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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The first field goal by Blair Walsh this season that counted for Minnesota on the scoreboard, exhibition game or not, was good from 51 yards out.Never mind that the ball hit the crossbar before bouncing over for three points. The sight of Walsh confidently walking off the field at halftime in Cincinnati was satisfying for the Vikings and their agonized fans, who havent forgotten about his unfathomable miss in January that kept the team from moving on in the playoffs.Walsh found it gratifying, too.Any time you go out there and have a mistake-free game and just do what you do and make kicks, it helps, Walsh said. I didnt expect anything less. Im confident in my abilities and myself and what Ive shown so far in camp, and its nice to show that in game time.He told coach Mike Zimmer thanks for sending him out for the long try on Friday against the Bengals.I wouldve let him kick it anyway, Zimmer said.Confidence maintenance for a potentially vulnerable player can be strategic. Still, Zimmer and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer have repeatedly expressed pride in the way Walsh has bounced back this spring and summer from that infamous 27-yard field goal attempt with 22 seconds left in the frigid air that veered left and sealed a 10-9 victory for Seattle in the first round of the playoffs.Guess who the Vikings play this week in their second preseason game?The Seahawks.Change of venue, vastly different weather, nothing at stake. Yet an unavoidable reminder, even if the coaches and players arent thinking that way.Not at all. Its a completely new season, Priefer said. I can understand why people would think that, but at the end of the day weve long since moved on. Blairs had a phenomenal camp. Hes stronger than he was a year ago. Hes kicking off well. Hes kicking field goals well. Im excited about this year.Overshadowed by Walshs most visible miss were the 34 field goals he made during the regular season, the most in the NFL, and the three others he converted that afternoon against the Seahawks.I dont know if you ever get over something like that, Priefer said, but Ive moved on from it.Walsh has plenty of success to bank on in the quest to put that game in the past. The move inside U.S. Bank Stadium will also provide climate-neutral conditions. Then theres the new task hes been busy trying to master: kickoffs with hang time.Instead of simply winding up and trying to boom the ball into the end zone, Walsh will be asked more often to drop the ball inside the 5-yard line to force a return in light of the league rule change that sets the line of scrimmage at the 25-yard line following a touchback instead of the 20.We werent told to kick deep at all on Friday, Walsh said. Thats kind of showing you what were going to do. I dont think thats always going to be the case. When were playing a really good returner or somebody we want to keep the ball out of his hands, we could do stuff like that. But weve got a good enough coverage unit where I dont see us backing down from returners.Walsh, too, has a good enough leg to keep from backing down from the challenge of bouncing back from that ill-timed miss.You just want to continue to work hard, like you always do. You just want to continue to prove yourself as one of the best kickers in this league, which I am, Walsh said. Im confident in what I do each and every day.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Carolina Panthers Jerseys . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Cheap Panthers Jerseys Authentic .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.cheapcarolinapanthersjerseysauthentic.com/ . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Panthers Jerseys China . 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JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Quadir Welton scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds while Nick Griffin added 21 points as Saint Peters defeated Lipscomb 90-77 on Friday night for its first win of the season to even its record.Trevis Wyche and Sam Idowu each added 13 points for the Peacocks.Despite the 13-point win the Peacocks missed 14 free throws but made 17 more than Lipscomb.Trailing by 23 in the second half, the Bisons went on 25-7 run to cut the lead to five after Eli Pepper madde a pair of free throws and it was 67-62 with 7:42 to play.dddddddddddd Garrison Matthews scored eight points during Lipscombs run.Wyche responded with a layup and a jumper, Griffin had a 3 and Idowus dunk in less than four minutes made it 76-64 with 3:43 to play.Josh Williams led Lipscomb (2-2) with 18 points and was 4 for 6 from 3-point range. ' ' '