Jukebox » Drew Brees sent both Saints and Buccaneers

(SportsNetwork.com) - After putting an emphatic close on their six-game losing streak, the Minnesota Wild hope to pick up consecutive wins on Saturday night for the first time in nearly two months as they host the Arizona Coyotes. The Wild could also turn to a former Coyotes netminder as they try for their first winning streak since a four-game run from Nov. 13-20. Minnesota ended an 0-5-1 skid with a 7-0 thrashing of the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. The victory came in the debut of Devan Dubnyk, who turned aside all 18 shots faced just one day after being acquired in a trade with Arizona. Dubnyk picked up his second shutout of the season and 10th of his career. He had gone 9-5-2 with a 2.72 goals against average and .916 save percentage in 19 games with the Coyotes, outplaying No. 1 Mike Smith in net. Smith, though, is signed through 2018-19 with a $5.67 million cap hit. so the struggling Coyotes opted to move Dubnyk for a 2015 third-round pick. Minnesota was in need of goaltending help with Niklas Backstrom struggling and Darcy Kuemper out with an undisclosed injury. The Wild made sure to give Dubnyk plenty of support, with seven different skaters scoring a goal. It was great. There were some nerves at the start, but the guys made it easy on me right from the drop of the puck, noted Dubnyk. They were working and really just controlling the play for the entire game. That was probably one of the most complete games that Ive been a part of from start to finish. Dubnyk could get the call against his former team tonight and is 2-6-2 in 11 previous meetings (10 starts) with a 3.26 GAA and .900 save percentage. While Dubnyk probably cant count on another seven goals of support, the Wild had to be glad that their offense was able to pot more than three tallies in a game for the first time since a 6-5 overtime loss to Nashville on Dec. 20. Zach Parise, Kyle Brodziak, Thomas Vanek and Erik Haula all posted a goal and an assist, while Jason Pominville had three assists for Minnesota. The Wild moved to 3-8-4 in their past 15 games despite key defenseman Ryan Suter serving the first contest of a two-game suspension for an elbow to the head of Pittsburghs Steve Downie on Tuesday. The Coyotes, meanwhile, kick off an eight-game road trip after losing the final three games of a 2-4-0 homestand. They closed out the residency with Thursdays 4-1 setback to the Calgary Flames, who scored three goals in the third period. Arizona has been outscored 55-25 in the third period this season. Mikkel Boedker extended his goal-scoring streak to a career-high straight four games, while Smith made 21 saves. Its not worth talking about one person when youre losing or when youre winning. Were a team, Boedker said. Smith, who is now backed up by Michael Lee, is 4-7-1 versus the Wild with a 2.12 GAA and .914 save percentage. The Wild have won four in a row over the Coyotes, including a 4-3 shootout victory in Arizona on Dec. 13. Custom Chargers Jerseys . Marie rink got back in the win column at the Olympic mens curling tournament with a 7-4 win over the host Russian squad on Wednesday. Mike Pouncey Chargers Jersey . Brazilian striker Brandao opened the scoring with a header in the 55th minute before winger Franck Tabanou volleyed home from close range to double the lead in the 61st. http://www.chargersprofansshop.com/Black...ey.html?cat=938. Jacob Jacques, Andrew Ryan and Jonathan Drouin also scored for Halifax (37-18-3), who outshot the Islanders 40-26. Kevin Darveau stopped 25 shots. Bradley Kennedy had the lone goal for Charlottetown (18-33-5), which has nine losses in its last 10 games. Caleb Sturgis Jersey . "Right now were kind of looking at him at the end of the rotation right now," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Not indicative of how hes doing or how hes feeling. 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Halak, 28, split his eighth NHL seasons between the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, compiling a 29-13-7 record in 52 games.TAMPA, Fla. - Drew Brees sent both Saints and Buccaneers fans home happy.The New Orleans quarterback did his part to ensure Tampa Bay picks first in next springs NFL draft, shrugging off mistake after mistake to lead a second-half comeback to beat the Bucs 23-20 on Sunday.An announced crowd of 59,952 was a mixture of Saints fans who had hoped their team would still have something to play for in the regular-season finale, along with Bucs faithful who watched the home team surprisingly build a 13-point halftime lead that held through the third quarter.By the end, New Orleans fans were cheering, while Tampa Bay backers hoping the Bucs will use the No. 1 overall pick on a potential franchise quarterback were relieved.Any time we play, our DNA needs to be were playing to win, New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. You just cant turn it on, turn it off some of the time. Obviously, the season hasnt been anything like we had hoped for, or our fans had hoped for, and yet I think it was important that we found a way to finish it on a good note.As promised, Bucs coach Lovie Smith gave more playing time than usual to some of his younger players, particularly in the second half.With the lead if you play pretty good defence you should be able to hold onto that, Smith said. They made a couple big plays at the end.Brees shrugged off three interceptions — two of them stopping promising third-quarter drives — to throw for 281 yards. His 36-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston gave the Saints (7-9) their first lead with 1:57 remaining. Linebacker Junior Galette sacked Josh McCown for a safety that provided the final margin.Doug Martin rushed for a season-best 108 yards and rookie Mike Evans set a Tampa Bay record with his 12th touchdown reception for the Bucs (2-14), who went 0-8 at home and 0-6 against NFC South rivals.I dont think anybody tanked it. We played the guys we played to rotate guys in and give them a look, McCown said. As far as players are concerned, the draft, that stuuff is not relevant as far to how were playing.dddddddddddd. We execute the plays that are called. We competed hard and thats the main thing. Got a chance to evaluate some younger guys as we build this thing.Mark Ingram scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter, trimming New Orleans deficit to 20-14. Keenan Lewis interception and return to the 50 led to Brees TD pass to Colston to make it 21-20.The Saints were eliminated from playoff contention by last weeks 30-14 loss to Atlanta, leaving the Falcons and Carolina Panthers to play for the NFC South title.Even though New Orleans had little to gain by playing Brees in the finale, Payton emphasized during the week that the Saints were playing to win.Smith said the same, even though a victory might have hurt the teams draft position. The Bucs began the day tied for the worst record in the league with Tennessee, which dropped its finale to Indianapolis.Coming into the game we were going to get a good pick and nothing really changed, Smith said. I know were in a little better position. When youre down there thats one consolation, I guess, from the season weve had.In building a 20-7 halftime lead, the Bucs outgained the leagues No. 1 offence 248 yards to 118, including a whopping 148-89 advantage on the ground, where both Martin and rookie Charles Sims were effective.It flipped after halftime, with the Saints rolling up 220 yards to Tampa Bays 32.NOTES: Evans and Vincent Jackson caught passes on the first two plays of the game, making them the first tandem of Bucs receivers to top 1,000 yards in the same season. Its the fourth straight 1,000-yard season — third with Tampa Bay — for Jackson, who left the game later in the first quarter and did not return. ... Colstons TD reception was his 68th from Brees, giving them sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list for most TD pass plays by a quarterback-wide receiver combination.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '