Inland Waterways » the Cowboys and our

DENVER -- Paul Stastny was slumping and frustrated with his scoring drought. Facing the Dallas Stars helped clear that up for the Colorado Avalanche centre. Stastny scored twice and added two assists and the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 6-2 on Monday night. Erik Johnson and Andre Benoit also scored in a four-goal second period, and Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie scored for Colorado. Stastny hadnt notched a point since Nov. 19, when he had a goal and assist against Chicago. The scoring drought grew to nine games before he put together one of his best periods of his career. "I always put pressure on myself," Stastny said. "Of anyone I was probably the most frustrated. Whether I show it or not, you guys wont see it." It was a familiar feeling for Stastny, who had a two-goal game against the Stars on Nov. 1. The lone hat trick of his career came against Dallas on Oct. 3, 2007. His breakout couldnt have come at a better time for him or his team, which has struggled to score lately. "I feel like that, especially for Stast," said forward P.A. Parenteau, who tied a career high with three assists. "We were on the puck the last few games and couldnt get it done. The confidence was low for a couple of guys and its tough on you. Youre playing decent hockey and youre not rewarded." Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist and Kevin Connauton scored his first NHL goal for the Stars, who have dropped three of the past four. Goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped 42 shots for Dallas in a rare poor start against Colorado. Lehtonen was 8-3-2 with a 2.52 goals-against average against the Avalanche before Monday. "That was pretty much us laying an egg," forward Jamie Benn said. "They came out strong and jumped all over us." The Avalanche outshot Dallas 21-10 in the first period, but managed just one goal against Lehtonen. It was a different story in the second. Stastny broke a 1-all tie when he knocked in Jamie McGinns tip pass 8:29 into the period for his ninth goal of the season. Benoit made it 3-1 when he pinched in from the blue line and blasted a shot through traffic past Lehtonen. Stastny scored again when he tipped a shot by Gabriel Landeskog in front of the net, and Johnson finished the run with a shot from the top of the right circle with 3 seconds left in the period to make it 5-1. Seguin scored early in the third, but Barries first goal of the season on Stastnys second assist made it 6-2. It was more than enough for the Avalanche, who improved to 3-0 against the Stars this season. Colorado scored six goals despite going 0 for 5 on the power play and failing to score on a pair of two-man advantages. "The power play was really good, to be honest. We had a lot of shots," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "What else can you do? I dont want to over talk about the power play; tonight we didnt need the power play." The teams will play again in Dallas on Tuesday night. Colorado took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when MacKinnon beat Lehtonen with a shot from the left circle. It was his seventh goal of the season. The Avalanche continued to get shots on Lehtonen, and had a chance to add to their lead when they had 1:26 of a two-man advantage. They couldnt convert, and moments after the Stars killed off Sergei Gonchars penalty, Matt Duchene was sent off for hooking. Connauton tied it on the ensuing 4-on-4 with 33 seconds left in the first. "I was elated," Connauton said. "The elation wore off pretty quick -- as quick as it took them to take over in the second period." Dallas nearly scored again with 12 seconds left, but Seguins shot from a sharp angle never crossed the goal line before resting on goalie Semyon Varlamovs back. Varlamov had 31 saves for Colorado. NOTES: Colorado D Ryan Wilson (back) was activated from the injured list, but did not return to the lineup. Wilson has missed 18 games after being injured Nov. 6 against Nashville. ... MacKinnon extended his points streak to four games. ... The 48 shots were the second most Lehtonen has faced this season. Chicago had 50 shots in a 4-3 loss to Dallas on Dec. 3. ... Colorados six goals tied a season high. Thiago Alcantara Jersey . The No. 23 seed at the first Grand Slam event of the tennis season has worked out all the details, from his training regime right down to where hes going to eat dinner. Javi Martinez Jersey . Chris Capuano. Shane Greene. And now, Esmil Rogers. http://www.fcmunichpro.com/Kids-Joshua-Kimmich-Jersey/ . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first. Leon Goretzka Jersey . -- Theres been so much talk about Mike Moustakas at the plate that the third baseman ignored the conversation Wednesday -- even after doing something positive. Arturo Vidal Jersey . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jack Del Rio only wanted to talk about the Cowboys, not the Trojans. In his first for-the-record comments since his names been bandied about as a possible replacement for Lane Kiffin at USC, Del Rio declined Thursday to address speculation he might return to his alma mater. Asked if hed been contacted by USC, the Denver Broncos defensive co-ordinator said, "No. No. No, theres nothing to speak on that subject. Im really here to talk about the Cowboys and our preparation in getting ready for them." That was it. No outright denial of interest. No reiteration that hes committed to seeing this thing through in Denver. Thats how his players see it, though. "We feel like hes going to be here," safety David Bruton said. "We have a great thing going here and weve definitely thrived under his tutelage, so it cant be anything we worry about." The Broncos (4-0), owners of the NFLs stingiest run defence, visit Dallas (2-2) this weekend. Kiffin was fired Sunday and replaced by interim coach Ed Orgeron, but Del Rios name quickly rose to the top of the rumour mill as a potential replacement because of his ties to USC, where he was an All-American linebacker in the 1980s and also teammates with Mark McGwire and Randy Johnson on the Trojans baseball team. There was even an erroneous sighting of Del Rio at LAX Sunday night that set Twitter abuzz, which Broncos coach John Fox got a big kick out of, seeing how he was sitting across from him at a Denver steakhouse celebrating their big win over the Eagles. Earlier this week, Fox said Del Rio, who is under contract through February, was "definitely qualified" for the USC position but was focused on his current job. Asked whether hed allow Del Rio to pursue the position if hes interested, Fox demurred, saying: "Ive seen plenty of job openings in my life in football. Like always, there are 8,000 candidates. Any point that it gets serious and potential, well keep you posted." Although it generally works the other way around, there is precedent for NFL coaches going to the college ranks. Bill OBrien finished out his contract as the New England Patriots offensive co-ordinator before going to Penn State last year. In 2007, Bobby Petrino resigned as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after 13 games to become Arkansass head cooach.dddddddddddd Del Rio joined Foxs staff in Denver last year after serving as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-11, and the Broncos had the leagues No. 2 defence last year. By returning to Denver this year, he became the first Broncos defensive co-ordinator to serve consecutive seasons since Larry Coyer in 2006. Without having to learn a new scheme, Denvers defenders built upon that foundation and have served as productive partners to Peyton Mannings high-powered offence. The Broncos are outscoring opponents by an average of 45-23 and theyve won 15 straight regular-season games by seven or more points, the second-longest streak behind the 1941-42 Bears (16). Del Rio has done a deft job of keeping the Broncos rolling without their two superstars. All-Pro linebacker Von Miller is serving a six-game drug suspension and perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey (foot) missed the first month of the season. Keep this up and Del Rios name could surface for any number of head coaching jobs in the NFL this off-season. "Thats just the nature of the business," Bruton said. "You expect change and if theres not change, its a great thing." Chatter about Del Rios potential candidacy at USC apparently stops at the locker room door, though. "We dont think or talk about stuff like that," defensive end Robert Ayers said. "Were in the here and now. Thats where he is, thats where we are." Del Rios style is a big hit with the Broncos, Ayers said: "I think hes a great NFL defensive co-ordinator. Hes proven that over his long time here as a great defensive mind in the pro game. And heck, weve done nothing but improve each year. So, his resume speaks for itself." Bruton said that while Del Rio hasnt addressed the USC speculation directly with the players, he certainly doesnt seem distracted at all, and neither do the players. "We know its a business. We know that hes going to take care of it professionally, whatever the situation may bring," Bruton said. "His top priority, and hes definitely shown it, is us." Notes: LB Danny Trevathan was a full participant at practice 24 hours after being carted off the field with a knee injury. ... WR Eric Decker (ankle) returned to practice. ... K Matt Prater was limited with a right calf injury. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '