Marcel Dionne, then of the Rangers

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VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks are about where Willie Desjardins expected them to be 40 games into his first season as an NHL head coach.How they got to this point is another matter entirely.We started quicker than I thought we would — but then weve had some tough games lately, Desjardins said after Mondays practice at Rogers Arena. I think were probably where I thought, but I thought it would kind of be reversed. I thought wed go out a little bit slower and then be trending upwards. Now weve kind of flattened off again.The Canucks briefly led the NHL standings with a 16-6-1 mark back in late November, but are just 7-8-2 since, including back-to-back losses to the Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames that closed out a disappointing 2-3-0 homestand.Vancouver (23-14-3) sat second in the Pacific Division heading into Mondays action, but were just two points up on Calgary for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, albeit with three games in hand.I think we realize how close it is to miss the playoffs, said Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa. Weve done a good job of staying in moment and taking care of the points, especially in the middle half, the dog days of the season.We make sure were up for these games because we know how important the points are.The Canucks will have to be up for Tuesdays opener of a five-game road trip against the league-leading Nashville Predators, who have just three losses on home ice this season.Weve got real tough games, said Desjardins. Its going to be a battle. Every points going to be a battle (but) hopefully teams are saying the same things about us.Speaking of battle, Desjardins was asked Monday before the Canucks left for Nashville what he wants more of in the second half of the season, and that was what came to mind for a team that didnt get a single power play against in the loss to Calgary.If youre battling hard then other teams get frustrated (and) when they get frustrated they take penalties, he said. Were pushing them, but were not pushing them to the point where they get frustrated and (are) taking penalties on us. We have to get to that point.The good news for the Canucks as they prepared to meet the Predators is that Vancouver has played much better away from home this season, sporting a 12-6-2 mark with victories in Pittsburgh, Washington and St. Louis.Desjardins was at a loss to explain discrepancy with the Canucks 11-8-1 home record, but offered a few ideas.Maybe its a factor that the guys are a little more focused (on the road), he said. Maybe they think on the road its going to be a real tough game and so they are really prepared, and maybe we relax a little bit at home, I dont know. Theres a couple games at home that it wouldnt have taken much (more effort) to get wins.You always wish you had a little bit more in those games.Canucks captain Henrik Sedin couldnt explain the road success either, adding the team tries to approach each game the same.I think we try to keep it simple, he said. Its not a big difference that way. I dont know why our home record isnt as good as on the road. Weve gone into some tough buildings and weve shown before this year that we can win in those buildings.Lack of scoring was a consistent theme last season when Vancouver missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Canucks scored just once in the losses to Florida (3-1) and Calgary (1-0) despite directing a combined 69 shots on target — they had 77 shots attempts against the Flames — but Desjardins suggested more can be done to make life difficult on the opposition.Weve got to be harder, he said. Overall we do need more. I dont think were creating as much as we need to. We have to get better and we have to create more.Sedin agreed the Canucks have to do a better job getting to the dirty areas of the ice on a road trip that will also take them to Philadelphia, Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay.Were not driving to the net, he said. Were not getting people there, and thats usually when (referees) are calling the penalties — when they take away a scoring chance. Its something we keep talking about, but weve got to do it in games.Teams across the league are in an almost constant search for consistency and the Canucks are no different as they approach the midway point of this campaign.But Sedin said if someone had told him back in training camp that Vancouver would have 49 points through 40 games, he would have taken it.I think if you ask anyone, its a good spot to be in for us, he said. Weve got a lot of games in hand on a lot of different teams. But we know we need to win games. Its going to be tough all the way down to the final game, but its a great spot to be in. Its fun to be a part of.Were happy, but were not satisfied.Notes: Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis (torn groin), who has been out since getting hurt on Nov. 20, continues to practice with his teammates and hopes to play at some point on the road trip. ... Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller missed Saturdays game against Calgary with an illness, but said he expects to play Tuesday in Nashville if called upon.___Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter <a href="http://www.cheapnfljerseysfromchina.cc/">Wholesale jerseys</a>. -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. <a href="http://www.cheapnfljerseysfromchina.cc/">cheap nfl jerseys china</a>. Montreal Alouettes offensive lineman Scott Flory is expected to be named the new President of the CFLPA, according to the Hamilton Spectators Drew Edwards. <a href="http://www.cheapnfljerseysfromchina.cc/">http://www.cheapnfljerseysfromchina.cc/</a>. Michael Raffl scored in the first period for Austria, which finished third in its group at 1-2. Austria and Norway both lost to Canada and Finland, who met later in the day to decide the group winner. <a href="http://www.cheapnfljerseysfromchina.cc/">cheap jerseys</a>. Dayton got the day started off on the right foot, beating Ohio State 60-59 thanks to Vee Sanfords layup with 3.8 seconds left. Harvard got the better of Cincinnatis vaunted defence, leading for a good portion of their 12 vs. <a href="http://www.cheapnfljerseysfromchina.cc/">cheap nfl jerseys</a>.E.I. - Despite plenty of team restructuring on the Canadian mens curling scene in recent weeks, Team Jennifer Jones is vowing to remain intact for another four years.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Now that Jaromir Jagr has 700 NHL goals in the bank, the future Hockey Hall of Famer is already setting his sights on his next big milestone. There are only six guys who have ever scored more. So yes, this is a significant marker to reach. "Maybe not for Wayne Gretzky, but for the rest of us its a very big number -- 800 is a little bit better than 700," he said. Jagr scored in the second period of the New Jersey Devils 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Through bits of laughter, Jagr suggested that 800 goals is attainable, as well as Gretzkys record 894. With tongue firmly in cheek, Jagr said he could get to the first number in two years and Gretzkys mark in four. So far, he has no plans for the special puck that got past goalie Evgeni Nabokov. "I might save the 800th one, but I dont know what I am going to do with the 700th," he said with a smile. Jagrs tally sparked New Jerseys four-goal second period, and Martin Brodeur earned the win in his first start in over a month. Jagr gave the Devils a 2-0 lead early in the second, and Ryane Clowe, Marek Zidlicky, and Mark Fayne followed in rapid succession. The four goals came in a span of 4:36 in the first 8:07 of the second. Adam Henrique opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:00 of the first. New Jersey needed only 12 shots to net its first four goals and 16 total to get to five against the beleaguered Nabokov. Clowe and Zidlicky, with a milestone assist from Jagr, also tallied during power plays. "The game went away from us pretty quickly. We deflated after they scored two power-play goals," Nabokov said. "This is part of the business. You got knocked down, but you have to get up again and you have to do the job. "When the penalty kill is good, the goalie makes the saves. Today that wasnt the case." Kyle Okposo cut New Yorks deficit to 3-1 at 6:14 of the second with his team-leading 25th goal, but the Devils quickly answered with two more goals. Anders Nilsson, recalled Saturday from Bridgeport (AHL), made 15 saves in the third period in place of Nabokov, who stopped only 14 shots. Eric Gelinas scored a power-play goal with 38.1 seconds left to make it 6-1. Brodeur, the subject of trade rumours less than a week before the NHL deadline, played for the first time since being pulled from a loss to the New York Rangers on Jan. 26 at Yankee Stadium when he allowed six goals on 21 shots in two periods. Cory Schneider started all seven games since. "I am happy Im back playing. Thats the bottom line," Brodeur said. "I play hockey to play hockey games. Its been a hard month. "I wish every game was like that. It would make it a lot easier on us. I did my job in the first with the chances they had after we scored our goal to keep the gamee under control.dddddddddddd The second and third we just took over." Brodeur, who said he did the rare move of tapping his stick to honour Jagrs milestone goal, stopped 10 shots in the first period and 18 overall in earning his 14th win this season and 683rd of his NHL career. "I didnt have a great warmup, so I was kind of really bearing down in the game," Brodeur said. "They got some great chances early on and I was able to make the saves. That makes you feel a little bit good about your game." Brodeur said he had thoughts that this could be his final game with the Devils, the only NHL team for which he has played. He holds the right to refuse any trade. "Its just a little different because my name has been swarming around a little bit," the soon-to-be 42-year-old Brodeur said of trade rumours. "We have a couple of more days to go and we will see what the future will bring for me." The 42-year-old Jagr moved into the elite goal group when he netted his 19th of the season. The Islanders have been Jagrs top target in his 20 NHL seasons. He has 61 goals and 88 assists in 101 career games. "Is it that many? I love this team," Jagr said. "Its my favourite team. Thats a lot of goals. Its almost 10 per cent." Jagr stickhandled from the right wing boards into the slot and then slid a shot along the ice that eluded Nabokov at 3:31 of the second. Jagr was surrounded by his teammates on the ice with him and then skated across the front of the bench, patting gloves along the way. He received a nice ovation from the crowd when his milestone was announced. "Well they knew I scored 61 goals against them," he said with yet another laugh. The Islanders are the only team from the old Patrick Division for which Jagr, a recent Czech Republic Olympian, has never played. This is his first season with New Jersey. Jagr is only eight goals behind Mike Gartner, sixth on the NHL career list. Jagr is seventh in career points with 1,740. Gretzky netted his 700th goal on Long Island on Jan. 3, 1991, while with Los Angeles. Marcel Dionne, then of the Rangers, also reached the mark against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 31, 1987. Dionne is fourth with 731 goals. Jagr later set up Zidlickys goal that pushed the Devils ahead 4-1. It was Jagrs 1,040th assist, tying him with Dionne for ninth in NHL history. NOTES: Devils captain Bryce Salvador missed the game because of a bruised collarbone. D Anton Volchenkov took his place in the lineup. RW Damien Brunner also sat out because of a charley horse in his left leg. C Jacob Josefson replaced him. ... The Islanders loaned G Kevin Poulin to Bridgeport (AHL). ... 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