unbeaten. Theyre elbowing each other for the lead in the SEC West. And its the only matchup of top-10 teams this week. There are only two other games featuring two Top 25 teams: No. 23 Ole Miss at No. 25 LSU and No. 17 Arkansas at No. 21 Auburn.There will be plenty at stake in games all across the country, but the playoff perspective begins with ...No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama (3:30 p.m. ET)The loser of this game is in a serious bind but not necessarily eliminated. The 12 members of the selection committee do not have to take four conference champions. Their task is to pick the four best teams, period. Head-to-head results, conference championships and strength of schedule are used as tiebreakers when ranking comparable teams, but its a subjective process that opens the door to the loser of this game still finishing in the top four.Heres a closer look:If Alabama loses: The Tide would then need to win out and hope the Aggies lose two of their five remaining games to win the West. With the exception of Saturdays game, ESPNs Football Power Index favors Texas A&M in every remaining game on its schedule. Alabama would be in a significant hole, but if its a close game, and the Tide finish the season in dominant fashion, they could sneak into the top four without playing in the SEC title game.At 11-1, the defending national champs would have wins over USC, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn -- and five of those six wins would have come on the road or at a neutral site. The question would be: How many of those opponents are ranked by the committee heading into Dec. 4? If the committee regards the SEC as highly as the AP voters do, it would be a tough résumé to beat -- even for a few Power 5 conference champs.If Texas A&M loses: The Aggies would be in a similar hole, needing to win out AND have Alabama lose twice in its final four games -- an even slimmer possibility, as the Tide have at least a 66 percent chance to win each of their remaining games, according to the FPI. If the Aggies run the table -- with their lone loss a nail-biter on the road against the No. 1 team in the country -- the selection committee would consider an 11-1 SEC West runner-up. Much like Alabama, the Aggies would have a win over a Pac-12 team in UCLA, and they also would have beaten Tennessee. That would look even better if the Vols go on to win the East and play for the title.Heres what else you need to know for Week 8:Undefeated updateWashington: The Huskies have a 98 percent chance to beat Oregon State at home, and they need to -- especially with Washington State still undefeated in league play. If Wazzu heads into the Apple Cup with one loss or undefeated and pulls off the upset, it will win the North.Nebraska: The Huskers shouldnt have any problem against a Purdue team that just fired its coach. They cant get caught looking ahead, though, to back-to-back road games against Wisconsin and Ohio State. That stretch will define their season.Ohio State: The Buckeyes are playing their second straight road game, and Penn State is fresh off a bye week, but the Buckeyes are simply more talented and have the edge on the sideline.Michigan: The Wolverines defense, Jim Harbaugh coming off a bye and home-field advantage? Good luck, Illinois. ESPNs FPI has the Wolverines win probability at 98.6 percent. Its just another lily pad to step on en route to The Game.West Virginia: This will be a tricky home game against TCU, and the Mountaineers need to go undefeated to leave no doubt in the committees mind theyre a top-four team. The good news is theyre playing defense -- unlike the rest of the Big 12.Baylor: The Bears have a week off to prepare for a trip to Texas, the start of a stretch that will finally reveal just how good Baylor is this year. The best thing for the Big 12 would be to have Baylor and WVU still undefeated when those teams meet in Morgantown on Dec. 3.Bubble watchLouisville (5-1): Not only do the Cardinals have to win every game, they cant afford to win ugly, either -- especially at home against an unranked opponent. NC State is coming off an emotional overtime loss at Clemson and now has to travel to Louisville, which haas the Heisman front-runner in quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Dale Hawerchuck Jersey. .Utah (6-1): If the Utes can survive the next two games -- at UCLA on Saturday and home against Washington on Oct. 29 -- they will legitimize their chances of playing for a Pac-12 title. The nonconference strength of schedule and loss at Cal, though, will haunt them in their playoff pursuit, regardless.Wisconsin (4-2): The Badgers have now lost back-to-back games, albeit against two top-five teams, and their chances of winning the West will disappear with a loss at Iowa on Saturday.Oklahoma (4-2): The Sooners cant lose again, period. After nonconference losses to Houston and Ohio State, OU needs to avoid an upset at Texas Tech this weekend and run the table. The Sooners will also need other Power 5 champs to trip up.Colorado (5-2): The Buffs are the FPIs favorite to win the Pac-12 South, with a 60 percent chance, but with losses to Michigan and USC, theyre probably relegated to the role of spoiler in the CFP picture. The more they win, though, the better Michigans résumé looks. Theyve got a tough trip to Stanford this weekend.Group of 5 watchBoise State: The Broncos are the only undefeated team left in the Mountain West and kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET against BYU. With wins over Washington State and Oregon State, they are in the hunt for a New Years Six Bowl as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.Western Michigan: These Broncos are the only undefeated team remaining in the MAC and should stay that way after playing Eastern Michigan this weekend. Road wins at Northwestern and Illinois will help separate them in the eyes of the committee.Houston: The Cougars have lost their shot at the top four, but if the New Years Six Bowls were slotted today, based on the current Associated Press Top 25 poll, theyd still be in the Cotton Bowl against Boise State. The Broncos would be there because theyd earn the bid as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, and then Houston would go because it would be the highest-ranked available team after the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls were filled.South Florida: With a win at Syracuse, and their only loss to Florida State, dont discount the Bulls. Theyre leading the AAC East, and if they run the table could earn that New Years Six bid.SuperlativesMost intriguing mascot battle: Lets give a little love to the FCS this week, where Campbell hosts Stetson, because its hard to beat a hat vs. a camel. OK, more precisely, Campbells Gaylord the Camel vs. the John B. Stetson mascot (yes, after the guy who actually made the Stetson hat). Dont worry, his boots are alligator skin -- not camel hair.Upset watch: North Carolina at Virginia. The Tar Heels have been living on the edge in the ACC race, beating Florida State, Pitt and Miami by a combined 10 points. Now they have to travel to Virginia for a second straight road game. If the Cavaliers dont turn the ball over, this could be close.Player in the spotlight: Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook. Hell be integral in helping the Sooners keep pace with Texas Tech. Westbrook has 26 catches for 574 yards and eight touchdowns in his past three games. QB Baker Mayfield is completing 89.3 percent of his attempts (25-of-28) when targeting Westbrook during that span.Matchup to watch: Alabamas defensive line vs. Texas A&Ms offensive line. A&M is giving up only one sack per game; Alabama is averaging four sacks. The Aggies are averaging 532.8 yards per game, and the Tide are holding opponents to an average of 274.Under-the-radar game: Memphis at Navy. Memphis is also undefeated in the AAC West, and Houston is on the edge of its seat waiting for the Midshipmen to trip up. Navy has to lose twice for Houston to win the division, and this could be a tricky one for the Middies.Must-win game: Wisconsin at Iowa. As the only undefeated team left in the West, Nebraska is the front-runner to win the division, but the winner of this game still has a shot. The Badgers enter the game with a 29 percent chance to win the division, and the Hawkeyes are at 14 percent, according to the FPI.Dont forget about: Utah at UCLA. Dont snooze on the Utes. Theyre the only one-loss team remaining in the Pac-12 South, and theyre heading to the Rose Bowl for what should be a defensive clinic.
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