Its that time of year again.
Brian Robison Vikings Jersey . The NHL playoffs are right around the corner and 16 of the leagues 30 teams are getting set to make a run at Lord Stanleys Cup. For the other 14 teams, well, its time to pull the golf clubs out of the garage and hit the links. And of those 14 teams on the outside looking in, five are from north of the border. The Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames all failed to qualify for the post-season. For the Leafs, Oilers and Jets, getting an early to golf season is becoming an especially familiar refrain. The Jets/Thrashers havent played a post-season game in five seasons, which puts them in a tie with the New York Islanders for the third-longest active streak in the NHL. In 2006 the Oilers came within one game of winning the Stanley Cup, losing game 7 of the Final to the Carolina Hurricanes. In the six seasons since they havent made it back to the playoffs. Even the Oilers havent had a playoff drought as long as Toronto, though. The Maple Leafs have not made the post-season since before the lockout in 2003-04. With these three dubious streaks in mind, we ask you, which of these three will be the first to get back into the playoffs? The Maple Leafs looked like they were headed in the right direction to start this season, flying out of the gate. In fact, on November 1, the Leafs were 9-3-1. They were first in the Eastern Conference as late as November 10. At that point the team seemed like a lock to break their post-season slump. However, an epic late season collapse that saw them go 5-18-3 between February 7 and March 29 saw the Leafs change from a potential playoff team to a potential lottery team. Its no secret that the team also desperately needs a top-line centre and better goaltending. However, there is still reason for optimism as the Leafs also have some good pieces in Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul and Jake Gardiner. Whether Brian Burke can actually build around that talent remains to be seen. The Oilers, meanwhile, have seemingly been on the rebuild for years now and have stocked their cupboard with high-draft picks and young talent. In the last few years the team has drafted Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, all three of whom look like potential stars. The team has shown flashes of brilliance but as of yet their young talent hasnt translated into meaningful success in the standings. As this season comes to a close the Oilers find themselves in a familiar lottery position with the second worst record in the NHL. With a fair amount of firepower up front, its the back end that the Oilers must now look to shore up. The fan base has been patient during the rebuild but its getting close to that time where the team needs to deliver some more victories. As for the Jets, it may be unfair to say that the team hasnt made the playoffs in five seasons since this was their first season in Winnipeg after relocating from Atlanta. And despite not making the playoffs, the NHLs return to Winnipeg should probably be seen as a success in its first year. With virtually the same roster as a year ago, the team improved its record and was in the hunt for the post-season until the bitter end. The Jets were also particularly strong on home ice this season going 23-13-4 in front of the raucous crowds at the MTS Centre. It was on the road that the team really struggled to find wins, which maybe isnt that surprising given the distance they have to travel while playing in the Southeast division. Either way, Jets management certainly has something to build on going forward. So, once again we ask you, which of these three Canadian teams will be the first to break their playoff drought? Its Your Call.
Fran Tarkenton Vikings Jersey . The London derby, played with rain swirling around the Emirates Stadium, failed to produce the drama expected, with few attempts on goal. "They defended well, were well organized, and we didnt find our zippy movements to play between the lines as we can," said Wenger, whose side lost 6-3 at Manchester City in its last game.
Shaun Hill Vikings Jersey . Brazil will announce a coach on Tuesday to succeed Luiz Felipe Scolari, who resigned after Brazil failed to win the World Cup -- eliminated in a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals. LOS ANGELES -- Dr. Frank Jobe, a pioneering orthopedic surgeon who was the first to perform an elbow procedure that became known as Tommy John surgery and saved the careers of countless major league pitchers, died Thursday. He was 88. Jobe died in Santa Monica after being hospitalized recently with an undisclosed illness, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jobe performed groundbreaking elbow surgery on John, a Dodgers pitcher who had a ruptured medial collateral ligament in his left elbow. The injury previously had no solution until Jobe removed a tendon from Johns forearm and repaired his elbow. John went on to pitch 14 years after the operation on Sept. 25, 1974, compiling 164 more victories without ever missing a start because of an elbow problem. "Today I lost a GREAT friend," John tweeted. Last year, the initial surgery and the relationship between John and Jobe was the subject of an ESPN documentary. "When he did come back, I thought maybe we could do it on somebody else," Jobe told The Associated Press in 2010. "I waited two years to try it on somebody else, but we had no idea we could do it again." Jobe initially estimated Johns chances of returning to the majors at less than 5 per cent. He later said 92 to 95 per cent of patients return as good, if not better, than before the surgery. The surgery has since become common practice for pitchers and players at every level of baseball, including New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, Washington star Stephen Strasburg, San Franciscos Tim Hudson and Minnesotas Francisco Liriano. Some pitchers have signed multiyear contracts just months after they have the surgery in expectation of a high-level return. Typically, full rehabilitation takes about a year for pitchers and about six months for position players. The procedure initially required four hours; now it takes about an hour. "I had no idea it would do this," Jobe told the AP. "It startles me even today that it has done that. The doctors are recognizing the condition early enough to fix it and they are learning how to do the surgery so well. They rehab it so not just the arm, but the whole body gets better." Jobe believed the advancements would continue. "You never want to say in medicine this is the end. Youre always coming up with something a little bit different," he said. "Even with Tommy John, theres people doing things slightly different. In their minds theyrre getting better.
Emmanuel Lamur Vikings Jersey. " Jobe had served the Dodgers organization for 50 years, most recently as special adviser to the chairman. The courtly Southerner attended the teams games as recently as last season, with someone on either arm escorting him. Sixteen years after saving Johns career, Jobe reconstructed the right shoulder of former Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser, another procedure that had never been successfully performed on a major league pitcher. "He change my life!! Gave me back my career!!" tweeted Hershiser, a former Dodgers great. "I will miss him and I am eternally grateful!!!" Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig saluted Jobe for revolutionizing sports medicine. "His wisdom elevated not only the Dodgers, the franchise he served proudly for a half-century, but all of our clubs," Selig said in a statement. "Dr. Jobes expertise, as well as his enthusiasm to mentor his peers, made the national pastime stronger." Since 1974, Jobe had performed hundreds of Tommy John surgeries on pitchers. Jobe co-founded the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic along with the late Dr. Robert Kerlan in 1965. They supervised the medical treatment for the Dodgers and Angels, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks, as well as other pro and amateur athletes around the country. "His dedication and professionalism in not only helping the Dodgers, but athletes around the world is unparalleled," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "He was a medical giant and pioneer and many athletes in the past and the future can always thank Frank for finding a way to continue their careers." Jobe had also been the orthopedic consultant for the PGA Tour for more than 25 years. Last July, the Baseball Hall of Fame honoured Jobe during its induction weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., with John in attendance. Born in Greensboro, N.C., in 1925, Jobe joined Army at 18 and served as a medical staff sergeant in the Armys 101st Airborne Division during World War II. After the war, Jobe completed his undergraduate degree at La Sierra University and went on to attend medical school at Loma Linda University. After serving a residency at Los Angeles County Hospital, Jobe teamed with Kerlan to specialize in the new field of sports medicine. Jobe is survived by wife Beverly, sons Christopher, Meredith, Cameron and Blair, and eight grandchildren. The family said plans for a memorial were pending.
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