NEWS » ear flawless hockey to qualify

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets had to wait a while for their chance to host the NHLs brightest stars, but, at long last, the franchises moment has finally arrived. Unfortunately for hockey fans in Columbus, Ohio, and everywhere else, the honor of participating in All-Star weekend is not as luring as the prospect of some much needed time off from the grind of the regular season. Some players will skip the festivities due to injuries and other big names simply declined to put themselves up as replacement options. Even this weekends hosts were not immune to the trend, as Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus star goaltender, will be forced to miss the All-Star activities due to a groin injury. The recent announcement that Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both will rest nagging lower-body injuries rather than go to Columbus is another blow for an All-Star weekend that will not feature some of the leagues most recognizable faces. In addition to Bobrovskys absence, goaltenders Jimmy Howard, Henrik Lundqvist and Pekka Rinne will not participate. Howard and Rinne are sidelined with injuries, while Lundqvist was snubbed but hinted hed rather use the break for rest anyway. There also will be no Zdeno Chara, as Bostons mammoth defenseman was not picked to be an All-Star and his absence will be noticed most when the players line up for the hardest shot competition at Saturdays skills showcase. But, of course, the show must go on. Even though some of the sports most recognizable faces wont be a part of All-Star weekend, this is still a great moment for the Blue Jackets, and one that was a long time coming. Columbus was originally slated to host All-Star weekend two years ago before the lockout knocked out half the season along with the midseason showcase. Last years Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia pushed back the Blue Jackets All-Star obligations even further, but like Norma Desmond, the franchise is finally ready for its close-up. Ohios capital city has never been considered an ideal locale for an NHL franchise, but the Blue Jackets enter this moment in the sun healthier than they have ever been. Columbus only has made the postseason twice in its first 13 seasons, but one of those times came last season when the Jackets gave the heavily favored Penguins a run for their money before exiting the first round in six games. Sure, the 2014-15 season has been an exercise in patience for Columbus and its fan base. The club was beset with injury issues from the start of the campaign and the fact the Jackets enter the All-Star break 14 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference is in large part due to the teams inability to stay healthy. A terrific December seemed to put the Blue Jackets on track to make a run at the playoffs, but a 4-6-0 record in January has derailed those dreams temporarily. Columbus will need to jump out of the break playing near flawless hockey to qualify for the postseason. But even if they miss the playoffs in 2014-15, time still is on the Blue Jackets side. Bobrovsky recently signed an extension to stay in Columbus and with young forwards like Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen in the fold (and also representing the Blue Jackets in this weekends activities), the once-derided expansion team could be on the verge of a renaissance. So, even if this All-Star contingent may not represent the absolute best and brightest the NHL has to offer, its going to be tough to dampen the mood in Columbus. The franchise has rarely held the spotlight since joining the league over a decade ago, and fittingly, the Blue Jackets are more prepared than ever to be the center of attention. Yeezy Sko Fake . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. Fake Yeezy Danmark Køb . -- Michael Bennett gambled last off-season that playing on a one-year deal in Seattle would pay off in the future with the long-term contract he always wanted. http://www.yeezyskodanmark.com/yeezy-boo...ark-outlet.html. Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. Køb Fake Yeezy . Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Diante Garrett had a career-high 15 points as the Jazz had seven players with 10 points or more in Utahs largest margin of victory this season. Yeezy Danmark Køb . Perhaps their first trip to the city of Winnipeg in 16 years can serve as the shakeup they need.TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have waited nearly four months for Dave Bolland to return to their lineup. It seems theyll have to wait a little longer. The veteran forward practised Wednesday but was wearing a maroon jersey, meaning he wasnt allowed to participate in full contact and making it unlikely hell will be in the lineup Thursday night when Toronto visits the New York Islanders in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. Bolland, who suffered a severed ankle tendon in a game Nov. 2, had resumed practising with the Leafs earlier this month. But he stumbled late during Tuesdays session, grimacing in pain. "Its one where we felt that he took a step back (Tuesday) so we felt it would be best suited he didnt participate on a line (Wednesday) as far as practising with a group," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "To say that its a bad sign, well, its not a positive. "But its not a huge negative. I dont want you to read into it that its something we cant deal with." Bolland maintained Wednesday his situation remains day-to-day. And while he did say he had a misstep Tuesday, Bolland didnt reveal any further details. "Sometimes in situations on the ice youre going to get those things," he said. "I just had a little bit of a fall there but thats whats going to happen in a game. "Thats what you have to get ready for." Carlyle said Bolland will accompany the Leafs on their two-game road trip versus the Islanders and Montreal on Saturday night. Bolland plans to participate in Thursdays pre-game skate before deciding whether hell play. Bolland added hell return to the lineup when hes convinced hes healthy enough to deal with the rigours of game conditions. "Id rather be ready for the long road than being in and out of the lineup and not going," Bollaand said.dddddddddddd"Youve got to be 100 per cent getting back in the lineup, you dont want to be a liability out there. "Its never fun watching the guys play sitting at home on the couch seeing whats going on. You want to be out there right now. I want to be out there. I wish I couldve been out there a month ahead but its about getting it stronger and making sure its ready." Toronto (32-22-6, 70 points) has fared well despite Bollands injury, entering the Olympic break on an 11-2-1 run. "Im ready (to return)," Bolland said. "With watching and seeing whats going on with the guys and seeing them win and keeping it rolling, thats the big thing. "For myself, my confidence is going to be high when I get out there. I want to contribute as much as I can to this team and to help it keep going." Meantime, leading scorer Phil Kessel (31 goals, 34 assists) was back on the ice Wednesday for the first time since suiting up with teammate James van Riemsdyk (24 goals, 23 assists) for the U.S. at the Sochi Winter Games. Van Riemsdyk didnt skate but did work out with his teammates Tuesday. Carlyle said Kessel, who didnt speak to reporters after practice, had the same option, but opted to take Tuesday off instead. Theres been persistent talk van Riemsdyk suffered a hand injury in Sochi, but Carlyle said both players have been cleared medically by Leafs doctors. Carlyle was asked how Kessel looked in practice. "I would say Phils not an energetic individual to the start of practice," Carlyle said, drawing chuckles from the assembled media. "I dont know how else to put it." The reporter then followed up by saying Kessel looked more energetic near the end of the session. "That seems to be how Phil approaches practice," Carlyle added with a grin. ' ' '