Another time, Bobrovsky appeared to slip his stick

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Despite not scoring a goal yet this season, Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks is a happy man these days. Jean-Gabriel Pageau Senators Jersey . "He is in a good place – his work rate has been fantastic and when centre forwards work that hard they will get their rewards and his are coming," head coach Carl Robinson told me. The 23-year-old Mattocks has started all four games for the Whitecaps so far, coming off in both home victories, but when he has been withdrawn he has been a very active, lively member of the bench, cheering a team on that he finally feels a part of. He told me: "We are playing really well, we just have to keep working on things, improving, making space for each other, do the simple things right and then getting the results. "The simple things in soccer will make the biggest difference – everything else will then fall into place. The cohesion in the group right now is really good, we added not only some fantastic players but fantastic people...fun, loving guys and thats helped contribute to our success." As Mattocks tells me about the winter additions he nods his head over towards Robinson in a way of recognition for what the Welshman was able to do before a ball was even kicked this season. It is easy to see the relationship between coach and player is an important one. Happy Mattocks + Happy Robinson = A focused player on the field. When Robinson was given the job in December many saw his adoption of Mattocks as a negative storyline, with some expecting the Whitecaps to trade the inconsistent striker. Robinson disagreed. He went to work on how to get the best out of the Jamaican immediately. "He was one of the first phone calls I made, after I got the job. I know he has fantastic attributes, he lost his way a bit last year and I knew confidence was a problem with him because I saw in training what he can be, but didnt see it enough on a regular basis in games. If you are not playing, as a young player, if you are not handled correctly then you dont develop. I told him I would help him with this, I said it wont be easy but it was important for me to make his base stronger so he understands that he has support in different situations." Robinsons Mattocks Project was not exclusively about the player himself. "I spoke to (Portland boss) Caleb Porter at the draft and he knew a bit about Darrens background and how he dealt with Darren when he was with him at Akron and I used that and philosophy and have taken his advice and it seems to be working. I have to say, he has come back with a renewed attitude and we are seeing the results." Mattocks acknowledges he is different this season and doesnt think twice as to why. "For him to take time for me, it says a lot for you as a player, of course, but also as a person because Carl knew me outside of soccer and thats really important. If you want to get more out of a player, perhaps some coaches take it for granted not knowing more about players outside of soccer, but Carl got to know me that way and thats translated now into our relationship back into soccer as well. Its a big confidence booster to know the coach has got your back, and is willing to play you game in, game out. We have a really good relationship." When asked if that is what he lacked in 2013, Mattocks refuses to be drawn on last season and his issues with then-coach Martin Rennie, saying: "I mean, I wouldnt say it wasnt there – just some things were missing last year and Carl has taken care of that and helped me focus more on my game." Despite playing sparingly under Rennie last year, the thing most people will remember Mattocks for last year was that interview he did in Jamaica where he certainly didnt help the image of himself or his club. Five months on, Mattocks says he has long since forgotten about it, saying: "I am an honest person, you know, it came out the wrong way and I take full responsibility for what I did, but its long gone and I have looked past it. I have learned from it, it will never happen again and I just need to keep looking forward." The Jamaican did admit that he prayed about the situation and leaned on his relationship with God afterwards. "Faith is the biggest thing for me. I have always put God first in everything, good and bad. There are times when people go through some trials and tribulations but I genuinely believe that if you have faith in God and you are a strong believer, everything else will take care of itself." During the off-season, Mattocks, who says he never goes out to party, spent a lot of down time with a small support group he trusts, including his girlfriend, mom and two elder brothers. However, he didnt need time away from the game. "I love soccer, I watch all the leagues but the Premier League is very big in Jamaica – they love it there – as a boy growing up there you dream of playing in the Premier League and hopefully, one day, I can play there but I dont want to get too far ahead of myself, for now I want to help this league grow and do my best for Vancouver." Mattocks doesnt hesitate when asked about his favourite player, almost breaking away from his quiet tone to shout Steven Gerrard. "My favourite team is Liverpool. Gerrard is a fantastic leader and role model and I try to emulate him on the field as much as I can. Its been a great season, ..... and hopefully we can get the title, we have a pretty good chance." We talk more about the Premier League and when we talk about when Robinson was playing at that level, his eyes widen in awe of his new mentor. "Hes a lucky guy eh? Thats why he is really good as a manager because he is played there and in MLS and as a young coach he is really fantastic, I know he is going to be a really good coach for a long time." As well as helping Mattocks to one day reach another level, Robinson has helped him get his passion back for the game. "Firstly, I have to be grateful to God for giving me this opportunity and I need to thank God for giving me this talent but, to be honest, it is a fantastic feeling to play professional soccer game in, game out, it is great. "I tell my girlfriend all of the time I just dont think I could do a 9 to 5 job, take nothing away from those who do it, but I am really happy with what I am doing and I am so grateful to God and I hope I continue to have success and making sure I do the small things right." Now a Jamaican international goalscorer, Mattocks dreams of making it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia but his priorities for 2014 are firmly set on the ground in Vancouver where the maturation process continues to be in effect, on and off the field, as he learns from experienced players like Jay DeMerit, Kenny Miller and Andy OBrien. "They know what it takes, they have played at the highest level and they bring their leadership and experience but, importantly, they are so humble and its a real credit to all of those guys that they want this club to grow. They are really even keel – they dont get too high or low and thats rubbing off on the young players, and it is most definitely, rubbing off on me." A smiling Mattocks leaves the interview with a spring in his step. The only thing to make him happier would be a goal to ignite his season. Oh, and a certain player lifting a certain trophy at Anfield in May. Chris Kelly Senators Jersey Authentic .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player. Zack Smith Senators Jersey Authentic . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. http://www.hockeysenatorsauthority.com/clarke-macarthur-senators-jersey-c-7/ . A last-minute leveler ensured the two-time defending champion remained nine points ahead of Roma, which drew 0-0 at bitter rival Lazio in the capital derby.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan scored third-period goals, and Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. It was the first game back in Columbus for Rangers star Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets franchise leader in goals, assists and games. He was given a standing ovation during a video tribute in the first period, but was booed loud and long after a second-period, two-handed shove up high on Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Carl Hagelin added an empty-net goal, and defenceman Anton Stralman had two assists for the Rangers, who moved two points ahead of the Blue Jackets in the tight Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference playoff races. Nick Foligno scored for Columbus, 7-2-2 in its last 11 games. Bobrovsky made 29 saves. Both teams came in with 78 points, the third most in the Metropolitan. The Blue Jackets have played one fewer game. After two scoreless periods, Columbus took a 1-0 lead when Foligno intercepted Benoit Pouilots pass and scored his 18th goal of the season with a wrist shot from the high slot at 1:12. Just 44 seconds later, the Rangers countered when Ryan McDonagh carried the puck along the back wall and then fed Stepan for his 14th goal. With 8:29 left, Brassard -- who played his first five NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets -- took a pass along the back wall from Stralman and flipped the puck between his legs to the doorstep. Brassard then pivoted and jammed a shot in off Bobrovskys pad. Nash, then the Blue Jackets captain, requested a trade in early 2012 and was finally dealt on July 23, 2012. Nash was sent along with a minor-league defenceman and a 2013 third-round draft pick to the Rangers for centres Artem Anisimov and Brandon ;Dubinsky, defenceman Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round pick (Kerby Rychel). Dion Phaneuf Senators Jersey Authentic. Nash is Columbus franchise leader in games with 674 (next on the list is 131 games behind), goals with 289 (by 169), assists with 258 (by 54) and points with 547 (by 230). Most of the capacity crowd of 18,513 gave him a standing ovation during the video tribute, although there were still some boos. All of that good will evaporated in the second period after Nash rushed the net and had a goal disallowed for interfering with Bobrovsky. As Nash went to get his stick, Bobrovsky picked it up with his stick and then dropped it as Nash reached for it. Nash then hit Bobrovsky high with both hands. That touched off five two-man scuffles and sent Nash to the box for roughing. When the cameras showed him in the penalty box, the majority of the crowd booed loudly. The crowd roared early when Nash was hit and dumped to the ice by rising young star, Ryan Johansen. Another time, Bobrovsky appeared to slip his stick between Nashs skates to knock him down. There was also a fight, some chippiness on both sides, and one two-man penalty-kill by the Blue Jackets. The Rangers had 30 seconds of a 5 on 3 advantage and got off two shots, but Bobrovsky turned both aside. In the opening seconds of the third, Nash held onto the stick of Matt Calvert for several seconds. That led to a fight as the crowd roared. NOTES: The Blue Jackets have 12 regular-season games left. ... Former Columbus RW Derek Dorsett was a late addition to the Rangers lineup in place of Daniel Carcillo, who was a healthy scratch. ... The Rangers are 6-5-1 since the Olympic break, 18-10-2 in 2014. ... The Rangers had been in Columbus since Tuesday night while the Blue Jackets played at Montreal on Thursday night, winning 3-2. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '