MetalSeadramons Gemach » on his serves, though Gulbis was often better

After winning the Stanley Cup in June, the Chicago Blackhawks remain the top-ranked team in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings to open the 2013-2014 NHL season, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins -- the usual suspects. What really works in the Blackhawks favour this time around, as opposed to following their 2010 Stanley Cup, is that, even with a decreasing salary cap, they didnt have to gut the roster. Sure, there are some tweaks, but its very much the same cast from last season, with a few prospects making the jump from the farm and veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin returning to Chicago, giving Corey Crawford an accomplished backup. Its not as though maintaining close to the status quo automatically grants the Blackhawks the number one ranking, but even with their questions -- that number two centre spot still looks like it needs to be addressed -- they are in the best position entering the season. The second-ranked Penguins arent far off, especially with a healthy Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to start the year, but defenceman Kris Letang has a leg injury and goaltender Tomas Vokoun is sidelined after blood clots, so while the Penguins are still loaded, their back end isnt quite at full power and these rankings always take injuries into account. Which players are available to play matters. Last season, the Los Angeles Kings were the dominant possession team in the league, even though their results didnt indicate such proficiency. That was largely due to the play of goaltender Jonathan Quick, who struggled in his return from back surgery, but Quick was tremendous in the playoffs, so health shouldnt be an issue going forward. If the Kings are still a dominant possession team and get even average goaltending, they will hold their high ranking. Last years Stanley Cup finalists, the Boston Bruins didnt sit still in the offseason, shuffling out right wingers Tyler Seguin, Jaromir Jagr and Nathan Horton most notably, bringing in Loui Eriksson, Jarome Iginla and Reilly Smith the look up front. Otherwise, theres a lot of continuity in Boston -- the core is the core that has one Cup win and one Final appearance in the last three seasons. The top-ranked Canadian team, the Ottawa Senators, sits sixth, with a healthy Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza, along with newcomer Bobby Ryan, expected to upgrade the skill on last seasons surprise playoff team. Next in line, the Montreal Canadiens rank 10th, the Vancouver Canucks are 12th and the Toronto Maple Leafs sit 16th. Western Canada gets some tougher rankings to start the year. The Winnipeg Jets open at 23rd, the Edmonton Oilers -- minus centres Sam Gagner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- 24th and the Calgary Flames 28th. There will undoubtedly be movers and shakers in the rankings throughout the season. Even in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign, the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders were all ranked in the 20s prior to the season starting, yet all three ended up making the playoffs, while the Philadelphia Flyers, ranked in the Top 10, missed the playoffs. Playing the percentages is not to be confused with any kind of guarantee. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Fake Football Jerseys Online . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Wholesale Football Jerseys . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C. https://www.fakefootballjerseys.com/ . Schaub will start for an injured Case Keenum and try to help the Texans end a 12-game skid. Schaubs last action in Houston came when he took over late in a game against Oakland on Nov. 17 as Keenum was struggling. Fake Football Jerseys For Sale .J. -- While Martin Brodeur wasnt willing to say he stole one for the New Jersey Devils against the Columbus Blue Jackets, almost everyone else was. Cheap Football Jerseys .com) - Rick Nash scored twice and Derek Stepan chipped in a goal with one assist as the New York Rangers claimed a 5-2 decision over Calgary at the Saddledome.ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- Third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to reach the final of the ABN Amro tournament. Berdychs play was more consistent, especially on his serves, though Gulbis was often better -- if unpredictable -- in the rallies. In the first set, Berdych won a 15-shot rally to set up a single breakpoint, which he also won. The pair exchanged words after Gulbis issued a late challenge as to whether Berdychs return was in. Gulbis failed to capitalize on the one breakpoint he had in the match, during the fourth game of the second set. Afterward the Latvian appeared to lose concentration, failing to win a single point in his followiing service game.dddddddddddd The match lasted just an hour and five minutes. "Probably it looks on paper that it was easy, but it definitely was not," said Berdych. Gulbis had won two of their five previous meetings, ousting Berdych from Wimbledon in 2012. "I was more calm, more focused, and that was my advantage today," Berdych said. Later Saturday, Dutch wildcard Igor Sijsling plays Marin Cilic of Croatia in the other semifinal. The last time a Dutch player reached the final was 2003. But Cilic is the man in form, having won the Zagreb indoor last week and beating two top-10 players - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray, on route to the last four in Rotterdam. ' ' '