NEWS » goals in a contest devoid of defence.Th

PHILADELPHIA -- If the Ottawa Senators are looking to infuse some goal-scoring into their anemic offense, they are coming to the right place.The Senators, who rank 27th in the NHL with an average of just 2.20 goals per game, visit the Philadelphia Flyers, who rank last in the NHL in goals allowed per game (3.63), on Tuesday night.The Senators 9-5-1 record may be proof that playing good defense is more important than scoring goals. The Flyers (7-7-2) are tied for third in the NHL in goals per game (3.31).Senators captain Erik Karlsson, who leads the team with 13 points, said he and his teammates need to find a way to fight through their offensive struggles. Ottawa has gone nine consecutive games scoring two or fewer goals.Its tight right now, Karlsson said. Its a stretch that were going through, and were going to have to find a way to get through that. Its tough for our offensive players, myself included. But were all professionals. Well find a way eventually. The sooner the better.Despite their offensive woes, Ottawa has picked up points in three straight games (2-0-1) and is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.Craig Anderson (7-3-1, 2.15 goals-against average, .934 save percentage) has been solid between the pipes for the Senators, and Andrew Hammond is back healthy after an injury. With backup Mike Condon also in the fold, Hammond could be sent to the AHL for a short conditioning stint.The Flyers, meanwhile, are dealing with some goaltending woes. Michal Neuvirth (4-2-0, 3.54 GAA, .859 SP) will be sidelined four to six weeks with a lower-body injury sustained in the Flyers 3-2 win over the Wild on Saturday night.Steve Mason (3-5-2, 3.41 GAA, .880) has struggled through most of this season, though he stopped 19 of 20 shots in relief of Neuvirth on Saturday to earn the win.I hope it continues to boost his confidence, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said of Mason. But Mase has nothing to be embarrassed about. He shows up and he battles hard every day. Things might not have gone as well as he would have liked early on, but thats the game. When one part of the team isnt going great, every other part has to pick that piece up a little bit.With Neuvirth sidelined, the Flyers recalled rookie Anthony Stolarz from AHL Lehigh Valley, but look for Mason to make at least the next three starts. Philadelphia is in the midst of a four-game homestand that continues with games Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets and Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Stolarz, a second-round pick of the Flyers in 2012, could make his first NHL start next week in Florida when the Flyers play back-to-back nights against the Panthers and Lightning. He is 6-2-0 this season with the AHL Phantoms.Flyers leading goal scorer Wayne Simmonds (eight goals) took a maintenance day Monday but is expected to be back on the top line against the Senators.Ottawa defenseman Marc Methot, who left the Sunday night game with a lower-body injury, practiced Monday and is expected to play. Steve Smith Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Joe Caldwell Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. https://www.cheaphawks.com/534r-ed-macauley-jersey-hawks.html . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Taurean Prince Jersey . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Dan Roundfield Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. There may not be must-win matches in mid-August, but one can certainly make the argument there are not-lose matches.For all the subplots surrounding Saturdays marquee match and home opener for reigning champions Leicester City against Arsenal at King Power Stadium, one fact is sure to have captured both teams attention:Only the 1992-93 Manchester United side have won the title in the Premier League era after starting the season with back-to-back losses, an unenviable position either side could face if the other emerges victorious.For all the memorable moments Leicester City created in their stunning run to the top of the table, they had a forgettable one last weekend at KC Stadium. The Foxes became the first defending champion in the Premier League era to lose their season opener, falling 2-1 to a promoted Hull City side facing a spate of distractions and a lack of match-fit bodies -- the Tigers didnt use any of their allotted substitutions.Riyad Mahrez scored Leicesters lone goal, a penalty shortly after intermission, but Jamie Vardy failed to display the razor-sharp finishing skills that propelled the Foxes to the league title and a spot for him on Englands roster for the Euros this summer. He missed three opportunities, and the Foxes also missed departed midfielder NGolo Kante and suspended defender Robert Huth as they conceded goals on either side of halftime.Newcomer Luis Hernandez, again expected to partner with Wes Morgan in central defence as Huth serves the last of his three-match ban, is expecting his team not to panic and show the same kind of resolve that made them title-winners in the spring.I think now after we lost our first game its important to stay calm, Hernandez told LCFC TV. I know its not easy to lose the first game but we need to be calm because the league is about 38 games.Its a difficult game because Arsenal are a big team with really good players but were at home with our supporters. We know that Arsenals attacking players are really good with good technique. So it will be difficult for us but we need to play together like last season with high intensity and if we do that I think we can win.Mahrez also finally ended the drama surrounding his possible exit before the transfer deadline, putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract Thursday. The Algeria international reportedly had many suitors, including Saturdays opponents, but the 2016 PFA Player of the Year opted to remain Vardys running mate as the Foxes embark on their first Champions League adventure.Im happy to continue my adventure with Leicester City, he said. Its been a pleasure to be here the last two-and-a-half years, so Im going to keep going here. Ive achieved good things with this club.Im excited to see whats going on in the Champions League with big clubs and big players -- we will see. Its for everyone, not just for the players and not just for the club, but for the city and everyone thats behind Leicester City. Its the first time that we play in the Champions League, so its fantastic.While Champions League is old hat for Arsenal -- they will be in group play in Europes top club competition for the 19th straight year -- some of their shortcomings that also are old hat have already surfaced to put heat on manager Arsene Wenger.The Frenchmans inability to finalise a deal for Vardy after triggering the release clause in his contract rankled an already-agitated fan base. And those Gunnerss supporters were further unnerved with a 4-3 loss at home Sunday to Liverpool, prompting chants of You dont know what youre doing directed at Wenger as the lack of summer signings exacerbated an injury-hit squad also trying to rest players who appeared in the European Championships.ddddddddddddBuying calms the fans down, but its important to spend but even more important to spend the right way, Wenger said Thursday. You do not sign players because you think it is important or not. It is about the availability of players … to find the players that will strengthen your squad is much more difficult.One of those three summer signings, 20-year-old defender Rob Holding from relegated League One squad Bolton Wanders, was clearly out of his element along with central defender Calum Chambers during a torrid 18-minute stretch in which a one-goal lead became a three-goal deficit with a half-hour to play.Holdings disastrous performance and the lack of bodies at the position may force Wengers hand to bring back Laurent Koscielny back into the lineup as Arsenal are reportedly trying to pry either Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia or possibly Jose Gimenez from Atletico Madrid. Gimenez is believed to have a release clause of ￡56 million, and it may take a minimum transfer fee of ￡40 million to land the 21-year-old Uruguayan.We are working very hard, Wenger insisted. You are absolutely convinced that I dont want to spend the money, but I would like to reassure you that we are ready to spend the money we have. As always, not the money we havent got (because) its not my money.Koscielny had resumed practice only last week after helping Les Bleus reach the Euro final, and both Per Mertesacker and Gabriel will miss four months and six weeks, respectively, due to injuries.German midfielder Mesut Ozil and French striker Olivier Giroud were also held out for rest, but Ozil could also be pressed into duty since Aaron Ramsey was forced from the loss to Liverpool with an injury just after the hour mark. Giroud, meanwhile, could be a more effective target forward who would let Alexis Sanchez play in his customary spot on the wing.Arsenal handed Leicester City two of their three league losses last season, including a 5-2 victory in the 2015-16 corresponding fixture. It was a wild end-to-end affair in which Vardy scored a goal, hit a post and dented the crossbar in the first 20 minutes and Sanchez bagged three goals in a contest devoid of defence.The Gunners then completed the double -- and extended their league unbeaten streak over the Foxes to 19 matches (13-6-0) -- with a 2-1 victory on Valentines Day. Denny Welbeck scored in the 95th minute as Leicester were unable to scrape out a point despite playing almost all of the second half with 10 men after Danny Simpson was sent off with his second yellow card on 54 minutes.Vardy converted from the spot in that contest, and Wenger is expecting another tough match from a Foxes team that now has a championship pedigree.They have exactly the same qualities they had last year and they are a team who are very quick on the break and defend well as a unit, he said. We have to address our defensive weaknesses from last week without compromising our style of play.We need to continue being very dangerous going forward and accept the way we play. ' ' '