Tips und Tricks » questioning if he was the right fit in Vancouv

San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork. Mike Gartner Jersey .com) - Antti Niemi stopped 31 shots as the San Jose Sharks blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 on Saturday night. Joe Thornton and Melker Karlsson each had a goal and one assist for the Sharks, who have won three straight and improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Antti Raanta made 18 saves for Chicago, which dropped two of three games in California. The Blackhawks were coming off Fridays 4-1 win over Anaheim after beginning the stretch with Wednesdays 4-3 loss to Los Angeles. Karlsson charged the crease to pounce on the rebound of a Matt Irwin shot. Raanta made another save on Karlsson, who sent the puck out front from the left side of the net. Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith tried to swat the puck away from Joe Pavelski and wound up putting it into an open net at 5:09 of the first period. Late in the second period with the Sharks on a power play, Niemi made a sequence of saves on Jonathan Toews. The San Jose goaltender received some help from Brent Burns in preserving the lead. He made some very tough saves in succession, Sharks coach Todd McLellan said about Niemi. Thornton scored an empty-net goal with 1:10 left in the third period as the Sharks posted their sixth win in the last seven home meetings with the Blackhawks. It was one of those games where you felt something was going to come eventually and it didnt happen, said Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. Game Notes San Jose concludes its season-high, seven-game homestand Monday against Edmonton ... The Blackhawks played the fourth of seven straight road games ... Chicago forward Daniel Carcillo served the final game of his six-game suspension for cross-checking Winnipegs Mathieu Perreault in the arm. Dino Ciccarelli Jersey .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys . The Pope greeted Klose at his general audience Wednesday and the pair had a long chat. Klose is German like the pope, although he was born in Poland. In Sundays derby, Lazio took the lead in the seventh minute after Maarten Stekelenburg brought down Klose, resulting in the Roma goalkeeper being sent off and a penalty that Hernanes converted. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/neal-broten-hockey-jersey/ . The veteran NFL receiver received his work permit and is in Montreal for the start of the Alouettes rookie camp. Johnson even took in the Montreal Canadiens Game 5 win over the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre Tuesday night.VANCOUVER -- Peter Schmeichel left a mark on an entire generation of goalkeepers in Denmark. A larger-than-life personality known for his intimidating style in the 18-yard box, Schmeichels career spanned some 20 years -- including a memorable tenure at Manchester United. Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted was one of the young Danes who took notice of the man who played a record 129 times for his country. "He was definitely a big influence because a couple years in a row there he was the best keeper in the world," Ousted said this week. "I was impressed with the saves he made, but also the presence he had when he was playing. "I think like every other Danish goalkeeper, you grew up watching him." But the 29-year-old Ousted is carving out his own story and style in Vancouver, far from where the fiery Schmeichel patrolled the pitches in Europe. "He doesnt play like (Schmeichel) and doesnt have his personality," Whitecaps goalkeeper coach Marius Rovde with a chuckle. "So he has nothing thats like him except for his (blonde) hair. "Maybe hes crazy in different ways." Ousted joined the Whitecaps in June 2013 on a free transfer from Denmarks Randers FC and hasnt looked back, shooting up the depth chart last season once he arrived to grab the starters role ahead of Brad Knighton and the aging Joe Cannon -- neither of whom are still with the club. He has helped Vancouver (1-0-2) to an undefeated start to the 2014 campaign, including his first clean sheet of the season last weekend in a 0-0 road draw against the New England Revolution. "David, since the time hes been here, has been very professional," said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit. "His drive and his comfort level has always been here and always been high, but I think hes just getting used to playing with his defenders, hes getting used to playing in this league and I think hes getting better and better. "You want him to keep us in it and make big saves when called upon. Hes definitely done that for us this season." It wasnt exactly a smooth transition early on, however. Ousted started his Major League Soccer career with 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers last August before following that up a week later with a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. What followed was a couple of shaky outings that had some questioning if he was the right fit in Vancouver. Rovde pushed hard for the club to sign the six-foot-four 195-pound goalkeeper and wasnt put off by a 0-3-2 string that included eight goals against. "Youre coming to a new league and sometimes in this league, things happen that dont in other leagues -- defenders make mistakes or they dont pressure as hard," said Rovdee. Brett Hull Jersey. "You suddenly get free shots from 18, 20 yards that youre not used to. "If youre going to play well in this league, youre going to have to expect the unexpected as a goalkeeper." There was no doubt in Rovdes mind that Ousted was Vancouvers goalkeeper of the present and future. "I expected him to go straight in and be a starter because he has played bigger games than you can play in MLS," said Rovde. "He has played against FC Copenhagen, had clean sheets against them in front of 40,000 fans. He has played those big games. There wasnt any reason to wait." Ousted -- who now has five clean sheets in 16 career starts with Vancouver -- said it took some time to get adjusted not only to a new league, but a new continent. "I definitely feel more acclimatized. Im settled here now. I know the league a little bit better," said Ousted, who stayed behind in Vancouver for extra off-season work after the Whitecaps missed the playoffs in 2013. "Both the style of play and the players here are a little bit different. You have to get used to it, get used to the whole thing with the travel and the different venues. "Maybe it took a little while longer for me than I thought it would but I feel like Im getting used to it now and hopefully I can continue playing well." The Whitecaps have had no complaints about his play so far in 2014. Ousted made a big save early in the clubs season-opening 4-1 home win over the New York Red Bulls and was responsible for saving points the last two weekends on the road -- a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA and that scoreless final in New England. "Even last year when there was one or two little criticisms against him for goals going in, David has remained a top keeper," said rookie Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "His work ethic is fantastic. Hes a great guy off the field. Yes he has saved us a point or two now in the last couple of games, but hes the same keeper as he was against New York and hes the same keeper today." Working with Ousted from the centre of defence, DeMerit has noticed more of a take-charge attitude so far in the young season, which continues Saturday at home against the Houston Dynamo (2-0-0). "I think hell continue to be a leader back there for us because he needs to be," said DeMerit. "Down the spine of our team, thats where the leadership needs to come from." Added Ousted: "Its a big part of my game and something that Im trying to develop even more -- being the guy they can rely on and the guy whos taking responsibility. "I was glad that the club put their confidence in me and I still am. Im still working hard to try and repay that confidence." 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