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19.06.2019 02:23
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SOCHI, Russia – Since that highly-anticipated day in early January when he was officially named to the Canadian Olympic team, the nerves have not stopped pumping for John Tavares. "I think Ive had em for about a month," he said. "As much as the travels been tough, I think [youre] losing a lot of sleep just because youre so anxious and so excited." Four years ago in Vancouver, it was a then-21-year-old Jonathan Toews who emerged from the lower ranks of a powerhouse roster to steer Canada to gold. Nerves aside, could the 23-year-old Tavares prove a similar dark-horse in the Canadians bid for back-to-back golds in Sochi? Save for the incomparable Sidney Crosby, no Canadian player enters the tournament with more impressive recent credentials than the captain of the New York Islanders. Tucked just behind Crosby and eventual winner Alex Ovechkin in the 2013 Hart Trophy race, Tavares has only continued his rise up the NHL ranks this season. He is now third in league scoring after a 20-point month of January which matched Phil Kessel for the league lead. In fact, only Kessel has more points (28) in 2014 than the Toronto native (22), who is on pace for a career-high 33 goals and 91 points. "I think my mindset is just to go out there and play the best I can and contribute where Im asked in the role Im asked to play in," said Tavares, who, like Toews in Vancouver, is among the younger Canadian Olympians in Sochi. "If that leads to more opportunity, responsibility thats great, but at the end of the day, its about winning one game [Thursday] and building off that and going onto the next one and hopefully, obviously to win a gold medal." Toews was Canadas 13th forward at the outset of the Games in 2010 and though Tavares enters the tournament on a first-unit power-play – alongside Crosby and Chris Kunitz – he is stationed to start Thursdays opener against Norway on a prospective bottom forward unit with fellow Olympic rookie Jamie Benn and vet Patrice Bergeron. With dangerous offensive weaponry, experience on the big ice and versatility, Tavares looks to be a prime option to rise in the lineup if chemistry elsewhere fails to materialize. The Canadian coaching staff, led by Mike Babcock, has promised that patience in that respect will be short. "Its a competitive environment," Babcock said, "and we expect our guys to compete for their ice-time." Though he has yet to appear at the Olympics, Tavares does hold excellent credentials in past appearances on the international stage. He has amassed 16 goals in 22 world championship games, adding 15 points alone in the 2009 world juniors. During the most recent NHL lockout, he produced 17 goals and 42 points in 28 games with Bern of the Swiss league. A natural centre, it was during that stint overseas that he played mostly left wing, offering Babcock versatility with a glut of centres on the roster. He even advised Tavares of that possibility during the summer orientation camp in Calgary. "Those are all things that I can draw on, experience-wise," Tavares said of his international forays. "I think the more youve played on [the big ice], the more youve been in it, the better understanding you have." For Tavares to snatch more opportunity, hell have to make the most of limited ice. Canadian executive director Steve Yzerman said earlier this week that the greatest challenge facing his group of Olympians was not the larger Olympic ice dimensions but the difficulty of making the most of a shrunken role. "He really has to park his ego at the door," said assistant coach Ken Hitchcock, speaking generally about the roster at large. "You have to understand that when its your time and its your time to go, go! Dont sit there and wonder what the coach is thinking, dont sit there and think am I going to get on the ice?, whats my family thinking?, when its your turn to go, go. "Whatever youve got, give us quality and forget about the quantity. Youve got to park the quality right up front and youve got to forget about the quantity because its not going to be the same. No player is going to play the minutes that he plays in the NHL. It isnt even going to be close. Youve got to park it." Toews averaged fewer than 15 minutes in Vancouver and yet finished as the tournaments top forward and Canadas leading scorer. He also helped shut down Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin in a dominant quarterfinal win over Russia. "Theres no time to look around and be wide-eyed," Toews advised of his mindset in 2010. "Youve got to go out there and play and just let it happen. Thats what the Olympics is all about. Theres not much time to adjust." A potent weapon, both as a sniper and playmaker – he is nearing a career-high in assists – Tavares can also be of aid to the Canada power play. The first overall pick from the 2009 draft is tied for fourth in power play points this season, trailing only Crosby, Ovechkin and the league-leader, Nicklas Backstrom. "You understand the responsibility of coming here and having to accept your role," Tavares said. "So youll be ready whenever your names called to go over [the boards] and execute." Quinnen Williams Jersey . -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday. Joe Namath Jersey . Dallas (2-0-1) sits atop the Western Conference with an MLS-best seven points. 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This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling.MILWAUKEE -- With slim hopes of avoiding the NBAs worst record, the Milwaukee Bucks are making the most of their late-season opportunity. Chris Wright, in the midst of his second 10-day contract, scored an energetic 14 points off the bench to help the Bucks hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-116 on Friday night. The victory moved the Bucks to within two games of Philadelphia with three games remaining for each team. The 76ers lost at Memphis earlier in the night. "I said before, Chris is a guy that I really liked on that first 10 days," said Bucks coach Larry Drew. "It was tough getting rid of him. He did some really good things. He played well. Hes got a tremendous spirit about him when hes out on the floor. " Dion Waiters had 23 points for Cleveland, while Jarrett Jack added 21 and Tristan Thompson 18. Starting guards Brandon Knight scored 24 points and Ramon Sessions added 20 for the Bucks, who also got 15 points and six rebounds from reserve forward John Henson. Knights jumper from the right wing put the Bucks up for good at 107-106 with 4:09 remaining. Two free throws by Kyrie Irving pulled the Cavaliers to 111-110, but a basket by Khris Middleton and two free throws by Zaza Pachulia put the Bucks ahead five with 1:44 remaining. "Obviously with the moment with us, that we are in, being eliminated from the playoffs , guys struggle with the whole, We are playing for nothing type thoughts," Jack said. "You are playing against a team who has struggled all season. But you have to tip your cap to them. They came out regardless of what their record was and played the necessary basketball to get the win tonight." The 6-foot-8 Wright, undrafted out of Dayton in 2011, spent most of this season with the Maine Red Claws of the D-League, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in 38 games. His only other NBA stint was 24 games with Golden State in the final half of the 2011-12 season, when he averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds. "Just staying ready, and knowing when your number is called, youve got to be ready," said Wright. "Thats what coach always tells me: When I put you in there, go out there and bring energy, you play defence, you run the floor. Now, with me being here, thats my role on this team, to go out there and bring energy." Milwaukee trailed 69-62 at the half, butt Knight scored seven points to pace a 10-0 run that put the Bucks up 90-86 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.dddddddddddd Cleveland scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to take a 96-92 lead on Jacks 3-pointer. The Bucks led 37-32 after the first quarter, surpassing their previous season high of 36 points in the opening period. Wright was 4 for 4 in the first quarter, including a couple of alley-oop dunks. "I thought his athleticism the first half was very needed," Drew said. "He got out on a couple of breaks and we were able to get him a couple of lobs. He has that ability." Waiters scored 11 points to lead a 19-2 run by Cleveland midway through the second period. Jacks 3 put the Cavaliers up 55-41 with 6:26 left in the half. There are a lot of areas during the course of the game where we did not play good basketball," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "Give Milwaukee credit, but I tell you what we did not play the game the right way to start the game and we did not play the right way to finish the first half." Bucks forward Jeff Adrien, averaging 10 points and seven rebounds since being acquired in a trade with Charlotte in February, is another player making the most of increased late-season playing time. "This trades a blessing in disguise," said Adrien, who had a team-high nine rebounds against the Cavs. "The outcomes are not what I was used to in Charlotte every game, but I think the effort is there and thats what matters for us." NOTES: Although G Waiters has moved back into the Cavaliers starting lineup, Brown believes Waiters should still be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. "He should deserve some credit, some recognition for Sixth Man of the Year," Brown said. "He was giving us a big lift coming off the bench. He can be effective in a lot of different roles for a team. Obviously, hes been effective for us as a starter, but he was huge for us coming off the bench throughout the course of the season. Hopefully, hell get recognition for it." ... Irving entered the game averaging 26.4 against the Bucks, his most against any opponent, but he was held to just 12 points. ... The Cavaliers became just the fifth team to lose two games to the Bucks this season. The Lakers, 76ers, Celtics and Magic are the only other teams the Bucks have beaten twice this season. 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