Dein erstes Forum » Callahan each had a goal and an assist

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A 16-driver championship field that would be whittled down to create a winner-take-all season finale is among radical changes reportedly being considered by NASCAR. NASCAR chairman Brian France has repeatedly said he wants to place a greater emphasis on winning, and hes never ruled out tinkering with the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format in an effort to create the "Game 7 moments" he covets. The Charlotte Observer first reported Friday night a possible overhaul to the Chase format that France first introduced in 2004 and has made periodic changes to several times since. Citing anonymous sources, The Observer outlined three major changes beginning with expanding the field from 12 drivers to 16 -- meaning a win during the "regular season" would virtually guarantee a driver a spot in the field. Once the field is set, The Observer said NASCAR is considering eliminations during the 10-race Chase. The field would be cut after the third, sixth and ninth races. The proposed eliminations would drop the lowest four drivers from title contention after the third, sixth and ninth races, leaving four drivers eligible for a "winner-take-all" race in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The four remaining drivers would go into Homestead with their points reset and tied in the standings, The Observer said. A statement from NASCAR chief communications officer Brett Jewkes was non-committal on The Observer report. "NASCAR has begun the process of briefing key industry stakeholders on potential concepts to evolve its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship format," Jewkes said. "This dialogue is the final phase of a multi-year process that has included the review of extensive fan research, partner and industry feedback and other data-driven insights. NASCAR has no plans to comment further until the stakeholder discussions are complete. We hope to announce any potential changes for the 2014 season to our media and fans very soon." But driver Denny Hamlin posted a series of Tweets on Saturday afternoon that supported the format if NASCAR ultimately moves forward with the changes. NASCAR is expected to officially outline any changes later this month. "This points system change is going to be a really good thing. Trust in it and watch how exciting each chase race is going to be," Hamlin posted. Hamlin also Tweeted that every Chase race will now be as exciting as the September race at Richmond, which is the final race to set the Chase field. He also responded to two fans who criticized the format. One argued it was "artificially construed excitement" instead of the traditional consistency that NASCAR used for decades in crowning its champion. "Consistency will keep you up top," Hamlin replied. Hamlin received support from 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski, who replied on Twitter to him that he also liked the reported new format. "Guess we may be in the minority here," Keselowski said. NASCAR has been working feverishly behind the scenes to improve its on-track product, particularly at 1.5-mile tracks, and at least some changes are expected to the points system to meet Frances desire to put a greater emphasis on winning. France was thrilled with the finish of the March race at California, where feuding drivers Hamlin and Joey Logano relentlessly raced for the win. The two ended up wrecking -- Hamlin ended up with a broken bone in his back that sidelined him for more than a month -- and Kyle Busch slid through the carnage for the victory as a furious Tony Stewart nearly came to blows with Logano on pit road. Its that kind of competitiveness, compelling action and drama that France seeks every week. Despite introducing The Chase in 2004, NASCAR has failed to create many of those breathtaking "Game 7" moments in the finale. The debut was successful as Kurt Busch beat Jimmie Johnson for the title by eight points, and five drivers went into the 2005 finale mathematically eligible to win the championship. Then Jimmie Johnson reeled off five consecutive championships, snapped only by Tony Stewarts race-winning, championship-deciding showing in the 2011 finale. Keselowski won easily in 2012 when Johnson was felled by mechanical problems, and it was Johnson, again, in an easy Sunday drive for win No. 6 in November. So a shake up to the system wouldnt be unexpected. But it may not necessarily look like what The Observer reported -- the newspaper was clear the format is only being considered -- because its not unlike NASCAR to float ideas to gauge reaction. For example, NASCAR officials met in October with drivers to discuss an overhaul to qualifying procedures. Among the "potential" changes discussed that day was road course-style qualifying everywhere but Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR said it was considering a 60-minute drafting session for Daytona and Talladega qualifying. In reality, cars will qualify as usual next month at Daytona while NASCAR is now apparently considering three rounds of "knockout style" qualifying -- similar to what Formula One and IndyCar use -- everywhere else but Talladega. Kalen Ballage Jersey . -- Stanley Johnson scored all 18 of his points in the second half, T. A.J. Derby Dolphins Jersey . The defending champions’ roller coaster season included trading offensive star Percy Harvin in the midst of the team’s 3-3 start. That move that reportedly irked several Seahawk players, but one management saw necessary to save the team’s chemistry. http://www.dolphinsteamauthenticshop.com...ton-jersey.aspx. Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D. Jerome Baker Jersey . The San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders are giving it a try, too. Jerome Baker Dolphins Jersey . LOUIS -- The St.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Derick Brassard scored twice to lead the New York Rangers to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.Jesper Fast, J.T. Miller and Lee Stempniak also scored for New York, which swept the Flyers in a home-and home matchup on consecutive days. Fasts goal was the first of his NHL career.The Rangers have also won the first three matchups of the season against Philadelphia. Henrik Lundqvist made 21 saves for New York.Nicklas Grossmann and Jakub Voracek scored for Philadelphia, which has lost four in a row. Ray Emery made 30 saves.PENGUINS 3, HURRICANES 2RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Christian Ehrhoff scored his first goal of the season with 4:33 remaining, helping Pittsburgh top Carolina.Robert Bortuzzos first-period goal gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead, and the Penguins held on to avenge a home loss to Carolina on Friday.Justin Faulk put the Hurricanes ahead 1-0 with a power-play goal in the first — just 17 seconds before Chris Kunitz tied it for Pittsburgh — and Elias Lindholm cut Carolinas deficit to 3-2 with 11.7 seconds left in the game.Thomas Greiss made 32 saves for Pittsburgh (16-5-2), which avoided its first losing streak in regulation games this season. Anton Khudobin had 30 saves for the Hurricanes, 1-11-2 when trailing after two periods.ISLANDERS 3, DEVILS 1UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves for his ninth straight win, and Cal Clutterbuck scored his third goal of the season as the New York Islanders got back to their winning ways with a victory over New Jersey.New York (17-7), which had a five-game winning streak snapped Friday at Washington, has won 12 of 14. This is the fastest the Islanders have gotten to 17 victories.Nikolay Kulemin scored in the first period for the Islanders, and Casey Cizikas made it 3-1 with an empty-net goal in the closing seconds as New York killed New Jerseys 5-on-3 power play.The Devils (9-11-4), beaten by Detroit in a shootout on Friday, lost their fourth straight. Damien Brunner scored his first goal since Oct. 24, and Cory Schneider made 25 saves.SABRES 4, CANADIENS 3, SOMONTREAL (AP) — Bryan Flynn scored in regulation and added the shootout winner in Buffalos victory over Montreal.After losing five straight, Buffalo has won five of six games.Zemgus Girgensons and Chris Stewart also scored, and Jhonas Enroth stopped 41 shots to help Buffalo sweep the home-and-home series. On Friday, the Sabres beat the Canadiens 2-1.Brendan Gallagher, Lars Eller and Max Pacioretty scored for Montreal. Dustin Tokarski made 23 saves.MAPLE LEAFS 6, CAPITALS 2TORONTO (AP) — Tyler Bozak scored twice and Jonathan Bernier made 35 saves to help Toronto beat Washington.Morgan Rielly and Cody Franson scored in the first period, sending Capitals starter Justin Peters to the bench for the second period. Braden Holtby didnt fare much better, allowing Bozaks goal on the first shot he faced. David Clarkson then scored to make it 4-1.Bozak added his second of the night in the period.Peters returned for the third, allowing Joffrey Lupuls goal.Troy Brouwer and Tom Wilson scored for Washington.LIGHTNING 4, SENATORS 1TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Killorn and Ryan Callahan each had a goal and an assist as Tampa Bay topped Ottawa.Tampa Bay also got goals from Brenden Morrow and Nikita Kucherov. Ben Bishop made 26 saves and improved to 14-3-2.David Legwand scored for the Senators, who have lost five of seven. Ottawa right wing Bobby Ryan didnt play due to a broken finger. He was hurt in a loss on Friday at Florida.Tampa Bay went ahead 2-1 on Killorns redirection in the low slot of Anton Stralmans shot at 1:16 of the third. Killorn has five goals and eight points during a career-best, seven-game point streak.Callahan, who had an assist on Killorns goal, has three goals and six points in the last three games. Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman returned to the lineup after missing 18 games because of a broken finger.PREDATORS 2, BLUE JACKETS 1NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Colin Wilson scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:12 to play, lifting Nashville over Columbus.Mike Ribeiro also scored for the Predators, winners of four straight and six of sevven.ddddddddddddCurtis McElhinney made 40 saves for Columbus, which lost its sixth in a row.With the game tied late in the third, Craig Smith got the rebound of his own shot and slid it to Wilson in front, where his spinning backhand found the net.BLUES 3, WILD 2, SOST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko scored the lone shootout goal, and St. Louis rallied to beat Minnesota.It was Tarasenkos second post-regulation winner in two nights. He scored in overtime on Friday to give St. Louis a victory over Edmonton.Tarasenko and David Backes scored regulation goals for the Blues. Jake Allen. In his second straight night of action, made 36 saves.Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise scored for Minnesota, which lost for the third time in nine games.The Blues have won 10 of the past 11 meetings between the teams.Tarasenko, the third St. Louis shootout participant, started to his right, cut back to the middle and beat Niklas Backstrom with a wrist shot. Allen stopped Parise, Koivu and Jason Pominville.AVALANCHE 4, STARS 2DENVER (AP) — Alex Tanguay had a goal and two assists, Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog had a goal and an assist each, and Colorado beat Dallas.Jarome Iginla and Daniel Briere also scored for the Avalanche, who won for the fifth time in seven games. Defenceman Tyson Barrie tied a career-high with three assists.The game was tied 2-2 before the Avalanche scored three times within 5:45, spanning the second and third periods.Tanguay gave Colorado the lead when he got a pass from Duchene from behind the net and beat goalie Anders Lindback on the short side with 2:00 left in the second period.Duchene scored a power-play goal 46 seconds into the third, and Landeskog made it 5-2 during a two-man advantage at 3:45. Calvin Pickard made 22 saves in the win.Cody Eakin and Patrick Eaves had goals for the Stars, who lost for the second straight night following a three-game winning streak. Lindback made 42 saves.SHARKS 6, DUCKS 4SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Logan Couture scored twice after missing the morning skate with an illness, and San Jose snapped a four-game losing streak by holding off Anaheim.Tommy Wingels added a goal and three assists, and Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl and Matt Nieto also scored for the Sharks, who have won six straight home games against the Ducks. Antti Niemi made 30 saves.Corey Perry scored twice, Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Matt Beleskey also scored for the Ducks, who fought back from a 5-1 deficit to make it a one-goal game early in the third period.Frederik Andersen allowed five goals on 19 shots before being pulled with 13:51 left in the second period. Jason LaBarbera stopped all 15 shots he faced in relief.Perry scored twice in a span of less than 2 minutes bridging the second intermission off assists from Getzlaf to get the Ducks back into the game.FLAMES 3, COYOTES 0GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Karri Ramo stopped 26 shots, and Jiri Hudler had a goal and two assists to lead Calgary past slumping Arizona.T.J. Brodie and Johnny Gaudreau also scored for Calgary. Ramo earned his fourth straight win and second consecutive shutout. He is 3-0 in his career against Arizona, allowing an average of one goal per game in three starts.Hudlers team-leading 11th goal came on a power play at 7:13 of the third.The Coyotes went with Dubnyk over No. 1 goalie Mike Smith, who hasnt won in three weeks and has only four wins this season. Dubnyk made 26 saves, but the Coyotes lost their fifth straight at home and fourth in five overall.Arizona has scored only 12 goals in its last seven games.BLACKHAWKS 4, KINGS 1LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brad Richards scored two goals to lift Chicago over Los Angeles.In a matchup of teams that both won two of the last five Stanley Cup titles, Daniel Carcillo added a goal, and Brandon Saad scored into an empty net with 1:49 remaining.Corey Crawford made 19 saves for the Blackhawks, who went 5-1 on their road trip.Jordan Nolan scored, and Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots for Los Angeles.It was the first meeting between the teams since the Western Conference finals, won in seven games by the eventual Cup champion Kings. 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