#1

izards ended the period on a 16-6 spurt to take a 67

in Here is your first Forum Sat Dec 21, 2019 2:17 pm
by sakura698 • 1.245 Posts

PORTLAND, Ore. Stitched Oilers Jerseys . - With a potential playoff spot in the balance, as well as a chance to climb to the top of the Cascadia Cup standings, the Vancouver Whitecaps travelled to Portland on Saturday looking to make amends for the drubbing suffered at the the hands of the Timbers less than a month ago. It was not to be. In a near-replica of that August 20th matchup at B.C. Place Stadium, Vancouver got off to a lively start before giving up a goal and then fading down the stretch. Portland dominated for long stretches en route to another 3-0 trouncing of the Whitecaps in front of 20,814 at Providence Park. Fanendo Adi scored twice, Diego Valeri added a goal and an assist, and Donovan Ricketts had his fourth shutout as the Whitecaps ceded the fifth and final Western Conference playoff spot to their Pacific Northwest rivals with just five games remaining. "Were chasing them now," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "Its a different scenario when youre chasing a team rather than them chasing you." The game started with the visitors creating some good chances in the opening 15 minutes, including a Sebastian Fernandez shot in the games first minute that went just wide of the post. "For the first 20-odd minutes we were excellent but werent able to capitalize on that," said Robinson. "And goals change games, as we all know." Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, it was the Timbers that changed the game to their benefit. Following an end-to-end first twenty minutes, momentum started to shift in Portlands favour, culminating in the opening goal from Valeri at the 28-minute mark. The sequence started with Steven Beitashour getting caught in a two-on-one situation on the right wing. With Beitashour unable to commit, Portlands Jorge Villafana had time and space to neatly pick out Valeri running unmarked through Vancouvers penalty area. "My initial reaction was to go out, but I saw I had guy," said Beitashour. "I didnt want to go out and have them just play in behind, so I sat in and he whipped in a good ball. Great finish." Beitashour, a question to start prior to the match, had words with Mauro Rosales about the defending mixup, but the damage was already done. "The goal took the wind out of our sails," said centre back Andy OBrien. Robinson agreed that there was a bit of a drop-off in Vancouvers performance once the home side took the lead. "When we go a goal down, were probably not playing with the same energy, desire or confidence we should," Robinson said. "But weve got to learn, because were not always going to score the first goal." The Timbers put a choke-hold on the remainder of the first half and Vancouver took a one-goal deficit into halftime. The visitors regrouped to start the second half, but a costly mistake in the 66th minute by Matias Laba gave Portland a chance to double the lead, and Adi capitalized on the chance for the first of his two goals on the night. Laba tried to cut the ball back near midfield with his teammates mostly in the attacking third. Valeri took it cleanly off Laba and easily found Adi breaking towards David Ousteds net all alone. "Ninety-nine times out of 100 (Laba) makes that play," said Robinson. "Valeris a good player, hes knicked the ball." Adi put the finishing touches on just four minutes later, slipping a ball between Ousteds legs for the final goal of the game. The additions of Kekuta Manneh, Darren Mattocks and Nicolas Mezquida created a flurry of half-chances in the waning moments of the game, but Portland saw out the match to keep the visitors scoreless for the the sixth time in nine games. Vancouver is winless on the road in that stretch as well. "Its not a fun way to lose," said Ousted. "Its not a fun place to lose, especially with the fan support we had out today. There are five games left and we cant feel sorry for ourselves, we cant get down. We need to continue to work." The Whitecaps face three playoff-bound teams in their remaining five games, starting next Saturday at home against Real Salt lake. Despite the recent form and a tough outlook for upcoming games, Robinson doesnt feel his team is wilting. "People can say whatever they want," he said. "Its a good challenge for us. If we want to play in big games, important games, weve got to cope with this pressure. Theres a little bit of pressure on next week." Fake Oilers Jerseys . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. Edmonton Oilers Pro Shop . Cammalleri scored two goals, Corban Knight netted the winner in a shootout, and the Flames erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Stars 4-3 on Friday night. https://www.cheapoilers.com/ . Modin, 36, tallied seven goals and three assists in 36 games with the Thrashers this season. The Sundsvall, Sweden, native has posted 232 goals and 230 assists in 894 career NHL games with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Columbus, Los Angeles and Atlanta and has appeared in 57 post-season contests, helping the Lightning capture the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship. ORLANDO, Fla. -- As well as the Wizards have played at times in the past month, Washington coach Randy Wittman said he expected a team that had never been in a tight playoffs race to go through a few growing pains. After two tough losses to start the week, Washington showed the kind of bounce back ability it will take to survive if they do eventually make it there. John Wall survived a poor shooting night to score 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Trevor Ariza added 21 points and 11 rebounds overall, and the Wizards hung on to beat the Orlando Magic 105-101 in overtime Friday night. "I wasnt making shots the whole game," Wall said. "The only shots it felt like I was making were 3s." The victory ends the Wizards two-game losing streak overall, and a seven-game road losing streak to the Magic. Bradley Beal added 20 points and a game-changing block before being helped off the court with sprained right ankle in overtime. Marcin Gortat finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds. "We realize that its about time for us to start winning," Gortat said. "Its about time to clinch that spot and get those wins, especially against teams like Orlando." Beals injury looked a lot more serious when it happened, with him having to be carried off the court by teammates. He is day-to-day. Orlando led by as many as nine in the second half before seeing that lead evaporate down the stretch. Tobias Harris had 21 points and Arron Afflalo finished with 18 to lead the Magic. Orlando has now lost five in a row and 11 of their last 14. "Its painful, it hurts, but you learn from it," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. Wall was fined $15,000 for inappropriate comments toward officials at the conclusion of the Wizards loss against Charlotte on Wednesday, and he had another run-in with the referees Friday. He was whistled for a technical foul in the third quarter for continuing to argue a non-foul call with referee Joey Crawford after Wall had walked back to the sideline huddle. It punctuated a mostly frustrating night for Wall, who finished just 7-of-18 shooting. But he picked it up when he had to. Jameer Nelson hit two free throws for the seventh lead-change of overtime to give the Magic a 97-96 lead. Oilers Jerseys China. He got a steal on the Wizards next possession, but had his layup attempt blocked from behind by Beal. It was rebounded by Wall, who found Ariza in the corner for 3 to put Washington back up 99-97. "That was just hustle play, one that we definitely needed. John got a pass deflected, and my first instinct was to just go chase it down," Beal said. "He had a head start on me I guess I kind of baited him into it, and I was able to jump up and get it before it was (goaltending)." Soon after that play was when Beal went down with his ankle injury. It didnt stifle the Wizards momentum, though, with Wall sinking a jumper with less than 30 seconds to play. The Magic were forced to foul after a miss and the Wizards closed out the victory at the foul line. The Magic led 60-51 in the third quarter before the Wizards ended the period on a 16-6 spurt to take a 67-66 lead into the fourth. Orlando regained its footing, though, getting seven straight points from Victor Oladipo to start the quarter. After several lead changes Harris sank a pair of free throws to put the Magic in front at 85-79 with just 1:55 to play. Wall cut it to three with a 3-pointer, but Harris responded with tip-in on the other end. Wall was fouled on a 3-point attempt on the Wizards next trip down the floor, but got only two of his three free-throw attempts to fall. A missed jumper by Oladipo on the Magics ensuing touch gave it back to Washington and Wall then tied it at 87 with 10.6 remaining. Oladipo got up a 3-pointer from the top of the key as time expired in regulation, but it bounced off the side of the rim. But in the end, the Wizards felt as though Beals big block was the biggest reason they were able to walk out with their first victory in Orlando in over four years. "Hes making a name for himself," Gortat said. "Hes one of our rising stars." NOTES: Orlando dropped to 1-5 in overtime games this season. ... Orlando is 0-32 when being outrebounded this season. ... Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. sat courtside. ' ' '

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