Sunderland’s survival was confirmed with a game to spare following their 3-0 win over Everton at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. Paul Richardson Redskins Jersey . That hadnt seemed likely in November when the Black Cats had capitulated 6-2 against the same opposition to leave them with six points from the first 11 games.But Sam Allardyce used the transfer window to great effect with the signings of Lamine Kone, Wahbi Khazri and Jan Kirchhoff proving pivotal. Sunderland safe as Toon drop Sunderland secured their Premier League status with a 3-0 victory over Everton. I think the contribution of the players we got in January was really big for this team to come out of trouble, Allardyce told Sky Sports after the game. Heres why…Lamine KoneKone was the goalscoring hero on the night with two of Sunderlands three goals and the first of which was a strike that Jermain Defoe would have been proud of - the 27-year-old Ivorian blasting the ball beyond Joel Robles to settle the nerves at the Stadium of Light.But its defensively that Kone has had the biggest impact. Sunderland have lost only 21 per cent of the games that the centre-back has played this season compared to 64 per cent without him - and the key to that has been the teams improved defensive solidity. Sam Allardyce talks to Sky Sports after securing Sunderlands safety In the 14 games prior to Kones inclusion in the line-up, Allardyces side conceded an average of more than two goals per game - 30 in total. In the 14 games hes started since, Sunderland have let in only 14 goals.With Kone coming in, were becoming a team thats very difficult to break down, Allardyce told Sky Sports. And thats giving us a platform to win games.Jan KirchhoffKirchhoffs impact wasnt quite so immediate. He endured a woeful debut against Tottenham, appearing ill-prepared for the speed and physicality of the Premier League. But the £750,000 signing from Bayern Munich adapted quickly in a holding midfield role. Kirchhoffs tackling Jan Kirchhoff has averaged 4.2 tackles per 90 minutes, more than any other Sunderland player this season. Its like playing with a third centre-back, Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. Hes made a massive difference in there. The statistics support that view with Kirchhoff having more touches per game and making more tackles per game than any other Sunderland player. Jan Kirchhoff was delighted after Sunderlands 3-0 win against Everton I just love the way he plays, said former Sunderland forward Niall Quinn. He doesnt shirk any responsibility, he makes the tackles if they need to be made. He does that hard side of the game really well and hes a stylish player.Allardyce agreed when discussing the player with Carragher and Quinn afterwards. He explained: In midfield weve got stronger. Jan Kirchhoff coming in and sitting and intercepting has kept the pressure off the back four. Wahbi Khazri scored a stunning goal against Chelsea and has had a big impact Wahbi KhazriFor all the platform provided by Kone and Kirchhoff, Defoe still needed help at the other end of the pitch if Sunderland were to score the goals to take them to safety. Invention was lacking and Khazri was the man who helped to deliver it. Sunderland chances created Player Chances created per 90 Wahbi Khazri 2.3 Yann MVila 1.3 Sebastian Larsson 1.3 Jeremain Lens 1.3 The former Bordeaux winger was the last of the trio to arrive but he soon became a fan favourite. Khazri has created more chances per game than any other Sunderland player. The end product was there when it mattered too. It was Khazris stunning goal against Chelsea last weekend that helped to spark Sunderland to life in the 3-2 victory at the Stadium of Light. Four days on and the teams safety was confirmed, thanks in no small part to three huge January signings. Also See: Allardyce: Its pretty miraculous Sunderland safe as Toon drop Jonathan Allen Redskins Jersey . - Doug Kalitta led Top Fuel qualifying Friday in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway with a 3. Alex Smith Redskins Jersey . The team announced the defensive coordinator will not be offered a contract extension. http://www.authenticshopredskins.com/Authentic_Troy_Apke_Redskins_Jersey/ . The 27-year-old hit .209 in 86 at-bats last year after missing the 2010 season following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. LOS ANGELES -- Jonathan Quicks Olympic goaltending audition for U.S. national team coach Dan Bylsma ended after three Pittsburgh goals in one rocky period. All that proves to Bylsma is that his Penguins are awfully good. Jussi Jokinen had a goal and two assists in the first period, Evgeni Malkin scored in the opening minute, and Pittsburgh chased Quick early in a 4-1 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. Chris Kunitz and Tanner Glass both scored in their second straight game for the Penguins, who opened a two-game West Coast road trip with the franchises first regulation victory at Staples Center. Former Kings farmhand Jeff Zatkoff made 30 saves in the Eastern Conference leaders fourth win in five games. Quick didnt exactly make a stellar argument to Bylsma for the starting job in Sochi, giving up three goals on the Penguins first five shots before Martin Jones replaced him for the final two periods. Quick is competing with Detroits Jimmy Howard and Buffalos Ryan Miller, who was beaten 3-0 by the Penguins on Monday. "Its one game I get to see live, but ... Ive seen a lot of him," Bylsma said of Quick. "Its not a good outing for him, but hes got a body of work thats more than just this game." Quick was hurt by the NHLs best power play: Kunitz scored his career-high 27th goal on a two-man advantage, and Jokinen added his 16th moments later. Quick has started 13 of the Kings 14 games since returning from a 24-game injury absence. "If you give any team a 5-on-3, theyre going to create chances," Quick said. "They get one there, and then they get a 2-on-1 where they beat me over the shoulder. At that point, were not out of the game. We just couldnt get it together enough to get a couple (of goals)." Jokinen, a Finnish Olympian, had been in a three-game scoring drought in an otherwise stellar season. He credited this outburst to his mothers rare chance to see him play live: Most of the Penguins mothers are travelling with the club on this short trip. "I had a good first period, so I probably have to fly my mother here more than once a year,," Jokinen said. Troy Apke Jersey. . Anze Kopitar scored his third goal in five games for the Kings, but those are the only goals scored in the last nine days by the Kings, who have lost seven of eight. The Kings had played their last eight games away from Staples Center, including last weekends "home" game at Dodger Stadium. Theyve got a four-game homestand heading into the Olympic break, but still havent solved their scoring woes. "They are a high-powered team," Los Angeles defenceman Matt Greene said. "Its tough to come back when you arent scoring a lot of goals, and when you give up two on the penalty kill. Its tough chasing in a game against a team like this." The Staples Center crowd gave a reasonably warm welcome to Pittsburgh defenceman Rob Scuderi, who anchored the Kings defence during their Stanley Cup championship run in 2012 before leaving Los Angeles as a free agent last summer. But the high-scoring Penguins decisively won their matchup against the NHLs best defensive team, and they did it early. Just 53 seconds in, Jokinen made a spectacular no-look pass across the crowded crease to Malkin for his 15th goal. Kopitar evened it with a rocket of a shot from the faceoff circle midway through the period for the 16th goal by Slovenias only NHL Olympian. After Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown were hit with penalties at the same time, Kunitz scored in front of Quick after tic-tac-toe passing from Jokinen and Sidney Crosby. Jokinen put the Penguins up 3-1 just 57 seconds later, ripping a one-timer past Quicks glove. Glass beat Jones with a sharp-angled backhand late in the second period for his fourth goal. "We were confident all along," Glass said. "We had a great start. Our power play was awesome, and then we were stingy when we had to be." NOTES: Pittsburgh scratched D Kris Letang with an illness. ... Jones and Zatkoff were AHL teammates from 2010-12. ... Pittsburgh hadnt visited Staples Center since Nov. 5, 2011, when Kunitz scored a late tying goal and the shootout winner. ... 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