sakura

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. Detroit Pistons Pro Shop . – Marian Gaboriks new teammates with the Los Angeles Kings initially wondered whether such a talented goal-scorer could fit into a defence-dominated team when he arrived in a trade last month. Nobody is wondering anymore after Gaborik helped the Kings reach the post-season on a roll. „It took me a little bit, but I think I adjusted pretty good,“ Gaborik said Tuesday while the Kings prepared for their first-round opener against San Jose. Gaborik scored 16 points in 19 games as the Kings top-line left wing down the stretch, adapting his game to coach Darryl Sutters preferences while still providing his own unique offensive talents to the NHLs best defensive team. He fits in well in his third dressing room in two seasons, with teammates praising the veterans commitment and talent with equal enthusiasm. „I think hes been our best player since hes got here,“ defenceman Drew Doughty said. „No matter who gets traded here, you wonder how theyre going to fit into the system,“ Doughty added. „(But) he played in Minnesota. He knew how to play that system back in the day. Hes obviously amazing offensively, but he is good defensively. He tries his best, and thats all you can ask.“ Although Los Angeles has reached back-to-back conference finals, offence is seemingly always a concern. The Kings are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL post-season with just 198 regular-season goals, but Gaboriks arrival has assuaged many fears about their ability to score enough goals to win in the spring. Gaboriks impressive speed immediately changed opponents defensive game plans after his arrival from Columbus. He finally became the goal-scoring left wing that the Kings have long lacked to play alongside Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles sublime playmaker and two-way centre. Justin Williams plays the right side on a suddenly potent top line, and Gaboriks arrival allowed the Kings to balance out their depth lines as well. Gaborik has five goals with his famously vicious wrist shot, but he has been even more valuable with 11 assists. He put together a three-point game in the Kings road finale in Edmonton last Thursday. Gaborik sees nothing special in his handling of what could have been a rough assignment in Los Angeles. Playing for Sutter didnt scare Gaborik after his experience under coaches with similar defensive demands such as Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and John Tortorella with the Rangers. „Just go out there, work hard and follow the system,“ Gaborik said. „Make sure youre on the right side of the puck, and be in the right position when youre skating. Be on top of things.“ Gaboriks arrival and Los Angeles ensuing excellence have echoed the Kings success two years ago after they acquired Jeff Carter from Columbus during a disappointing regular season. Carter added his goal-scoring skills to a low-scoring lineup, and the Kings goals-per-game average rose — just as it did this season after Gaborik pulled on a black jersey. Doughty initially thought Gaborik was „more of just a scorer,“ but quickly realized there was much more to his new teammate. „Hes kind of a guy like Carts, where Carts just seems to put pucks in the net,“ Doughty said. „You dont understand how it goes in. It just goes in. Hell obviously get the pretty ones, too, but I thought he was just a pure goal-scorer. Just sat in the slot and found pucks and put them in. But hes a great passer, too, and hes good at finding open ice. Hes good at getting support for his linemates and getting them out of a battle and then making a play to create an opportunity.“ While still near the prime of his career, the 32-year-old Gaborik is an impending free agent with a history of injury woes, so he realizes the urgency of every remaining chance at a Stanley Cup title. He has reached two conference finals in his NHL career, but never played for the Cup. „You get that feeling that youre getting close, but its really hard,“ Gaborik said. „Im really going to embrace this opportunity and take it, and Im very excited for that. It doesnt come every year, and we feel we have a good team to do it.“ Jordan Bone Jersey . The England international had both goals in TFCs season-opening 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. Andy Phillip Jersey . 31-Feb. 2. While organizers havent decided if itll be red or green clay, they feel their choice of surface will give the Americans an advantage over Britain, which is expected to be led by defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.TORONTO — The Kitchener Rangers wasted no time on Saturday addressing one of their most pressing needs. The Rangers took high-scoring centre Adam Mascherin with the second pick in the OHL draft. The five-foot-nine, 197-pound Mascherin had 71 goals and 66 assists in 66 games with the Vaughan Kings and joins a Kitchener squad that scored the third-fewest goals in the OHL this year in posting the leagues second-worst record at 22-41-2-3. There was no drama regarding whod be taken ahead of Mascherin. On Friday, the Sarnia Sting announced they would select American Jakob Chychrun, a six-foot-two, 195-pound defenceman with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, first overall. „Im really looking forward to playing for coach Trevor, (head coach Trevor Letowski) and my future teammates and working hard with them every day to hopefully one day build this team into a playoff contender,“ Chychrun said. The 16-year-old Chychrun had 16 goals and 27 assists in 29 games this season. He was also the youngest member of Ontarios team at the U17 World Challenge, where he had a goal and three assists in five games. Chychrun is the son of former NHL defenceman Jeff Chychrun, who won a Stanley Cup in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. „Were not only bringing into our organization an exceptional hockey player but an extremely mature and great person in general,“ said Rick Sinclair, the Stings head scout and player-personnel director. Grant Hill Jersey. But Chychrun was certainly in the minority as 16 of the 20 first-round picks were forwards. The Ottawa 67s, selecting third overall, continued that trend by taking left-winger Travis Barron, a six-foot-one, 175-pound forward who was teammate of Chychrun with the Jr. Canadiens. Last year, Ottawa had the top pick and used it to select centre Travis Konecny, who was named the leagues top rookie in 2013-14. Konecny, 17, led all OHL first-year players in scoring with 70 points (26 goals, 44 assists) in 63 games. Three Americans went in the first round. After Sarnia took Chychrun, the Niagara IceDogs selected forward Logan Brown at No. 6, The six-foot-four, 210-pound Brown, a native of Chesterfield, Mo., had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 15 games with the Indiana Ice this season. Then at No. 18, the London Knights took left-winger Max Jones, a six-foot-two, 190-pound forward from Rochester, Mich. Jones had 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) and 121 penalty minutes in 24 games with the Detroit Honeybaked under-18 squad this season. Both players come from hockey families. Browns father, Jeff, was a former NHL defenceman who holds the St Louis Blues team record for most points by a defenceman (78 in 92-93). Brad Jones played centre for the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers from 1986-87 to 1991-92. ‚ ‚ ‚