NEU » breakaways, so great game for him.R

ST. LOUIS -- Special teams figure to be a factor as the St. Louis Blues kick off a five-game homestand against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night in a game between two hot teams.The Blues enter the matchup with 247 penalty minutes, fourth most in the NHL. St. Louis had four penalties in the first period in its 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday that snapped its four-game winning streak.The extended penalty kill time took a toll on the Blues physically and made it impossible to get into an offensive rhythm as St. Louis managed a season-low two shots in the first period at Washington.Its tough when you take I think four in the first, Blues center Robby Fabbri told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A lot of our best players are on the PK and then playing five-on-five as well. It was a little bit of a slow start, which kind of killed us at the beginning and we picked it up a little too late.The Blues saving grace is that they are third in the NHL on the penalty kill at 88.1 percent. However, St. Louis has been short-handed 34 more times than Carolina and San Jose, the top two penalty kill teams.Thats a discipline problem, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told the Post-Dispatch. Its not role players that are doing it. Were having the same people hurt us, taking penalties. It puts it in our hands; well have to do something.The question is, can the Wild take advantage? Minnesota was just 9 of 57 (15.8 percent) on the power play this season, 20th overall in the NHL, entering its Friday night game against Pittsburgh. But the Wild scored three times with the man advantage in a 6-2 win over the Penguins.I hope its something we can improve on and keep working at, Wild left winger Zach Parise told NHL.com. Thats such a big part of the game for us. Again, when you can get one on the power play, its hard to score five-on-five, so when you can get one on the power play, its amazing what it does for the team and the guys as individuals.Minnesota, who is kicking off a five-game road trip, enters the game a winner of its last two after beating Winnipeg and Pittsburgh at home.Parise and defenseman Jonas Brodin each have two goals in the Wilds last two games. The Wilds offense has come alive, scoring nine goals during that stretch, after scoring just nine goals in their previous six games.Hes skating extremely well, I think, and hes just brimming with confidence right now, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said of Brodin to NHL.com. Hes got a lot of ability and his shot is a rocket.Blues right winger Vladimir Tarasenko leads the team with nine goals and is coming off a two-goal performance at Washington.St. Louis could be getting healthier as left winger Alexander Steen skated with the team on Friday for the first time since suffering a non-concussion-related upper body injury on Nov. 15 against Buffalo. Steen is not expected to play against the Wild. Christian Pulisic Dortmund Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Alexander Isak Jersey . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. http://www.footballdortmundpro.com/Kids-Dzenis-Burnic-Jersey/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Shinji Kagawa Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Manuel Akanji Dortmund Jersey . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. WASHINGTON -- John Tortorella sensed his players were tired of practicing and getting coached and were ready for the World Cup of Hockey.They played like it, too.The United States beat Finland 3-2 on Tuesday night in each teams final exhibition game before the World Cup begins this weekend in Toronto. Goaltender Jonathan Quick played well enough to earn the starting job for the first game of the tournament, and despite some late trouble the Americans looked prepared for the real thing.I think the boys feel tournament ready, said forward Max Pacioretty, who had an assist. That probably was the most comfortable weve felt.Quick made 30 stops, giving up a goal on a perfect shot by teenage phenom Patrik Laine and another on a scramble in front by Jussi Jokinen. T.J. Oshie, Ryan Kesler and Derek Stepan scored for the U.S., which went 2-1-0 in exhibition play and begins the World Cup on Saturday against Team Europe.Tortorella called it the Americans best of the three exhibition games and cited progress in several areas.We were cleaner, Tortorella said. Have we got it all figured out? No. And we probably wont get it all figured out. Its just not enough time to cover all the things wed like to cover, so we just keep on banging away here and see if we can get better each day.Pacioretty was much better than in two previous games, responding to Tortorellas comment that he needs more from the Montreal Canadiens forward. The new line of Pacioretty, Kesler and Oshie clicked, with Oshie appearing extra motivated playing in front of Washington Capitals fans.When youre at your home rink, you just feel comfortable, Oshie said. Always fun playing at home.Quick, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings, stopped 63 of the 66 shots he faced in exhibition play. He put any doubt to rest abbout the U.dddddddddddd. starter, and Tortorella said Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning would serve as the backup.A lot of things can happen in the tournament, but I believe in the body of work from all three goalies, Tortorella said. Its a really hard decision. I think Jonathan has just done a little bit better than the other guys, so hell be our No. 1 guy to start the tournament.Finland must still decide on its starter in net after Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators stopped 26 of 29 shots against the U.S. Itll be either him or Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins in Finlands opener Sunday against Team North America, but Rinne earned praise from coach Lauri Marjamaki.Pekka was great, said Marjamaki, who didnt name his starter for the first game. I like the style how he played. Of course he (faced a) couple of breakaways, so great game for him.Rinne robbed reigning NHL MVP Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks on a breakaway after a turnover by young Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, one of several Finns who struggled Tuesday.Laine, the No. 2 pick in the draft to the Winnipeg Jets, enjoyed his best exhibition game. The 18-year-old had four shots on goal, several nifty moves and his snipe past Quick.It is good for us and of course important goal for him, Marjamaki said. I think that his confidence getting better, and he can use his strengths in tournament.The big, physical U.S. team is ready to use its strength in the tournament after sharpening some things against Finland.Were getting better, Quick said. Every game were a little bit better, and well continue to get better.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno ' ' '