Good teams need goal scorers to ensure the dominance reflected

DENVER - Matt Duchene works on his shootout moves before every game. His efforts paid off for the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.Duchene and Alex Tanguay scored shootout goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped both of Edmontons shooters and the Avalanche beat the Oilers 2-1.Varlamov had 27 saves in regulation and overtime, and Daniel Briere scored in regulation for Colorado. It was the fifth straight shootout win for the Avalanche, who are 6-2-2 in their last 10.Its great to start the new year, with a big win, Duchene said. We want to roll through January here.He got his team off to a good start.After both teams failed to convert on their first shootout opportunities, Duchene skated slowly into the zone, got goalie Ben Scrivens to go down and beat him with a low shot.Me and Mario (Duhamel), our video coach, come up with something before each game, Duchene said. I think the biggest thing is each goalie has a different style and I just tried to get him to bite and make him change direction.Varlamov made a save on Jordan Eberle, and Tanguay skated slowly at the net and finished it with a roof shot over a sprawled Scrivens.Its tough when they come in so slow, Scrivens said. Its not a game situation where they have back pressure. Duchene has a good shot. You have to respect his shot. He is a good player.Ben Pouliot scored for Edmonton, and Scrivens finished with 27 saves. The Oilers, who are last in the NHL in points with 25, are 1-7-4 in their last 11 games and 1-9 in games decided after regulation.I thought our overtime period was a lot better than weve seen in the past, Edmonton coach Todd Nelson said. We had puck control, we had some good, quality chances, but we have to shoot the puck in those situations.Neither team generated much offence until the Avalanche broke through in the second period. Duchene, one of the many Colorado forwards struggling to score, carried the puck behind the net to the front and fed Briere on the opposite side. Briere knocked the puck into an open net at 7:55 of the period.It was his seventh of the season and first in 13 games.I was able to get a step on the guy coming out front, Duchene said. I was just trying to put it over there. He is such a smart player and wouldnt miss that one.Edmonton generated just five shots in the second period, but gained some momentum with three consecutive power plays. After failing to capitalize on the first two, Pouliot tied it at 4:47 of the third with his sixth of the season. The big left wing, who returned to action after missing 18 games with a broken foot, muscled through defenceman Jan Hejda to knock a rebound past Varlamov to tie it at 1.He made an impact for us, Nelson said of Pouliot. He played a simple, solid game and capitalized on the goal, obviously. This is kind of a tough spot for him, coming back here. Its hard to breathe, but he had short shifts.Both teams had chances to take the lead. Colorados Gabriel Landeskogs backhander at a wide-open goal hit the side of the net, and Edmontons Teddy Purcell hit the right post with a shot midway through the third.Colorado didnt get its first shot on net in the third until 7:15 was left in regulation. The Avalanche were outshot 12-3 in the third.NOTES: The Oilers acquired C Rob Klinkhammer and a 2015 first-round pick from Pittsburgh for LW David Perron. ... Edmonton D Keith Aulie served the first game of his two-game suspension for his hit on Calgary F Matt Stajan on Wednesday. ... Avalanche D Zach Redmond was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Tytus Howard Youth Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. DeAndre Hopkins Texans Jersey . "Ive still got it," Seattles ace said with a sly grin. Riding that fastball carrying a little more zip, Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night. On the verge of a brilliant shutout and first complete game since Aug. http://www.texansrookiestore.com/Texans-Cullen-Gillaspia-Jersey/ . Nathan Beaulieu, Tomas Jurco, Danick Gauthier and Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist each as the Sea Dogs extended the longest streak in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Arian Foster Youth Jersey . Spencer Abbott and Trevor Smith scored third-period goals erasing a 2-1 deficit giving Toronto a late 3-2 lead. Max Scharping Jersey . The actual winners on transfer deadline day are those clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City who were well prepared and managed to get their main incoming business done well ahead of the transfer window closing. Tottenham were able to add seven players by spending over 100 million pounds and also ensured maximum return for the Gareth Bale transfer to Real Madrid by managing the move superbly.SHAPES OF MLS THE FORMATIONS: Seattle made one change to their first game of the season and it was a predictable one with Clint Dempsey replacing Kenny Cooper in a 4231. Toronto FC were, as expected, in a 442 and all 11 of their starters were different from the opening game of last season. THE GAME: It turned out to be a dream start for the new-look Toronto FC. Two first half goals from Jermain Defoe gave them a deserved lead at half-time and it was that lead that enabled them to sit deeper and weather the Seattle storm in the second half to win the match 2-1. Defoe will rightfully get the headlines and we will touch on his goals and how they came about shortly, but the single biggest reason for Torontos dominance came in midfield where Michael Bradley gave a clinic on how a central midfielder can take over a game. It is important that we remember the first half for more than just the goals. It truly was a perfect away performance in the first 45 minutes, led by Bradley and his partner, Jonathan Osorio. Heading into the game, head coach Ryan Nelsen admitted he was unsure how the team would play together and whether or not the combinations on the field would gel immediately. Bradley and Osorio in central midfield certainly did that. Bradley told me before the game how impressed he was with Osorios intelligence and willingness to learn and work with him as they begin this journey together and, on paper, with Clint Dempsey dropping in, it looked like the pair could easily get outmatched and leave space in behind them, but it didnt work out that way. In the second half, Seattle found an extra gear (or three) and, particularly, after they scored, were a real handful with Osvaldo Alonso dropping deeper and dictating the play. Nelsen recognized this and asked substitute Andrew Wiederman to sit on Alonso when Seattle had possession. Tactically it was a good day for Nelsen, who also switched Rey and Jackson after just 11 minutes and left them on those flanks for the rest of their time on the field. Seconds earlier, Jackson was poor when Dylan Remick got forward and Nelsen was visibly disappointed with his defensive workrate on the play. Remick, unlike Yedlin, showed little more appetite to get forward, allowing Rey to run at him more. Jackson improved as the game wore on and did very well against Yedlin. For Seattle, it was a disappointing day. They lost Brad Evans early through injury and none of their front six impressed until Alonso took over the game in the last 30 minutes. THE TURNING POINT: Toronto FC fans have their 24th minute with Danny Dichio, after he scored the clubs first ever goal, but Defoe went one better than that, scoring both his goals before 24 minutes had been completed. THE POSITIVES: There were many on this day for Toronto FC but getting multiple players involved in the buildup to the goals was excellent. The two were both outstanding finishes in a pivotal 1-on-1 situation with the goalkeeper but it was the buildup to both that once again leaves even more encouragement for Toronto FC. Exactly a minute beforee Defoe stroked the ball into the net for the first time, Bradley was deep in between the two centre-backs starting another attack.dddddddddddd He played a 1-2 twice with Osorio, then gets Steven Caldwell, Mark Bloom and Rey into the attack before the visitors win a crucial free kick. After that is sent in, TFC take the lead…. Nelsen has gone out of his way to stick to a 442 shape and said he wanted Dwayne De Rosario to play up top with Defoe, rather than deeper, but the game is about in-game opportunities and the first thing you see on the Defoe opening goal is De Rosario coming deeper and occupying Chad Marshall, creating the space in behind. The next thing needed is a bit of magic and Osorio creates it with a dribble into space and a ball perfectly set up for Defoe to run into… The second goal was also a lot more than just a finish. Bradley began an intelligent press, followed by De Rosario and Jackson to stop Seattle from comfortably playing through the midfield. Then Marco Pappa received the ball and Bradley pressed him again, this time into a mistake… Pappas poor backpass put Defoe into space and he did the rest but it is important to note another reason Defoe is on a different level than other strikers to have played for this team. At this moment, before the ball even comes to him, he takes a quick look to see the scenario drawn up around him before he goes into the box to make it 2-0. THE NEGATIVES: There were very few. For a starting XI who had never played together before this was a very impressive performance. One thing to monitor is the De Rosario position. Bradley and Osorio were excellent but are far from the finished article as a partnership and will need help with someone dropping in defensively, particularly when the game gets stretched. THE STAR MAN: Defoe was the difference maker and that is exactly what he is. Good teams need goal scorers to ensure the dominance reflected in the performance is the same in the scoreline, but aside from the goals the star man in Seattle was Bradley. One of the biggest tactical discussions at all levels is around how many players a coach should play in central midfield. At the very highest level it is hard to see teams win championships regularly with just two in that area of the field, although teams like Manchester City and PSG are certainly threating that trend. In MLS it is definitely possible to play 442 if you have players like Bradley who can do it all. He is not a defensive midfielder. He is a complete central midfielder at this level, who can ignite counter attacks, read the game to be in the right areas to be an outlet or get the ball to find outlets, and press opponents into mistakes. On Saturday he won seven tackles and made an impressive eight recoveries that helped Toronto in the crucial transition game. (see below for Bradley player map) Toronto FC have waited seven years for a proven goal scorer and on the same day one shows up alongside a midfield maestro who looks like he can dictate MLS games for the next five years. ' ' '