Interior » "Get our offence off the field and then try to wear

NASHVILLE -- Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne cant wait to test himself in a game. The Predators, who announced Wednesday that they are sending Rinne to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, are cautiously waiting to see if the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist can help them chase down a playoff berth. Both Rinne and the team will have a better idea of where he is after the conditioning assignment for games Friday and likely Sunday in this latest step in his recovery from an E. coli infection in his surgically repaired left hip. Rinne has been limited to only nine games this season. Coach Barry Trotz said the Predators will be monitoring Rinne after each practice and game. "Hes at a point where weve got to find out where he is game-wise and also body and mind," Trotz said of Rinne. The Predators start a five-game home stand Thursday night hosting Tampa Bay just four points back of the Western Conferences eighth and final playoff spot with 23 games remaining. They missed the playoffs last year for only the second time in nine seasons. How quickly Rinne rejoins them depends on how he fares in Milwaukee. Rinne practiced with the Predators on Wednesday before travelling to Milwaukee, and he called this a big day with doctors giving him the green light for the latest step in his long recovery. He has been sidelined since Oct. 24 for an infection in the hip surgically repaired May 9, and Rinne said hes focusing on getting his game back and help the Predators. "So far I feel really comfortable," Rinne said. "Im happy how things have gone in practice and how things have gone so far. I think Im actually a little bit surprised its been going so well. But like I said, its still a process but for sure I feel like Im really close to game shape and now its just a final couple of games before I jump on the ice with the Nashville team." Rinne, 31, is sixth in the NHL with 152 wins since the 2008-09 season and has 30 shutouts since 2008-09, which leads all goalies during that time. He hasnt played since Oct. 22 in a 2-0 loss at Minnesota. He is 4-4-1 with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. The Predators have played four other goalies this season trying to make up for Rinnes absence. Currently, Carter Hutton is their starter, and he is 13-9-4 with a .904 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average. Trotz said what theyve been missing without Rinne is a game-changer who can mean the difference in as many as 20 points in the standings each season. "Hes an elite goaltender and steals games maybe when you dont deserve it," Trotz said. "He can steal points." Trotz said theyre not sure what theyll see from Rinne. "Its not about Pekka coming back and being a saviour," Trotz said. "I think its Pekka coming back and adding to our mix. And if he can get his game to the level close to what hes capable of, were a better hockey team plain and simple. To me, its about Pekka for hopefully the next five or six years. Hes a difference maker." Captain Shea Weber, who practiced with the Predators on Wednesday after helping Canada win the Olympic gold medal Sunday in Sochi, said the Predators are definitely excited about the prospect of Rinne returning to the lineup as they try to chase down a playoff spot. "Weve been through a lot this year and to see what position we put ourselves in here four points out coming in its not going to be easy by any means," Weber said. "If anyone can do it, we can." Air Force 1 Just Do It Prix .com) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were among the third-round winners Friday at the French Open. Fausse Nike Air Force One . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same. http://www.airforce1justdoit.fr/air-presto-pas-cher-france.html . Gough finished in fourth, 0.433 seconds behind American Erin Hamlin, who took the bronze medal at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rzhanaya Polyana. Nike Air Force Just Do It Acheter . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. Air Force One Noir Pas Cher .200. His solution to his hitting woes was business in the front and a party in the back."That would be a mullet," Norris says.HAMILTON - Saskatchewan will have a new quarterback but Orlondo Steinauer is expecting the same old Roughriders. The Riders will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday afternoon without veteran Darian Durant under centre. He suffered a season-ending elbow injury in last weekends 30-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, meaning backup Tino Sunseri will start at Tim Hortons Field. Catch the game on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 starting at 1pm et/10am pt. The loss of a starting quarterback can be catastrophic to an offence but Saskatchewan boasts the CFLs top rushing attack (150.6 yards per game). And thats exactly what Steinauer, Hamiltons defensive co-ordinator, is preparing his unit to face. "Theyre going to be who they are," he said. "Theyre going to come out and establish the run. "Theyre going to take their shots to the end zone. Theyre not a conservative passing-game team. Theyre going to attack us and theyre going to do what they do. What they have going for them is theyre (the defending Grey Cup) champions, right? They have enough people in that locker room that have won where Im sure theyre just looking at this as a small obstacle." Sunseri has seen limited action this year, completing 13-of-25 passes for 152 yards and a TD. Durant led the Riders to their season-opening 31-10 win over Hamilton in a rematch of the 2013 Grey Cup game, which saw the Riders beat the Ticats 45-23 at Mosaic Stadium on Nov. 24. But Hamilton has more to worry about than the absence of Durant. Ticats starter Zach Collaros was sacked 10 times in the season opener while Saskatchewan running back Anthony Allen ran for 158 yards and scored two TDs (one rush, one catch) in that game. "We made a lot of changes up front (offensively) and were playing pretty well up front," Hamilton head coach Kent Austin said when asked about the season opener. "I think for the most part weve shored that situation up." Collaros suffered a concussion in Hamiltons second game of the season, a 28-24 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on July 4 that forced him to miss five contests. But Collaros feels hes come a loong way since the first meeting with Saskatchewan.dddddddddddd "I think overall Ive got a better understanding (of the offence) and I know for myself I feel more comfortable," said Collaros, who will play just his third game since his return. "Im able to react a little more because Im not thinking as much . . . I think weve gotten better as a unit." Saskatchewan (8-2) has won seven straight to stand second in the West Division behind the Calgary Stampeders (9-1). Hamilton (2-7) is third in the East Division, just two points behind the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes. A second-place finish is imperative in the East as its very likely the fourth-place finisher in the West will cross over and secure the third and final Eastern playoff spot. Hamilton surrendered 31 second-half points last weekend en route to a 38-31 road loss in Montreal. Austin said time of possession will be key against the Roughriders. "Theyre going to try to control the line of scrimmage," said Austin. "Get our offence off the field and then try to wear you down with their offence . . . Its not just their offence running the football effectively (that wears down a team). "Its their defence getting offences off the field so theres fewer possessions. What happens is your defence gets worn out over the course of the game and it starts to show up later in the game. So weve got to do a good job offensively of staying on the football field." With Durant injured the Riders signed Keith Price, a former University of Washington star who was released by the NFLs Seattle Seahawks. The football community in Hamilton is mourning the loss of Paul Weiler, who served as Pigskin Pete from 1976 to 2006. He died Wednesday at the age of 80. Weiler never got to see the Ticats play at their new stadium but missed only one game during his tenure leading the Ticats faithful into their traditional "Oskee-Wee-Wee" chant. Note to readers: This is a corrected version of an earlier story. The Roughriders will play the Tiger-Cats on Sunday afternoon, not Saturday night as previously stated. ' ' '