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NEW YORK -- On the verge of winning the Stanley Cup, Drew Doughty remembers what it was like facing the same 3-0 hole the Rangers have now when the Kings faced the Sharks in the first round. Mens Autographed J.J. Watt Elite Blue Jersey . What he recalled does not reflect kindly on the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle. "Once we won that first game of the San Jose series, we kind of had a feeling we were going to come back and win that series," Doughty said Wednesday several hours before Game 4 of the final. "And you could see it in their eyes and their team and their captains and leaders that they were worried about us coming back. So we dont want to give these guys any life." As much as Doughty was complimenting his team for putting fear into the Sharks, it certainly can be construed as a shot at a core group that will more than likely see some changes after yet another playoff disappointment. On Tuesday, coach Darryl Sutter pointed all the way back to Game 1 for the seeds of the Kings comeback against the Sharks. "We could see were not a team somebody says, go away, and we go away," Sutter said. "Were a team thats going to respond." Even when the Kings fell behind three games to none, Sutter thought it would all come together. "I saw that in period one of Game 3," he said. "We knew we were winning the series; it just took a little bit longer." The Rangers gave up a goal with 0.7 seconds left in the first period of Game 3 in the final and seemed to do little in the way of foreshadowing a similar comeback. Johnathan Joseph Elite Womens Jersey . Spieth again showed game well beyond his 20 years with a 9-under 63 on the North Course, giving him a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink going into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Jared Crick Jersey . Bayern led second-place Leverkusen by 10 points with a game in hand, while Dortmund was another four points off the pace. Freiburg midfielder Felix Klaus scored in the last minute as his side twice came from behind to climb provisionally out of the relegation zone.BARCELONA, Spain -- An equalizer from Neymar saw Barcelona salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday after a stunning opener by Diego Ribas in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. Atleticos chances were dealt a major blow half an hour in when striker Diego Costa came off injured, while Barcelona had lost defender Gerard Pique to injury before that. But Diego Ribas, who replaced Costa, stunned the Camp Nou 56 minutes in with a powerful shot from about 25 metres (yards) that grazed the fingertips of goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto as it soared into the top corner. With Lionel Messi kept quiet by Atleticos well-organized defence, Neymar stepped up to curl the equalizer around goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 71st. Courtois made a number of acrobatic stops after that to preserve the draw, including in the 85th when he tipped Messis free kick around the post. "They played a good game and they made it very hard for us to create chances," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. "We have to try and score in the return -- this was not a good result for us." Atletico, which leads Barcelona by a single point in the Spanish league, leaves with a valuable away goal before the return on April 9. In Tuesdays other quarterfinal first leg, defending champion Bayern Munich drew 1-1 at Manchester United. For the fourth time this season, neither team emerged victorious but Atletico returns to the Vicente Calderon buoyed by its performance after having lost its top player to a hamstring injury that could sideline him from the second leg. Pique has already been ruled out with a hairline fracture of his right hip. "This is a team of men, who play with heart and pride, who never give up," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. "Im happy because we can compete with them. Im very happy because we are in this." While Piques exit hurt Barcelonas brittle defence, Dieggo Costas injury left the visitors without their leading scorer and scrambling for options off the bench with Raul Garcia suspended. Andre Johnson Elite Womens Jersey. Diego Ribas was the lone option. Striker David Villa had Atleticos best scoring chances in the first half as the former Barcelona forward curled wide a clear opportunity from inside the area five minutes in -- before forcing Pinto into a diving stop just before halftime. Between those efforts, Barcelona dominated possession, with Diego Godins sliding block keeping Andres Iniestas effort out before Diego Costa pulled up clutching his right thigh. Atleticos physical play proved wearing for Barcelona, and pressured Pinto into errant goal kicks like the one that gave Villa his opening opportunity. Courtois was alert to a Messi header to keep it scoreless at the break, but Atletico regrouped and emerged for the restart to stun the hosts with Diego Ribas opener. Neymar and Messi failed to link up on a cross in the 65th, as Atleticos back four continued to make life difficult for the Spanish champions -- until Iniesta spotted Neymars run and the Brazil striker curled his shot around Courtois. Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino brought Alexis Sanchez on for Cesc Fabregas and shifted Neymar to the left side. The extra attacking player clearly helped as Iniesta threaded a perfect ball into the area for the Brazil striker to equalize. The goal lifted the Camp Nou crowd and turned the tables on Atletico. But Courtois settled his teams nerves by making a diving save to Iniestas long-range shot in the 73rd minute, before then stopping a late effort from Messi. "Its going to be such a hard game against a great opponent. Its going to be a very passionate game," Simeone said before calling on his players to seize the opportunity should Diego Costa not be available. "Its up to the team and the players to respond and make up for his (possible) absence." ' ' ' |
