Schwarzes Brett » do it under stress

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Dan Ellis learned a few things about the Anaheim Ducks top scorers during 1 1/2 seasons as the teams backup goalie, and he put all that knowledge to work in a breakthrough victory for the Dallas Stars. Ellis made 26 saves against his former team in his 14th career shutout, and Trevor Daley scored in the Stars 2-0 victory over the Ducks on Saturday night. Ellis played in 23 games as a backup in Anaheim from February 2011 to 2012, but did his best work while absorbing innumerable shots in practice from Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne. Ellis used that familiarity throughout his second victory over the Ducks this season, even denying Perrys point-blank chance in the final minute by getting an outstretched pad in front of an open net. "Ive practiced with them, and I understand some things they like to do," Ellis said with a smile. Captain Jamie Benn added an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left for the Stars, who snapped a five-game road skid with one of their biggest wins of a mediocre season. Ellis had sat out the Stars previous nine games since Jan. 12, and he acknowledged a bit of game rust in his return. But Kari Lehtonens veteran backup posted Dallas third shutout victory in its last six games, and coach Lindy Ruff said Ellis probably will get more playing time in the final week before Lehtonen and Ruff head to the Olympics. "He gave us a rock-solid game," Ruff said of Ellis. "We only had a couple of big breakdowns, and he was there for us." After the game, Ellis met up in the hallway between the dressing rooms with Jonas Hiller, the Ducks starter during Ellis time with the club. "I loved my time here," Ellis said. "Its still the best place Ive ever played and lived in, but it was good to get these two points for us." Hiller stopped 25 shots for the NHL-leading Ducks, who were shut out for the first time all season. Anaheim has lost three of five at Honda Center after opening the season 20-0-2 at home. At the start of a four-game stretch over eight days before the Olympic break, the grind of the regular season is finally hitting the Ducks after two spectacular months. Anaheim is 4-4 since Jan. 15, but still five points ahead of defending champion Chicago atop the overall standings. "We didnt have any sustained pressure," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Against a team like Dallas, you have to win the board battles. If you dont win them, their speed is so good, its going to be a real tough game for you." The Ducks played without third-leading scorer Nick Bonino after the versatile centre injured his wrist. Boudreau also scratched healthy offence-minded forwards Dustin Penner and Kyle Palmieri. While Anaheims roll has slowed, Dallas is looking to build momentum into the break during a three-game West Coast trip over the next five days. The Stars began the day in an 11th-place tie in the Western Conference. After a scoreless first period, Daley got his fourth goal of the season early in the second on the rebound of a shot by centre Cody Eakin, who blew by Patrick Maroon to create the chance. Only Hiller kept the score close with a handful of stellar plays in the final two periods, including a post-to-post toe save on Rich Peverley late in the second. Hiller has lost his last three home starts after his franchise-record 14-game winning streak ended last month. "It seems like one game we play pretty good, then the next game it seems like weve lost everything again," Hiller said. "We dont have that consistency. You cant just always think you can come back in the third period to win a game." Anaheim had several decent chances in the final minutes, but was shut out for the first time since last March 27. The Ducks also lost defenceman Mark Fistric to a lower-body injury early in the game. NOTES: Along with Bonino, the Ducks had three prominent healthy scratches who have combined for 90 points this season: Penner, Palmieri and D Bryan Allen. ... Just 41 seconds in, Eakin skated to the Stars dressing room with a bloody cut on his face after he got hit by the puck. He returned for the second period. ... Daley has three goals in his last 10 games after scoring just once in his first 31 this season. Air Max 270 Uomo Saldi .com) - The Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors are back in the great white north for a brief moment and will host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night from Air Canada Centre. Scarpe Air Max 270 Nere .com) - Real Madrid claimed its 20th consecutive win across all competitions by cruising to a 4-1 victory at Almeria on Friday. http://www.airmaxscarpescontate.it/scarp...-basso.html.com) - Stephen Currys jumper with 3. Air Max 90 Outlet Italia . He reps the 4-1-6The insecurity of Canadian basketball fans is not what it once was with the home grown talent making its way to the big leagues, but it is still nice to see the local kids remembering where they come from once they make their way south. Air Max Plus Scontate . The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt.DENVER - Kyle Lowry and Lou Williams stepped up for Toronto down the stretch, and it was too much for the struggling Denver Nuggets.Lowry had 30 points and 11 assists, and Raptors beat the Nuggets 116-102 on Sunday night.Williams scored 31 points as the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors completed a sweep of the season series against Denver. They also beat the Nuggets 112-107 in overtime on Dec. 8.The Raptors, who have won seven of eight, got 10 points apiece from Lowry and Williams in a 28-point fourth quarter.Lou got hot and made some shots and we stuck with our principles, Lowry said. We knew if we stayed the course and played our game wed be all right.Ty Lawson led Denver with 28 points, and Wilson Chandler had 20 points and 10 rebounds.Kenneth Faried, who had 26 points and a career-best 25 rebounds in Fridays win over Minnesota, had 17 points and 19 boards for the Nuggets, who have lost three of four.It was frustrating in the fourth quarter, Faried said. We couldnt score a bucket for some reason. And when we did, they had an answer for it. Lowry and Williams got really hot.Toronto, coming off a 12-point win at the Clippers on Saturday, led by one when Williams hit two free throws and a 3-pointer to give the Raptors a 100-94 lead. After Nate Robinson missed a 3-pointer, Lowry sank two foul shots to push the lead to eight.The lead grew to 109-98 on a three-point play by Lowry with 3:59 left. Denver never got closer than nine the rest of the way.When Lou gets it going you want to find him, Lowry said. Our teams like that. Were unselfish. We want everyone to be ssuccessful.ddddddddddddThe Nuggets were swept in the season series for the first time since 2003-04.Sixty-one points between Lou Williams and Lowry were too much to overcome, coach Brian Shaw said. We didnt crowd their shooters so they rose up and they shot 3-point shots with a high comfort level. That was the difference. We had to grind out for the shots we got and they were comfortable with the shots they got.Farieds layup midway through the third quarter gave Denver a 76-75 lead. Toronto went back up by four but a steal and layup and a jumper by Nate Robinson cut the Raptors lead to 88-87 heading into the fourth.BENCH PRODUCTIONTorontos reserves played a key role in the series sweep. The Raptors backups outscored Denvers 49-17 in the earlier win. Sunday, the margin was 53-20 for the Raptors, led by Williams 31.Our bench gave us great energy. Lou gave us energy, coach Dwane Casey said. I thought that was very important.TIP-INSRaptors: Guard Landry Fields missed his fourth straight game because of a concussion. Fields has passed two of the three tests to be able to return, Casey said. My understanding is he passed a couple parts of it, Casey said. But there is another area that he still has to pass. And he has to do it under stress.Nuggets: Forward Darrell Arthur played for the first time after sitting three games. He missed the first two because of a strained lower left leg and sat out the third because he hadnt taken part in a full practice coming off the injury.UP NEXTRaptors: At Portland on Tuesday.Nuggets: Host Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. ' ' '