Allgemeine Themen » No. 6 seed West

HAMILTON, Ont. -- The Hamilton Bulldogs inability to capitalize on their first-period chances came back to haunt them on Sunday. After outshooting the Utica Comets 17-7 in the opening period, the Bulldogs had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Instead, the Bulldogs conceded the games first goal early in the second period, and dropped their fourth consecutive decision, and fifth in their past six games. Joacim Eriksson made 29 saves as the Comets defeated the Bulldogs 3-1 in American Hockey League action. "We played a good first period, and to come out with no score after one, maybe we deserved a better fate," said Hamilton head coach Sylvain Lefebvre. "But in the second period, we didnt play well at all. "In the third, when they scored their goal, it looked like we put our heads down instead of rolling up our sleeves." Zach Hamill, Alexandre Grenier and Colin Stuart scored for the Comets (2-8-2), who have now won two consecutive games after opening their season on a ten-game losing streak. Sven Andrighetto had the lone goal for Hamilton (5-5-3), while Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves in a losing effort. The Bulldogs outplayed and outpossessed the Comets in the opening period, but had few clear chances to score despite their puck possession, settling instead for shots from the perimeter. "We need to be more assertive and shoot to score, instead of shooting just to get the puck on net," said Lefebvre. "We need to drive the net with more authority. There are things that you can do, but you cant get frustrated." Utica forward David Booth had his teams best chance in an otherwise disjointed period, when he streaked into the attacking zone from the left and fired a high wrist shot that forced an alert glove save from Tokarski with 4:30 left to play. Hamilton was lacking a finishing touch and Andrighetto wasted his teams clearest opportunity to score when he chose to pass rather than shoot while on the backhand in the low slot. A bright start to the second for the Comets, the farm team of the Vancouver Canucks, culminated in the games first goal at the 2:14 mark of the period. Pascal Pelletier carried the puck down the right wing and centred for a streaking Hamill. The pass never made it to the wingers stick, and instead clipped off of his near skate and slid past Tokarski. Momentum was suddenly with Utica, and Nicklas Jensen had two wide-open chances to double the visitors lead a minute later. The winger was stationed in the high slot without a defender, and took two one-time shots, with the first hitting Tokarskis crossbar and the second going just wide of his near post. Hamilton was pinned back for much of the second period, but managed to find a breakthrough against the run of play at 19:05, when Andrighetto scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Mike Blundens initial shot was saved, but the rebound off Eriksson went to Andrighetto, who easily fired it high and into the open net. The Swiss rookie has taken hold of a spot in Hamiltons top six, and said that he is looking to repay his coachs faith in him. "I feel comfortable, and I think that Ive worked hard outside of the rink as well," said Andrighetto. "The coach is giving me a lot of trust in playing me with St. Pierre and Blunden right now. Thats great, because I think I can learn a lot from those guys. "I want to repay that trust with my performances on the ice." Booth put his speed on display to open the third period, accelerating past a Hamilton defender and moving to the backhand side, where Tokarski slid to smother his point-blank effort. Utica retook the lead with another fortunate bounce, as Peter Anderssons low shot from the point deflected off the skate of Morgan Ellis and straight to Grenier on the right wing, and he easily slotted a wrist shot past Tokarski at 2:59 of the third. A flurry in front of the Comets net with nine minutes to play seemed destined to yield a Bulldog equalizer, but neither Akim Aliu nor Ben Duffy could bat a bouncing puck past Eriksson. Stuart put the game beyond doubt, scoring into an empty net with nine seconds left in the game. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Antoine-Griezmann-Jersey/ .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! 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Louis second-period goal increased the New York Rangers lead but Dustin Brown has countered for the Los Angeles Kings who now trail the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas coach Bill Self was chatting this week with someone who brought up the possibility that some unfortunate team with a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament might have to play its second game against Oklahoma State, which was once considered a Final Four contender. "I said, Just think if that happens in your conference tournament," Self responded. After winning their 10th straight regular-season title, the Jayhawks earned the top seed when the Big 12 tournament begins Wednesday night at the Sprint Center. But the reward is a first-round bye and a potential matchup with the eighth-seeded Cowboys in Thursdays quarterfinals; the two teams split their two meetings this year. Oklahoma State plays No. 9 seed Texas Tech in the first game Wednesday night. Seventh-seeded Baylor takes on No. 10 seed TCU in the nightcap of a double-header. "I think weve always had very competitive Big 12 tournaments," Self said, "but I dont know if I can ever remember where if theres a final between whatever seeds there are, it would be absolutely not a major surprise to anybody. Its going to be a pretty special weekend." The Big 12 has been the runaway leader in conference RPI all season, and some believe that it could land seven or eight teams in the NCAA tournament on Selection Sunday. Just consider the games that will be played Thursday: Along with Kansas getting Oklahoma State or Texas Tech, second-seeded Oklahoma will play the Baylor-TCU winner, No. 3 seed Texas will play No. 6 seed West Virginia, and No. 4 seed Iowa State will play No. 5 seed Kansas State. "This league," Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith said, "is by far the toughest in the country." Thats why the Jayhawks still believe they can earn a No. 1 seed to the NCAA tournament, despite their 23-8 record. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State (20-11) is teetering around the bubble, and a win over Texas Tech might be enough to push the Cowboys firmly into the dance. Knocking off the Jayhawks would certainly do the trick. "Were just trying to worry about the next game," Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said, "and worrying about all that other stuff doesnt really do you any good." In thaat case, here are five things that fans SHOULD worry about: BUBBLE WATCH: Oklahoma State isnt the only team on the NCAA tournament bubble.ddddddddddddBaylor (21-10) would feel much better with a win or two, while West Virginia (17-14) hopes the momentum it picked up by knocking off Kansas last weekend will propel it to enough wins in Kansas City to make a case on Selection Sunday. "I think if we won two wed be in great shape," said Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins, "but I think if we can win that first one that we would be pretty good." CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE: Kansas is the only current member to have won the Big 12 tournament since 2005 -- twice since then, Missouri won the title. In fact, Oklahoma and Iowa Stare are the only current schools besides the Jayhawks and Cowboys to have won. "No matter what people say, no matter what other teams do," Oklahoma States Marcus Smart said, "it goes through Kansas." STAR WATCH: There will be stars-a-plenty at the Big 12 tournament. Andrew Wiggins of Kansas is a potential No. 1 draft pick, Iowa States Melvin Ejim is the Big 12 player of the year and Smart is also a potential lottery pick. But one player who wont be on the floor is Jayhawks centre Joel Embiid, whos been ruled out for the Big 12 tournament and unlikely for the first week of the NCAA tournament because of a stress fracture in his back. HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE: Local schools Kansas and Kansas State always pack the Sprint Center, but Iowa State also tends to draw well -- its campus is a reasonable drive from Kansas City. That means itll be tough to secure a ticket to Thursdays first session, when the Cyclones play the Wildcats and Kansas is also in action in a tantalizing double-header. LONGSHOTS: Even longshots have coaches concerned this year. Texas Tech is the No. 9 seed but has wins over Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas on its resume. And nobody thought TCU would go winless in the league, so the No. 10 seed Horned Frogs could be primed for a first-round upset of the Bears. "Were going to do our best to keep within striking distance, like we have all year long, and give ourselves a chance down the stretch," TCU coach Trent Johnson said. 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