Neues » CSA has a long-term strategy

WASHINGTON -- Check two more items off the list in an impressive homestretch by the Boston Bruins. Jonathan Ogden Jersey . They are now Atlantic Division champions, and Jarome Iginla has recovered from his slow start to reach 30 goals once again. Boston accomplished those feats Saturday against the Washington Capitals, a desperate team whose first and foremost goal -- making the playoffs for a seventh straight season -- looked a bit more distant after Saturdays 4-2 loss. "We need these wins so bad," Washington defenceman Karl Alzner said, "that sometimes you overplay. It can be a big problem that can really mess your game up." And its not a good idea to mess up against the Bruins, who have won 14 of 15 and have allowed only 13 goals over 11 games. Iginla scored twice, and Carl Soderberg added a goal to give Boston a 3-0 lead in the second period, more than enough to hold off a surge from a Washington team that woke up too late. The Bruins had already clinched a playoff spot, so the division title didnt create so much as a celebratory ripple in the locker room. "We dont even talk about that. I wasnt even -- I knew there was something that would happen if we won tonight, but we find out now weve clinched and thats fine," coach Claude Julien said. "Again, weve got an opportunity to do even more than that." Patrice Bergeron added a third-period goal to extend his goal-scoring streak to a career-high six games, and Chad Johnson made 31 saves. Iginla reached the 30-goal mark for the 12th time, a nice comeback after scoring only four in the first 24 games this season. "When you look at the start he had, nobody would have predicted that," Julien said. "But hes a pretty streaky goal-scorer." Iginla now has 10 goals in nine games. "Ive been getting some good bounces lately, and its been a fun year," he said. "Fun to win games and be at the top of the league, and to be on some streaks as a group." Washington began the day tied with Columbus, Detroit and Toronto in what has essentially become a four-way race for two playoff spots, but the Capitals would lose a tiebreaker against all three teams. The Bruins gave the Capitals top-rated power play only three chances, and they corralled Alex Ovechkin enough to keep the NHLs leading goal scorer in a 5-on-5 slump. Ovechkin has 48 goals this season, but hasnt scored at even-strength since Feb. 27. The Capitals had no shots on goal in the first 6 minutes and only two after 14 minutes. The game was scoreless after the first period solely because of goalie Braden Holtby, but he could hold down the fort for only so long. A turnover at centre ice allowed Soderberg to spring Iginla for a breakaway that opened the scoring in the second period. A few minutes later, Soderberg redirected an already deflected shot by Bergeron on a power play to make it 2-0, and Iginla made it a three-goal lead by stuffing in his own rebound 41 seconds later. Washington coach Adam Oates said he was "shocked" at how poorly his team started. "I thought our forechecking was lousy," Oates said. When the Capitals finally turned up the intensity, it came from the third line that has led the team in recent weeks. Jason Chimera put Washington on the board with 10 seconds remaining in the second period, and a dominant shift by Chimeras line drew a penalty on Andrej Meszaros in the third. But the Capitals couldnt score during the man-advantage, and soon the Bruins had a power play of their own. With Ovechkin off for charging, Bergeron put in a rebound to restore the three-goal cushion. Oates said the penalty on Ovechkin was a "terrible" call. "I dont like the call, but he called it," Oates said. "He saw something that I dont agree with now, but our job is to kill it." NOTES: Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his second NHL goal in the final minute. ... Capitals D Jack Hillen sat out with an upper-body injury sustained in a collision with Ovechkin during overtime of Tuesdays loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Hillen was replaced by John Erskine, who had been out with a lower-body injury and played for the first time since March 5. ... The Capitals are the last team to beat the Bruins in regulation, a 4-2 win on March 1. Since then, Boston has outscored opponents 54-20 in non-shootout goals. Hayden Hurst Jersey . The attacking midfielder arrives on a free transfer from Spains Malaga. The 28-year-old joins Scottish striker Kenny Miller and Argentine midfielder Matias Laba as designated players on the Whitecaps roster. Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . PAUL, Minn. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/Youth-marquise-brown-ravens-jersey/ . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena.VANCOUVER -- Victor Montagliani, president of the Canadian Soccer Association, says its misinformation and hyperbole to claim women players are being discriminated against because of plans to use artificial turf at next years FIFA Womens World Cup. FIFA, soccers world governing body, will make the final decision on what turf will be used during next years championship, which will be played in six Canadian cities, Montagliani said Thursday. But he took exception to comments contained in a letter that the CSA was involved in "discriminatory treatment of women players." "I will say that is the biggest form of misinformation I have ever heard in my life," Montagliani said in an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade. "Those of you who know me, know that there would be a few more adjectives before that." Later, addressing reporters, Montagliani again denied any sort of discrimination against women. "Thats nothing but misinformation and typical hyperbole that has no room in the game," he said. The World Cup will attract 23 nations plus host Canada. The competition will see 52 matches between June 6 and July 5. BC Place Stadium in Vancouver will be the site of nine matches, including the final. Other games will be held in Moncton, N.B., Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton. A group of 40 international women soccer players have threatened a lawsuit over the plan to use artificial turf at the stadiums. They argue female athletes are being discriminated against because the mens World Cup is played on natural grass. The group includes stars like American Abby Wambach and Germans Nadine Angerer, the World Player of the year. Artificial turf is harder and faster than grass. It also has been linked to an increase in injury. The group sent a letter to Canadian soccer officials and FIFA. "Singling out this womens tournament for substandard treatment is a mistake," the letter says. "If your organizations will not engage in a meaningful dialogue on how to correct the discriminatory treatment of women players, we are prepared to pursue legal action which we are confident should succeed." Celebrities such as actor Tom Hanks and NBA superstars Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant have lent their support to the women. Montagliani said the CSA currently spends just over $4 million a year on the womens program, about twice the amount spent on the mens program. "The reality is werre very proud of the investment we make on the womens side of the game," he said. Jaylon Ferguson Womens Jersey. "We might be the only federation that invests more in the womens game than we do the mens game. "To say we are not pulling our weight in that respect is nothing further from the truth." Sophie Schmidt, a national team veteran and member of the squad that won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, also spoke at the event but was careful in her comments when asked if organizers should be forced to use natural grass. "I will say Im pretty sure that every soccer player of any age wants to play on grass," she said. Montagliani couldnt say if it was even possible to install natural grass at the six stadiums in the time remaining before the tournament begins. "Im not a technician," he said. "Thats not my expertise. Those are things that are in the bailiwick of FIFA." Another issue would be who would pay for the cost of grass fields, the CSA or FIFA. "Those are discussions that would have to happen," Montagliani said. He denied the turf issue is a distraction. "Its not a distraction to us," Montagliani said. "As organizers we are doing our daily job. "Our staff is doing their daily job, our team is preparing for the World Cup." The CSA says hosting the World Cup and this years U-20 championship have a combined economic impact of $337 million across the country. The projections, compiled by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, predict the World Cup will generate $267 million in economic activity. British Columbia can expect $52 million in economic impact, of which $37 million will be in Vancouver. Montagliani said the CSA is considering bidding for the 2026 mens World Cup. To be successful, the country would need eight venues to host games. "To say a country like Canada doesnt have the infrastructure to do that or to invest in that, I find that highly doubtful," he said. One stumbling block for bidding could be the Canadians mens team struggles to qualify for the World Cup. Montagliani said the CSA has a long-term strategy to make the mens program a contender. He also pointed to Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup while taking a swipe at Brazils 7-1 loss to Germany in this years semifinal. "Qatar doesnt really have much of a mens team," he said. "I dont think Brazil actually had much of one either." ' ' '