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ST. Jonathan Toews Blackhawks Jersey . LOUIS -- Another game, another goal for Alexander Steen. Steen scored his NHL-leading 14th goal in 14 games, Brian Elliott stopped 18 shots for his 100th career win and the St. Louis Blues beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 Thursday night. St. Louis has won five of six and is 6-1-1 at home. Calgary has lost four of five and eight of 11. Maxim Lapierre and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored for St. Louis. Elliott, who got the start in place of Jaroslav Halak, improved to 2-0-1 with his second straight strong performance. He stopped 31 shots in a 4-0 win at Florida on Nov. 1. Steen has a point in a career-best nine games in a row. He has scored in all but two contests this season. Despite his sizzling pace, Steen remains focused on the Blues quick 10-2-2 start and not his individual run. "I dont really analyze myself that way," Steen said. "You dont think about that or youll start focusing on the wrong things." Steen converted on a backhand from the slot in the second period to push the lead to 3-0. "He works his butt off and its nice to see him get rewarded," St. Louis defenceman Jordan Leopold said. "Whatever hes doing, hes got to keep doing it." Leopold had two assists in the game, his first points of the season. Steen scored the winning goal in the final minute of a 3-2 win over Winnipeg on Oct. 29 and a 3-2 victory over Chicago on Oct. 9. He became the first St. Louis player to score 14 goals in the first 14 games of a season since Brett Hull had 16 in that span in the 1990-91 campaign. Tim Jackman and Mike Cammalleri scored third-period goals for Calgary. Cammalleri tallied at 14:49 to bring the Flames to within 3-2. But Elliott was able to close down Calgary with some help from a staunch defence, which blocked 18 shots. "They got two on us, but we battled the last few minutes and squeaked it out," Elliott said. Calgary rookie goaltender Reto Berra fell to 1-2 in his third career start. Tarasenko broke an eight-game scoring drought with his fifth of the season on the power play at 3:01 of the opening period. He put home a rebound of a shot by Jay Bouwmeester. Lapierre pushed the lead to 2-0 just over seven minutes later with his first goal as a member of the Blues. "Everything we needed to do, we did in that first period," St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We were really going, really on top of our game." Lapierre was suspended five games for a hit on San Joses Dan Boyle on Oct. 15. He got his first points of the season Thursday in his ninth game. "Its been a slow start for me the first three weeks, almost like two training camps," Lapierre said. "Tonight is more like the player that I am." The Flames, who were 0 for 6 on the power play, have failed in their last 28 man-advantage chances. "Id like to buy one," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said of the goal drought. "I know that the guys are working hard. It seems we just cant turn the red light on." Calgary, after taking five first-period penalties, rallied with a solid third-period effort. "A tale of two games," Cammalleri said. "We really didnt push the play early. At some point, we were able to get some momentum." St. Louis defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk picked up an assist in his seventh successive game, the longest such streak in the NHL this season. NOTES: Calgary forward Curtis Glencross is out four to six weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in Tuesdays 5-1 loss at Minnesota. The team is not disclosing which knee is hurt. "One of the two, what does that change?" Hartley said tersely. ... Blues have scored first in their last six games.... St. Louis opened a season-trying five-game homestand that concludes Nov. 16 against Carolina. ... The Blues have not allowed a power play goal in the last four games. ...Calgary did not record its third shot on goal until 14:30 left in the second period. http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Sheldon-Brookbank-Blackhawks-Jersey/ . He can hide it with the helmet hell need now that hes back in the race car. Hinchcliffe, from Oakville, Ont., was cleared to drive Thursday by IndyCars medical team following a concussion Saturday in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Nick-Leddy-Blackhawks-Jersey/ .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone wasted little time filling a big hole on his staff by reaching a deal with recently fired Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz as defensive co-ordinator. Marrone also turned to Schwartzs former staff to address another need by agreeing to hire Todd Downing to coach the young crop of quarterbacks, led by last years rookie first-round pick, EJ Manuel. The additions were announced Friday night, a day after defensive co-ordinator Mike Pettine left the team after one year to take over as the Cleveland Browns head coach. "We are excited to add a talented and accomplished co-ordinator in Jim Schwartz to our staff," Marrone said in a statement released by the team. "Schwartz has led aggressive and productive defensive units throughout his time in the NFL, and we feel our defence will continue to improve under his leadership." Schwartz was fired Dec. 30, a day after the Lions missed the playoffs with a 7-9 record. In four seasons in Detroit, the 47-year-old Schwartz was 29-51. That included a 10-6 finish in 2011 when the Lions reached the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Schwartz becomes the Bills fourth defensive co-ordinator in four years and has big shoes to fill in taking over a unit that emerged as the teams strength last season. Pettines departure had the potential of under-cutting much of the progress the Bills hoped would carry over into next season after a 6-10 finish that extended the NFLs longest active playoff drought to 14 seasons. Though the Bills were inconsistent against the run, they still finished 10th in the NFL in fewest yards allowed -- Buffalos best ranking since finishing second in 2004. And they finished second in the NFL with a franchise-record 57 sacks. Schwartz has 20 years of NFL coaching experience, including eight seasons as the Tennessee Titans defensive co-ordinator from 2001-08. The Titans defence three times finished among the NFLs top 10 in fewest yards allowed. Tennessee was particularly stingy in stopping the run, finishing sixth or better in yards rushing allowed, including a first-place ranking in 2003. Its unclear how many positions Schwartz will have to fill oon his defensive staff because theres a chance Pettine may lure some of his assistants to Cleveland. Blackhawks Jersey. The Bills currently have one opening after inside linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach was fired last week. Schwartz takes over unit that produced four Pro Bowl selections, defensive linemen Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus and safety Jairus Byrd. Byrds status is uncertain after he played under a one-year franchise tag last season. The defence also includes linebacker Kiko Alonso, an NFL rookie of the year candidate. Schwartz has a fiery personality, and an aggressive approach to defence much like Pettine, which is being counted on to ease the transition. The knock against Schwartz in Detroit was the Lions inconsistencies and undisciplined style of play. In 2012, the Lions lost their last eight games after a 4-4 start. Last season, they collapsed during a stretch in which they blew fourth-quarter leads in losing six games during a seven-game stretch. Downings addition filled Marrones desire to add a quarterbacks coach to his staff after offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett doubled at the position last year. Marrone had expressed an intention to ease Hacketts burden entering his second season. Lack of experience and injuries didnt help the position. Manuel missed six games because of knee injuries. Undrafted journeyman Thad Lewis went 2-3 in five starts, while undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel struggled in a 23-13 loss to Kansas City. Downing has 11 years of NFL coaching experience, and spent the past three seasons at the same position in Detroit, where he mentored Lions starter Matthew Stafford. The 33-year-old Downing is familiar with Lewis, who spent last off-season in Detroit before the Bills acquired him in a trade in August. And he also coached Manuel at last years Senior Bowl. "Todd Downing is a bright and energetic coach," Marrone said. "He played a pivotal role in the development of Detroits quarterbacks during his tenure: most notably Matthew Stafford, the franchises all-time leading passer. Downing will be a valuable addition to our offensive coaching staff." ' ' ' |
