NEU » ruins killed off five power plays Monda

LOS ANGELES -- A three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday could go a long way for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they get ready to embark on a 10-game road swing.After an off-day Thursday, Los Angeles opens a three-game set against former manager Don Mattingly and the Miami Marlins, who posted a four-game sweep at Dodger Stadium earlier this season. The Dodgers follow that by visiting the New York Yankees for three games (Sept. 12-14) before capping their trip with a four-game series in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks (Sept. 15-18).The Dodgers will play 17 straight games before getting another day off.Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged how taxing the run of contests can be on his starting rotation and his bullpen. However, Roberts is confident his club, which currently leads the San Francisco Giants by four games in the National League West, can weather whatever the baseball Gods can throw at them.It helps to have a bunch of arms out there, said Roberts, referring to the September call-ups that allowed him to expand his pitching staff to 18. The start that Kenta (Maeda) gave us (Monday) was certainly big. But now its a lot easier to mix and match guys and kind of be really mindful of their usage. Were in a good place but after that weve got (17) straight games. But weve got some numbers.Rookie pitcher Brock Stewart (0-2, 7.94 ERA) will start Wednesdays game against the Diamondbacks. Stewart will continue a Dodgers trend of using their young arms to start games in large part due to injuries.(Wednesday) we have another rookie that were going to have to look at on film and figure out a way to beat him. Weve got to get one game in this series, Arizona manager Chip Hale said.The Dodgers are starting four consecutive rookies for the second week in a row. Jose De Leon performed Sunday, Maeda worked Monday and Ross Stripling did the honors Tuesday. All three won.From Aug. 27-31, Los Angeles started Julio Urias, Stewart, Maeda and Stripling.It was the first time the club started first-year pitchers in four straight games since Sept. 8-10, 1952, when the club went with Ken Lehman, Bill Loes, Ray Moore and Johnny Rutherford.Stewart, who will be facing the Diamondbacks for the first time, will oppose Arizonas Robbie Ray (7-12, 4.36 ERA).Stewart made his last start for the Dodgers on Aug. 28, when he limited the Chicago Cubs to two hits with a career-high eight strikeouts in five scoreless innings but did not factor into the decision in a 1-0 Los Angeles win.Ray also received a non-decision in his last outing on Sept. 2, when the Colorado Rockies tagged him for six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.Ray is 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers. Ray beat the Dodgers the last time he faced them on July 17, striking out seven on a four-hitter in seven shutout innings. 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After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year.BOSTON -- There is no panic or frustration. But Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville acknowledges his team is in a tough spot going into Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final. "You lose back-to-back games, it gets your attention," the coach conceded. "Were in a hole right now. We want to make sure (Wednesday) we prioritize the importance of that game and its a different level." Down two games to one, the Hawks face a tall order in trying to bring down the Bruins in their own building. Boston has won seven straight at home and is 8-2 overall at TD Garden in these playoffs, outscoring the opposition 28-17. At least, the Hawks can take solace from their second-round series against Detroit. They trailed the Red Wings three games to one before reeling off three straight wins. "I think were in a tough spot," Quenneville acknowledged. "In the Detroit series we found a way to get ourselves to get back into it. Thats what were looking for. (Wednesday) is a very important game, like we have to win (Wednesday) night. Come up with a good result, were right where we want to be." Quenneville said he hoped injured star Marian Hossa (upper body) will be back in the lineup. Chicagos co-scoring leader was a late scratch Monday, replaced by Ben Smith Quenneville was quizzed on why Smith didnt take the warmup if Hossa was a doubtful starter. Eventually he confessed that he did not want to tip his hand that something might be awry with his lineup. The Chicago coach has other concerns. His team is getting schooled in the faceoff circle, putting the Hawks constantly on the back foot. Boston won 40 of 56 faceoffs Monday wwith Patrice Bergeron winning 24 of 28 draws.dddddddddddd Chicagos power play, which was ordinary during the season (ranking 19th with a 16.7 percentage success rate), has been even worse in the playoffs. Chicago was 0-for-5 with a man advantage in Game 3 and has not scored a power-play goal in its last 20 chances dating to Game 2 of the Western Conference final. The Blackhawks have an 11.3 per cent success rate this post-season (7-for-62), and are only 3.7 per cent on the road (1-for-27). The Hawks are 0-for-11 with a man advantage against Boston this series. Bostons penalty killing isnt helping matters. The Bruins killed off five power plays Monday night, stretching their successful string to 27 consecutive penalties dating to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "I think special teams last night, they won that war," Quenneville said Tuesday. Whatever the manpower situation, Chicago has not scored in 122 minutes 26 seconds. This from a team that scored 155 goals during the regular season, second only to Pittsburgh. Of course, the Bruins limited the high-flying Pens to two goals in four games in the Eastern final. The numbers all seem to favour Boston. The Bruins are 2-0 when holding a 2-1 series lead in the final. The Blackhawks are 0-3 lifetime when trailing 2-1 in the final. "We know theyre a good team, tough to play against," said Chicago defenceman Johnny Oduya. "But I think we still feel confident. We know we have to steal a game here and thats what were looking to do." The Hawks, like the Bruins, had an optional skate Tuesday with most players electing to skip the session. ' ' '