Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
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Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
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The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -England defender Joleon Lescott preserved Manchester City's two-point lead in the Premier League by scoring a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday.
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Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
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Stanley Cups: 3
2008-'09 record: 51-27-4, 106 points (1st in Atlantic, 4th in East)
2008-'09 playoffs: Lost to Carolina Hurricanes 4-3
General manager: Lou Lamoriello (873-581-228, 21st NHL year, 1st team)
Coach: Jacques Lemaire (540-414-177, 16th NHL season, 3rd team)
Captain: Jamie Langenbrunner
Top returning scorer: LW Zach Parise (45 goals, 49 assists, 94 points)
Top returning goalie: Martin Brodeur (19-9-3, 2.41, .916)
Key additions: G Yann Danis; D Cory Murphy; D Rob Davison.
Key subtractions: G Scott Clemmensen; C John Madden; RW Brian Gionta; C Mike Rupp; C Bobby Holik; RW Barry Tallackson; D Niclas Havelid; G Kevin Weekes.
Top line: LW Zach Parise, C Travis Zajac; RW Jamie Langenbrunner.
Top defensive pairing: Johnny Oduya, Paul Martin.
Goaltending: A torn bicep muscle cost Brodeur, who became the NHL's winningest goalie last season, 50 games and left him three shutouts shy of Terry Sawchuk (103) to become the league's career leader. Injury ended his 10-season streak of 70 or more games. Like a chameleon, has adapted his game constantly over his career to maintain his excellence. Brilliant puckhandler who eschews the big, bulky gear popular with most netminders.
Player to watch: RW Niklas Bergfors. Former first-round draft pick looked to have finally figured things out during an eight-game audition with the Devils last season. Offensively-skilled forward makes up for his lack of size through his competitive nature. Elusive on skates and armed with a deadly shot.
Icing: Zach Parise had a breakout year last season, posting career highs in goals, assists, 94 and 14 power-play goals. He even netted 14 winning goals as the Devils overcame the loss of Brodeur for 50 games and won the Atlantic Division. New Jersey will have to shake off the crushing Game 7 loss to Carolina in which the Devils allowed the tying and winning goals to be scored in the final 80 seconds.
Outlook: While the rest of the NHL moves away from obstruction, the Devils went back to the future by returning the team to Lemaire, who guided them to the 1995 Stanley Cup. It wasn’t working for him in Minnesota, so should be expect it to work again in New Jersey?
Prediction: 95 points, 3rd in Atlantic, 5th seed in East.
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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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