The popular commentary out of almost any NHL training camp, including Vancouvers, often circles around the top offensive line combinations created by the coaching staff. While there certainly is plenty of room for intrigue when it comes to what bodies will appear in the top half of Willie Desjardins forward crew, it is my feeling that the most captivating section of forwards lies in the bottom half of the allotted four lines. The trios representing what could be the third and fourth lines will have a large role to play under the regime of Desjardins. If his coaching history lends its hand to how these six players will be used, by all accounts, they will be responsible for making the Canucks a tough team to play against in the following ways: Pace and Tempo: Desjardins likes his teams to play up to a high level of compete, which includes dictating the pace of the game and determining the change in tempo. If the level drops off, no line will be spared from the expectation to once again kick-start the pace and swing the tempo back in favour of the Canucks. Maintaining the tempo is also a requirement and the bottom half of the forward lineup may be played in more situations in order to pave the way for the top six forwards to spring into action. Frustrating the opponent: Owning up to responsible play will be a mandate across all of the lines, but in particular, the bottom half of Desjardins forward crew. These lines will be called upon to finish every check and play sensible, not giving into reactionary penalties. If this attitude is combined with the above pace and tempo narrative, one can imagine how agitated the opponent could become. Balancing the line-up: It is my belief that Desjardins would like to have the opportunity to go to any line, any night and rely on that line based on how the game is being played out. This puts the onus on the bottom six forwards to be ready to play variable minutes from night to night, depending on how the coach sees fit. It may surprise some which lines get used against certain teams or on certain nights, but it could be a reactionary element that helps to round out Dejardins arsenal. Another aspect of increased bottom six minutes is to bring balance to the lineup, relating to the top six forwards. This not only applies to overall minutes, but situational play in games. The fresher the top six are kept throughout the later stages of the game, the more opportunity there is to dictate the play and either change gears to catch up or to power home the win. With all of this in mind, the competition for spots on the third and fourth lines could be extreme. Many of the players who held those jobs in the previous year are still around and there have also been new names added to the mix, which widens the group that must be narrowed down, come opening night. Adding to internal competition, is the fact that some players are in contract years, including the likes of Shawn Matthias, Brad Richardson and Tom Sestito who are due to become unrestricted free agents and Linden Vey who is a restricted free agent at seasons end. These players will not only be competing in camp for jobs on this years Canucks team, but will be slugging it out the whole season for a chance to be renewed. Thus, the drive to survive is on, in a big way, for a group of forwards hoping to find their names on the Canucks roster this season and it all leads to puck-drop Oct. 8th in Calgary. Cheap Ultra Boost . -- The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will forever be tied together for making the same spectacular misjudgment on budding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin. Ultra Boost Discount .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. http://www.cheapultraboostshoes.com/. However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. Cheap Ultra Boost China .500 ball against teams with winning records, so they needed a huge lift from somebody Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders. Adidas Ultra Boost 2018 . This is Lowry’s third time winning the award in his career. He won the award last season and as a member of the Houston Rockets in 2011.TORONTO -- Patrick Patterson knows his role and, usually, its making an impact off the bench. But on Monday, the back-up forward got his first start since coming to Toronto two months ago and made the most of it, pouring in a season-high 22 points as the Raptors defeated New Orleans 108-101. "My role doesnt change whether its starting, or whether Im coming off the bench," said Patterson, who learned earlier in the day he would join the starting five in place of Amir Johnson, sidelined with a right ankle injury. "Setting screens, rebounding, shooting my shot, running the floor in transition and making my teammates better." Patterson, who came over to Toronto from the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 9 in a seven-player trade that sent Rudy Gay West, did all of that Monday in his first start in 30 games as a Raptor. He was a tidy 7-for-11 from the field -- including 3-for-5 from three-point range -- had six rebounds and added two assists. In his fourth season in the NBA, Patterson had 54 career starts, the majority with the Houston Rockets, coming into Monday night. He had started just six games this season, all with Sacramento. "Its all about making sure I have a positive role," Patterson said his rare start. Pattersons 22 points was one more than he had for the Kings against the Los Angeles Clippers Nov. 23. "Fifteen deep. Thats how we play. Thats how we role," starting point guard Kyle Lowry said of Pattersons ability to step into the line-up. "We won. Everybody stepped up." Lowry had another complete performance, scoring 19 points, doling out 12 assists and grabbing seven rebounds while DeMar DeRozan addded 22 points as the Raptors (27-24) snapped a two-game losing streak before a crowd of 17,596 at Air Canada Centre.dddddddddddd With the win, the Raptors, returning home from a five-game road trip out West, widened their lead over the Brooklyn Nets atop the NBAs Atlantic Division to three games. Toronto, 8-2 at home since Jan. 1, plays seven of its next nine at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday in their final game before the All-Star break. "We want to get both wins at home, protect home court and go into the break with a great conscience and try to hit the stretch run running," Lowry said of the teams approach to this weeks two games. The Raptors squandered a 15-point lead in the second quarter to go into halftime tied at 49. They then built up an 18-point edge in the third but again saw the Pelicans (22-29) battle back. Tyreke Evans had a game-high 23 points and 10 assists to lead New Orleans. Anthony Davis added 19. New Orleans went on a 16-5 run over the opening 5:10 of the fourth quarter to cut the Toronto lead to 87-86. But the Raptors responded with an 11-3 run over the next 2:30 to pull away for the victory. "For whatever reason, we are losing our leads with our second unit," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. "What its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and them in big minute situations." DeRozan logged 40:21 and Lowry put in 38:48 to lead in court time among all players. "Taking Patrick Patterson off the second unit hurts them a bit," Casey said. "But still we have to get a rhythm with that second unit so we can rest our starters." ' ' '