Kämpfe » understood Keane would likely satisfy Football Federation

On the eve of perhaps their most anticipated season in franchise history, the Nashville Predators spent the final days working on the one thing that cost them playoff positioning last season: overtime hockey.Nashville, which hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night in sold-out Bridgestone Arena, dropped 14 games in overtime or in shootouts last season. The 14 losses were more than every team except Carolina (16) and Philadelphia (14).Had it won even four or five of those games, it might not have had to travel back-and-forth to the west coast for four weeks to play grueling seven-game series with Anaheim and San Jose.We werent good in the 3-on-3 and we need to be better there, defenseman Mattias Ekholm said to NHL.com. Its nice to get a foundation for it again, and then maybe put emphasis on it. We need to get better at it, thats just the bottom line.If the Predators are to create the edge in a stacked Central Division that includes perhaps four of the NHLs top 10 teams, that means winning more of the close games they lost a season ago. Beating Chicago would certainly be a good way to start.Nashville went 2-3-0 against the Blackhawks last season, splitting the two meetings at home. Of course, that was a different Predators team, one which didnt have the services of defenseman P.K. Subban, who was acquired on June 29 in a blockbuster trade that sent captain Shea Weber to Montreal.Adding Subban to a defense corps already featuring All-Star Roman Josi, Ekholm and Ryan Ellis has made Nashville one of the preseason favorites in the Western Conference.Of course, the Blackhawks figure to have something to say about that, even though they opened their season Wednesday night in the United Center with a 5-2 home loss to St. Louis.With four rookies on its opening-night roster, Chicago was outshot 32-19 by a Blues team skating without top-six forward Jaden Schwartz. The Blackhawks were also troubled by a breakdown in discipline, taking three straight minors late in the second period that led to two power-play goals which turned a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 deficit they never overcame.St. Louis scored its first three goals with the man advantage and the last two after Chicago emptied the net for an extra attacker.We want to make sure were playing the right way from start to finish, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. There will definitely be some learning going on, and well be accepting mistakes from hard work, but thats where you get better.Chicago will get defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson back after he served a suspension for a charging penalty on St. Louis Ty Rattie in an exhibition game. It could also get a milestone goal from forward Marian Hossa, who needs one to reach 500 in his career.But the spotlight figures to be on Nashville, which believes it has the ingredients to play hockey in late May or even early June.I think well be ready, coach Peter Laviolette said to NHL.com. Vapormax Femme Pas Cher . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. Nike Air Vapormax Pas Cher . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. http://www.vapormaxpascher.be/air-max-vapormax-97-pas-cher.html . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Vapormax Plus Homme Solde . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Fausse Vapormax Plus . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Western Sydney lead the A-League race to sign Robbie Keane after coach Tony Popovic made clear his interest in attaining the veteran Irish striker.The Wanderers are believed to be seriously weighing up a marquee offer for Keane, who announced last week hell be leaving LA Galaxy after six seasons and is yet to decide his next move.The 36-year-old former Tottenham, Liverpool and Ireland star is yet to decide his next move and has already been linked to a number of overseas clubs including other MLS franchises, Middle East outfits and Dublin hometown team Shamrock Rovers.Within Australia, Brisbane loomed as the stiffest competition, but coach John Aloisi hosed down speculation on Thursday amid a contractual stand-off with striker Jamie Maclaren.It leaves the door open for a tilt from the Wanderers, who have room in their squad to recruit additional players during the January transfer window.Popovic confirmed he was looking to bolster stocks ahead of the clubs highly valued Asian Champions League campaign, and revealed Keane was of interest.Hes certainly a player its hard not to have a look at, Popovic said.Im sure there are several that are being mentioned and there are more than several that have been put on our desk, but obviously Robbie is the one everyone is talking about at the moment.Hes had a fantastic career, hes a great player and still scoring goals, so hes certainly a player wed have a look at.ddddddddddddWhile the Wanderers still have a free marquee spot alongside Argentine playmaker Nicolas Martinez its understood Keane would likely satisfy Football Federation Australias strict criteria for the Tim Cahill rule, meaning the governing body would dip into its marquee fund to help with recruitment costs.With 146 caps (68 goals) for Ireland before retiring from international football in August, 238 (91) for Spurs and 125 (83) for LA Galaxy, Keane would be seen as a valuable marketing face for the Australian game.Brisbane managing director Mark Kingsman this week signalled the Roar intended to make an approach, saying we will make the call.But Aloisi dampened that enthusiasm on Thursday and put to bed any conjecture hed been in the ear of his former Coventry City teammate.I played with Robbie, but I havent spoken to him for 15 years so I dont know when people are saying thats the connection there, Aloisi said.When people are speculating thats nothing for me to comment about.I know Mark, our managing director, has mentioned it in the media but as a football department or the owners, I havent spoken to the owners about any marquee player.Theyre the ones who will decide if were allowed to get a guest marquee player, and then well decide if its good for our team. 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