Justin Abdelkader Jersey

The Washington Capitals kept trying to downplay their own forgettable playoff history Dustin Brown Jersey , the one pockmarked with disappointment and despair. Still, they couldn’t run from it.
No one bore the weight more than Alex Ovechkin. All the goals in the world – and the star forward is at over 600 and counting now – couldn’t take the sting
away from the endless cycle of postseason runs that ended far too soon.
”It’s so hard to move forward some time,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said. ”It’s always thrown in your face everywhere you turn. I know it’s thrown in
Ovi’s face everywhere he turns and he’s a great player in this league.”
One who is finally headed to a conference final, with a team few expected to make it this far. The Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for
only the third time since the franchise’s inception in 1974 with a 2-1 overtime
victory in Game 6 against Pittsburgh on Monday night, a victory secured by
Evgeny Kuznetsov’s breakaway 5:27 into the extra period .
”It feels like something is over,” Kuzntesov said. ”It’s pretty hard to speak.”
Maybe because – for now anyway – Washington’s long-held role as playoff fodder for the Penguins is over. The Capitals beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs
for only the second time in 11 tries by playing a disciplined style dictated by
Trotz, one that focuses on responsibility at both ends of the ice.
The game-winning sequence began with Kuznetsov poking the puck away from Penguins star Sidney Crosby as Crosby tried to enter the Washington zone. The
puck made its way to Ovechkin and he threaded a pass to a sprinting Kuznetsov,
who beat Matt Murray to spark a celebration two decades in the making.
”I don’t want to lie, it tastes a little bit better (beating the Penguins),” Kuznetsov said. ”You know, I never focus on the history. I only focus game by
game. It feels very nice. You keep playing hockey, it’s unbelievable.”
Washington went 1-1-1 against the Lightning in three regular season meetings, the last a 4-2 loss at home on Feb. 20. That was two long months ago, and the
team that celebrated in an equal parts joyous and relieved dressing room on
Monday night doesn’t look like the one that was still searching for its legs in
mid-winter.
Injuries forced the Capitals to put together a patchwork lineup that included a handful of rookies, such as Nate Walker, who became the first Australian to
record a point in the playoffs when he set up Alex Chiasson’s second-period
goal.
”We did have our moment in the first period when we said `Do we have five rookies playing tonight?”’ Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said. ”I thought our
window had closed and we had an old team and we had five rookies. So our future
remains bright and now we just have to focus on the third round.”
Washington will do it with a resurgent Braden Holtby. Benched at the start of the playoffs in favor of Philipp Grubauer, Holtby heads to the conference finals
playing some of the finest hockey of his career. He stopped 21 of 22 shots in
Game 6 and is now 8-3 since Trotz put him back in the lineup.
”Obviously everyone knows the difficulties we had getting out of the second round,” Holtby said. ”But that doesn’t make a difference in our main goal. Our
main goal is still the Stanley Cup. The third round isn’t the Stanley cup. We
have to refocus now. We can enjoy it and use that energy as kind of a recharge
for the halfway point and push full force into the next round because it’s going
to be a hard test.”
One the Capitals believe they’re finally ready to pass. The franchise has only reached the Cup once, getting swept by Detroit in 1998, long before
Ovechkin, Holtby and Leonsis came on board. This is their best chance at the
club, one they’re intent on not squandering.
”We set goals every year Justin Abdelkader Jersey ,” Leonsis said. ”Make the playoffs. First round. Second round. Third round and win a championship. So we’re trying to check them
off. It’s almost embarrassing that it’s taken this long for us to get past
it.”
Now that they have – at last, becoming the first professional team in the nation’s capital to reach a conference final since the ’98 Capitals did it –
they’re eager to shed the past. It’s over and done. The future – and the
Lightning – await.
”We beat the Pittsburgh Penguins today and they’re a hell of a hockey team and we’re only halfway,” Trotz said. ”We haven’t done anything yet.”
—

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 28, Missouri Western, St. Joseph, Missouri
LAST YEAR: Chiefs rolled to 5-0 start, went through midseason swoon, then won final four games of regular season to defend AFC West title for first time in
franchise history. QB Alex Smith had career season, RB Kareem Hunt led NFL in
rushing, and WR Tyreek Hill evolved from speedy gadget star to playmaking pass
catcher. Defense struggled to absorb season-ending injury to SS Eric Berry,
resulting in unit that routinely allowed big plays. Season ended when Kansas
City blew 21-3 halftime lead in 22-21 loss to Tennessee in wild-card round of
playoffs.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: WR Sammy Watkins, LB Anthony Hitchens, CB Kendall Fuller, QB Chad Henne, DT Xavier Williams, QB Matt McGloin, TE Tim Wright, CB
David Amerson, LB Breeland Speaks, DT Derrick Nnadi, LB Dorian O’Daniel, SS
Armani Watts.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: QB Alex Smith Max Pacioretty Jersey , CB Marcus Peters, LB Derrick Johnson, FS Ron Parker, LB Tamba Hali, CB Phillip Gaines, WR Albert Wilson, CB Terrance
Mitchell, OL Zach Fulton, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB Ramik Wilson, DL Bennie
Logan, CB Kenneth Acker.
CAMP NEEDS: Must determine starting CBs after trading Peters and releasing Mitchell, with Fuller and Amerson front-runners. Berry must prove his health
after tearing Achilles tendon last September. Pass rush must show improvement
with rookies Speaks and O’Daniel complementing OLBs Justin Houston and Dee
Ford.
EXPECTATIONS: Chiefs’ have overhauled roster under second-year GM Brett Veach, particularly on defense. Longtime stalwarts Johnson and Hali are gone and
rookies will be expected to contribute from first snap. But if Chiefs are to win
third straight AFC West title, they need second-year QB Patrick Mahomes II to
live up to expectations. Kansas City traded up to select him 10th overall in
2017, and was so confident in his abilities it traded Smith to Redskins after
best season of career.
—
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 28, Jack Hammett Sports Complex, Costa Mesa, California
LAST YEAR: Bolts’ relocation season ended just short of playoff berth with impressive 9-3 finish under new coach Anthony Lynn following 0-4 start. LA’s new
team had one of NFL’s most impressive offenses, with Philip Rivers and receiver
Keenan Allen headlining gifted group of playmakers. Chargers finished fourth
with 376.6 yards per game, and plus-12 turnover margin was third. Offensive line
also allowed NFL-low 18 sacks. Defense rounded into form along with offense,
with shutdown cornerback Casey Hayward and pass-rushing stars Joey Bosa and
Melvin Ingram leading group that finished third by allowing 197.2 yards per game
against pass. Chargers won final five games at tiny StubHub Center Youth Derek Grant Jersey , even establishing something close to home-field advantage. They barely missed first playoff berth since 2013.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: C Mike Pouncey, TE Virgil Green, S Derwin James, LB Uchenna Nwosu, QB Geno Smith, K Caleb Sturgis.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: S Tre Boston, TE Antonio Gates, DL Jeremiah Attaochu.
CAMP NEEDS: Staying healthy has been almost impossible for Chargers in recent years, and they’ve already lost budding star TE Hunter Henry to season-ending
knee injury from non-contact drill in May. They’ll look for new starting tight
end in camp, and it’s imperative to get to regular season with no additional
serious injuries – and enough momentum to improve on last year’s 0-4 start.
Defense that frequently struggled against run must sharpen approach, and tackle
Brandon Mebane could help immensely with bounce-back season. Bolts must figure
out whether No. 7 overall pick Mike Williams is ready to be regular receiver
after injury-shortened rookie year. They must find solid kicker after failing to
do so last year, with Caleb Sturgis and Roberto Aguayo headlining
competition.
EXPECTATIONS: If Chargers pick up where they left off, they have components of Super Bowl contender. They return with above-average franchise quarterback,
Pro Bowl receiver and elite talent at nearly every important position, including
two of NFL’s best pass rushers and two of its top cornerbacks if Jason Verrett
returns from injury at full strength. Another major injury could scramble
forecast, but franchise that has won one playoff game and one AFC West title in
past decade seems capable of much more this fall.
—
OAKLAND RAIDERS (6-10)
OPEN CAMP: July 26, Napa, California
LAST YEAR: Raiders plummeted from 12 wins in 2016 to six last year as QB Derek Carr and offense regressed, defense struggled, and coach Jack Del Rio was
fired. Oakland’s offensive output dropped by more than seven points per game,
takeaways fell from 30 to 14, and Raiders got almost no production from past
three draft classes in becoming one of league’s biggest disappointments. That
led to move to bring coach Jon Gruden back for second stint with Raiders after
spending past nine seasons in broadcast booth.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Gruden Authentic Dougie Hamilton Jersey , WR Jordy Nelson, WR Martavis Bryant, RB Doug Martin, LB Derrick Johnson, CB Rashaan Melvin, S Marcus Gilchrist, LB
Emmanuel Lamur, LB Tahir Whitehead, WR Ryan Switzer, OL Kolton Miller, DT
Maurice Hurst, DE Arden Key.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: Del Rio, WR Michael Crabtree, RT Marshall Newhouse, LB NaVorro Bowman, CB TJ Carrie, CB Sean Smith, CB David Amerson, P Marquette
King.
CAMP NEEDS: Biggest priority is getting 2016 Defensive Player of Year Khalil Mack into camp after he held out entire offseason while seeking long-term
contract. Mack is entering final year of rookie deal and Gruden and new DC Paul
Guenther are eager to get most important defensive piece on practice field.
Other main issues are learning Gruden’s http://www.officialusafootballs.com/los-angeles-chargers