Funkerstation » Auburn player Michael Johnson

It would be convenient to point to the Steven Stamkos injury as a major reason the Tampa Bay Lightning are struggling, but it doesnt explain the entire story.Of course, losing their captain and offensive superstar hurts the Lightning, especially since he had been playing some of his best hockey in two years before the injury. But the Bolts have been a resilient bunch that was able to survive key injuries before. Tampa Bay reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last season, and the Lightning were without Stamkos until the final game of that series.Weve been able to do it in the past, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman told ESPN.com on Tuesday. Even with Stammer or other players being injured, weve been able to generate offense, get enough production and ultimately play well defensively and keep the puck out of our net to win games.A popular preseason pick to challenge for the Stanley Cup, the Lightning have lost seven of their past eight games and sit 12 points behind the Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens. The Stamkos injury aside, Tampa Bays slide is puzzling. This is a deep, talented lineup with a great coaching staff, a team that reached the Cup finals two years ago and fell one win short of a return trip last season.We need to get a bit more offensive production out of our top-nine forwards, said Yzerman. We need more out of them. But mostly, its our play defensively as a team that has to improve. Thats what is hurting us the most.The ingredients are there. But as Yzerman said, it starts with a better defensive effort.Were not going to win many 6-5 games, said Yzerman. Were falling in some categories -- our penalty killing is dropping, our goals against, our shots against. Were in the bottom half of the league now in those three categories, and those categories have to be good in order to win.Goalie Ben Bishop is not playing nearly as well as he was last season, and I cant help but wonder if the pending unrestricted free agent isnt distracted by his cloudy future. He almost was traded to the?Calgary Flames?last June, a deal that fell through because he couldnt come to terms on a contract agreement with the Flames. The Bolts then signed younger goalie?Andrei Vasilevskiy to an extension during the offseason. The writings on the wall, in all likelihood, for Bishop -- whether its in the form of a trade before March 1 or simply that he will walk away as an unrestricted free agent next July 1.Bishop can only help his stock by playing better. Not only will that attract trade suitors, it will also improve his contractual leverage for his next deal if he gets back to the level he was at a year ago.Yzerman refused to single out players, but rather stressed the collective need for Tampa Bays entire roster to be better. And theres no doubt the team can be better in front of its goaltenders.In the meantime, Lightning fans would love to see their GM make a trade. Who can blame them? But as weve seen around the league during the opening few months of the season, the cap system has had a paralyzing effect on big moves. Teams are waiting until closer to the March 1 trade deadline, when some bottom-feeding clubs finally give up on the playoff chase and put players up for sale. The parity throughout the league means that almost no one has raised the white flag yet. And it takes two teams to make a trade.Were constantly looking at ways to improve our team, Yzerman said. Weve lost seven out of eight. But it really doesnt change what were trying to do or what wed like to do. We have areas wed like to address with our team, whether thats from within the organization with the players we have, or seeing if we can do that out there on the trade market. If theres something that makes sense, were prepared to do that. But its difficult to find a partner for it to make it work. Everybody has concerns about the salary cap; everyone has concerns about the expansion draft. It is difficult to make a trade.Yzerman, who keeps his cards close to the vest, wouldnt specify the teams trade needs. But Im confident that a top-four defenseman tops his wish list. Its been a missing piece for this team for quite some time. And since a bunch of other teams also covet elite D-men, theyre a prized commodity and thus difficult to get -- which means theres no guarantee that the Lightning will be able to score one before the trade deadline.But you can bet Yzerman will continue to work the phones.Again, wed like to think we know what our team needs, said Yzerman. Wed like to think we know our players well and how we can help our team improve. But as Ive said time and time again, Ive got to find someone whos willing to work with me.CM Punk Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Jonathan Toews Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. http://www.cheapblackhawkschinajerseys.com/clark-griswold-jersey/ . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Artem Anisimov Jersey . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Glenn Hall Jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that.OPELIKA, Ala. -- Angel Cabrera and Jhonattan Vegas dominated the par-5 holes in steamy conditions Thursday to share the Barbasol Championship.The 46-year-old Cabrera, from Argentina, eagled the par-5 13th on Grand Nationals Lake Course, holing a 60-footer from the fringe, and birdied the two other par 5s in a bogey-free 6-under 65.Cabrera left the course after his morning round without speaking to the media. The 2007 U.S. Open champion and 2009 Masters winner, hes one of two major champions in the field at the PGA Tour event played opposite the British Open.Vegas, from Venezuela, also eagled the 13th -- making a 20-footer -- and birdied the other par 5s in a bogey-free round. He won the 2011 Bob Hope Classic for his lone tour title.It was a great round overall, Vegas said. From the beginning all the way to the end, I felt like I did exactly what I had planned at the beginning of the day. Was able to hit the ball straight from tee, take advantage of the par 5s. I played the par 5s at 4 under, which is really good on this place. I was able to manage some missed shots that I hit to make some good pars to shoot a great round.Former Auburn player Blayne Barber was a stroke back at 66 along with Martin Laird, Ben Crane, Shawn Stefani, Matt Bettencourt, Michael Kim and Lucas Lee.Turned the heat up, Laird said about the temperature. I played nicely. The course is in good shape, so if you put it in the right spot and hit some good shots you can make some putts. I really hit the ball well tee to green today, putted solid but left a couple out there. But overall very happy.The Scot tied for seventh in Nevada two weeks ago in last start.Crane is making his first appearance in the event.This is a big boy golf course, Crane said. You ccould play a major championship here, no problem.dddddddddddd The course is in great shape, feeling great about my game and just played solid all day. Made a couple of those critical saves and just made a great up-and-down with an 8-iron on the last hole for birdie to get it to 5 under, so off to a great start.Stefani birdied four of the first five holes on his back nine, but dropped a stroke on the par-5 16th.I did a lot of great things today and, on top of that, I stayed patient and just kind of tried to play one shot at a time, Stefani said. It was nice to get off to a good start, especially in this heat. It kind of maybe started wearing on me just a little bit the last couple holes, you kind of start getting hungry, trying to eat lunch and started to get a little hotter.Former Auburn player Michael Johnson shot a 67 in his pro debut.I couldnt ask for a better way to start my career, Johnson said. It was awesome. Played with two great guys (Omar Uresti and Dawie van der Walt), which helps. It was a great day, weather was good. I thought we were going to get rained on a little bit, but everything went great.David Toms, the other major champion in the field, also had a 67. Hes 49.Former University of Alabama player Robby Shelton birdied the final hole for a 69 in his second PGA Tour start as a professional. He was third last year while still in college.Matt Gilchrest, a rising senior at Auburn, had a 70.Hunter Mahan shot a 74 in his first event since the birth of his third child.The winner will get a two-year exemption and a spot in the PGA Championship, but will not be exempt for the Masters. ' ' '