View topic: blocks shots and above all else wins more faceoffs

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - Boyd Gordon is a specialist. He kills penalties, blocks shots and above all else wins more faceoffs than he loses.Thats why on many power plays, Edmonton Oilers coach Dallas Eakins chooses to put his fourth-line centre on the ice.Boyd, hes so good on the faceoffs, we want that puck right away, Eakins said. Thats where he gets a lot of his extra PP time.Gordon isnt a goal-scorer. The 31-year-old entered this season with 47 in 560 career NHL games.But in the absence of star left-winger Taylor Hall, whos out with a knee injury, the Oilers would love for Gordon to get a little more offensive. With a goal in each of the past two games, hes obliging.I think you want to contribute, Gordon said. I think all four lines get pretty equal, shared ice time. If you have different guys chip in every night, it definitely gives us a better chance to win a game.Gordon scored just the fifth power-play goal of his career Thursday night at the Boston Bruins. More importantly, he had the game-winner Friday night when the Oilers came back from two deficits to beat the Buffalo Sabres and snap their losing streak at four.And this wasnt a garbage goal or a wacky deflection in front. After Matt Hendricks forced a turnover, Teddy Purcell made a slick pass to Gordon, who fired past former Washington Capitals teammate Michal Neuvirth.Gordon went sliding into the boards with his arms in the air having sealed Edmontons first victory since Oct. 27.Gordo, hes been working hard, Im glad, Hendricks said. Thats back-to-back goals for him. Hes on a hot streak.These were the first two goals of the season for Gordon, so no one expects his hot streak to continue Sunday when the Oilers visit the New York Rangers or pick up Tuesday when they finish up this road trip at the Nashville Predators.What Eakins, the coaching staff and Gordons teammates expect him to do is continue to do what he does best. Often, thats not what the most skilled players enjoy to do.He works so hard, and yet hes never looked sideways once at the number of times he has to start in his D-zone, Eakins said. He takes great pride in it and takes great pride in our penalty kill. He just quietly goes about his business.Gordon is a man of few words. Any questions?About his goal, the Unity, Sask., native said it was fortunate the puck went in the net. About the victory, he said he was just glad this young, still-learning Oilers team was able to end their losing streak before it got out of control.Theres no doubt the Oilers, still last in the Western Conference with 11 points at 5-8-1, have much to learn about winning close games like the one in Buffalo on Friday night.(Players) understand what process were going through, they understand where were at and where were going and thats our main concern right now, Eakins said.Gordon, who was eighth in the league in faceoffs last year at 56.5 per cent, isnt a part of Edmontons core but hes the quintessential role player.Eakins appreciates that.I cant say enough about Boyd, he said. He does a lot of heavy lifting, dirty, dirty work and is happy to do it.—Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Armani Watts Chiefs Jersey . He was attracted by the punishing defence, the strong running game and a coaching staff he trusted. The 49ers announced Thursday that Manningham had signed a two-year deal to join the team he helped knock out in the NFC championship game two months ago in their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver. Sammy Watkins Jersey . Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career. http://www.chiefsstoreauthentic.com/authentic-kendall-fuller-chiefs-jersey/ .C. – Carter Ashton had a pair of goals and added an assist as the Toronto Marlies downed the Charlotte Checkers 5-2 on Saturday in the American Hockey League. Breeland Speaks Jersey . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season. Dorian ODaniel Jersey . Neither striker Demba Ba nor Fernando Torres came close to scoring as Chelsea was left unsuccessfully appealing for penalties in this drab penultimate game of the season. "Our strikers are good strikers, no doubt about that, but players with some specific qualities," Mourinho said. BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France – Riding in his 10th Tour de France, three-time world champion Michael Rogers of Australia finally got his first stage victory in cyclings greatest race on Tuesday by leading a breakaway group to a downhill finish as the pack entered the Pyrenees. Italys Vincenzo Nibali, finishing about 8 1/2 minutes back, reined in his top challengers and retained the yellow jersey after Stage 16, the longest stage of this years race and the first of three days in the mountains on Frances border with Spain. Behind the Italian, the contest for podium places was shaken up: Thibaut Pinot of France rose to third in the standings, while compatriot Romain Bardet dropped to fifth. Tejay van Garderen of the United States lost more than 3 1/2 minutes, slipping from fifth to sixth and seeing his podium hopes dealt a serious blow. Rogers took a bow as he crossed the line alone after the 237.5-kilometre (147-mile) leg from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon, which featured a tough climb up the mountain pass of Port de Bales. "Every cyclists dream is to win a stage at the Tour de France," said Rogers, who finished nine seconds ahead of Frances Thomas Voeckler – who had won two previous Tour stages at Bagneres-de-Luchon in 2010 and 2012. "I cant describe the joy I felt in the last 500 metres … I hope I dont have to wait another 10 years to experience it again." Rogers came close not to riding on this Tour for the Tinkoff-Saxo Bank team. In a ruling announced in April, the International Cycling Union accepted that meat Rogers ate in China last year probably caused his positive doping test at the Japan Cup shortly afterward. Rogers, a crucial teammate of two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador, convinced the UCI that he hadnt intended to cheat, and said the episode was "a very difficult time" for his family. Following the UCI ruling, Rogers said he came back with "a different outlook on life." "It was certainly a lesson in life for me," he added.dddddddddddd "Sometimes you need a lesson in life to see the silver lining in the cloud." Rogers said he might not have had the opportunity to win a stage if Contador – his team leader, who crashed out in Stage 10 – were still racing because his job would have been more of a support rider. Now that the Spaniard is out, the team came up with a Plan B: To try for stage wins. "I can be grateful, but Im also very heartbroken that Albertos not here," Rogers said. As the day began, a breakaway group of 21 riders came together over the first two hours and stuck together for much of the day, chiseling out a lead of more than 12 minutes. But their unity began to disintegrate along the 12-kilometre Port de Bales climb, which is ranked Hors Categorie because the ascent is so tough that its considered beyond classification. In its steepest patch, the gradient reached 11 per cent. Rogers was in a bunch of five riders that came together in the final descent, and he stepped on the accelerator with less than 5 kilometres (3.2 miles) left. Before the stage, the Lampre-Merida team said world champion Rui Costa of Portugal would not start due to pneumonia. The Portuguese rider had been in 13th place, about 13 minutes behind Nibali. After Tuesdays ride, Nibali leads second-place Alejandro Valverde of Spain by 4 minutes, 37 seconds, and Pinot is 5:06 back. French veteran Jean-Christophe Peraud is fourth, at 6:08, and Bardet is 6:40 behind. Van Garderen, while only losing a notch in the standings, is 9:25 behind the race leader. Stage 16 was just an appetizer for the Pyrenees, with uphill finishes to follow on Wednesday and Thursday. Aside from a penultimate stage time trial, Stage 17 starting in Saint-Gaudens will be the shortest this year at 124.5 kilometres (77 miles). It features three hard Category 1 climbs, and an ascent to the Saint-Lary Pla dAdet ski station. The three-week race ends Sunday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '