Funkerstation » its something youve gotta work for. The power play is

PITTSBURGH -- Neal Huntington was asked on his weekly radio show Sunday whether the Pittsburgh Pirates might want to scale their hopes back this season from making the playoffs to simply finishing with a winning record.The teams general manager hedged big-time, declining to buy into such a change in scope, although he did begin to talk about the offseason in a way that suggested the Pirates might not be able to claw their way into a National League wild-card spot.Realistically, finishing over .500 is probably the better target, but hardly an easy one, especially considering that the Chicago Cubs come to PNC Park to start a four-game series Monday, followed by a trip by Pittsburgh to St. Louis next weekend to close the regular season.Pittsburgh has lost two games in a row to sit one game under .500 at 77-78. It is 4 1/2 games out of the second NL wild-card playoff spot, same as Miami, and would also have to pass St. Louis, with just those seven games remaining.Chicago, of course, leads the major leagues with 99 wins after a 3-1 victory over St. Louis Sunday night. The Cubs have won five of their past six and -- in case the Pirates have their eyes on pulling off a sweep to bolster their dwindling playoff hopes -- they have not lost more than two games in a row since early July.In addition, Pittsburgh is a disappointing 37-40 at PNC Park -- Wed like to get back to being dominant at home, Huntington said -- while the Cubs are 43-32 on the road.The Cubs are scheduled to start Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) in Mondays series opener. He leads the major leagues in ERA and is 11-2 with a 1.37 ERA over his past 17 outings, including 16 starts. He has beaten Pittsburgh twice this season, allowing one earned run in 13 innings, with both games coming at Wrigley Field.Teammate Jon Lester, who started the Cubs game Sunday, told the Chicago Tribune last week that Hendricks should win the NL Cy Young Award.If I had a vote, (Hendricks) would be my vote, Lester told the Tribune. I get to see him every day. I see what he does, how he goes about it, how he prepares, how he goes out and executes. Hes my guy. Hes who Id vote for right now, tomorrow, the next day, whenever.After Hendricks, it doesnt get any easier for Pittsburgh. The projected Cubs starters the remainder of the series are John Lackey (10-8), Jake Arrieta (18-7) and rookie Rob Zastryzny (1-0).The Pirates are expected to give rookie Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) the start Monday. He has won his past two starts, allowing a total of three earned runs while pitching six innings in each of the two wins.Pittsburgh has won nine of the 12 games he has started.He, like so many pitchers, has struggled against the Cubs, going 0-1 in two starts with an 8.59 ERA. One of those losses was a 3-0 game against Hendricks Aug. 30.Pittsburghs probable starters the rest of the series are Ryan Vogelsong (3-6), rookie Jameson Taillon (4-4) and Ivan Nova (12-8). Darren Woodson Cowboys Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. 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WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The good news is somebody is going to win Sunday afternoons game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre.The bad news is the contest features two of the coldest teams in the NHL.The Avalanche come to town having lost nine of their last 11 games, including a 10-1 debacle against the Montreal Canadiens a week ago.The Jets arent much better, having lost four straight until a 4-3 shootout victory over Florida on Thursday.Getting out of the Pepsi Center may be just what the doctor ordered for the Avalanche, who own the leagues worst home record of 4-10-1. The teams power play has hardly been firing on all cylinders, not only going 0-for-6 in Fridays 3-1 loss to the Panthers, but also giving up the game-winning short-handed goal.Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog told the Denver Post that losing that way after entering the third period at home in a tie game was inexcusable.You cant go out and get power-plays and have them score short-handed, Landeskog said. I honestly do not know what to tell you guys, other than thats not the way we want to do it. Thats not the way its supposed to be done and thats not acceptable, bottom line.The Jets special teams havent been lighting it up either. They gave up three power-play goals in the second period against Florida -- all with defenseman Tobias Enstrom in the penalty box with a trio of separate infractions -- dropping them to 28th in the league. The Jets have given up at least one power-play goal in four sttraight games.dddddddddddd On the flipside, their own power play has fizzled over the past five games, going an anemic 1-for-14.At this point, confidence is pretty low (with the power play), Jets captain Blake Wheeler told the Winnipeg Free Press. So, its something youve gotta work for. The power play is supposed to be your best players on the ice, on the penalty kill youre trying to shut down their top guys. Its not really rocket science. Weve got to find a way to build that confidence and get into a rhythm. It doesnt really seem like theres much of a plan right now.Part of the problem is opposing teams have figured out the Jets power play goes through super rookie Patrik Laine, who has seven goals with the man advantage this year. Foes usually station a defender within a sticks length of Laine.The good news for the Jets is they have completed the most grueling stretch of their season in November and early December, during which they had played the most games of any team. Winnnipeg is finally getting a bit of a breather from the schedule-maker.The Jets come into Sundays game rested and in good spirits, having taken part in their annual skills competition on Friday.Winnipeg native Calvin Pickard will start against his hometown team for the second time in his career but just the first time at the MTS Centre. He beat the Jets 4-3 in a shootout two years ago this week. ' ' '