Regeln » is still able to play at a high level because of a unique mix

TORONTO -- The Toronto Marlies have enjoyed plenty of success so far in the 2014 American Hockey League playoffs, sweeping their first two series to secure a spot in the Western Conference Final. Wholesale Fake Vans . But despite their perfect 7-0 post-season record, the Marlies wont be taking their next opponent, the Texas Stars, lightly. "We know were not going to win every game," said centre Peter Holland. "If we are going to make it to the Calder Cup (final) and were going to make a push like that, we know were not going to sweep the whole way through. Thats just not realistic." Texas (48-18-10) is the reigning Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winner with the leagues best regular season record. The Stars roster also boasts the leagues MVP in Travis Morin and Rookie of the Year in Curtis McKenzie. Morin leads the Stars in playoff scoring with two goals and eight assists in nine games, followed closely by Mike Heddens five goals and four assists. The series begins Friday in Cedar Park, Tex. The Stars, like the Marlies (45-25-6), swept their first round matchup against the Oklahoma City Barons and then used six games to dispatch the defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins. Marlies head coach Steve Spott was in Texas Sunday to see the Stars down the Griffins 7-1 in the series clincher. "Theyre the No. 1 team in the league, were an underdog, lets not kid ourselves, were an underdog," Spott said. "I sound like Bruce (Boudreau) right now in Anaheim, but we definitely are, were underdogs, we understand that, but weve been underdogs since Sept. 1 in this league." Spott, who was the head coach of the Kitchener Rangers from 2008-13 before joining the Marlies, has coached or coached against as many as six members of the Stars organization including forwards Radek Faksa and Hedden, both of whom played for the Rangers. "Theyve got depth, theyre well coached and its going to be a heck of a series," said Spott. "I think these are two premiere clubs in the league the way theyre playing right now and its going to be a tough series. I think weve been searching for adversity. I think were going to find it and its going to test our identity." The Marlies were 2-2-0 against the Stars this season losing both meetings at Cedar Park Center. Toronto was out-scored 11-2 in the losses. Spencer Abbott and Josh Leivo each had three points during the season series while Marlies leading playoff scorer Jerry DAmigo had two goals and Greg McKegg added three assists. Drew MacIntyre, who has a 1.56 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in the post-season, appeared in all four regular season meetings, posting a 3.00 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. An area of concern against Texas could be Torontos power play, which went 1-for-14 during the season series. In the playoffs, though, the Marlies have the top-ranked power play among teams currently playing at 25 per cent efficiency. "Weve really got to make sure our special teams are on top of it cause they can win or lose you games at this time of the year," said Holland. "Weve got to make sure our power play is scoring goals for us and our penalty kill is stopping them." Holland, who has four goals and six points in four games after missing the first three playoff games to recover from injury, didnt play in the regular season series. Spott says Holland is a key ingredient to the power play. "When you drop in Holland and you drop in Abbott, your power play becomes a lot better," said Spott. "What we do is overrated sometimes. We can put in the plan, but theyve got to execute it. "When theres something not there, Peter Holland can create something so I think thats what makes the difference. " Game 2 of the series goes Monday in Texas before moving to Toronto for Games 3-5 beginning May 28 at Ricoh Coliseum. Notes: Defenceman Andrew MacWilliam (upper body), who was injured in Game 3 of the Chicago series, will be a game-time decision for Game 1. Spott said forward Tyler Biggs has been battling a stomach virus, which caused him to lose 11 pounds in a 24-hour period this week. Fake Vans SK8 . While plenty of statistics illustrate Torontos turnaround in the second year of manager Ryan Nelsens tenure, stopping goals is not one of them. Fake Vans From China . The Cavs announced the move Saturday, one day after LeBron James said hes returning to Cleveland. A 12-year veteran, Haywood has played in 794 NBA games, averaging 6. http://www.fakevans.com/ . "Last year we were in a ton of situations, late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold under the pressure, get frustrated or let a big shot frustrate us," guard DeMar DeRozan said.MINSK, Belarus - Jaromir Jagr would much rather be in the Stanley Cup playoffs than at the world hockey championship, especially three months removed from the Sochi Olympics. "I thought the young guys from Czech Republic were going to play," Jagr said with a wry smile. "Obviously, they didnt. They took a break." Jagr seemingly never takes a break from hockey and never stops smiling on the ice. At age 42 hes by far the oldest player in the tournament yet the ageless winger has as much fun playing now as he did as a young man. "If it wouldnt be, I wouldnt be playing right now," Jagr said Sunday. "I want to have fun. As long as you have fun, everything is a lot easier. But you have to work hard, you have to love the game, and thats what you do." Jagr, who faces Team Canada on Monday night, is still able to play at a high level because of a unique mix of love for the game, Hall of Fame skill and a tireless, quirky work ethic. Signed on for another season with the New Jersey Devils, Jagr doesnt sound like a man whos close to being ready to hang up his skates. Even now after 1,473 NHL games, 1,755 points and two Stanley Cups, he finds new ways to motivate himself. "Its a big challenge to compete with the young guys," Jagr said. "Its not only physically. "You have to be one step ahead of everybody. Theyre going to be quicker, theyre going to be stronger. But I always have to look for the edge. I always have to think a lot more. Anything I practise, everything I do, I have to think before how to do it. Its a big challenge. Thats what I like about it — just outsmart somebody." Long before Jagr had to outsmart anyone, he oozed the kind of skill that made him an all-star early on in his career. For a very brief time in 1992-93, he was even linemates with Dave Tippett on the Pittsburgh Penguins. "He was a very young guy," the 52-year-old Canadian coach said. "I think I spent a couple shifts on his line and he looked at Scotty Bowman and said, No, next, please. " At the world championships, Jagr is on a line with 20-year-old Tomas Hertl, who flashes the same grin on the ice for practice as his idol. Hertl wasnt even born for Jagrs two Cup victories in Pittsburgh, but as a very young boy growing up in Prague he watched every game of the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Hertl could only dream of making it big like Jagr, let alone playing alongside him. "Its unbelievable because its my idol as small guy," Hertl said Saturday. "Im learning. I watch too many games and YouTube and his shot is unbelievable, too many goals." More than that, Jagrs longevity is unbelievable. He has played for the Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins and New Jersey. This past season, Jagr was New Jerseyys scoring leader with 24 goals and 43 assists. Fake Vans Slip-on. The mutual comfort between Jagr and the Devils organization led him to signing another one-year deal to return for 2014-15. "Im not surprised. I think he really enjoyed the year," Devils coach and Team Canada assistant Peter DeBoer said. "I think he came in and he really is taking it year-to-year at this point in his career. "He played a big role for us, felt important, was a big part of any of the successes we had during the year and I think he wants to do that again." Jagr said this, his ninth world championship, would be his last — but dont rule out maybe one more run when its in the Czech Republic next year. And certainly dont start the farewell tour thinking 2014-15 is definitely his last go-round in the NHL. "I dont know." he said. "If Im gonna play good, why? I love the game." Jaroslav Spacek loved the game, too, but the defencemans body gave out on him and caused him to retire in 2012. Hes two years younger than Jagr but is now an assistant coach for the Czech team and still gets a kick out of seeing Jagr still playing. "Hes using all his free time to work out and get ready for the games," Spacek said. "Hes got no family so hes putting all pressure on himself to be the best hockey player as he can be. "Thats the one thing hes working on it every day. He can get ready for the season even for the world championship, he can take a couple days off but then he comes and works hard. I never see anybody like that." Infamous for skating late at night and sometimes with weights on his body, Jagr is what Tippett would classify as a "hockey junkie." Seeing up close how those things worked, DeBoer wont question any of his techniques. "I marvel at him every day," he said. "He has some different thoughts on his own training and what makes him go. I can tell you theres very few guys, you can probably count on one hand, that are playing at a level that hes playing at at the age hes at." To continue playing at that level, Jagr consciously makes decisions to maximize preparation. Beyond joking hes here because younger players werent, he saw the world championships as a way to help him get ready for next season. "For my body, my age, to have five months or four months without the ice I think would be too long and would be tough to come back and be ready right away," he said. Jagr has to think about those things, but he doesnt feel like a 42-year-old. Being around Hertl and other young players helps him play down in age as he adjusts. But at some point he wont be able to play anymore. When that time is right, Jagr expects to be able to feel it. "You know," he said. "I think you know. Im not ready yet." Follow @SWhyno on Twitter. ' ' '