, Ont.; Seb Pearson, London St. Georges, London, Ont.; Jon Phelan, Castaway Wanderers, Montreal; James

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Sidney Crosby has spent months politely rehashing the Pittsburgh Penguins nightmarish spring, a stretch that included a meltdown against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals and a sizable front office overhaul that shook one of the NHLs most stable organizations.The leagues reigning MVP is happy to turn the page.Im tired of talking about last year, Crosby said. Its nice to move on, get a fresh start here for everybody. Weve got a lot of new faces, we still have a lot to improve on and get better.The Penguins should get an idea of how far they have to go starting Thursday when they host Anaheim in the season opener. Pittsburgh has been one of the leagues best teams out of the gate over the last five years, going 44-24 during the opening month since 2009.Matching that October success may be difficult this time around. A schedule that includes games against the Ducks and defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles wont help. Neither will expected the growing pains associated with trying to adjust to first-year coach Mike Johnstons style.General manager Jim Rutherford stressed during the off-season hed be OK with sacrificing a point or two in the fall if it led to success in the playoffs for a franchise more than five years removed from its last championship.While Crosby cautioned its important not to get lulled into the idea that losing will be tolerated, he said there will be missteps along the way as the Penguins try to forge a new identity under Johnston following five-plus seasons in coach Dan Bylsmas high-risk, high-reward attack.If guys have the right work ethic and our focus is there and we do everything to help ourselves and have mistakes that are mistakes just because its early and guys are getting a feel for each other, I think thats a little more acceptable than it would be in a typical year, he said. That being said, I think you can tell pretty quickly why you make those mistakes and if its a lack of effort or not being sharp. Thats totally different.And while Pittsburgh forward Pascal Dupuis likened learning Johnstons system a€” one that focuses on puck possession rather than the dazzling if dangerous stretch passes favoured by Bylsma a€” to picking up new slang. The goal remains the same regardless of who is behind the bench.Every team tries to accomplish the same thing, Crosby said. You try to hold onto the puck. You try to play fast. You try to put pressure on the other team. I dont think that ever changes.Neither does Pittsburghs reliance on its two superstars. Crosby insists hes healthy after dealing with an aching wrist that limited his effectiveness in the playoffs while Evgeni Malkin is expected to play in the opener after missing most of training camp with an undisclosed injury.And while Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Kris Letang and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury are back too, the rest of the roster looks decidedly different. Its Johnstons job to figure out how best to use newcomers like forwards Patric Hornqvist, Nick Spaling and Blake Comeau. And its the Penguins job to figure out how Johnston works after spending more than half a decade listening to the professional and occasionally excitable Bylsma.I think hes pretty calm, Crosby said. I dont think thats going to change no matter what the score is. Thats his demeanour, thats his way. Id be pretty shocked if you heard his voice all that much.Johnston would prefer his teams play to do most of the talking. Hes been put in an enviable if difficult task of coaxing a roster stuffed with talent a€” particularly at the top a€” toward taking the step thats eluded them since Crosby lifted the Cup in triumph in 2009.He has a six-month regular season to hone the process, though he has no intention of being patient. He was hired to win in April, May and June. Though he will spend all year preaching about the habits and details in our game we know we desperately need come playoff time he has no plans of lowering expectations for October.As far as results go and how were going to play, he said, I expect us to be very sharp right off the hop. Fausse Yeezy Boost 350 v2 . They never thought it would take some blood, too. Kevin Love grabbed his 4,000th career rebound as part of a 19-point, 13-board effort to lead the Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 112-97 on Tuesday night. Adidas Springblade Contrefaçon Pas Cher . 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Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night.TORONTO - After an uneven performance at the Americas Rugby Championship, a reinforced Canadian squad looks to take it up a notch on its November tour of Europe.The Canadian men open Nov. 2 in Leicester, England, against an RFU Championship XV, an all-star squad from Englands second tier. Then there are Test matches against Namibia in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on Nov. 7, Samoa in Vannes, France on Nov. 14, and Romania in Bucharest on Nov. 22.Coach Kieran Crowley has named 33 players for the tour but will have to manage his roster given that the opening contest falls outside the IRB Test window so top clubs do not have to release their players. Crowley will field a non-Test Canada XV squad for that game.Crowley is looking for a step up from the ARC, where a Canada A side finished third with a 1-2-0 record after losses to the U.S. Selects and Argentina Jaguars and a win over a depleted Uruguay side.I was pretty disappointed in our overall performances, Crowley said bluntly from London where he was attending International Rugby Board meetings ahead of the tour. The results werent great. Some of the rugby we played wasnt the best. But it was a good competition. It was a step up for some of our guys and I think their skill level got exposed because of the speed of the game. Argentina and the U.S. had very strong teams there.From a long-term perspective, it certainty showed that there were a couple of players there that have put themselves in contention for World Cup selection now. And there will be a couple probably that were disappointed in their performances.Crowley has been able to summon the likes of captain Tyler Ardron, Jamie Cudmore, DTH van der Merwe, Aaron Carpenter and Hubert Buydens for the November Tests.Buydens is coming off winning the ITM Cup Championship in New Zealand with the Manawatu Turbos in a 32-24 decision over a Hawkes Bay side that featured fellow Canadian prop Jason Marshall. Jake Ilnicki, another prop, has been playing for the NSW County Eagles in Australia.These guys have had outstanding experiences, just showing the fact that when they do get the opportunity that they are up to that level, said Crowley, a former New Zealand All Black.Thats good news for Crowley and scrum coach Mike Shelley with the World Cup roster expanded to 31 with the addition of another prop.The European tour represents a demanding schedule for the 17th-ranked Canadians. No. 9 Samoa, No. 16 Romania and No. 22 Namibia have all qualified for next years World Cup, with Namibia joining Canada in Pool D alongside No. 5 Ireland, No. 7 France, and No. 14 Italy.Its going to be a challenge, particularly with the travel, said Crowley.The RFU Championship XV game could also be a banana skin with a roster reinforced by players on loan from Premiership teams.Crowley will be watching closely, with an eye to World Cup selection.Theres still a number of holes actually. Weve got a few players here that I want to have a look at. Probably foor some of those guys its their last opportunity to really put their foot forward.dddddddddddd At the end of November I will hopefully have a real sense of where were going for next July and that Pacific competition.After the November tour, the Canadians will go to Fiji in March for the Pacific Nations Cup. Canada will also play the U.S. in July.The Canadian tour side will be without the injured Matt Evans, Harry Jones, Phil Mack, Phil Mackenzie, Mike Scholz and Liam Underwood, with Crowley saying some of the omissions are more of a precautionary nature.Former captain Aaron Carpenter will miss the first two games on tour because his wife is expecting.The tour will allow the Canadians to stay at one of their World Cup bases in Leicester.———Canadian Tour SquadTyler Ardron (capt.), Ospreys (Wales), Lakefield, Ont.; Ray Barkwill, Niagara Wasps RFC, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Connor Braid, James Bay AA, Victoria; Brett Buekeboom, Plymouth Albion (England), Lindsay, Ont.; Hubert Buydens, Manawatu Turbos (New Zealand), Saskatoon; Aaron Carpenter, Cornish Pirates RFC, Brantford, Ont.; Jamie Cudmore, ASM Clermont Auvergne (France), Squamish, B.C.; Nanyak Dala, Castaway Wanderers, Regina; Sean Duke, UVIC Vikes, Vancouver; Kyle Gilmour, St. Albert RFC, St. Albert, Alta.; Ryan Hamilton, Capilano RFC, Vancouver; Jeff Hassler, Ospreys (Wales), Okotoks, Alta.; Ciaran Hearn, Castaway Wanderers, Conception Bay South, N.L.; Tyler Hotson, London Scottish RFC (England), Vancouver; Jake Ilnicki, NSW County Eagles (Australia), Williams Lake, B.C.; Jamie Mackenzie, UVIC Vikes, Oakville, Ont.; Jason Marshall, Hawkes Bay Magpies (New Zealand), Vancouver; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; John Moonlight, James Bay AA, Pickering, Ont.; Patrick Parfrey, Swilers RFC, St. Johns, N.L.; Taylor Paris, SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne (France), Barrie, Ont.; Seb Pearson, London St. Georges, London, Ont.; Jon Phelan, Castaway Wanderers, Montreal; James Pritchard, Bedford Blues (England), Parkes, Australia; Jebb Sinclair, London Irish, Fredericton; Richard Thorpe, London Welsh (England), Beckenham, England; Andrew Tiedemann, Plymouth Albion (England), St. Albert, Alta.; Conor Trainor, UBCOB Ravens, Vancouver; DTH van der Merwe, Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Regina; Sean White, James Bay AA, Victoria; Jordan Wilson-Ross, James Bay AA, Alliston, Ont.; Doug Wooldridge, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.Head Coach: Kieran CrowleyManager: Gareth ReesAssistant Coach: Neil BarnesAttack Coach: Scott HansonScrum Coach: Mike ShelleyStrength and Conditioning Coach: Andy EvansPerformance Analyst: Calum Ramsay———ScheduleNov. 2 at Sixways Stadium, Worcester, EnglandCanada XV vs. RFU Championship XVNov. 7 at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, WalesCanada vs. NamibiaNov. 14 at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes, FranceCanada vs. SamoaNov. 22 at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, BucharestCanada vs. Romania———Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '