WINNIPEG -- It was back to business for the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday, as they skated for the first time since the Olympic break and prepared to resume their quest for the playoff berth that has eluded the franchise for so many years. With 22 games left and just over a week till they play again, coach Paul Maurice says he wants to get started right away sharpening defensive neutral zone play and forechecking without the puck. "Our sole focus is trying to find ways that we can be more aggressive with it," he said. The Jets were still minus their four Olympians -- forwards Olli Jokinen, Blake Wheeler and Michael Frolik, plus No. 1 netminder Ondrej Pavelec remain in Sochi -- but they made up for that with a healthy Evander Kane, Jim Slater and Matt Halischuk, all back from the injury list. Slater was out the longest after sports hernia surgery in Montreal. The centre and one of the teams faceoff leaders last played Oct. 18 but he says he now feels strong and ready to compete. Its a far different team than the one he left, with the Jets on a roll since Maurice took over from Claude Noel. They now sit just two points out of that coveted playoff spot. Slater says its always tough to be on the sidelines when a new coach comes in. "The slates wiped clean and when you cant get out there and play and show him what youve got, its definitely tough, you dont know where you fit in," he said. But Maurice helped to set his mind at ease. "Ive played against Paul a lot of my career when he was in Carolina, so we had a talk, he knows what kind of player I am and just wanted me to get healthy, come back strong and ready to go." The focus may be on getting his team ready for their first game Feb. 27 when the Phoenix Coyotes visit Winnipeg, but Maurice says hes still arranged practice Friday to let the team watch Canada and the U.S. play in the Olympics. "Weve moved practice so that we can get together and watch that as a team," he said. "Its a big deal so we want to respect that and enjoy it. . . At the end of the day hockey events are what were all about, right, and this is a big game." Its been seven years since the Atlanta Thrashers were swept in the first round of the NHL playoffs in their only appearance. Kane last played Jan. 26 in Chicago. He was out twice with an injured hand, the second time after what turned out to be a premature return resulted in an infection that saw his hand swell to the size of a baseball. He says hes sure hell be ready to go Feb. 27 and he likes where the Jets are now sitting. "We put ourselves in a position now where we can make a push and we have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs and contend," he said. "The last part of the schedule we play the teams that kind of bunched in with us so its going to be an good opportunity for us to make a push and finish off strong." Team captain Andrew Ladd says the time to practice will help the Jets get their pace back up. "I think that was the best part of our game, the last 10 games or so . . We were playing (with) speed and confidence and weve got to find a way to get that back." He said its also good to see players like Slater and Halischuk return after long absences. "Its nice to have some extra bodies." Randy Moss Jersey . And yet as they left TD Garden amid the slush and snow of a winter storm on Thursday evening, there was a sense among the Leafs that they had finally stood toe to toe with their long-time bully, only to fall just short. Wholesale Patriots Jerseys . On Thursday, a judge said Varlamov could be released if he posted $5,000 bond and be allowed to travel with the team but he was ordered to stay away from his girlfriend, among other restrictions. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/521p-...triots.html.com) - Manchester City will face a steep test in the Champions League knockout stage as the English champions were drawn with Barcelona on Monday. Lawrence Guy Jersey . -- Fresh off their surprising run in the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers have signed head coach Terry Stotts to a multi-year contract extension. Houston Antwine Jersey . - PGA Tour rookie Tony Finau shot a 9-under 63 at Del Monte and had a two-stroke lead over Billy Andrade and Lee Janzen of the Champions Tour after Thursdays opening round of the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational.MONTREAL -- There was something familiar about the way coach Mike Babcocks Detroit Red Wings checking smothered the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. It was almost exactly like the way Babcocks Team Canada won gold at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The result was a 2-1 Red Wings victory on Swedish Olympian Gustav Nyquists rebound goal with 28 seconds left in overtime. "(Babcock) always stressed that we play this way," said Johan Franzen, who returned from a concussion to assist on both Detroit goals. "This is how you win games. "Especially coming down the stretch here and going into the playoffs, this is how you have to play hockey. Youve got to track like never before, and always be above their guys and make it small for them so you can create turnovers. Then you give your team a lot of opportunities." Franzen set up a power-play goal 14:01 into the first period by Todd Bertuzzi for Detroit (27-20-12). Captain Brian Gionta scored for Montreal (32-21-7) with 29 seconds left in regulation time after goalie Peter Budaj was pulled for an extra attacker. Babcocks defence-first style helped Canada go 6-0 at the Olympics, surrendering only three goals along the way. Giontas goal was the first against a Babcock-coached team since Lauris Darzins got one at 15:41 of the first period of Canadas 2-1 quarter-final win over Latvia. Canada shut out the United States 1-0 in the semifinals and then topped Sweden 3-0 in the final on Sunday. "Its tough to compare," said Nyquist. "Its a different style of game on a smaller rink here. "It was an adjustment for a few guys out there. But it was nice to get the win." There were a handful of Olympians of both sides who had trickled back over the past week as their teams were eliminated. It made for slow, scrambling hockey with few good scoring chances on either side. Detroit had a 30-20 shot advantage, and fans booed as Montreal tested Jimmy Howard only twice in the second frame. "Im sure guys noticed the time differencce a bit," said Nyquist.dddddddddddd "You have to battle through it. "It was the middle of the night in Sochi, but weve been back for three days and were starting to get it back. Well get some sleep before we play in Ottawa (on Thursday night)." The Canadiens salvaged a point when Gionta collected a puck at the side of the net in a scramble and backhanded the tying goal into a top corner. "The execution was not there tonight for both teams," said Montreal coach Michel Therrien. "Both teams played solid defensively. "There wasnt much space on the ice. But we put ourselves in position to get a point. Its disappointing that we didnt score in overtime or get to the shootout." Franzen fed Bertuzzi at the edge of the crease for a power-play goal 14:01 into the game after Canadian Olympian P.K. Subban was called for roughing. Bertuzzi returned to the lineup after missing eight games with an upper-body problem. Franzen had sat out six in a row and 21 of the last 22 with his concussion, but said he felt fine after the game. In overtime, Franzen tipped a Danny DeKeyser shot and the rebound went to Nyquist for a shot into an open side. Budaj had been slated to start in goal for Montreal even before Canadian Olympian Carey Price suffered a lower-body injury during the teams game-day skate. He is to start again when Montreal visits Pittsburgh on Thursday night. The 21,273 at the Bell Centre gave a rousing ovation to 12 members of Canadian mens and womens hockey gold medallist teams from the Sochi Olympics in a pre-game ceremony. The biggest cheers went to Marie-Philip Poulin, who had two goals in the womens final, and to Babcock and Canadiens players Price and Subban. Notes: Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk and Travis Moen returned from injuries, but Michael Bournival and Brandon Prust remain sidelined. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski was recalled from AHL Hamilton. . . The Red Wings played the 3,000th road game of their history. They are 1,086-1,439-475 away from Detroit. ' ' '