Funkerstation » ame from the outside, and Quick had a clear

This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Jacksonville JaguarsOverall: 32 Title track: 62 Ownership: 21 Coaching: 61 Players: 45 Fan relations: 43 Affordability: 3 Stadium experience: 13 Bang for the buck: 89 Change from last year:?+32The Jaguars are making progress much quicker in the Ultimate Standings than they are on the field. The team jumped up 32 spots to No. 32 -- a significant leap considering the Jaguars went 12-36 in 2013-15 (and 24 of those losses came by double digits). Its Year 4 of the rebuild under GM Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley, and its time for all that work to begin paying off.Whats goodFor the second year in a row, the Jaguars offer the most affordable game-day experience in the NFL, even after raising the average ticket price by 3.6 percent. That number still comes in just under $60, which is reasonable considering the premium seating the Jaguars have added over the past several season (cabanas with pool access and field-level seats are two examples) as well as the newly renovated club seat areas. In addition, the price of concessions and parking still comes in below the NFL average, which makes a trip to EverBank Field one of the biggest values in sports.Whats badBut even with those cheap tickets, the team still isnt providing much value in terms of wins per dollar. The Jaguars did improve slightly in this category, thanks to five wins in 2015 (two more than the previous season), but thats as good as it has been for the franchise over the past five seasons. The Jaguars havent had a winning record since 2007 -- also the last time they made the playoffs -- and have won more than five games in a season just twice in that span (seven in 2009 and eight in 2010). Its affordable to go to a Jaguars game -- but its not very rewarding.Whats newIts amazing what two more victories in 2015 and an offseason in which the team added a lot of defensive talent can do for expectations. The Jaguars jumped up 33 spots in title track, which represents championships won or expected within the lifetime of the current fans. (Of course, the voting was done in August, before the teams 2-3 start that included an embarrassing 24-point loss at San Diego in Week 2.) The Jaguars actually rank ahead of 13 other NFL teams, including Houston (72), Kansas City (71) and Cincinnati (75) -- but below San Francisco (51), which is led by former Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert, whom the franchise traded away in 2014.Next: Houston Texans?| Full rankingsBill Mazeroski Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Phil Garner Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/462e-jason-kendall-jersey-pirates.html . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Kevin Newman Jersey .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Raul Mondesi Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa winked when the television camera focused on him during the national anthem, a signal to his friends watching the game back home in Slovakia. Then he gave them something to cheer about. Hossa tipped in the tiebreaking goal in the second period, helping the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Saturday in the opener of the Western Conference finals. Patrick Sharp also scored and Corey Crawford made 21 saves for the Blackhawks, who generated just enough offence to improve to 7-1 at home in the playoffs. They also have won four in a row heading into Game 2 on Sunday. "Its always great when you win the first game, especially back to back, give you a little momentum," Hossa said. "I felt like we did lots of good things today. We know we have to be better (Sunday) and keep doing those things." Jonathan Quick stopped 34 shots, and Justin Williams scored for Los Angeles, which has won just one of seven road games in the playoffs. The defending Stanley Cup champions got centre Jarret Stoll back from a suspected concussion, but their offensive funk continued. "I think the two guys that scored for them are going to score goals," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "We have guys that have to score goals. Thats how close it will be." Los Angeles has scored 27 times in 14 playoff games. The last three have gone to Williams, who was responsible for the Kings offence in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 7 of the second-round series on Tuesday. "Scoring doesnt simply come from the offensive zone," Williams said. "It comes from being good in your own zone, breaking out together and scoring off the rush. We didnt have enough of that." The Blackhawks and Kings returned to the ice after surviving strenuous second-round tests. Top-seeded Chicago stormed back to beat Detroit after trailing 3-1 in the series, winning Game 7 on Brent Seabrooks overtime goal Wednesday night. Fifth-seeded Los Angeles was pushed to the brink of elimination by the Sharks in a series in which the home team won every game. For the first period and much of the second of the conference finals opener, Chicago looked hopeless against Quick and Los Angeles talented defencemen. Drew Doughty, Robyn Regehr and Co. kept the Blackhawks fleet forwards in check, and Quick made it look as if there was a white wall moving from side to side in net. As they did against Detroit, the Blackhawks began to create more quality chances when they put more traffic in front. With 7 1/2 minutes left in the second, Sharp skated into the zone, left the puck for Johnny Oduya and kept moving forward. When Quick kicked away Oduyas slap shot, the puck went right to Sharp, who scored into the lower right corner to tie it 1-1 with his eighth playoff goal. "That first shot against him is tough," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "You need traffic. You need a deflection. He finds a way to find pucks. I think the volume and trafffic of shots is the only way to get to this guy.dddddddddddd" Sharp created another strong opportunity a few minutes later, but Brandon Saad shot wide right on a potential tip-in. The Blackhawks kept up the pressure and went ahead when Hossa redirected Keiths long slap shot out of the air at 16:22 of the second. The puck landed in the lower right corner again before Quick could find it in the maze of bodies near the net. It was the sixth goal of this post-season for Hossa and the 42nd of his playoff career. The 34-year-old forward has at least one point in four straight games. "If Quicks going to see it, hes going to stop it. If we can get a slight tip on it, I think it changes his view," said Bryan Bickell, who earned an assist on the goal. "It was a nice tip by Hoss." Quick wasnt made available to the media while the locker room was open after the game. Los Angeles turned up the pressure at the beginning of the third, but Chicago killed off a power play. Crawford was solid after an early gaffe played a role in the Kings goal. He stopped Dustin Penners tip attempt with a little more than five minutes left, preserving Chicagos lead. Crawford has allowed just one goal in four of five games, playing a huge role as Chicago rallied to eliminate Detroit. "Weve got to forget about this one right now, for sure," Kings centre Anze Kopitar said. "Theres some stuff thats going to be addressed, what we have to do better in preparation." Chicago controlled most of the first period, using its speed and skill to keep the puck away from Los Angeles. The Blackhawks had nine shots on goal before Crawford was tested for the first time, grabbing Penners attempt with 8:11 remaining. Quick turned away every charge at the other side, and Los Angeles made the most of its second shot after a couple of costly Blackhawks misplays. After the puck was dumped into the Blackhawks zone, Crawford went behind the net to try to clear it away, but Brad Richardson jumped and knocked it in front. Dave Bolland tried to break up the play, but the puck went right to Williams, who beat Crawford to make it 1-0 at 14:23. Most of Chicagos shots in the first period came from the outside, and Quick had a clear lane for most stops. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP made 17 saves in the first 20 minutes. "All in all we can be happy with the 60 minutes we played, but we know its going to be tougher as the series goes on," Sharp said. "Every series weve been a part of gets more physical and more difficult as it goes on." NOTES: Stoll had been sidelined since he was struck with an illegal hit to the head by San Joses Raffi Torres in Game 1 of Los Angeles second-round series. ... This is the second playoff series between the Kings and the Blackhawks. Chicago advanced in five games in the 1974 quarterfinals. ... There was no shoot the puck competition after the second period, part of an NHL mandate designed to preserve ideal ice conditions. ' ' '