~~**GÄSTEBEREICH**~~ » und Valanciunas for an alley-oo

VANCOUVER - Down 1-0 after two periods with their season on the line, the Vancouver Canucks showed they still have a little fight left. Brad Richardson scored with 1:23 remaining in regulation Saturday as the Canucks kept their minuscule playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Richardson took a feed from linemate Zack Kassian at the side of Jonathan Quicks goal and ripped home his 11th of the season to keep the Canucks in the post-season chase, at least mathematically. "That shows the character of the team," said Kassian. "We could have folded once they scored and packed our bags but we didnt. We competed and stuck with our game plan." The Canucks and embattled head coach John Tortorella would have been eliminated from post-season contention with a regulation loss, but will instead live to see another day thanks to a spirited effort against a Western Conference powerhouse. "What do we have to lose, right? Torts just told to have fun and go play and what the hell?" said Richardson of what was discussed in the locker-room during the second intermission. "I think we all know where all are. "Whatever happens, happens." Vancouver still sits six points back of the Dallas Stars for the second wild-card spot in the West with just four games left on the schedule. In short, the Canucks will need a miracle to make the post-season, but the fact they came back against a Kings team that won the seasons first four meetings and was 26-2-0 when leading after two periods is a definite positive in what is in all likelihood a lost campaign. "We played hard. We played as a team. We stuck together," said Canucks captain Henrik Sedin, who returned after missing four games with an upper-body injury. "Thats never been a problem here the last couple weeks and thats a good feeling." Alexander Edler added a goal and an assist for Vancouver (35-32-11), which got 25 saves from Eddie Lack in his 18th straight start since the Olympic break. Slava Voynov scored for Los Angeles (45-28-6). Quick stopped 38 shots for the Kings, who are locked into the third seed in the Pacific Division. "I thought we played great the whole game," said Richardson, who left the Kings to sign with Vancouver in the off-season. "Everyone played great tonight. I thought Eddie was awesome. Its nice to beat those guys for sure." Trailing 1-0 after 40 minutes, the Canucks tied the score on the power play after Edlers seventh of the season just 66 seconds into the third stood up after a video review. The Vancouver defenceman pinched down to Quicks crease and saw Daniel Sedins saucer pass deflect in off his skate, but without a distinct motion. The Canucks had another power play moments later, but some good puck movement failed to create a clear-cut chance on Quick. "We have to bear down. We took three penalties and they scored on one of them," said Kings forward Marian Gaborik. "We cant have breakdowns in our zone. We have to get ready and make sure it doesnt happen. Were heading into playoffs. "These game situations can cost us big so we have to figure it out and make sure we bear down and are strong on pucks in front of our net." The game was played after a controversial few days in Vancouver that included Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis seeming to criticize the style employed by Tortorella in a live radio interview. Gillis said he wanted the club to get back to the high-tempo, puck-possession game that got Vancouver to within one victory of the 2011 Stanley Cup under former head coach Alain Vigneault, who was fired last off-season after a first-round playoff exit. Tortorella responded to Gillis comments by saying that both he and his boss were on the same page in terms of systems coming out of training camp, but added that he was slow to respond to injuries that forced the Canucks into a more conservative style by mid-season. On the ice, the Kings snapped a scoreless tie on a power play with 28 seconds left in the second period on Voynovs fourth goal of the season on a massive breakdown by the Canucks penalty-killing unit. All four Vancouver players on the ice inexplicably wound up in the corner below the goal-line, leaving Voynov wide open in front to bury a feed from Jeff Carter. The goal was Voynovs first goal since Nov. 14, a span of 59 games. "When they scored at the end of the second period, we talked about just gaining the momentum back," said Tortorella. "I thought we played a pretty good second period. We just make a terrible coverage mistake on our penalty kill — really they didnt get a sniff through any of it. "We just talked about the first few shifts of just trying to gain momentum and not sink because we got scored on late. Then we score a power-play goal. I thought we played well." The Canucks had a 4-on-3 power play for 34 seconds earlier in the period that they failed to capitalize on, as well as a great chance for Richardson that the Vancouver forward couldnt get up and over Quick. At the other end, Lack made a huge pad stop in the periods opening minute when he came across to stone Tyler Toffoli on a 2-on-1. The Kings and Canucks have played some physical games this season and in the playoffs, but the opening 20 minutes felt more like an exhibition game. Los Angeles captain Dustin Brown had the best opportunity to break the scoreless deadlock with 30 seconds remaining, but his shot from the faceoff circle rang off the post behind Lack. "We played, I think, like we did back before Christmas. We iced a lineup thats healthy," said Henrik Sedin. "We were able to be aggressive, play the way we know we can. Weve been in a lot of tight games against these guys." Notes: Kings defenceman Matt Greene left the game in the third period but later returned after taking a shot off the shin that left blood splattered on the ice. ... Kings defenceman Drew Doughty missed out because of an upper-body injury, thought to be a left shoulder ailment. Andrew Campbell made his NHL debut on the L.A. blue-line in Doughtys place. ... The Canucks are home to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. ... The Kings take on the Flames in Calgary on Wednesday. Vans Old Skool Shoes Sale Uk .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. Vans Old Skool Wholesale . After just two league games in June, Toronto (6-4-1) will go on to play seven in July plus a friendly against Tottenham. Five of those contests are against Eastern Conference opposition, meaning valuable points in the playoff race are on the line. http://www.cheapoldskooluk.com/. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Vans Old Skool For Sale Cheap . Hall had a goal and three assists in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Tuesday, had an assist in each of Edmontons next two games the capped the week with a goal and two assists in the Oilers 4-2 win over Anaheim on Sunday. Vans Old Skool For Sale Uk .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday.TORONTO - An uncharacteristic off night from the teams most dependable player proved costly for the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.And after dropping a 114-111 decision to the sizzling-hot Detroit Pistons, Kyle Lowry beat himself up a little in the post-game dressing room.Lowry committed seven turnovers on a night that saw the Raptors commit 19, and he took just three shots through three quarters to finish with 10 points.Was it the pressure being applied by Detroit?Naw, Lowry said. It was more me, more me not being aggressive. The loss spoiled a career-high 31-point performance from Jonas Valanciunas, who also grabbed 12 rebounds. Seven players scored in double figures for Toronto (25-12), with Greivis Vasquez notching 16, Lou Williams adding 15, Amir Johnson and Terrence Ross finishing with 12 apiece, James Johnson scoring 11, and Lowry finishing with 10 to go with 12 assists. That was uncharacteristic of (Lowry), that was one of those tough games for him, said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. To have seven turnovers is very strange for him. Youre going to have nights like that but, again, weve got to make sure we back him up and take care of the ball.Brandon Jennings had 34 points to top the Pistons (14-24), who won their sixth straight on the road, and ninth in their last 11 games.The Raptors were outscored 25-16 on second-chance points, and sent the Pistons to the free-throw line 31 times — while going to the line just 14 times themselves. But the Pistons, who as Casey said pre-game have been clicking on all cylinders, gave up just seven points on eight turnovers.The turnovers were the huge thing in this game, thats what decided this game, said Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy. We took care of the ball and thats the only thing that really gave us a shot to win that game.The Raptors had defeated the Pistons 110-100 in Detroit on Dec. 19, but the Michigan teams record was third worst in the league at the time. Three days after that victory, the Pistons waived Josh Smith, and have been one of the NBAs hottest teams ever since.Casey likened them to last seasons Raptors team after the Rudy Gay trade.The Raptors, who snapped a four-game losing skid with their 109-96 victory over Boston on Saturday, led for a good chunk of the first three quarters, and were up by as much as 14 points in the first half.The Pistons came roaring back in the third, and cut the Raptors advantage to just 83-82 with a quarter left to play.Lowry followed up a driving layup with a pair of free throws to put the Raptors up by four points with 3:39 to play, but couldnt put any more distance on their visitors. Back-to-back buckets from Jonas Jerebko gave the Pistons a three-point lead with 1:29 to play, and then after a mad scramble for the ball and with thee shot-clock at nearly zero on Detroits next possession, Jodie Meeks drained a three-pointer to put the Pistons up by four.ddddddddddddack breaker. It was a back breaker, Lowry said of Meekss shot. Everyone committed to the ball and they got it out and he hit a tough shot.Lowry, whos poised to make his first NBA all-star team, replied with a three with 43 seconds left, making it a one-point game and bringing the capacity crowd of 19,800 fans at Air Canada Centre to their feet. But the Raptors point guard missed with seven seconds left, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope connected on two free throws to give Detroit the win.We shot ourselves in the foot, Casey said. For whatever reason, we had the break going, we had our pace going but we were forcing a lot of passes. If you commit that many turnovers against a good team like that, you shoot yourself in the foot and thats what we did.The coachs message to the team after the game?On to the next one, said Patrick Patterson. We let it slip through our fingers, had a great first half and second half was just horrendous. Only thing we can do now is focus on the next game. The next one is Wednesday, when the Raptors host Philadelphia. They host the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks on Friday, then cap this six-game homestand on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans.The game marked the 21st straight without DeMar DeRozan, who had originally targeted last Thursday for his return, but had then predicted hed play some time this week. When asked pre-game about a potential return of his all-star guard, Casey wouldnt say. The Raptors, whove been plagued by slow starts, came out of the opening whistle at full speed, with Valanciunas leading the way with 14 points, and Lowry doling out nine assists — just two shy of the club record for a quarter, held by Doug Christie. Lowry found Valanciunas for an alley-oop dunk that put the Raptors up by 12 midway through the quarter, and they took a 32-20 lead into the second. Williams led the way with nine points in the second quarter as the Raptors built their lead to 14 points. A floater from Williams with four seconds to play send Toronto into the dressing room at halftime with a 60-48 lead.The Pistons outscored Toronto 34-23 in the third, tying the game with a three by Jennings midway through the quarter. The Raptors remained within four points of Detroit for the rest of the frame, pulling ahead to lead by one with one quarter to play.NOTES: Valanciunass previous career high was 27 points versus the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 24 of this season. . . The Raptors had won six of their previous meetings with Detroit, including four in a row. . . The Raptors had been outscored in the first quarter in nine of their previous 11 starts. ' ' '