It was Bostons first visit to Chicago since June

With the series even at 2-2, Game 5 between the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday should be quite the event. Franco Harris Womens Jersey. TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on the series so far. 1. Improved Offence: Though the Raptors struggled mightily in the second and third quarters, they were impressive in the first and fourth and overall took much better care of the ball and exhibited better shot discipline. That must continue against an outstanding defensive opponent. Got the ball swung to the weakside and made the defence shift enough to get quality looks and just seemed less rattled and a little more sure of what they wanted to accomplish per trip. Still room for lots of improvement and theyll need it; will take the Nets best punch so far in this series on Wednesday. 2. Defensive Details: Much better job guarding the ball straight up and limiting straight-line drives and easy paths to the paint. Have to stay sound and stop closing out on perimeter guys out of control and going for pump fakes that lead to drives. Better job here. Really worked hard to contest shots. Help was very good in the fourth quarter and the rotations and communication were sound. 3. Red Alert: Game 5 and youre all even. Needless to say the pressure and excitement will be there for both sides. It comes down to this the next 48+ hours: which team stays focused better on the task at hand? Which team really locks in better on the game prep and the subtle adjustments you have to make per game? Do you stay true to your fundamental habits and execute them? At this point, youve played each other eight times already so theres no secrets. Whos going to be better and can sustain the edge? Lastly, with all the hype/hoopla surrounding you, are you able to maintain your poise/composure and get at the task at hand. Not easy for either side yet this is what makes the games so much fun. 4. Joe Johnson: Raptors did a nice job getting the ball out of his hands and making him work for his shots. No Landry Fields and in spite of John Salmons not scoring, his effort was outstanding in this matchup. He fronted him at times in the mid/low post and whomever was guarding Johnson stood their ground better and the help/double came quicker and harder. An absolute must in Game 5. Hell be looking to make a statement early and often to re-establish himself. 5. Raptors Square: What a scene! Believe me. NBA folks along with players and agents take notice of whats going on outside the ACC and compare it to the level of passion/interest they see in the other 29 NBA markets. Were in the recruitment and retention business; every little bit helps gain the upper hand on your opponent. The level of passion and love for the sport that people see from fans all across Canada right now will help Raptors ownership and management in so many ways continue to improve the organization on many fronts. You the fans are making your own statement. Keep it up. Thanks! Antonio Brown Jersey. Almost 18 months after Armstrongs seven Tour wins were wiped from the record, an independent panel created by the new International Cycling Union leadership has begun work to discover the extent of the sports past problems. Cortez Allen Jersey. 2 Ohio State to a 64-35 drubbing of Texas-Pan American on Saturday. Buckeyes sophomore forward Jared Sullinger missed the game with back spasms, but that didnt stop Ohio State (8-0), as Deshaun Thomas dropped 11 points to go with five rebounds, while Scott Shannon and Jordan Sibert contributed seven points apiece.CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane sped toward the net, and then shuffled his skates for a few precious seconds. Then came a well-placed wrist shot, and the Chicago Blackhawks had another big victory. Something about the Boston Bruins brings out the best in Kane and Co. Kane scored in a shootout to lift Chicago to a 3-2 win over Boston on Sunday in a rematch of last seasons Stanley Cup finals, capping an impressive weekend for the Blackhawks that also included a victory over NHL-leading Anaheim. "Two big games against two great teams," Kane said. "I cant say we were going as well as we wanted to before these two games." Jonathan Toews beat Tuukka Rask on the stick side to give the Blackhawks the lead in the tiebreaker, but Brad Marchands quick wrist shot got by Corey Crawford, tying it up for the Bruins. Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy last year as playoff MVP, then skated toward the goal, slowed up for a second and sent a shot past Rask on the stick side to give Chicago the win. The Blackhawks had lost their previous seven games that had gone past regulation. "It was a great test, and nice to finally get a shootout win, too," coach Joel Quenneville said. Marian Hossa and Brandon Bollig had the regulation goals for Chicago, which beat Boston in six games in June for the title. Quenneville picked up win No. 692, matching Dick Irvin Sr., for third on the NHLs career list. Marchand scored in each of the first two periods for the Bruins, who had won two of three. Rask had 35 stops. "Its always nice to get a couple, but I wasnt really worried about trying to redeem myself from the finals or anything like that," said Marchand, who was shut out in the playoff series against the Blackhawks. "It was just a big game for our team and we need these points right now." It was Bostons first visit to Chicago since June 22, when the Blackhawks used two goals by Kane to win 3-1 and take a 3-2 lead in the NHL finals. The Blackhawks then had a memorable rally in Game 6 in Boston, scoring twice in 17 seconds late in the third to secure their second title in four seasons. The series included five overtime periods, including three in Chicagos 4-3 victory in Game 1. Together again for the anticipated rematch, the Bruins and Blackhawks once again were unable to decide the game in three periods. Defenceman Gregory Campbell had a chance tto win it for Boston in overtime, but whiffed on a deflected puck. Heath Miller Jersey "We had some chances you wish we would have buried, but it just continues to be the same as it was last year," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "You need overtime to resolve these games against us." Chicago controlled much of the first and had a 1-0 lead before Marchand made the most of two open opportunities in a 69-second span overlapping the first two periods. First, Marchand got a slick pass from Patrice Bergeron and sent a wrist shot over Crawfords right shoulder at 19:41 of the first. The Blackhawks lost the sneaky forward again at the start of the second, and he used a clever fake to set up a shot through Crawfords legs for his 14th goal. It was Marchands second multigoal game of the season. He has four goals and an assist in his past three games. Bostons 2-1 lead lasted about 10 minutes. The Blackhawks caught a break when Bolligs bad-angle shot from the right side went off Rasks left foot and into the net for his fifth goal of the season. Asked what happened on Bolligs score, Rask said: "Good question. I had the post covered, my skate was there, I was ready. It just somehow went over, off of my skate or something." Coming off a 4-2 victory over NHL-leading Anaheim, the Blackhawks got off to a fast start in their second-to-last home game before the Olympic break. Patrick Sharp skated ahead to jump on a loose puck in the Bruins zone and then passed to the middle to Hossa, who pushed it by Rask to make it 1-0 at 4:13. Hossa also scored twice during Friday nights victory over the Ducks. The 35-year-old winger has five goals and two assists during a five-game point streak. The Blackhawks almost had a 2-0 lead in the first, but Rask made an outstanding stick save on Brandon Saad on the left side of the goal. Kane started the dazzling sequence with a spinning pass to a streaking Saad in front. NOTES: Bruins D Adam McQuaid left in the second period with an unspecified injury. ... Hockey Canada announced Sunday morning that Toews would serve as an alternate captain for the Sochi Olympics. Penguins C Sidney Crosby is the captain for the gold medal favourites, and Predators D Shea Weber is the other alternate captain. ... Toews received a 10-minute game misconduct penalty in the second period for throwing part of his broken stick over the glass. wholesale jerseys  ' ' '