Vorschau » e holes here and there, but I have to mix up my

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Even if Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have earned a reputation for quick exits, at least theyve been making the playoffs year after year. Thats not a given this time. And the team is well aware of it: Every time players set foot in the practice facility, they come face to face with a display showing where Washington stands. On Thursday, the Capitals had 70 points, good enough only for 11th place in the 16-team Eastern Conference. The top eight teams qualify for the post-season. "Weve got a board in our dressing room here that says the standings. You walk by it six, seven times a day," right wing Troy Brouwer said. "So theres no way to be immune to whats going on." Washington hasnt missed the playoffs since the 2006-07 season, although its never been past the second round in that span. At the moment, the fading Capitals have won only one of their last six games heading into Friday night against the visiting Vancouver Canucks, who are 10th in the West. "The desperate level," Brouwer said, "is getting up there." Washington has 15 games left in the regular season. Its not a particularly easy schedule, either, with 10 games against teams currently in playoff position, including a daunting March 18-22 road trip to Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose. "Obviously, were very concerned," coach Adam Oates said. "But the one good thing about hockey is tomorrows another game and you cant get too far ahead or dwell too much on it, because youve got to play tomorrow. Its a must win tomorrow." There have been various problems lately, including poor passing and puck possession, leading to turnovers and a lack of shots on goal. Also glaring: Ovechkins sudden lack of scoring. The three-time NHL MVP and team captain leads the league with 44 goals, but he has been held without a point in each of the last four games, matching his worst drought this season. So whats it going to take to get things turned in the right direction before its too late? "It can be one big hit," said Ovechkin, whos been known to dole those out. "Or it can be one good play and everybody (wakes) up and everybody (plays) much better." In a bid to help the playoff push, general manager George McPhee added goalie Jaroslav Halak and left wing Dustin Penner in separate deals at the trade deadline this month, then finally signed 2010 first-round draft pick Evgeny Kuznetsov. But there hasnt been a payoff yet. Penner was thought to be destined for the top forward line, alongside Ovechkin and centre Nicklas Backstrom. But Oates said Thursday, "I dont think he matches well with them." Asked to elaborate, Oates replied: "Hes not the fastest guy in the world. Hes a puck-possession, battle-along-the-wall guy, and I think (Ovechkin and Backstrom) need a quicker guy." Halak, meanwhile, has made three consecutive starts over Braden Holtby. Oates wouldnt say who would be in net Friday. Holtby said all the right things Thursday, though -- about Halak "giving us a chance to win, whenever he plays"; about how "I want to learn from" Halak; about how theres no rivalry between the pair. Holtby also gave a frank assessment about what Washington needs to do now. "Everyone knows," Holtby said, "that we have to have at least 10 wins, probably, in these last 15 -- or more -- to have a chance." Notes: D Dmitry Orlov signed a $4 million, two-year contract extension. "Good for him," Ovechkin said, "and good for us." Orlov was suspended by the NHL for two games this month after launching into an opponent and drawing a major penalty that helped the Flyers rally for a 5-4 overtime victory. ... C Brooks Laich, who missed two of the last four games with a groin injury, saw a doctor and will be monitored day by day, according to Oates. Its possible Laich will play Friday. ... C Mikhail Grabovski skated before Thursdays practice as he deals with a left ankle injury. "Until he can practice with us, I think hes a ways away," Oates said. Mecole Hardman Youth Jersey . McCutchen hit his first home run in over a month, doubled twice and scored two runs to help the Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday and take three of four from the defending NL West champions. Christian Okoye Womens Jersey . The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Patrick-Mahomes-II-Elite-Jersey/ . Philbin said Thursday he wants players to treat one another with civility and he wont tolerate anything less. In taking questions for the first time since Ted Wells released his report into the bullying scandal that rocked the league, Philbin made it clear things would be cleaned up. Harrison Butker Jersey .Y. - Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby captured his second career Art Ross trophy on Sunday after leading the NHL in scoring this season. Joe Montana Chiefs Jersey . Pikul Khueanpet scored early in the second half and Kanjana Sungngoen made it 2-0 in the 65th minute of the playoff. Tuyet Dong narrowed the margin with goal four minutes from time. The win gave Thailand fifth place at the Asian Cup and the last of the continents qualifying spots for the 2015 Womens World Cup in Canada.SAN FRANCISCO -- Paul Goldschmidt realizes his good fortunes against Tim Lincecum could turn at any moment, so hes the last one who will be caught celebrating a remarkable streak of home runs against the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner. Goldschmidt did it again Wednesday night, showing he has some freak in him, too. The slugger hit a three-run homer and sacrifice fly to pound Lincecum early, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 for a nice lift after a slow start. Gerardo Parra hit a two-run homer and finished a double shy of the cycle, while Eric Chavez added an RBI triple for his first hit in his first start of the year for Arizona. Goldschmidt is batting .542 (13-for-24) with seven homers and 17 RBIs all-time against Lincecum, including a two-run homer last week at Chase Field. His latest homer marked the 22nd time an opposing right-handed hitter homered to AT&T Parks right field. "I was kind of worried it may go foul, but I think the wind actually helped keep it fair. It was right down the line," Goldschmidt said. "You know Lincecums a very good pitcher. So you just go up there and try to have a good at-bat and try to hit the ball hard, and fortunately I was able to get one there in the first inning. It really doesnt change. Try to have a good at-bat, try to keep it simple." Goldschmidt has been such a nemesis for Lincecum, the exasperated pitcher said last week he might have to throw underhanded to try to stymie the slugger. "Its just unexplainable," Chavez said. "I have no idea." Michael Morse and Buster Posey hit solo homers against Bronson Arroyo (1-0), who won his third straight decision against San Francisco. Arroyo was staked to a nice lead early and worked five innings to earn his first win since joining the D-backs in February. He had a no-decision against the Giants last Thursday. The right-hander allowed six hits and three runs, struck out two and walked one. He beat the Giants twice last season, including a seven-hitter at AT&T Park last July 22 with the Reds for his ssixth career shutout in an 11-0 victory.dddddddddddd Josh Collmenter, who soon could join the struggling Arizona rotation, pitched four scoreless innings of relief for his first major league save. Goldschmidt got things going at AT&T Park again. Parra led off the game with a triple, Martin Prado walked and Goldschmidt sent a 1-1 fastball into the elevated right-field arcade. He added a sacrifice fly in the third, then was booed each time he stepped into the batters box in the late innings. "Hopefully the streak continues," manager Kirk Gibson said. "Its amazing." Parra connected for his first homer of the year with two outs in the fourth. Angel Pagan singled in the first and has hit safely in all nine games for the Giants, batting .462 with seven multihit games Lincecum (0-1) lasted just four innings, tagged for seven runs and seven hits. The right-hander received a $35 million, two-year deal in late October to stay put with San Francisco rather than test free agency. He said he might be trying too hard against Goldschmidt. "I just have to start leaning on a little bit more of my strength and not necessarily his weaknesses," Lincecum said. "I know hes got some holes here and there, but I have to mix up my pitch counts and my pitch routines." Pablo Sandoval went 1 for 4 and is off to a quiet start hitting .143 for San Francisco. Manager Bruce Bochy is confident that even though the Giants have tabled talks about a contract extension for the third baseman, it wont affect the 2012 World Series MVP on the field. Notes: After the early struggles by the D-backs rotation, Arizona officials are discussing changes. Gibson expects Trevor Cahill (0-3) to make his next start Sunday, but Collmenter will be stretched out and threw 53 pitches. ... Ryan Vogelsong (0-0) pitches Thursday for the Giants against Randall Delgado (0-1). ... The Giants will hold "Farewell to the Stick" night Thursday to honour their former home of Candlestick Park. The NFLs 49ers played their final season in the venue last year. ' ' '