NEWS » a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senator

ASHBURN, Va. -- Five passes for five completions and 39 yards is the balance of Kirk Cousins preseason so far. He may not like that, but hes OK with it.Now the Washington Redskins unquestioned starting quarterback, Cousins isnt concerned about the light workload heading into the third preseason game Friday night against the Buffalo Bills. The so-called dress rehearsal will be the only chance for Cousins and several other starters to prepare for the regular season with actual game action.Cousins feels like he has thrown more than five passes because of all the ones he has thrown in practice. Yet he still sees a benefit in preseason play, however much or little he gets of it.I dont know that I need to play in four, but to play in some is very helpful, Cousins said this week. I think thats what this Friday night will be all about is getting that rhythm so that when we do go out against the Steelers on Monday night, you feel like youve been there and youre ready to go and it hasnt been too long since you last took a snap in the stadium in a game-like atmosphere against a different opponent.Coach Jay Gruden opted to rest Cousins, receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Will Compton and cornerbacks Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland last week against the New York Jets. None are expected to play in the preseason finale next week at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making the Bills game an important test.Cousins and the starters should play the entire first half, Gruden said, but thats not set in stone. The game doesnt count, but Cousins has a plan for what he wants to accomplish as an offense.We want to be sharp, we want to stay healthy, Cousins said. We just want to move the football, convert third downs, stay out on the field and score points, and that really never changes.Without top running back Matt Jones (separated shoulder) and banged-up third-down back Chris Thompson, Washington will see what it has in rookies Robert Kelley and Keith Marshall. The challenge is to make sure Cousins and his receivers get enough opportunities while also observing the running backs, but Gruden said that goal is one in the same because coaches need to see as much in pass protection from them as running.When youre talking about the running back position, a lot of it is pass blocking and running routes and getting out on the check-downs and picking up blitzes, Gruden said Wednesday. Thats why this is such a good game for us because coach (Rex) Ryan over there has a great blitz package and those guys have got to be on top of what theyre looking at and their identification. Well see how they do.Coaches will also get to see how Cousins does with some game rust. But hes a different quarterback now than as a backup or someone competing for the job, and it has changed his approach through training camp and the preseason.Cousins wanted to play well enough as a backup to make coaches say, We cant wait for this guy to get on the field. It may not be this Sunday, it may not be this season, but, boy, its exciting to see the way he practices and how efficient he is. We cant wait to see what hed do in a real game. Without competition, the 28-year-old gears up for the regular season.Ive heard guys say, `Training camp is my Super Bowl for some of the guys who are fighting for roster spots, Cousins said. So, when youre not fighting for that roster spot necessarily day in and day out, you can just build towards Week 1 and maybe test to see, `Can I fit that ball in there, how can I learn from this rep, and, you know, try some different things that you may fail in practice, but only for the purpose of building to be better come the first game of the regular season. Custom Basketball Jerseys Store . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Custom Basketball Jerseys China . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.cheapcustombasketballjerseys.com/ . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. Stitched Custom Basketball Jerseys . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys Custom .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. What happened last night that you need to know about? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, Morning, Joe.Avs starting strong: The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins had a chance to start the season 3-0-0, but the Colorado Avalanche beat them 4-3 in overtime Monday night at PPG Paints Arena. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in the third period and then the winner in OT. Despite the absence of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who remains sidelined with a concussion, the Penguins have been impressive in their Stanley Cup defense. However, youve got to like what were seeing from the 2-0-0 Avalanche, who missed the playoffs the past two seasons. After coach Patrick Roys surprising exit during the offseason, GM Joe Sakic hired up-and-coming AHL coach Jared Bednar for the job, a key hire. Landeskog has great puck-protection instincts and needs to keep his legs moving to be effective, which he did exactly that against the Penguins. Re-signing goalie Calvin Pickard was a good move for the Avalanche. His teammates respect him and he will push No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov. Joe Colborne, who scored a hat trick in his first game of the season, is versatile and he will help the teams possession game. Ultimately, the teams core players -- captain Landeskog, 23, Nathan MacKinnon, 21, and Matt Duchene, 25 -- need to set the tempo. Those players are at an age where theyre ready to lead and if they and the Avs continue like they have in the first two games, then Colorado should like its chances of returning to the postseason in April.Kreider a pain in the butt: Two summers ago, New York Rangers Chris Kreider played a charity game in Boston like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. The game was loaded with cuurrent and former NHLers and his tenacity was on full display.dddddddddddd That hasnt always been the case on a consistent basis during past regular seasons for Kreider. The 25-year-old forward is off to a solid start this season and hell need to continue that if the Rangers are to be successful. He has registered at least one goal and one assist in each of the Rangers first three games of 2016-17. His six points and three-game scoring streak is a career high. Even though its early in the season, Kreider has found chemistry with linemates Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich. Kreider is showing his strengths as a power forward and hes been a pain in the butt for the opposition. The Rangers are 2-1-0 after Mondays 7-4 win against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden.Vanek not done yet: Sure, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Greens first career hat trick en route to a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators Monday night was impressive. It was the first three-goal game by a Red Wings blueliner since Nicklas Lidstrom on Dec. 15, 2010. But it wasnt Greens heroics I focused on: It was the three assists by Wings newcomer Thomas Vanek that had me smiling. After the Minnesota Wild bought out Vaneks contract during the summer, the Red Wings took a low-risk chance and signed the 32-year-old forward to a one-year deal worth $2.6 million. Vanek was signed because of his ability to produce, especially on the power play. In Detroits first three games this season, Vanek has two goals (one on the power play) and three assists for five points. If he can continue this pace for the majority of the season, it could turn into an incredible offseason transaction for the Red Wings. ' ' '