r defence just wasnt good enough in the second half," Love said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Alex Ovechkins familiar gap-toothed grin has returned with the Washington Capitals in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.Hardly anyones smiling in the West, where the standings are far more convoluted heading into the post-All-Star break of the NHL schedule, which opens with 11 games Tuesday.Its hard, St. Louis Blues defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk said during the All-Star festivities in Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend. If you lose three, four games in a row, its scary because you find yourself in eighth place when you were in first a week ago.Its a tale of two conferences.In the West, seven points separate the fourth-place San Jose Sharks from the 11th-place Dallas Stars. Dont count out the 12th-place Minnesota Wild, who rode a 23-10-7 second-half surge to clinch a playoff spot last year.And then theres the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings who are a single point out of the post-season picture at the moment.Weve had some spurts where we played pretty good, Kings forward Anze Kopitar said. But we also had some moments where we didnt play very good at all.In the East, the Capitals (24-13-9) are seventh, but part of a top-eight group of contenders that have begun separating themselves from the bottom eight.And that, so far, is fine with, Ovechkin who is feeling much better after one his most trying years.Before the season, I said, its a very important year for us, for me, for the whole group of guys on the team, said Ovechkin, who made his fifth career NHL All-Star Game appearance. We all wanted to come back and show last year was maybe a little bit of no luck.The Capitals not only missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, Ovechkins frustrations were compounded on the other side of the Atlantic. Thats where he and his fellow Russians wilted under immense national pressure by failing to even sniff an Olympic medal on native soil at the Sochi Games.The Capitals have successfully made the transition under new coach Barry Trotz, and shored up their defence by adding Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen.Ovechkins production has barely slowed, and put him in contention to win his fifth career and third straight scoring title. His 27 goals are one off the league-lead shared by Dallas Tyler Seguin and New York Rangers Rick Nash.And Ovechkins defensive numbers are markedly improved. After finishing third-last in the NHL with a minus-35 rating, hes currently 40th with a plus-12.Steven Stamkos, captain of the East-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, isnt exactly rooting for Alex The Greats return to the playoffs. But, he noted, it would be good for hockey to have such a high-profile player competing well into the spring.Its great that hes having a great year, Stamkos said. Any time you have a top player playing well it only adds to building our game.The East teams outside the playoff hunt have plenty of catching up to do. The youth-laden Florida Panthers — whose roster includes rookie No. 1 pick, defenceman Aaron Ekblad — are ninth. Ottawa and Toronto are next with 47 points, and shown few signs of consistency even after both Ontario rivals changed coaches over the past two months.The West is filled with intrigue, which shouldnt come as a surprise after many top teams spent last summer stocking up on high-profile free agents. Still, there are three teams — San Jose (fourth place), Winnipeg (seventh) and Calgary (eighth) — that are in the hunt despite not making many off-season splashes.Chicago and St. Louis both find themselves looking up in the Central Division at Nashville.Its a tough division to be in, but its also a good division to be in, Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook said. Were all playing meaningful games down the stretch, getting ready for the playoffs.Not all will make it.There is a race to watch at the other end of the standings. Buffalo (14-30-3) and Edmonton (12-26-9) have been locked in a battle for futility and, more important, the right to land the top draft prospects — Erie Otters forward Connor McDavid and U.S.-born, Boston University freshman Jack Eichel.The Sabres are suddenly gaining the edge for last place and, with it, a guaranteed top-two selection. They entered the All-Star breaking having lost 11 straight in regulation — the NHLs worst streak since Pittsburgh lost 13 in a row from January to February 2004, according to STATS. Air Max 270 Italia . JOHNS, N. Air Max 270 Offerta . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then. http://www.airmax270outlet.it/ . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136. Air Max 270 Outlet Italia . The 22-year-old Spanish midfielder recently signed a new three-year contract with Chelsea, and after spending last season on loan with Valencia in La Liga, Romeu will move to the Bundesliga for the 2014-15 campaign. Air Max 270 Outlet . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday.SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Barring a change of heart from the league offices, Sacramento centre DeMarcus Cousins has played his last game of the season. He definitely went out with a bang. Cousins recorded his eighth straight double-double with 35 points and 15 rebounds but picked up his 16th technical foul of the season late in the fourth quarter of the Kings 106-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. By NBA rules, Cousins must sit out Sacramentos final regular season game at home against Phoenix on Wednesday. "Im not going to talk about it," said Cousins, who had sat for several minutes in front of his locker with his head hung low. Kings coach Mike Malone was willing to discuss it and said the team might contact the NBA to get the technical removed, citing Cousins most recent behaviour. The technical was his first since Feb. 25 and ended the longest stretch of his career without one. "I feel for him," Malone said. "He has made a concerted effort to handle his emotions and not get that last tech. Well try to do whatever we can to get that rescinded but its disappointing because I know it meant a lot to him." The Kings trailed by 11 in the third quarter and were down 82-81 before going on an 11-2 run to go in front for good. Cousins started the surge with a thunderous dunk and McCallum followed with consecutive 3-pointers, one from the left corner and the other from the right. The Timberwolves pulled to 100-98 with 1:13 left to play on three free throws by Kevin Love after Cousins was charged with the technical foul. Cousins then drove the baseline and dunked with 24.2 seconds remaining, helping Sacramento end a five-game losing streak while evening the season series with Minnesota. "Were still a team trying to grow and find ourselves," said Cousins, breaking his silence. "I think we took steps forward today. Weve been in those situations a couple times this season. Sometimes it went well, sometimes it didnt. We did a pretty good job tonight of handling the siituation and overcoming adversity.dddddddddddd" J.J. Barea missed a 3-pointer and Love was off on a 16-foot jumper in the final 20 seconds for the Wolves. Love had 43 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota after sitting out Fridays 112-110 win over Houston because of a hyperextended right elbow. "Our defence just wasnt good enough in the second half," Love said. "Offensively we were fine, but they kind of went on a run and never looked back." The Timberwolves lost after leading 62-51 with eight minutes left in the third in what might have been former Kings coach Rick Adelmans final appearance at Sleep Train Arena. The 67-year-old Minnesota coach remains a beloved figure in the states capital, having guided the Kings from 1998-2006. Sacramento made the playoffs in each of his eight seasons and havent been back since. Adelman clearly has fond memories of those glory days in Sacramento and hes been back numerous times as a visiting coach as well. This game, however, might hold special significance since it might be Adelmans last. He has taken time away from coaching each of the past two years to take care of his wife, Mary Kay, who has had health problems. Speculation around the NBA now is that Adelman will step away for good at the end of the season. "Ive always said that the eight years here were a tremendous experience," Adelman said. "We had a lot of fun, we had really good team and the fans during that run were terrific." Minnesota trailed by 11 early before going on a 12-0 run in the second quarter capped by Dante Cunninghams three-point play that put the Wolves up 40-32. Love finished the half with 13 points, including two free throws to give Minnesota a 52-47 halftime lead. The Timberwolves extended their lead to 62-51 with 8:03 left in the third, then Sacramento went on its big run. NOTES: Kings F Rudy Gay (lower back strain) sat out for the third time in four games. ... Cousins moved past Vlade Divac for eighth on Sacramentos career scoring list. ' ' '