Das Feller-Forum » e arrogance with the ball was very good -- lots

SOCHI, Russia – Sitting on the plane amongst the plethora of his St. Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. It wasnt until he touched base on the ground here in Sochi and separated from all but his Team Canada teammate and defensive partner Jay Bouwmeester that the magnitude of what lay ahead really set in. The 24-year-old Pietrangelo is among the youngest to wear the red Maple Leaf in 2014 as youth infuses what was previously a veteran-laden squad. Like fellow youngsters 23-year-old Matt Duchene, 24-year-old Jamie Benn, 23-year-old John Tavares and 24-year-old P.K. Subban, he is getting his first opportunity (of many) on the grandest stage and his NHL head coach couldnt be happier for it. "Hes just going to get better," said Ken Hitchcock, the bench boss in St. Louis and an assistant coach for Team Canada. "Any time you can experience something like this, it makes you a better player." The chance to train, practice and play amongst the countrys very best and compete, in the days ahead, opposite the worlds very best is a large part of the appeal as is the opportunity to represent Canada on the world stage. But in advising his Blues centerpiece prior to the Olympics, Hitchcock wanted Pietrangelo to absorb and understand just how high and intense the hockey will get, even amongst his own NHL teammates and future opponents. "Like dont expect Patrick Berglund to be what he is. Hes going to go up another level," Hitchcock said of the Blues centre, one among 10 players from St. Louis selected to play in these games, tied with Chicago and Detroit for the most in the NHL. "Dont expect Alex Steen to be what he is. Hes going to go up another level and thats just the way it is. "So dont be surprised because people play with passion ... Their sweaters and the crest on their sweaters is just as important for them as it is us. I said just dont be surprised by everybodys A-game when its out there." Pietrangelo has also heeded the advice of Bouwmeester – who is set to participate in his second Olympics – peppering the 30-year-old in the days and weeks leading up to their arrival in Russia. "I was able to pick his brain about the experience and he was pretty much bang on with everything he said," said Pietrangelo, who has 41 points in 57 games for the Blues this season. The best part, Bouwmeester advised, was the opportunity to take in the Olympic experience alongside other Canadians, not just those on the two hockey teams, but skiers, curlers, skaters, those in sports unfamiliar to the King City, Ontario native. "You see the skaters, you see the skiers on TV and you know that youre part of that group," Pietrangelo said. "Youre sitting in the lunch hall, the dinner hall now and you see them and you say hi and then you go out there and watch them on TV, its pretty special." On the ice, it was absorbing the complexities of the bigger international ice surface and systems employed by head coach Mike Babcock. Technical questions leveled at Hitchcock at an instructive Tuesday afternoon practice. "...he wanted to know, on defensive reads, whats his role because we play a different way [in St. Louis], especially on the back-check," Hitchcock said, noting Pietrangelos studious nature. The fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft is part of a youth revolution thats gradually crept into Team Canada and the hockey world. It was quietly prominent in Vancouver when a 21-year-old Jonathan Toews, 20-year-old Drew Doughty and 22-year-old Sidney Crosby all emerged at various points en route to gold, and its risen to new heights in Sochi. Gone from that triumphant squad on home turf are hardened veterans like Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow, replaced by a new wave that includes Pietrangelo, Duchene, Subban, Benn and Tavares. "We knew that when 2010 ended, there was going to be a changing of the guard," said Blues GM and Team Canada management member Doug Armstrong. "For quite of few of those players, their time had come. A lot of them are retired now. And you really cant keep these young players down." That would include Pietrangelo, who has surged to the heights of the defensive position on a powerhouse Blues squad, one that is tied for second-best overall with 84 points at the break. Still in just his fourth full NHL season, he is sitting fourth among all NHL defenders in points this season while averaging more than 25 minutes per game on one of the leagues preeminent defensive teams. A member of two Canadian World Junior teams – including a gold-snatching squad in 2009 – Pietrangelo was brought along carefully by the St. Louis organization, who signed him to a seven-year, $45 million contract this past summer. He played in just 17 games in the two years that followed his draft, rare patience that is quickly being rewarded. "Its hard to argue that right now," said Pietrangelo, gazing around at where he stood on Olympic ground. "Its a tough thing to go through as a young player. You always want to be playing at the highest level, but to see where I am right now, they were investing their time and money in me and they were going to make the best decision for me. Thats how I looked at it. Id like to think that its working right now." Zach Bogosian Sabres Jersey . Nowitzki scored 28 points, Harris had a season-high 14 for the second straight game and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Detroit Pistons 116-106 Sunday night. Jeff Skinner Jersey . Rookie Marek Mazanec made 39 saves for his first NHL victory and the Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2 Saturday night. http://www.sabresteamstoreonline.com/authentic-rick-martin-sabres-jersey/ . Bale has had a successful debut season in Spain, and Ancelotti appears ready to reward him with a starting role on Saturday. Ancelotti says "Gareth had some problems at the beginning (of the season) but when he found good physical condition he scored a lot of goals, he had a good impact on the team. Ryan Miller Sabres Jersey ." Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. Jack Eichel Jersey .A. Happ? Happs seven wins are second on the staff to Mark Buehrles 10. Win-loss record is an antiquated stat, sure, but win total is generally an indication of a pitchers ability to work deep into games, enough to be personally affected by the result. LONDON -- Liverpool delivered a potent attacking master class on Sunday, with Luis Suarez at his devastating best in a 5-0 rout of Tottenham that signals the team can sustain a Premier League title challenge. The 18-time champions, who havent won the title since 1990, moved two points behind Arsenal after the leaders were stunned 6-3 at Manchester City on Saturday. Defending champion Manchester United trails Arsenal by 10 points after winning 3-0 at Aston Villa to avoid a third successive league loss. After Danny Welbecks double for United, Suarez netted twice for Liverpool and played a part in the other three goals at White Hart Lane. After another demoralizing collapse, Tottenham, which see itself as a Champions League team, is five points from fourth place but above United. It is Liverpool exceeding expectations this season, sitting in second place. The gulf between Liverpool and Tottenham, although only six points, seemed far wider on the basis of Sundays lopsided encounter. The contrast between the strike forces in the league is glaring. Suarez has 17 goals in a season that only began in late September as he completed a 10-game biting ban. Tottenham has scored only 15 times in 16 league games and couldnt even muster a shot on target against the visitors who were without the injured striker Daniel Sturridge and captain Steven Gerrard on Sunday. Instead Suarez captained Liverpool for the first time, an unthinkable proposition when he was banned for racist abuse, then biting before agitating for a transfer in the summer window. Suarez took just 18 minutes to open the scoring. Defender Michael Dawson blocked a through ball from Suarez, but Jordan Henderson recovered possession and fed the Uruguay striker to nip in and score. Henderson volleyed in the second five minutes before halftime, seizing the ball after Suarez was denied by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Any hopess of a Tottenham comeback were thwarted by Paulinho being sent off in the 63rd for sinking his boot into Suarezs ribs.dddddddddddd With a man advantage, Liverpool was even more dangerous up front. And Suarez then crossed for Flanagan to score Liverpools third in the 75th, found the net again himself in the 84th by chipping Lloris, and fed the ball for Sterling to complete the rout five minutes later. "I loved our arrogance today," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "The arrogance with the ball was very good -- lots of angles, lots of people moving and interchanging positions. "We looked a real threat whilst retaining that solidity in defensive shapes." At Villa Park, Welbeck seized on Robin van Persies injury absence to score his first goal since the opening day of the season in August. Welbeck buried the rebound in the 15th minute after Adnan Januzaj headed against a post, and netted again three minutes later from Antonio Valencias cross. "It is really important for Danny," United manager David Moyes said. "He is a forward and he needs to get himself goals. He got two poacher types today and he could have had had another. "With Robin out he stepped up to the mark. When you get opportunities, you show what you can do. Danny certainly did that." Another goal drought ended, with Tom Cleverley, scoring his first goal in a year from Wayne Rooneys lay-off in the 52nd. In the days other game, Norwich and Swansea drew 1-1. Nathan Dyer capitalized on some poor defending from Norwich captain Sebastien Bassong to put the Welsh side ahead in the 12th minute. But Dyer was stretchered off before halftime with an ankle injury sustained in a challenge with Bassong. And in first half stoppage time, Gary Hooper levelled for Norwich, lashing home from 25 yards (meters) after collecting a knockdown on his chest. ' ' '