SAN JOSE, Calif. - A night after giving San Jose an opening to the Pacific Division title by winning in Anaheim, the Nashville Predators might have closed it up again by beating the Sharks. Patric Hornqvist had two goals and one assist to help the Nashville Predators put a major dent into San Joses hopes for a division title by beating the Sharks 3-0 on Saturday night. "Its a missed opportunity," defenceman Dan Boyle said. "Nashville went into their building and did their job. Unfortunately, we didnt do ours to take advantage of that." Backup Carter Hutton made 35 saves in his first career shutout and Roman Josi also scored as the Predators kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating winning road games on back-to-back nights against Anaheim and San Jose the top two teams in the Pacific Division. Nashville is six points behind Dallas for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with four games remaining. "Were never going to give up," Hornqvist said. "Its a long road to make the playoffs. But as long as we have a chance, were going to work as hard as we can. Obviously beating two great teams is nice. I think both of them can win the Cup. Its a good statement for our team." The Predators win in Anaheim on Friday kept the Sharks just a point behind the Ducks in the standings but San Jose couldnt capitalize two nights after an emotional home win over Los Angeles. Now the Sharks are running out of time to catch the Ducks after falling flat again against a team likely to miss the post-season. They have only three games remaining, including their next contest in Anaheim on Wednesday, but the Ducks still have five games remaining and the inside track on the division title. San Jose is assured of at least second place. "After the game we put together against L.A. to give a showing like that is unacceptable," defenceman Jason Demers said. "We didnt come out to work. We just sat back on our heels and let them take the game to us. Its disappointing and something were going to have to obviously rectify as quick as possible here." If the Sharks do end up falling short in the division it will be their play at home against some of the leagues also-rans that will be a big reason. San Jose has lost five home games since the Olympic break, all to teams that are currently out of playoff position. "Were in a race and we have to be better than that," captain Joe Thornton said. The Predators took control of the game in a dominant second period, killing off a pair of penalties and beating Antti Niemi three times. Hornqvist struck early in the period when he whacked at a rebound of Matt Cullens shot and knocked it in to extend his goal-scoring streak to four games. He added his eighth goal in the past 11 games midway through the period just after Nick Spaling came out of the penalty box. Spaling got the puck behind San Joses net and set up Hornqvist for a one-timer from the slot for his 20th goal of the season. Hornqvist then got an assist a few minutes later when Josi beat a flat-footed Demers as he drove to the net to make it 3-0. "We were emotionally not attached to the game in the second period," coach Todd McLellan said. "Were at Game 79 and the details and the system play, you should be able to do it in your sleep at this point. We didnt do that." The Sharks pressured in the third with 19 shots and two others from Brent Burns and Matt Irwin that hit posts but couldnt beat Hutton. The Predators have put together an impressive late-season run with points in seven of their past eight games. But it likely wont be enough to overcome a 1-4 homestand after the Olympic break that put Nashville in a deep hole. "This team wont quit," coach Barry Trotz said. "It hasnt quit all year. Its not going to quit. They will play right until the end. We see when the smoke clears where we stand." NOTES: Nashville swept the three-game season series and has won nine of 14 against the Sharks. ... 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He put that memory to rest in his return. Lee had 28 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double, leading the Golden State Warriors past the Denver Nuggets 89-81 on Monday night.TORONTO - Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas is not going to sneak up on anybody in his second NBA season. Hes no longer the Raptors ace in the hole. Hes a known commodity and the league has been paying attention. If youve waited this long to hop on the bandwagon, you may be too late. Its already nearing capacity. Valanciunas, a member of last seasons All-Rookie Second Team, was recently voted the international player most likely to have a breakout campaign in NBA.coms annual GM survey. Expectations are sky-high for the sophomore, and for good reason. Sometimes its easy to forget hes only 21 years old. "Hes still learning," head coach Dwane Casey said of the Lithuanian following the teams second-to-last practice before Wednesdays season opener. "His is a growing process. Hes not there [yet], he wasnt there last year [and] hes still growing this year." Caseys reminder is an important one. For all he accomplished in his first season as a 20-year-old learning the NBA game and mastering a new language, for all the work he put in and the strength he put on during a busy summer, he still has work to do. With the rest of the league - including several elite Eastern Conference centres - zeroing in on him, the learning curve wont get easier. The hope, for Casey and the Raptors, is that hes better prepared for whats to come now that he has a full year under his belt. "Its my second year and its easier because its kind of the same thing as last year," a more comfortable and noticeably more confident Valanciunas said Monday. "[Its the] same coach [and] same defence so Im familiar with the schemes." "I just think his confidence is up," said teammate Landry Fields, whos also going into his second year with the Raptors. "Hes playing a lot more comfortably out there and the chemistry he has with the first group is that much better as well." As a rookie, Valanciunas averaged 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 62 games, including 57 starts. In a season loaded with the peaks and valleys expected from any young big man - specifically on the defensive end - he finished strong, scoring in double figures in 17 of the final 19 contests while showing positive growth as a defender when paired with Amir Johnson. After earning MVP honours at the Las Vegas Summer League and helping guide Lithuania to a second-place finish in FIBAs Eurobasket tournament, Valanciunas has been asked to foccus on his continued growth as the anchor of Caseys defence in training camp.ddddddddddddPart of that process began in the offseason when he put on approximately 10 pounds in added muscle and is now predicated on his wherewithal to use it the right way. In addition to improved balance, to avoid some of the "silly fouls" he picked up last season, Casey and the coaching staff have worked with Valanciunas on his vertical jump. The goal, Casey says, is for Valanciunas to defend the paint and contest shots in the lane by going straight up, without reaching in or coming down with his hands. "The officials have to know hes going straight up every time, thats his game," the Raptors coach said, stressing the importance of consistency in Valanciunas approach. "If you get that reputation [then] you dont get the cheap fouls so hes got to earn that reputation of verticality." "Were working every day," Valanciunas said of the technique. [It] still needs work but were working and I hope [Im] going to be good [at] that." "Thats the challenge he has," Casey continued, "is doing it every night." Internally, the Raptors know theyll need to remain patient with the young centre regardless of the second-year expectations they have - and the rest of the league has - for him. "The game is so fast for a young player that youve got to process [the little things] probably in about a three- or four-second period of time," Casey pointed out. "Hes still learning that." "Theres days, theres possessions [where] hes great at it and theres possessions that he has no clue what hit him. Every young player goes through it, hes going through it and hes [still] a work in progress." No ones expecting the adjustment hell need to make in year two to be easy, it wasnt in year one, but Valanciunas has made believers out of the Raptors organization with his dedication and unrelenting work ethic. "I like his approach," Casey said, praising his young centre. "I like his attitude. He doesnt give up [and] he continues to work at it but its something he has to learn and something he has to go through." It wont happen overnight but Casey and the Raptors are expecting big things from Valanciunas. As the start of his second season approaches, the league watches with anticipation. How good will he be and how long will it take for him to get there? cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys Ray Ban Outlet Michael Kors Outlet Michael Kors Sale Cheap Michael Kors ' ' '
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