of years off, but came back to win two of his three starts over fences including a confidence boost in a small field at from zgr123's blog
EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have dug themselves an awfully deep hole, but at least there has been some upward movement of late. Leonard Fournette Jersey . Jordan Eberle scored twice as the Oilers won their third game in a row for the first time this season, getting past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Thursday night. Sam Gagner and David Perron also scored and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had three assists for the Oilers (7-15-2) who improved to 3-7-0 at Rexall Place this season. "Weve got some confidence back and some swagger," Nugent-Hopkins said. "It is definitely nice. You obviously cant get too high, but when you are losing a lot of games in a row some guys can get down. You need to stay positive and it is easy to do that when you are winning." Edmonton was 2-9-1 in its previous 12 games before embarking on the winning streak. "Winning games does so much for the confidence of the team, especially when you are playing well and winning," said Oilers forward Taylor Hall. "Thats a double bonus. We are getting great goaltending and it seems like our special teams is the engine that is driving us right now. We are getting a lot of confidence off of that." Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins said goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been very sharp of late. "He seems really focused early in the games," he said. "When our team was struggling, we werent focused early and he was part of that. I find him very focused to start games now. Then he gets into the rhythm and gets a little swagger back there. He has been excellent for us of late, and when your goalie is excellent the wins start piling up." Eakins added it has also been a good thing to provide the home fans something to cheer about. "Its always nice when you are coming off the ice and they are clapping and not yelling You suck," he said. Scottie Upshall responded for the Panthers (6-13-4) who saw a season-high two-game winning streak come to an end. "Our starts have been hurting us. Weve had a handful of games where were behind the eight-ball right away and in this league, its hard to catch up," said Panthers defenceman Tom Gilbert. "They came out strong and we just werent ready to match that. "We had our opportunities, it was just a matter of trying to get the second goal, trying to get some momentum, trying to get some energy going for us and we just never got that. Florida head coach Peter Horachek said his team just didnt seem to be going the same speed as the Oilers. "The key was the energy, we didnt have any," he said. "Thats the key to the game, if your energy is better and you go out with a workman attitude, everything improves, the whole game improves from our standpoint. "I thought at the beginning of the game, you could see the work ethic wasnt there, the legs werent there, the compete level wasnt there. That made it a struggle." The Oilers picked up right where they left off in Tuesdays 7-0 drubbing of the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring a power play goal just 57 seconds into the contest. A Nugent-Hopkins point shot deflected into the air and Eberle was able to bat it past Florida goalie Tim Thomas for his seventh of the season. It was Edmontons 12th straight unanswered goal stretching back to a four-goal third-period explosion in Saturdays 4-2 win over Calgary. Edmonton had 12 first period shots to Floridas six on Dubnyk. The Oilers made it 2-0 six minutes into the second period as Nail Yakupov did a good job waiting out traffic on a three-on-two break, sending a nice pass to a trailing Gagner who beat Thomas high to the glove side for his first of the season. Edmonton took a three-goal lead just past the mid-mark of the second frame with another power play goal as Perron was able to tip in his eighth of the season off of a one-timer from the top of the circle by defenceman Justin Schultz. Florida finally got on the board with three-and-a-half minutes to play in the second period as the Panthers caught Edmonton scrambling with defender Corey Potter without a stick and Upshall somehow snuck a bad-angle shot between Dubnyk and the post to make it 3-1. The Panthers had three power plays in the third period, but were unable to get anything past Dubnyk. Eberle scored his second of the game into an empty net to put the game away. The Panthers wrap up a five-game road trip in Calgary on Friday night. The Oilers are off until Monday, when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Notes: The game was the second of two meetings between the teams this season. Edmonton won the first game 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 5 when rookie forward Mark Arcobello scored the first two goals of his NHL career, including the overtime winner. Arcobello was a healthy scratch for the rematcha After the loss to the Oilers, the Panthers fired head coach Kevin Dineen, replacing him with current bench boss Peter Horacheka The Oilers put bruising forward Steven MacIntyre on waivers for the purpose of reassignment to their AHL affiliate in Oklahoma Citya Panthers defenceman Mike Weaver missed the game with an illness, while forward Scott Gomez missed his eighth game with a groin injury. Defenceman Ed Jovanovski (hip) is officially off injured reserve, but has still yet to play this seasona Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the Heritage Classic Game in Edmonton, the NHLs first-ever outdoor match-up. Among those in attendance was a 12-year-old Taylor Hall to see the Oilers face the Montreal Canadiens. There are six outdoor games scheduled this season in the NHLa Oilers centre Boyd Gordon was an impressive 15-2 in faceoffs in the game. Dawuane Smoot Jersey . The last team in the NBA that will have any sympathy for the Thunder is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are showing signs of putting everything together after two years of devastating injuries. Leonard Fournette Jaguars Jersey . Thats the feeling that eight Canadian Football League teams are experiencing right now in advance of the expansion draft to stock the Ottawa Redblacks.Sky Sports News HQs Alex Hammond provides a race-by-race guide to Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival. David Craig and Dale Tempest from Sky Bet look ahead to day one at Cheltenham 1.30 - SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES HURDLEMin looks like being an opening day banker for many but, as Sky Bet are offering money back as a free bet if your horse gets beaten in the opening race on each day of the Festival, it could pay to find a better value alternative. There is much more to come from Min though, who it is expected to appreciate better ground. Nicky Henderson has a couple of good-looking chances, but its Buveur DAir that excites me the most as he has plenty of untapped ability and at the moment the sky looks the limit. Hes a backable price in the market without Min if you want to take that route. Nicky Henderson trains leading Supreme contender Buveur DAir I was hoping to see Moon Racer, but last years Champion Bumper winner has missed the majority of the season after sustaining an injury in November and David Pipe has run out of time to get him to the meeting. 2.10 - RACING POST ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHYDouvan is odds-on and not a hugely attractive betting proposition, but theres nothing else that really catches my eye. Last years Sky Bet Supreme winner is an outstanding jumper and is a straightforward horse to ride. Hes the full package. Hes a lepper as the Irish would say! I wouldnt mind being a pound behind the agent that buys all these good horses from France for the Mullins team. Hes got to be a day one banker.His opposition dont look in the same league, with Vaniteux representing Nicky Henderson. He jumps well too, mind you, and as a race for novices at the Festival we know that anything can happen. He won the Lightning Novices Chase last time out but this will be a different kettle of fish. Sizing John is an each-way price for Henry de Bromhead and he jumps well, but I cant see him reversing placings with Douvan, given clear rounds from both. Each-way Arkle contender The Game Changer is put through his paces on the gallops The Game Changer is interesting wherever he goes for Gordon Elliott, although this is apparently the plan. He has been off since October in order to be freshened up for spring festivals and is entered in this, the County Hurdle and the Grand Annual. He will prefer spring ground but looks an interesting each-way proposition given his favoured conditions on Tuesday. He has had a breathing operation since his last run and is carrying some of my each-way cash. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you 2.50 - ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASEIn-form Warren Greatrex trains exciting novice Out Sam, who had five entries at the Festival, including in the RSA Chase. He is rated 139 and enough have come out for him to get a run in this. Kruzhlinin can go well for Phillip Hobbs, his rating of 148 looks a winnable mark. He has had two starts for Hobbs, having formerly been with Donald McCain, and won nicely at Kempton last time despite jumping left, so the return to a left-handed track will suit. Holywell won this two years ago off an 8lb lower mark, but was pulled up in the Sky Bet Chase last time out. He needs good ground and is en-route to the Grand National. The promising Out Sam could have a say in the big handicap chase on the opening day 3.30 - STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLEWhat an absolute shocker for Willie Mullins when both reigning Champ Faugheen and Arctic Fire were ruled out of the race. While lessening the quality, it has made the race more competitive for us punters. Rich Ricci has forked out £20,000 to add Annie Power to the race, but by my reckoning he can just about stretch to that! She would have been a shoo-in for the Mares Hurdle, providing she avoids a catastrophic mishap like last year, and is still short enough for this after her stroll round Punchestown on her reappearance. She gets weight from the boys though and her reappearance showed us she still has a leg in each corner and that they are moving in the order that God intended. Shes too short for me but it would be a travesty if a mare as good as her never won a race at the Cheltenham Festival.Nichols Canyon never seems to get the credit he deserves, but he has won six Grade 1s. Hes not flashy and therefore not a headline grabber, but hes consistent and talented. He would be one Id get more excited about if he were to run in the World Hurdle. Identity Thief won the Fighting Fifth for Henry De Bromhead and was second to Nichols Canyon at Leopardstown over Christmas. He has only had eight starts, seven over hurdles, and is still improving, but he needs to in order to reverse placings with Nichols Canyon. My Tent Or Yours (left) could go well in an open Champion Hurdle My Tent Or Yours is the horse I tipped up each-way here a few weeks ago and I stand by that suggestion in an open year. Cam Robinson Womens Jersey. Yes, its a big ask to win after almost two years off the track, but the vibes are good. He has decent Festival form having finished second in the Supreme and second to Jezki in this in 2014. He can be keen and thats a worry after such a long layoff, but hell wear a bridle to help that (he will be fitted with a net muzzle - I put one on an old horse of mine once and so effective was it he went sideways everywhere until I took it off!). My Tent Or Yours has had a couple of away days at the sports to help take the fizz out of him. How Nicky Henderson could do with a Grade One winner this season and as the master of all he surveys at the Festival, he could bounce back in style.The New One has the vote of confidence from Sam Twiston-Davies. Hes had problems and his jumping doesnt impress, but hes won plenty and has a great engine. Nigel Twiston-Davies has apparently had a clearer run this season with him but I cant get excited about him. At a decent price another of the supplemented runners could be worth an each-way wager. Lil Rockerfeller is trained by Neil King who has his horses in great heart, and this horse is only 3-4lb off the best in this.4.10 OLBG MARES HURDLEMy favourite horse in training, Vroum Vroum Mag, is favourite for this and surely the others may as well stay at home?! It wont be that straightforward sadly and Ill admit to being a bit blinkered as far as this mare is concerned. But theres no way Ill bet against her, as she has continued to brush her rivals aside with ease. Vroum Vroum Mag is Alexs favourite horse in training 4.50 146th YEAR OF THE NATIONAL HUNT CHASEJonjo ONeills Minella Rocco is the horse AP said he would particularly miss riding when he retired, having ridden him to win both his novice hurdles. Since then, the horse hasnt won, but he was a staying-on second in the Reynoldstown to RSA hope Vyta Du Roc at Ascot over three miles last time out - a much-needed, improved performance. The stable form is some way from being ideal coming into the Festival, but Jonjo targets this meeting and hasnt been running too many in bad ground over the past couple of months, so dont fear if you fancy any of his runners during the week. Jockeyship counts for an awful lot in this and owner JP McManus has claimed Derek OConnor to ride, which is a huge plus. Noble Endeavour looks a solid contender for the National Hunt Chase Ive had a decent each-way bet on Noble Endeavour. Gordon Elliotts seven-year-old has some very strong-looking form and Festival form to boot, as he was only beaten on the nod by Killultagh Vic in the Martin Pipe race last season and is a winner over fences this term. He doesnt look an easy ride, but will have Jamie Codd on board, who is one of the best amateurs, and the horse has loads of ability.Colin Tizzard has his team in great form coming into the meeting and saddles Native River here and the horse is likely to have headgear on to sharpen him up. Southfield Royale cant be left out of equations for Neil Mulholland, who has made his mark at the Festival before. He was second in the Feltham behind Tea for Two, one place in front of Native River. He jumped to his left there, so hopefully Cheltenham will suit, although he is yet to run there. The booking of Nina Carberry is clearly a bonus, for a trainer who has already trained winners at this meeting in his relatively short career. Alex Hammond is joined by Ed Chamberlin to look ahead to an exciting week of racing at the Cheltenham Festival 5.30 CLOSE BROTHERS NOVICES HANDICAP CHASEThis is a really competitive handicap with all the horses not likely to have much between them on ratings. I was on the Sky Bet Cheltenham preview panel in Leeds and trainer Warren Greatrex was really keen on the chances of his Aloomomo, who carries co-top weight. The horse is improving and now runs off a mark of 140.Willows Saviour has a very good record since joining Dan Skelton in 2013. He had a couple of years off, but came back to win two of his three starts over fences including a confidence boost in a small field at Fakenham most recently. He has run in Grade One company this term too and is only rated 138 for his handicap debut over fences.The Paul Nicholls-trained Bouvreuil was second in the Fred Winter last season off 133 and is off 139 for his handicap debut over fences. He started his chasing career in top-flight company in the Henry VIII Novices Chase and was beaten in the Lightning Novices Chase last time, but the trip was on the short side for him there. Also See: Live results service Full racecards ￡10 free bet Get Sky Sports Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
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