Clan-Members » blame ourselves and need to

Pekka Rinne is feeling good. Not surprisingly, the Nashville Predators are winning hockey games.The Nashville goalie, who was named the NHLs First Star of November after going 9-1-2 with a 1.49 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, looks to put his team over the .500 mark for the first time since opening night when they host the New Jersey Devils in a Saturday matinee.November marked the lowest goals-against average and save percentage in any month of Rinnes career, which is saying something considering hes a five-time All-Star. Whats more, Rinnes play is quieting critics that popped up after a down season in 2015-16, as well as during a 2-5-1 October.We all feel good, we all feel weve come together as a team, he said after Tuesday nights 5-3 win in Colorado. Its a good feeling in the locker room right now. Theres been a few injuries, but weve had guys step in and thats a good sign. Well need that all season.Backing up Rinnes point, the Predators (11-8-3) won Tuesday night without top goal-scorer James Neal (upper-body injury), top four defenseman Ryan Ellis (upper-body injury) and center Colton Sissons (upper-body injury). Whats more, they lost third-pairing defenseman Anthony Bitetto Tuesday night to a broken hand that will sideline him for six weeks.But Nashville got a goal and an assist from center Ryan Johansen, whos hit his stride after a slow start offensively, two assists from defenseman Roman Josi and a Gordie Howe hat trick -- goal, assist, fighting major -- from fourth-line forward Austin Watson.Coach Peter Laviolette was particularly pleased with the effort of Watson, who when playing well is the kind of depth forward every good team needs.He was great, he was physical, he was good defensively, his line played really well. He had a big game, Laviolette said of Watson. Whether its offensively or defensively, hes been out there just trying to make a difference.While the Predators shoot for their seventh straight win in Bridgestone Arena, where theyre 8-1-1 this season, New Jersey (10-7-6) attempts to avoid a seventh straight road defeat. The Devils fell 4-3 in overtime Thursday night against Chicago despite a hat trick from center Travis Zajac.New Jersey went toe-to-toe with one of the leagues best teams, matching the Blackhawks 33 shots, winning 55 percent of the faceoffs and out-hitting them 20-14.For the most part, we played a game that we are proud of, said Devils left winger Taylor Hall, who returned Thursday night after an eight-game absence. If we play that way every night, we are going to get points and we are going to get wins.New Jersey nearly won in overtime, but Mike Cammalleri clanged a point-blank chance off the goal post. Seconds later, Marian Hossa sent the Devils to their fourth consecutive defeat.While acknowledging he and his teammates played a solid game, Zajac also admitted hed trade the hat trick for the win.It would have been nice if that goes an inch the other way, Zajac said of Cammalleris shot off the iron, but thats the way it goes. Thats the game of hockey. Its tough not to pick up a second point.Blake Wheeler Jets Jersey . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. http://www.jetsauthentic.com/authentic-laurie-boschman-jets-jersey/ . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Blake Wheeler Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Patrik Laine Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay.LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Fishers tenure in Los Angeles didnt last one full season.The Rams fired Fisher on Monday and elevated special teams coordinator John Fassel to interim coach. The Rams are 4-9 heading into Thursday nights game at NFC West-leading Seattle.Fisher had been the teams coach since 2012, and compiled a 31-45-1 record with the Rams. He oversaw the move from St. Louis to Los Angeles this past offseason.The lack of success on the field, capped by a 42-14 home rout by Atlanta on Sunday, spelled the end for Fisher, who is tied with Dan Reeves for most regular-season losses in NFL history with 165. Fisher has the lowest winning percentage (.512) among coaches with 130-plus losses.Los Angeles has scored a league-low 194 points this season.Making a decision such as this, especially during the season, is one of the most difficult in sports, Rams owner Stan Kroenke said.I have great respect for Jeff as a coach, person, father and friend. He has worked tirelessly despite some challenging circumstances. He played an integral role in helping this team make history in returning the NFL to Los Angeles, and we always will be grateful for his commitment and dedication to our organization.Fisher, 58, went 147-126 as coach of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and helped that franchise in its relocation. He led the Titans to the 1999 AFC championship.Long respected in league circles for his work on the NFLs competition committee, Fisher never found success -- or a franchise quarterback -- with the Rams, who went 7-8-1, 7-9, 6-10 and 7-9 in his four full seasons.They traded up for the first selection in this years draft and took Californias Jared Goff, but he rode the bench for much of the season behind journeyman Case Keenum as Los Angeles jumped out to a 3-1 start. Fisher finally turned to Goff in Week 11 and the Rams have dropped all four of his starts.Some of the performances the past few weeks have been a little bit more lopsided, said Kevin Demoff, the Rams executive vice president.I think thats what really tipped it. This is solely a performance-related issue. For the fans, for the players, for the coaches, for the organization we wanted to make sure games like (Sunday) didnt happen again.Kroennke said in his statement that this is the right time to make a change as our performance has not lived up to my or our fans expectations.dddddddddddd We all are focused on improving as an organization and building a team that makes Los Angeles proud. Our mission is to celebrate a Super Bowl title with our fans in Los Angeles. Today is the first step to bringing us closer to that goal.Oddly, Kroenke gave Fisher a contract extension before the season, though it was not made public until recently.Now, that extension looks more like a bonus to Fisher for his role in aiding the organizations move to California than being any part of a plan for the teams future.Demoff would not commit on general manager Les Snead keeping his position, either.Starting today we are going to have a complete review of the entire organization. We sat down with Les, and again this team is not where it needs to be, he said.Fisher spoke to the team Monday before the firing was announced, and players reacted to his dismissal with a mix of guilt, frustration and anger.We didnt do enough for him, Goff said. Unfortunately, it falls on him, but us in the locker room blame ourselves and need to be better.The Rams barely had time to process the news before beginning preparations to play the Seahawks on a short week under Fassel.Fassel, 42, joined the Rams after spending the past three years as special teams coordinator in Oakland. He also has worked for the Ravens.He is the son of Jim Fassel, who coached the Giants to the 2000 NFC title.Attendance has been something of an issue at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which has a listed capacity of 93,607. Only in their home opener did they approach that number, and they drew 82,495 on Sunday.Thats still a high number, but their performance against Atlanta isnt likely to help sell more tickets for their remaining two home games.But Demoff said the timing of Fishers dismissal had nothing to do with appeasing the frustrated fan base.The best marketing is winning, Demoff said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '