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WINNIPEG -- It was back to business for the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday, as they skated for the first time since the Olympic break and prepared to resume their quest for the playoff berth that has eluded the franchise for so many years. Kraig Urbik Womens Jersey . With 22 games left and just over a week till they play again, coach Paul Maurice says he wants to get started right away sharpening defensive neutral zone play and forechecking without the puck. "Our sole focus is trying to find ways that we can be more aggressive with it," he said. The Jets were still minus their four Olympians -- forwards Olli Jokinen, Blake Wheeler and Michael Frolik, plus No. 1 netminder Ondrej Pavelec remain in Sochi -- but they made up for that with a healthy Evander Kane, Jim Slater and Matt Halischuk, all back from the injury list. Slater was out the longest after sports hernia surgery in Montreal. The centre and one of the teams faceoff leaders last played Oct. 18 but he says he now feels strong and ready to compete. Its a far different team than the one he left, with the Jets on a roll since Maurice took over from Claude Noel. They now sit just two points out of that coveted playoff spot. Slater says its always tough to be on the sidelines when a new coach comes in. "The slates wiped clean and when you cant get out there and play and show him what youve got, its definitely tough, you dont know where you fit in," he said. But Maurice helped to set his mind at ease. "Ive played against Paul a lot of my career when he was in Carolina, so we had a talk, he knows what kind of player I am and just wanted me to get healthy, come back strong and ready to go." The focus may be on getting his team ready for their first game Feb. 27 when the Phoenix Coyotes visit Winnipeg, but Maurice says hes still arranged practice Friday to let the team watch Canada and the U.S. play in the Olympics. "Weve moved practice so that we can get together and watch that as a team," he said. "Its a big deal so we want to respect that and enjoy it. . . At the end of the day hockey events are what were all about, right, and this is a big game." Its been seven years since the Atlanta Thrashers were swept in the first round of the NHL playoffs in their only appearance. Kane last played Jan. 26 in Chicago. He was out twice with an injured hand, the second time after what turned out to be a premature return resulted in an infection that saw his hand swell to the size of a baseball. He says hes sure hell be ready to go Feb. 27 and he likes where the Jets are now sitting. "We put ourselves in a position now where we can make a push and we have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs and contend," he said. "The last part of the schedule we play the teams that kind of bunched in with us so its going to be an good opportunity for us to make a push and finish off strong." Team captain Andrew Ladd says the time to practice will help the Jets get their pace back up. "I think that was the best part of our game, the last 10 games or so . . We were playing (with) speed and confidence and weve got to find a way to get that back." He said its also good to see players like Slater and Halischuk return after long absences. "Its nice to have some extra bodies." Alan Branch Bills Jersey . With the possibility of an upset hanging in the air at Hartwall Arena, the Canadian captain came through in the clutch Wednesday by scoring the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Switzerland. Steve Johnson Womens Jersey . Pro Bowl centre Maurkice Pouncey ripped up his right knee and linebacker Larry Foote ruptured his biceps during Pittsburghs 16-9 home loss to Tennessee, likely sidelining both players for the rest of the season. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Hitting a tough shot over one of the NBAs best defenders is a boost to any ego. For Kobe Bryant, its a sign hes getting back to his own personal standard. Bryant scored 21 points in his sixth game of the season, and the Los Angeles Lakers closed out a four-game road trip with a 96-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. "I know Im back when those pull-up jumpers start going, especially against a defender like Tony Allen, who is just breathing all over you and is very physical," Bryant said. "I felt really comfortable being able to elevate and shoot through contact." Pau Gasol added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who were coming off a 114-100 loss at Atlanta on Monday night. Nick Young had 18 points, and Jodie Meeks finished with 13. Young said having Bryant on the floor makes a big difference. "Especially when he is getting his groove back like he is," Young said. "Weve just got to feed off each other. We cant just sit back and watch and let him do everything. Weve still got to help him out and feed off of him and Pau." Zach Randolph had 18 points and a season-high 16 rebounds for Memphis, which lost its fourth straight. It also was its first loss when Randolph leads the team in scoring. The Grizzlies played without Mike Conley, who sat out after bruising his left thigh in Sundays loss to Minnesota. Memphis coach Dave Joerger wasnt happy that his Grizzlies let the Lakers jump on them from the start. "Thats a couple games in a row," Joerger said. "We cannot come out and wait, especially at home to take a hit. We are letting teams get up by shooting the basketball and getting loose balls. They are getting after us instead of us getting after them." The Grizzlies still managed to take a 69-67 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers responded with a 17-4 run. Bryant played more than 32 minutes, matching his most action since returning from his torn left Achilles tendon. He was 9 for 18 from the field, both season highs, despite running the offence most of the night. "It makes a big difference when he operates well from the post and facilitates for us," Gasol said. Randolph gave Memphis its last lead with the first bucket in the fourth. The Lakers then put togetther their big run, and Youngs 3 made it 84-73 with 7:30 left. http://www.authenticbillsshop.com/Elite-E-J-Manuel-Buffalo-Bills-Jersey-Mens-Nike-Nfl-3-Vapor-Grey-69. The Grizzlies came back with eight straight, six by Jerryd Bayless. But the rally fizzled from there, and Bryant hit a 3-pointer from 28 feet with 2:39 left to put the Lakers up 91-85. "Kobe looked great today, Pau was big down the stretch," said Allen, who had a season-high 16 points. Bryant, who was 4 of 14 for eight points in the loss in Atlanta, was active right from the start in Memphis. He missed his first two shots and had two quick turnovers. But he hit four of his first eight shots before going to the locker room apparently to help keep warm rather than just chilling on the bench. "Just try to figure it out what you can do and try to keep it as loose as possible throughout the course of the game," Bryant said. Playing for the second straight night, the Lakers still made 11 of their first 16 shots in building a 15-point lead that Memphis managed to whittle down to 34-24 after the first quarter. The Grizzlies used a 12-2 run in the second quarter to close to 43-41, and Bryant and Gasol returned to the floor to push that lead back to 52-47 at halftime. Bryant went down on the court and was slow to get up with 3:25 left in the third. He spent a couple minutes during a timeout bent over at the waist flexing his left leg before gingerly walking to the bench with trainer Gary Vitti. Bryant returned to the floor after the timeout. The Grizzlies outscored the Lakers 20-15 in the third to tie it at 67, but they were unable to keep pace with the Lakers in the fourth. Bayless and Jon Leuer added 13 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who shot 41 per cent from the floor, compared to 49 per cent for Los Angeles. NOTES: The 21 points for Bryant matched his season high at Charlotte on Dec. 14. ... Memphis lost its 10th at home, more than the Grizzlies lost all last season (nine). ... Randolph had his 14th double-double. ... Young had his 11th straight game in double figures. ... Tayshaun Prince, who had hit just 10 of his last 39 shots over the past six games for Memphis, played only nine minutes, missed his only shot and didnt play in the second half. ... Leuer has scored in double figures in five straight games. ... Memphis had a season-high 18 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Lakes 49-37. ' ' ' |
