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Geregistreerd op: 25 Mei 2018 Berichten: 206
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Geplaatst: 08-09-2018 10:49:23 Onderwerp: defensive tackle Darius Latham. |
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If it were December Abry Jones Jersey , the Nashville Predators would not fret much over losing 4-1 to the Winnipeg Jets despite a 48-19 advantage in shots on goal.
Since it is the second round of the Western Conference playoffs and it trails a best-of-seven series 1-0, Nashville faces a critical Game 2 Sunday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., and will have to win at least once in Winnipeg if it is to win this matchup of the top two teams in the NHL this season.
“If you give me two choices on where to be, our game or their win, I’d take the win,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s about winning hockey games right now.”
Connor Hellebuyck is why the Jets won Game 1 Friday night. He was the best player on the ice, turning away 47 shots, including 20 in the first period. Kevin Fiala’s tap-in goal 1:23 into the third period of Game 1 snapped a stretch of just over eight consecutive scoreless periods for Hellebuyck.
Winnipeg’s players and coaches weren’t agreeing to the notion that Hellebuyck stole the win.
“There’s no steals in (the) playoffs,” said center Mark Scheifele, who scored two goals for the Jets on Friday night. “If you win Greg Olsen Jersey , you win. If you lose, you lose. It wasn’t pretty and probably wasn’t how we drew it up, but we got the win and that’s the main focus.”
In a matchup of Vezina Trophy finalists, Hellebuyck clearly had the better of Nashville’s Pekka Rinne. Rinne lasted two periods, ceding three goals on 16 shots, before Laviolette opted for backup Juuse Saros.
It was the second time Rinne has been pulled this postseason. He responded to a four-goal, 11-save performance in Game 3 of the first round against Colorado by permitting four markers in the last three games, finishing the series with his fourth career playoff shutout.
“It was just to change it up, to go in a different direction, to send the game in a different direction,” Laviolette said of the goalie change.
Barring injury or an unexpected move from Laviolette Andre Reed Jersey , Rinne should be back in net for Game 2. He won three of his four matchups with Winnipeg this season and is 15-4-1 in 21 career games against the Jets with a .916 save percentage and 2.41 goals-against average.
Less of a certainty is the status of forward Austin Watson, who at times in Nashville’s series against Colorado was its best player. Watson didn’t play the last two periods Friday night because of an undisclosed injury. The Predators offered no update Saturday on his status for Game 2.
While Nashville focuses on finding ways to get more than one puck past Hellebuyck, Winnipeg knows it will need more zone time and shots if it is to enjoy further success in this series.
“We have to earn a better game,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said following Game 1. “We’ve got to work a little harder. I think we can skate a little better than we did tonight.”
After winning just six games a year ago as one of the NFL's big disappointments, the Oakland Raiders had plenty of needs in their first draft since bringing Jon Gruden back for a second stint as coach.
They opted to bypass some of the most highly regarded defensive players to take UCLA tackle Kolton Miller after trading down five spots to No. 15, hoping to bolster the offensive line in front of quarterback Derek Carr.
"He's a big man that can move his feet," general manager Reggie McKenzie said. "He's played left tackle and right tackle. He's been an offensive lineman pretty much his whole life. He understands the game. He's an excellent athlete who has great potential. We feel really good about adding him to the Raiders roster."
After the San Francisco 49ers took the top-rated tackle in the draft, Mike McGlinchey, with the ninth overall pick, the Raiders opted to move down from 10 even with talented defensive players Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James and Tremaine Edmunds on the board. They traded down five spots with Arizona Garett Bolles Jersey , adding a third- and fifth-round pick in the deal.
Oakland still went with an offensive lineman at No. 15, taking Miller, with James and Edmunds still available.
The Raiders weren't done getting help for Carr on the first day of the draft, trading the third-round pick they got from the Cardinals to Pittsburgh for talented but troubled receiver Martavis Bryant.
Bryant caught 17 touchdowns in 36 games for the Steelers, but was suspended twice for drug violations. He missed four games in 2015 and all of the 2016 season.
Bryant returned last spring but was quickly surpassed by JuJu Smith-Schuster on the depth chart. He asked for a trade in late September and was deactivated for a game after calling out Smith-Schuster in a post on social media.
The 6-foot-4 Bryant has the size and speed to give Carr a serious downfield threat and Oakland a better option at third receiver to go along with Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson. Bryant averaged 15.3 yards per reception with the Steelers.
"He's what you're looking for as a receiver," McKenzie said. "He can play big, play fast and he makes plays. We think he can be a dominating receiver for Derek."
This is the Raiders' first draft since bringing back Gruden for a second stint in Oakland. Gruden replaced the fired Jack Del Rio after last season and was given a 10-year contract to become the head of the organization.
While McKenzie remained as general manager and was involved heavily in draft preparation, Gruden is the man who now has the final word on picks for Oakland. Offensive line coach Tom Cable was high on Miller.
Gruden has said the Raiders needed better play at right tackle to protect Carr, especially in a division that features elite pass rushers like Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram on the Chargers, Von Miller and first-round pick Bradley Chubb in Denver, and Justin Houston in Kansas City.
The Raiders signed Breno Giacomini to a one-year deal to play right tackle but Miller could take that spot while being groomed to move to the left side. Donald Penn turns 35 on Friday and is coming off a season-ending foot injury.
"I'm stoked Brad Nortman Jersey ," Miller said. "I'm ready to get going there and compete and learn from the older guys. There's a lot of experience surrounding me. I'm ready to embrace it."
Miller allowed two sacks and 16 total quarterback pressures in 579 pass blocking snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus, ranking 17th in efficiency.
"When you're talking about pass protection and staying in front of your guy, that's what he does," McKenzie said. "He's got the length, he's got the great feet. You talk about getting to the second level and pulling. This guy has a lot of talent. We think in our scheme and coach Cabes working with him, he'll flourish."
The Raiders still have one pick in the second, third and fourth rounds, three in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Oakland also waived defensive tackle Darius Latham.
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