Funkerstation » and realize just how toug

The New York Islanders are turning things around after a slow start to the season. Another win over the Columbus Blue Jackets may turn around a few more heads throughout the league.On Saturday night, in their first meeting this season, the surging Islanders look to continue a couple of streaks over the surprising Blue Jackets, who hope to extend their longest winning run of the season to six games.After posting victories only six of its first 20 games, New York has bounced back by going 5-0-1, including wins over the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the always-tough Washington Capitals and archrival New York Rangers.Its a different feeling, the Islanders Brock Nelson told Newsday. Theres definitely a different energy in here the last couple of weeks or so. Its definitely contagious.New York (11-10-5) has been dominant in Brooklyn so far, winning nine of 17 games. On the road, the Islanders are just 2-6-1, but a visit to Nationwide Arena doesnt appear to be particularly daunting. New York is going for its fourth straight win in Ohios capital, and swept all five games in last seasons series.Cal Clutterbuck told Newsday that in spite of the recent run of impressive wins, room for improvement remains.Were still not where we need to be, he said. Its nice to win a bunch of games, but were still not there yet.On Friday, Clutterbuck agreed to terms on a five-year extension through 2022-23, and worth a reported $17.5 million. Now in his ninth season and fourth with New York, Clutterbuck has two goals and seven assists in 25 games, and needs two goals to reach 100 for his career.A key to the Islanders recent success has been Anders Lee. The fifth-year pro has reeled off seven goals in eight games after scoring only once in his first 18. Lee netted two goals in a game for the second time during his hot streak in New Yorks 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.You can go through stretches where nothing seems to be going right, even though youre playing well. And its really hard to talk the positives when youre not winning games, said Lee, who had two goals and two assists in five games versus the Blue Jackets last season.Both Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss were outstanding against Columbus in 2015-16. Halak won three matchups, stopping 94 of 98 shots for a .959 save percentage, and recorded a shutout. Griess won the other two contests, giving up five goals on 44 shots.New York coach Jack Capuano told the Islanders official website that if we continue to work and do the things we need to do ... we can beat some top teams in the league.The Blue Jackets can -- and should -- be included among them. Columbus (16-5-4) continued its best start in franchise history with a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.Rookie Lukas Sedlak snapped an 11-game drought without a point by recording his first NHL goal with an assist, and Sam Gagner also had a goal and an assist as he continues to revive his career under John Tortorella.Now in his 10th season, and still just 27 years old, Gagner has 11 goals in 24 games, putting him on pace for 37. Gagner had just eight goals in 53 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season, and has never scored more than 18 during any campaign.Gagner, who has three goals and three assists in his last two games, has scored twice and drawn two assists in 10 career games versus the Islanders.Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves Friday, and improved to 8-0-1 in his last nine starts when facing at least 30 shots. Though hes lost two of his last three starts versus the Islanders, the 2013 Vezina Trophy winner is 8-2-0 with a 1.88 GAA, a .943 save percentage and a shutout in his career when facing them.Hes been a rock for us since Day One. He keeps us in the game every time, he and Mac (backup Curtis McElhinney) when he gets his opportunity, Columbus Cam Atkinson said after Fridays game.Its not immediately known if Columbus captain Nick Foligno will play Saturday. Foligno, who missed the contest against the Red Wings due to illness, has scored five of his 10 goals this season with the man advantage, and the Blue Jackets have the NHLs top-ranked power-play unit at 24.6 percent.Columbus has scored nine goals while winning all three games against Metropolitan Division foes this season. Bill Russell Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Walter McCarty Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. https://www.cheapceltics.com/422n-tom-heinsohn-jersey-celtics.html . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Rajon Rondo Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Ray Allen Jersey . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. WACO, Texas -- The Baylor Bears grabbed the attention of the college basketball nation last week by winning the Battle 4 Atlantis and now the Sam Houston State Bearkats will be the first team to take a shot at the No. 9 Bears.By defeating VCU, Michigan State and Louisville in succession in Nassau, Bahamas, Baylor ascended 11 spots in this weeks Associated Press poll. The Bears also debuted at No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.Baylor (6-0) definitely felt slighted when they didnt receive votes in the AP rankings to start the season. Although the Bears have now defeated three ranked opponents -- then-No. 4 Oregon, then-No. 24 Michigan State and then-No. 10 Louisville -- they intend to keep playing with an edge.Its nice to be awarded with recognition and all that but were still the same team that no one wanted to give votes to in the beginning of the year, Baylor reserve guard Jake Lindsey said. Thats the mindset we keep.But for Sam Houston State, Baylor is still an in-state opponent from a power 5 conference no matter what the Bears place in national polls. And the Bearkats have a promising history in Waco since they defeated Baylor on its home floor in 1995 and 1999.Sam Houston States last appearance in the NCAA Tournament ended in the first round with a 68-59 loss to third-seeded Baylor. The Bearkats have a chance to build a postseason resume when they face Baylor at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Ferrell Center.Baylor coach Scott Drew doesnt have to wonder about Sam Houston States motivation.Our guys should be able to know and realize just how tough a game its going to be, DDrew said.dddddddddddd Even if we play outside the power 5 conferences, we play teams with great tradition that expect to win and are used to winning.The Bearkats (4-2) are led by guard John Dewey III with 13 points per game, but they spread the offense around as eight players average 5.7 points or more.Defensively, Sam Houston State enters the game forcing opponents into 17.5 turnovers per game.Its a team that has a lot of depth, Drew said. They like playing a lot of guys. They like to pressure you. They like to get out and cause turnovers, basically make you rush into things you might not want to do.Baylor began to establish its offensive identity in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Forward Johnathan Motley averaged 20 points on his way to earning tournament MVP. In the Bears 66-63 tournament-final victory over Louisville, Baylor reserve guard King McClure scored 15 points in a pivotal effort to help Baylor erase a 22-point Cardinal lead.But whether its McClure, Lindsey, Al Freeman or Manu Lecomte, the Bears formula appears to be working inside out with Motley in the center and a barrage of guards firing from the outside.Perhaps Baylor went unnoticed when the season started because of its lack of star power in the backcourt. And maybe thats the biggest change through six games for the Bears.Definitely we got out to a start thats better than expected by most peoples standards, Drew said. Thats a tribute to the guys being all about the team. ' ' '