~~**PINNWAND**~~ » n put the Sounders ahead 3-2 in the 79th minute w

DETROIT -- Henrik Zetterberg wants to play in the playoffs. "Thats the goal," Zetterberg said Wednesday, speaking to reporters for the first time since he had back surgery Feb 21. The Detroit Red Wings hope to give their captain what he wants, but theyve got work to do. Detroit would be in its 23rd straight post-season if the regular season ended Wednesday, but it is in a logjam for one of two spots in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Red Wings, who have 10 games left in the regular season, will play Montreal on Thursday night at home. Zetterberg is aiming to return after the playoffs begin April 16. "I think the timeline is eight weeks without contact," he said. "Thats what the doctors say and thats what were going to stick with, and then well re-evaluate after that." Zetterberg said he felt great when he went to Winter Olympics. After Zetterberg played his one and only game as Swedens captain, he woke up in pain because a lingering back problem became debilitating. He had surgery about a week later in New York. "This had to be done," he said. "We went in, took away two pieces from my disc that were pushing on the nerve. Once this is healed and properly rehabbed, I shouldnt have an issue again." Despite not playing for Detroit since Feb. 8, Zetterberg still leads the team with 48 points. The Red Wings have been resting Pavel Datsyuk since Feb. 27, hoping it will help his left knee heal enough to help the team late in the regular season and the playoffs if they earn a spot. Datsyuk has been skating this week, but it is not known how longer he will be out. Detroits front line has been bolstered recently by the return of Darren Helm and Joakim Andersson. Tomas Jurco, who has been out for two weeks with injured ribs, is expected to play Thursday against the Canadiens. "The big thing is you get them back, but theyre good for one game and then it takes them about three games to get their conditioning up to speed," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. Zetterberg led the team with 16 goals for a while, but Gustav Nyquist has surged into the lead with 25, including two in each of the previous two games and nine during a six-game streak. From Jan. 20 through Tuesdays games, he scored an NHL-high 20 goals -- five more than the leagues second-leading scorer during that stretch. "Hes the hottest player in the league right now and we hope its going to continue," Zetterberg said. Nyquist, who scored four times in 40 NHL games entering the season, has made the most out of his opportunities to play a lot for a banged-up team that has been missing a slew of forwards. Detroits fourth-round pick in 2008 previously scored a lot for the AHLs Grand Rapids Griffins, at the University of Maine and in the Swedish Junior League. "Hes on a roll and feeling good about himself," Babcock said. "You never know until these players play whether they can do it in this league. Hes been a dominant scorer in every league hes ever played in." Discount Vans Shoes Uk . - Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis said Wednesday hes "nodded off" during meetings, but he said its something every player does. Cheap Vans Shoes Uk . -- Isaiah Pead took a stutter step forward, then raced to the left sideline and travelled 60 yards up the field before finally getting tripped up by a leg tackle. http://www.wholesalevansuk.com/. Stepanek gave the Czech Republic its second straight Davis Cup title Sunday, sweeping past Dusan Lajovic in straight sets in the fifth and decisive match to secure a 3-2 win over Serbia in the final. Vans Shoes Sale Uk . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. One day after Barcelonas 4-3 win at Real Madrid featured three penalties, referees again dominated a wide-open game that saw Almeria ultimately move out of the relegation zone and one point ahead of Getafe which took its place. Vans Shoes Clearance Sale Uk . - The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn.SEATTLE -- Osvaldo Alonso understood it was an exhibition. It was also a match the Seattle Sounders wanted to win. Alonso beat former U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Friedel from 30 yards early in the second half as the Sounders tied Tottenham 3-3 in an exhibition Saturday, the first match for new Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. "Every friendly is different," Alonso said. "This year we tried to win the game. ... We tried to win this game like it was the MLS regular season. Im very happy for the team." Through half the season, Seattles been the class of Major League Soccer. And the Sounders held their own against a Tottenham side making its debut under Ponchettino, who left Southampton in May to replace the fired Tim Sherwood. Sherwood had taken over on Dec. 23 after Andre Villas-Boas was fired. Tottenham began its preseason North America tour facing former striker Clint Dempsey and his new club. Dempsey left Tottenham to sign with the Sounders last August. Tottenham has two more stops on its tour against Toronto and Chicago before returning to Europe to complete its preseason. Spurs open its Premier League season on Aug. 16 at West Ham. "I want to congratulate our players because the conditions to play were very difficult -- 1 p.m. and warm and a different field," Ponchettino said. "And we play a very good team." Alonsos goal off a loose ball zipped past Friedel and hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in the net. The goal gave Seattle a 2-1 lead, but Roberto Soldado converted a penalty kick in the 55th after he was fouled in the penalty area. Tristan Bowen put the Sounders ahead 3-2 in the 79th minute when he tapped in a cross from Sean Okoli, but U.S. national team defender DeAndre Yedlin waas called for a handball in the penalty area moments later and Yago Falque converted the penalty kick.dddddddddddd The match, played before 55,349, was easily Seattles most even exhibition against Premier League opposition. Seattle lost 2-0 and 4-2 to Chelsea in 2009 and 2012 and was routed 7-0 by Manchester United in 2011. "When we come on these tours we sometimes dont know what to expect," Friedel said. "One thing was for certain when we knew we were going to expect a good atmosphere and playing against the best team in the MLS right now." This time, the Sounders had the better of the opportunities and could have come away with a victory had they converted chances in the first half. The Sounders outshot Tottenham 12-5 in the first 45 minutes thanks to Dempsey and Obafemi Martins causing problems for Spurs defence. Dempsey missed wide on an open header and later had a ball headed for the net cleared off the line by Tottenhams Danny Rose. "I thought we had opportunities we need to finish more of and could have been leading at halftime," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. Lewis Holtby scored on a header in the 11th minute off a pass from Harry Kane. Gonzalo Pinedas chipped penalty kick beat Friedel in the 33rd minute to pull Seattle even after defender Chad Marshall was taken down in the penalty area on a corner kick. Tottenham played without goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, midfielders Paulinho, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli, and defender Jan Vertonghen, who have been given a break after the World Cup. Gylfi Sigurdsson was scratched from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff. "Weve been working extremely hard. Preseason has been very demanding under the new boss and I think that showed," Friedel said. ' ' '