Der Marktplatz » need to be patient with him

OTTAWA -- Derek Stepan felt like he shed a huge weight Saturday afternoon. The New York Rangers centre had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators ending a 13-game goal-scoring drought. Stepans last goal was Dec. 20th. "Its a big relief," admitted Stepan. "I dont know for whatever reason throughout the year you go through these little dips and gullys and you have to find a way to just get through it. Its like the old saying of getting a monkey off your back." While the goal will definitely help Stepan feel better about his game, he said picking up the two assists were just as important. "It definitely helps with confidence," said Stepan. "Confidence is a tricky thing in this sport. When you seem to find a little bit of it you have to try and build off that momentum." Winners of five of their last six and holding a playoff spot have the Rangers feeling good about their game and they want to continue to improve. "Weve been talking about it as a group that points for the rest of the year are huge," said Stepan. "This one was no different." Brad Richards, Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello also scored for the Rangers (26-21-3). Cam Talbot was solid in goal stopping 27 shots for his 10th win of the season. Marc Methot scored the lone goal for Ottawa (21-19-9) as Craig Anderson stopped 26 shots. The loss put an end to the Senators eight-game (6-0-2) point streak. Ottawa is 1-4-2 on home ice when having to play midday. This one was no different. The last time the Senators won at home in the afternoon was Nov. 9 against the Florida Panthers, which also happens to be the last time they held a playoff spot. "I dont know what it is," said Clarke MacArthur. "To even talk about it is just an excuse. We have to be ready. The other teams come in here ready at two so we have to find a way to be better." Giveaways proved to be extremely costly for Ottawa as the Rangers scored twice on two terrible ones. "It happens to all of us once in a while," said Marc Methot of the giveaways. "Unfortunately it happened a few times (Saturday)." Zuccarello took advantage of a giveaway by Chris Phillips near centre ice and broke in alone on Anderson. He caught Anderson out of position to make it 4-1 New York late in the third. While the Senators were managing to hold on during the game despite their sluggish play a late goal in the second proved to be the back breaker. With 11.5 seconds remaining Erik Karlsson went to pass the puck back behind his own net but put it directly on Stepans stick. Stepan beat Anderson shortside to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead and disappoint the 19,978 on hand at Canadian Tire Centre. "It was a momentum swing for sure," said Ottawas coach Paul MacLean of giving up the late goal. "Instead of getting out of the period down one, youre down two. It gives momentum to the other team going into the room and now you have to work even harder coming out of the room to start the period to get something going." MacLean said he didnt feel any need to talk to Karlsson as a mistake that blatant is sure to have an effect on any player. Earlier in the period Nash picked up his 12th of the season, as he broke in alone on Anderson and roofed the puck high. "It was a great play by Stepan," said Nash. "The puck rolled on me a bit, but youll take them any way you can get them." Ottawa had gotten off to a decent start with Methot scoring his fourth, tying a career high, to take a 1-0 lead, but midway through the period the Rangers tied it with a power-play goal. With a two-man advantage Stepan made a cross-crease pass to Richards who went high on a kneeling Anderson. "We started the game well and set ourselves up for a good hockey game," said Karlsson. "We just couldnt pull through for 60 minutes. We were a little bit too sloppy with the puck making plays." Saturdays game marked the first of three meetings between the two teams this season. Ottawa had claimed five straight overall against New York in the regular-season series, including the last three in Ottawa. Notes: D Patrick Wiercioch, D Joe Corvo and LW Matt Kassian were a healthy scratch for the Senators. RW Chris Neil returned to the lineup after missing the last six games with a lower-body injury. ... D Justin Falk was a healthy scratch for the Rangers. Nike Air Max 270 Triple White Womens . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. Air Max 270 Mens Sale . -- Canadian mens rugby coach Kieran Crowley has made four changes to his starting roster for Saturdays Pacific Nations Cup clash against the United States. http://www.max270cheap.com/nike-men-s-ai...ao4971-001.html. Off-season additions Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley did not train with the club today, prompting Nelsen to declare its too early to tell if either will be ready for Saturday. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 China . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. Air Max 270 Wholesale . Louis still looking for a way out of Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old NHL veteran isnt showing his cards. MONTREAL -- A day before heading to Florida to continue training camp, the Montreal Impact picked up a new captain and a new striker. Veteran midfielder Patrice Bernier will be a popular choice to replace the departed Davy Arnaud as captain, not only because he is a local player and fluently bilingual. "Hes always very positive in his attitude around the team," sporting director Nick De Santis said Thursday. "And even in difficult times, you never see the pressure get to him. These are important things." And Santiago Gonzalez, a 21-year-old forward from the Sud America club in Uruguay, who was signed under Major League Soccers special discovery rule, could be a nice addition to a club that is thin up front. The Impact ended their first phase of camp indoors at Marie Victorin College and now move onto grass fields and warm weather in Orlando, Fla., to defend their title in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic, a pre-season tournament. Bernier, of Brossard, Que., was hoping to get the captains armband after Arnaud, their skipper for their first two MLS seasons who left for D.C. United. New coach Frank Klopas picked veterans Marco Di Vaio, Matteo Ferrari and Troy Perkins as Berniers assistants. The 34-year-old Bernier began his pro career with the Impact, then played nine seasons in Europe before returning for the clubs MLS expansion season in 2012. "Its another step in my career and a new challenge in terms of my personality and what I have to do, not just on the field, but how to interact with my teammates," said Bernier "I started off here and hopefully I end here. Now, to have the armband, its a great show of respect." Luring Bernier back from Europe was one of the Impacts most important moves while moving from the second tier NASL to MLS. It gave them a high quality midfielder who understood North American soccer but who could also relate to the many European, especially Italian, players the club brought in. Bernier has 13 goals and 16 assists in 58 games over the last two seasons. He was named the Impacts player of the year in 2012 and played in the MLS all-star game last season. Arnaud arrived with the experience and credentials to make him the logical pick as the teaams first MLS captain, and Bernier was the obvious pick to succeed him.dddddddddddd Even while Arnaud wore the armband, Bernier was the teams most visible player in the media and out in the community. "Maybe now Ill be looked upon as the reflection of the team in what I say and what I do," he said. "Ill be the same guy as before, but maybe you have to stand out. "Its something special. In soccer, the captain is the first one to step onto the field, the first one that people see, that the referees go to for explanations or rectifications or whatever. So I cant just think of my own bubble anymore." Star striker Di Vaio had a little fun when asked about Bernier as captain. "I dont agree. I wanted to be captain," he said, before smiling and adding "No. Its good for us and its good for Patrice. Its the best thing for the team. We know that Patrice is going to be a good captain for us, for the club and for the fans." Bernier has been unable to join his teammates on the field since the first day of camp as he heals from surgery on Dec. 11 to fix loose cartilage in his right knee. He expects to resume full training in Florida. Also on the pitch in Orlando will be Gonzalez, who was in Montreal and was to make the flight with a team after undergoing a medical exam. De Santis said that as a special discovery player, the club can amortize the five-foot-eight forwards costs over several years, so that his salary cap hit stays between $125,000 and $150,000. He is also not a designated player, which leaves one DP spot open for a future signing. Di Vaio and Argentine midfielder Hernan Bernardello are the teams DPs. "Hes going to bring a new dynamic to the team," said De Santis. "Theres a question of adaptation because its the first time he leaves his country to play professional soccer, so we need to be patient with him. But hes got a lot for good qualities." De Santis also denied reports from Italy that Pablo Piatti of Valencia and Stefano Mauri of Lazio would be joining the Impact, saying hes had no contact with either club. He said he may still sign another player "if we can add an important piece to get you to the next level." ' ' '