Thomas Vanek learned early in his career how tough it is to win in the playoffs.
When Vanek and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games in 2006 to advance http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/jim-kelly-jersey , the rookie winger looked across the locker room at 37-year-old Teppo Numminen, who was on the verge of tears. Numminen had never made it out of the first round in his previous 16 NHL seasons and was overjoyed.
”It hit me right there and then, `Man this is hard,”’ Vanek said.
Vanek is now on the other side. In the playoffs for the seventh time, he is the Columbus Blue Jackets‘ oldest player at 34. Just like Rick Nash in Boston, postseason struggles and inconsistencies have followed Vanek his entire career. Based on his play down the stretch and in Game 1 against Washington, he looks poised for some playoff redemption.
”A very consistent scorer throughout his year and has a lot to prove and wants to win the Stanley Cup,” Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Friday. ”That’s why he’s excited to be here. He wants to prove people wrong, if they think that he can’t do it in the playoffs. He wants to show that he can, and he had a good start.”
Vanek had a goal and an assist to help the Blue Jackets take a 1-0 series lead on the Capitals, and young teammate Artemi Panarin scored the game-winner to finish with three points – two more than he had in Chicago’s first-round sweep at the hands of the Predators a year ago. Kekalainen pointed out Panarin was a point-a-game player for the Blackhawks in the playoffs two years ago, so hold up on the reputation rehab there.
The same goes for Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has been up and down in the playoffs. The 25-year-old from the same town in Russia as Panarin already has more goals in one game this year than he did in the 2016 playoffs Authentic Cliff Pennington Jersey , when Washington lost in the second round.
Vanek and Nash know they’re running out of time to win the Cup and make a difference on that journey.
Nash, who drew two penalties and played over 17 minutes in his return from injury in the Bruins’ Game 1 blowout of the Maple Leafs, has seen his goal production drop by half from the regular season to the playoffs over the course of his career. The 33-year-old trade-deadline pickup should get plenty of chances to show he can still be a playoff performer.
”He’s an important player for us,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. ”That deal was made for a reason. He’s an elite player … makes us more of a threat (as) a team. He’s just a proven player in this league that can finish, that can win pucks and get to the net.”
Getting to the net has never been a problem for Vanek, whose power-play goal in Game 1 came from crashing the crease. But he hasn’t always found it easy to score in the playoffs and has struggled with a minus-16 rating in six previous appearances with the Sabres, Canadiens and Wild.
Vanek didn’t know how he would fit in with Columbus, though the reviews from coach John Tortorella are positive – and honest. Vanek’s propensity for defensive miscues and mistakes with the puck, and his sometimes frustrating inconsistencies, have given Tortorella and others grey hairs.
”I think he really is thriving and is excited about the role he has, that he was and we were in a playoff hunt and now he’s in the playoffs,” Tortorella said. ”I can see why he gives coaches nightmares in some of the things he does. I get that. But I think sometimes you need to ignore some of that and allow him to play and not get in his way. I think he’s been terrific.”
Several times leading up to the start of the playoffs and even after his goal, Vanek was asked about making an important contribution in the playoffs. Each time he changed the subject to the need for someone James Washington Jersey Steelers , anyone, on the team to have success.
”You can tell how excited everyone is,” Vanek said. ”It doesn’t matter if you score or not.”
Scoring or not, making a long run a reality would be Vanek’s real redemption.
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鈥?Although the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense is constantly running over its opponents these days, Philip Rivers wasn’t sure how he ended up as a lead blocker for receiver Travis Benjamin on a 22-yard reverse run .“Gracious, I’ve never been this far down the field in my life since high school,” Rivers thought to himself as he looked for somebody to hit 鈥?and his coaches cringed.But just about everything the Chargers do is working out well lately. After a 30-13 rout of the Redskins on Sunday for their fourth straight victory, they’re finding themselves in prime position to compete for a playoff spot.After their 0-4 start, that’s something that seemed even more unlikely than Rivers becoming a blocker.Rivers passed for 319 yards and two touchdowns, and the Chargers continued their ferocious playoff push with their seventh win in nine games.Tyrell Williams caught a 75-yard touchdown pass and Hunter Henry had another scoring grab for the Chargers (7-6), who have been largely outstanding ever since that rocky start to their relocation season. This one wasn’t in much doubt for the Chargers as they took a 24-point lead and racked up 429 yards of offense midway through the third quarter.“It’s exactly where we want to be,” said Williams, who had four catches for 132 yards. “We hold our own destiny.”While outscoring their opponents 131-53 during their winning streak Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey Bears , the Chargers also moved above .500 for the first time since September 2015 with a dominant offensive performance against Washington.With their fourth straight home victory, the Chargers stayed atop the AFC West alongside the Chiefs (7-6), their opponents Saturday in Kansas City.“I want players to always know what they’re playing for, and right now, we’re playing for our division,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.Kirk Cousins hit Vernon Davis with an early TD pass for the Redskins (5-8), who have lost two straight and six of eight. Washington was officially eliminated from playoff contention with three games to go, and this effort rankled several veterans.“There’s no excuse why we’re playing like this, because we’ve played good in the past,” Washington safety D.J. Swearinger said. “You’ve got to prepare for when you step out on the field Sunday, or you’re going to get embarrassed. We got embarrassed today, so guys didn’t prepare. Guys didn’t take it in. … We’ve definitely taken steps back (on defense). We had 30 put on us today. Dallas put (38) on us last week. We’ve taken major steps back.”Although Bashaud Breeland returned an interception of Kellen Clemens’ pass 96 yards for a touchdown with 2:36 to play, Washington’s defense had few answers.“I’m at a loss for words Isaiah Wynn Jersey , quite honestly,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “I never thought we’d get beat like this two weeks in a row.”Melvin Gordon rushed for a third-quarter score before several Los Angeles regulars took most of the fourth quarter off, banking rest for Saturday.They earned it: Rivers’ offense played with confidence and flair, executing reverses and flea-flickers while thoroughly entertaining a crowd with distinctly fewer fans of the opposition than in the Chargers’ first few games at StubHub Center.Los Angeles jumped to a 13-0 lead while scoring on its first three drives and getting a first-quarter interception by Kyle Emanuel, but Washington kept it close by forcing two field goals.But on the Chargers’ first snap after Davis’ TD catch, Rivers hit Williams deep downfield for an untouched, 75-yard score.MISSED CHANCELos Angeles had a 23-6 lead when it drove 81 yards in the final 1:25 before halftime. The Chargers only missed out on even more points because Austin Ekeler was tackled on a 33-yard run at the Washington 4 as time ran out. Lynn blamed Ekeler for risking a run to end zone despite knowing he needed to get down.KEENAN AGAINKeenan Allen had six catches for 111 yards in his quietest performance during the Bolts’ four-game winning streak. He still set single-season career highs for receptions and yards during the first half for Los Angeles.BIG PHILRivers passed for 256 yards in the first half. He also moved ahead of Warren Moon for ninth place in NFL history in career yards passing. During the four-game winning streak, Rivers has passed for 1,348 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.INJURIESRedskins: Kick returner Byron Marshall’s leg buckled underneath him while he moved to field a kickoff in the first quarter. He injured his hamstring and didn’t return. … Key LB Zach Brown sprained his toe in the second half and left in a walking boot. He blamed the StubHub Center turf: “That field is crap. It’s made for soccer.” … LB Chris Carter broke his leg in the second half.Chargers: Left tackle Russell Okung went down heavily in the first quarter and limped off the field with a knee injury. He returned later in the first half, however.UP NEXTRedskins: Host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.Chargers: Travel to Kansas City on short rest for a first-place showdown with the Chiefs on Saturday..
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