Diskussionsbereich » Shaun and I realized we have

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Nathan MacKinnon and his equally skilled Colorado linemates Gabe Landeskog and Paul Stastny were too fast for Minnesota in the first two games. In losing twice to the Avalanche, the Wild found themselves flat-footed at the wrong times and letting their young, potent opponent dictate the pace and flow. So how to change the direction of the series? Going home is a good place to start. After MacKinnon, Landeskog and Stastny combined for four goals and six assists Saturday in Game 2, the Wild will now have the benefit of the last change in Game 3. That means coach Mike Yeo can match Matt Cooke, Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter with the MacKinnon express, a mix of grit and speed that could help the Wild stem the tide a bit. "Im a third-line player for a reason and I feel like thats the best way Im able to contribute," Cooke said Sunday. He added: "Obviously I want that matchup." Here are five more things to know about the series as it shifts Monday for Game 3: WHOS IN WILD NET?: The Wild survived injury and illness involving their top three goalies this season, surging into the playoffs behind fourth option Ilya Bryzgalov. But Bryzgalov was pulled from Game 2 in the second period. Darcy Kuemper entered and stopped all 14 shots he faced. Asked after practice Sunday who will get the assignment, Yeo was glib. "Yes, we will," the coach said, smiling. Bryzgalov has plenty of past post-season experience with Philadelphia, Phoenix and Anaheim, but that includes plenty of goals given up, too. "If that were what we were choose to do it would be because, first off, he made some big saves in the game. I dont think we should forget about that. We werent playing our game in front of him. And this is a guy whos played a lot of good hockey for us," Yeo said. Kuempers performances in January and February are another reason the Wild were able to make it this far. He slumped a bit in late March and then suffered a concussion. Kuemper said he knocked the rust off in practice last week and felt in full rhythm Saturday in his first action in three weeks. "If I do get the start Im really excited. Its a big game for the team, and Im going to do my part and Im sure everyone else is going to do their part," he said. VARLY MEANS VICTORY: Semyon Varlamov led the NHL this season with a whopping 41 victories, but the Avalanche won Game 1 without a strong showing by their goalie. Varlamov was much better in Game 2. "We were a little nervous in the first game. Some of us never played in the playoffs. It was pretty tough to start. When youre nervous you sometimes try to do different things," Varlamov said. Coach Patrick Roy didnt need the relief, though. "A lot of people thought a lot about the first game but, hey, he played well enough to win," Roy said. "I had no doubt in my mind he was going to play a really solid game. He was sharp. He made the key save. I have so much confidence in him and faith in him." BACK HOME: The Wild finished 26-10-5 at Xcel Energy Center this season, the seventh-best record in the league. For fans who havent celebrated a series victory by this team since 2003, anticipation for this first home game will be high. The shift in vocal support from one side to the other always has the potential to impact a playoff series. "You can feel it, just the atmosphere, when you walk into that rink," Yeo said. OLD PALS: MacKinnon, like many NHL stars, spent two years at Minnesota prep school Shattuck St. Marys, which is in Faribault about 50 miles south of St. Paul. MacKinnon said several of his friends from those days will be coming to the game. THE MATH: Teams that win the first two games in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoffs series have an all-time series record of 287-45, a winning percentage of .864. That doesnt bode well for the Wild, but the Avalanche would of course be unwise to rely on the law of averages to advance them to the next round. "We just want to remain focused," Roy said. "Cant make a conclusion after only two wins. Now all weve earned is a chance to win Game 3 tomorrow." Wholesale NFL Jerseys USA . - The Baltimore Ravens have hired Steve Spagnuolo to be their secondary coach and assistant head coach. Authentic NFL Jerseys . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale.com/. However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand. Cheap Jerseys . Two weeks after suffering a concussion, Foles will start in place of Michael Vick, who is out for the second time this season with a hamstring injury. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . The Cubs made the moves before Thursdays game against Arizona. They promoted left-hander Zac Rosscup and right-hander Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Blake Parker to their top minor league team.Maybe the best way to ride like Shaun White is to learn from Shaun White.The worlds most famous snowboarder agreed to a deal with his coach, Bud Keene, to work with young riders at his Keenes BK Progression Camps around the United States and the world.Keene and White have teamed for two Olympic gold medals and 13 Winter X Games titles over the past 12 years. Keene has been running his snowboarding and freeskiing camps for the last three years, and starting in 2015, White has agreed to join him for a handful of camps.Weve had so much success working together, Keene said. Weve learned so much about each other and the process and we want to bring that to more boys and girls. Its not just about winning the X Games and Olympic gold medals. Its the process of self-discovery, the effort, the reward, the accomplishment and the challenge. Weve both learned a ton together.Though White is nowhere near retiring, he has long been cultivating his out-of-competition career — with sponsorship deals, his band, Bad Things, and, most recently, the majority stake he took in the Air and Style snowboard and freeskiing event that he once competed in.Working in Keenes camps is another part of that — and something White is doing to help give back to an industry that has made him a multimillionaire and a household name. Hes doing it at a time when some figures show snowboardings once-exponential growth to be slowing, and with industry leaders trying to makke it more kid-friendly.ddddddddddddI definitely want to do what I can to grow winter sport participation, White said. When people are introduced to snowboarding or skiing in the right way and have good experiences, its more likely that theyll love it and stick with it.In addition to elite camps, Keene also runs camps for beginners and intermediates.Theres a thrill you get when you help that 14-year-old girl or boy unlock things within them that they didnt necessarily know they had in them, Keene said. I get that 100 per cent as much from working with a 6- or 12-year-old as much as I do with Shaun.White finished fourth on the halfpipe at the Olympics last year — a result that came after a tumultuous winter filled with injuries and schedule changes. The setback, Keene said, hasnt diminished his competitive spirit.Hes still, hands down, the best halfpipe rider in the world, and not by a small increment, Keene said.Whites 2015 contest debut could come later this month at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.Meanwhile, hes in training and could show up, at any time, at one of Keenes camps.For a long time, Shaun and I realized we have something special and it really has nothing to do with the X Games, the Olympics or the gold medals, Keene said. Theres an energy and synergy involved in bringing out the best in him. Thats something of value to any of these kids.___On the Web: http://www.budkeene.com/bk-progression-camps ' ' '