12-17-2019, 12:57 AM
VANCOUVER -- One of Mike Gilliss final acts as Canucks general manager was to end the Roberto Luongo saga once and for all in Vancouver by trading the veteran goalie to the Florida Panthers last month. Joe Smith Jersey . And while the recently fired Gillis wont be around to reap any potential benefit from deal, Vancouver got its first real glimpse this week at one of the key pieces that came back the other way. Jacob Markstrom, acquired along with forward Shawn Matthias as part of the deal that sent Luongo back to his former team, allowed three goals on 27 shots in a solid first start with the Canucks as Vancouver fell 4-2 to the red-hot Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. The American Hockey Leagues goalie of the month for February while he was still a member of the Panthers organization, Markstrom watched from the bench for 15 straight games as Vancouver rode fellow Swede Eddie Lack in a failed attempt to make a run at the playoffs. After the Canucks were eliminated from contention for the first time in six years, head coach John Tortorella indicated that youngsters would play in the teams final three games and that Markstrom would get his chance to spell Lack, who started 19 in a row following the Olympic break. "I thought (Markstrom), with the amount of work hes done and the lack of play ... I thought he was really good, as far as the technical part that were trying to work on with him," Tortorella said after Thursdays game. That work the Canucks have been doing with Markstrom has included having him play deeper in his crease, a style preached by goalie coach Rollie Melanson. "A lot of the stuff Ive been working with Rollie with felt pretty good out there," said Markstrom, whose only other game with Vancouver was mop-up duty in a 6-1 loss to Dallas. "Its all repetitions and weve been doing it for quite a bit here so it felt pretty natural. "I was happy that I was playing but too bad we couldnt win." Markstrom might be untested, but he is by no means new to the NHL. The 24-year-old played parts of four seasons with the Panthers, including 23 games during the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign. In 45 career outings, Markstrom has a less-than-inspiring 11-26-5 record to go along with an .897 save percentage and a 3.20 goals-against average. But its his potential and six-foot-six frame that the Canucks were drawn to in the Luongo deal, which happened quickly after Tortorella chose to start Lack in the Heritage Classic. "I like Jacob Markstrom, I think hes a really good young talent in goal," Gillis said after the trade. "When I look at the return, obviously you want to try and get the absolute best and most that you can get, but there are circumstances that do impact and play a role in these things. And we were impacted by things that were somewhat beyond our control." At the end of last season, Vancouver had both Luongo and Cory Schneider, who was dealt to the New Jersey Devils in June, on the roster. Now with Lack and Markstrom, what had been a position of strength for the organization is now a major question mark. Tortorella decided against starting Markstrom with the Canucks still in this years playoff chase, describing his talents as "raw." "Really the biggest thing Rollie is trying to do is get him deeper (in his crease)," Tortorella said in late March. "Hes a really athletic guy, hes a big man. Hes trying to get him to play deeper. Again, I dont spend too much time asking questions, but hes trying to change his game a little bit. "Hes a young guy. We are very intrigued about his athletic ability and the size that he is and I think Ive got one of the best goaltending coaches around in dealing with these guys and teaching them." Markstrom, who is expected to play Vancouvers final two games of the season, said before Thursdays start hes fine with the Canucks trying to alter his game if it gets results. "At the end of the day its all about feeling good and stopping the puck," he said. "Youve got to go out there with a good feeling and be confident in what youre going to do and I feel really confident right now. "Im just trying to improve my game as much as I can. Obviously its a couple different steps with Rollie, what he does and what he wants his goalies to do." Meanwhile, Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa confirmed after Thursdays game that he will represent Canada at the world championship next month in Belarus. "Its an honour. I talked to (Canadian general manager) Rob Blake and he asked me if I wanted to play," said Bieksa. "I havent had many opportunities to play for my country before and I dont plan on missing the playoffs too many more years so I thought Id take this chance." Mateen Cleaves Jersey . - Andrew McCutchen went 4 for 5 and finished a home run short of a cycle, and Jordy Mercer drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Don Meineke Jersey . He, the 25-year-old Toronto backup net-minder and Manitoba native, would be making just his fourth start in the past 16 games against the Jets the following evening. It was the word of opportunity for Reimer, who has fallen into the role of backup, outmatched in recent weeks by Jonathan Bernier, his Quebec counterpart. https://www.cheappistonsonline.com/1406y...stons.html . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The last time Tom Brady faced the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs, he threw interceptions on the New England Patriots final two drives.In their three playoff matchups, he lost twice.All those games were at Gillette Stadium, where the post-season rivals meet Saturday for the fourth time in six years.Brady says none of that history will matter when he takes his first snap in the divisional playoff on the path to what he hopes will be his fourth straight AFC title game.I dont think thats really useful, the quarterback said Tuesday. We cant change what has happened. You just have to move forward and you have to think about the things that weve done really well this year.That would be:Going 12-4 and earning the top seed in the AFC. Scoring the fourth most points in the NFL. Having a strong defence with outstanding cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Leadership from a quarterback with the fifth best passer rating. And production from a tight end, Rob Gronkowski, with the most receptions for anyone at his position and excellent blocking ability.Weve put ourselves in a good position, Brady said after returning to practice following a first-round bye. Weve just got to take advantage of it.They didnt do that in two of their three playoff games against the Ravens.Their post-season rivalry began with Baltimores 33-14 wild-card win in the 2009 season. Two years later, New England won 23-20 to advance to the Super Bowl, where it lost to the New York Giants.In Bradys second consecutive AFC championship matchup with the Ravens on Jan. 20, 2013, the Patriots lost 28-13 after leading 13-7 at halftime.Those three games were hardly Bradys best: a total of three touchdown passes, seven interceptions and a 56.1 completion percentage.The Patriots did rout the Ravens in Baltimore last season 41-7, but Brady didnt have to do much. They led 17-0 early in the second quarter, LeGarrette Blount ran for two touchdowns and the defence produced four turnovers and four sacks.Those three playoff games might make for some pretty ugly viewing, but watching film of them might provide useful tips. Ray Scott Jersey. Its the same (defensive) co-ordinator so a lot of the scheme stuff you see how he (Dean Pees) tried to defend us back then, Brady said. Were a different team now, too, so I think the more information the better.Theyre a different team.Fiery linebacker Terrell Suggs is still around for the Ravens (11-6) and had an interception in last Saturdays 30-17 wild-card win over Pittsburgh.And hes no fan of Bradys, having criticized him for complaining to officials.But four days before their most important game of the season, both downplayed any differences.Hes phenomenal, Brady said. Weve never really talked a lot on the field. Weve never really talked much off the field either. So, its the way it goes, but hes a great player.Suggs had a simple explanation for how he views Brady.Hes a quarterback. Im a defender. Hes got a job to do and so do I, so naturally there are going to be some disagreements there, he said Tuesday. Nobodys really worried about what happened in the past. The only thing were worrying about is this game.The Ravens were second in the NFL with 49 sacks, led by Elvis Dumervil with 17 and Suggs with 12.But theyre 24th in pass defence and tied for 25th with 11 interceptionsThe Patriots offensive line should be back intact after left guard Dan Connolly missed the last two games with a knee injury.Its a lot of pressure on us to do a good job, Connolly said. Its our job to make sure Tom stays upright.In beating the Steelers, the Ravens sacked Pittsburghs Ben Roethslisberger five timesThe Patriots got back to work on Tuesday, working out in pads on a chilly day after five days without practice.Its been great for everybody to get your body a chance to take a little break and heal up a little bit, Brady said. This is a first step for us. A lot of teams played last week. We didnt get a chance to do that.His next chance to beat the Ravens is just a few days away.___AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '