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MALMO, SWEDEN – Brent Sutter is usually pretty honest when it comes to assessing his players both in words and actions. Adidas Originals ZX 700 Womens . Team Canadas head coach has, at different times during the World Junior Hockey Championship, benched 16-year-old Connor McDavid and alternate captain Jonathan Drouin for taking untimely penalties. After one pre-tournament game he declared Drouins performance was "average at best." He noted goalie Jake Paterson would want a couple goals back after a loss to the Czech Republic. On Wednesday, Sutter had another blunt assessment, but this one was of the positive variety when asked about Edmonton Oil Kings forward Curtis Lazar and specifically how hes adjusting to playing the wing. "Obviously, hes been one of our best forwards if not our best so we got to make sure he feels comfortable." Lazar, a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators last June, started Tuesdays game against the United States on left wing before shifting to the right. On Wednesday, he was back on the right wing skating alongside centre Nic Petan and Connor McDavid at practice. "We talked after the first period and he was having a bit of difficulty with that position so I moved him back and he got his game right back where he was before," said Sutter. "Its definitely unique thats for sure," said Lazar, who has also taken shifts at centre, which is the position he plays in the WHL. "I played all three positions in one game, which is something Ive never done before. I started at left wing against the Americans and I was struggling a little bit so Sutter moved me to the right side where I feel a little more comfortable. Its about versatility and I want to do whatever it takes to help the team win." The numbers back up Sutters assessment that Lazar has been among the most effective Canadian forwards. He has two goals and three assists through four games while playing on both special teams units and in key defensive situations. Lazar has also come through in the clutch. His third-period goal against the Americans stood up as the game winner. With nine centres on the roster a number of the 13 forwards have had to shift to the wing, which has turned Sutter into a mad scientist at times as he searches for a winning formula. "Its been a revolving door," the coach acknowledged. "Theres not really a plan in place. You just have a feel for your team. If somethings not working, youve got to change. You dont have time to let it progress over a month. If somethings not working or someones not playing well, you have to change it up quickly." Lazars ability to adapt, at least at right wing, has given Sutter some much-needed flexibility. "I love skating and I love this big ice," Lazar, a Vernon, B.C. native, said. "It gives me a lot of time to wind-up, get in on the forecheck and do my thing." Nike Air Max 90 Mens Cheap . The Bobcats (2-2) trailed 35-23 early in the second quarter, but cut the lead to 42-40 at halftime. Charlotte outscored Cleveland 32-17 in the third quarter to go ahead 72-59 and pulled away. Adidas nz sale . Louis Cardinals. J.J. Hardy hit two of the Orioles season-high six home runs, and Baltimore cruised to a 12-2 victory Friday night to move a season-high 17 games over .500. It was a rare blowout for the Orioles, who scored three runs or fewer in 11 of their 20 previous games and have played 63 games decided by one or two runs. MIAMI -- LeBron James says his new protective mask is hot, uncomfortable and prone to fogging up. Plus, as teammate Dwyane Wade pointed out, it looks weird. So James is in the market for design suggestions. "Ive been talking to Marvel Comics for the last couple of days, and DC Comics, to try to come up with one of the greatest masks of all time," James said with a chuckle Wednesday. "So well see what happens." James spoke after trying out his new mask for the first time in practice. He plans to use it Thursday when the Miami Heat play the New York Knicks. The game will be the first for James since he broke his nose last Thursday in a victory at Oklahoma City. He and his mask took part in contact drills Wednesday, and coach Erik Spoelstra was encouraged by James progress. "Hell give it a shot Thursday," Spoelstra said. "He was able to go through today without any hiccups. But he also didnt take a hit today." Given James aggressive style of play, hes bound to receive an inadvertent blow to the face sooner or later. Thus the mask. "It lessens the impact," said James, who wore a mask 10 years ago to protect a broken cheek. "You can still feel it, because the nose is still tender. But it definitely lessens the pain." James had removed his clear mask by the time media were admitted to the gym for the end of practice, but teammates provided a description. "He looked like every other player in a mask -- it looks weird," Wade said. "He looks like the LeBron that wore a mask the first time, only about 30 pounds heavier, a little more muscular, a little less hair." Said Shane Battier with a grin: "As long as No. 6 is in uniform, he looks all right to me." James was on a roll when hurt. On Thursday hell try for his fifth consecutive 30-point game, which would be the second-longest such streak in Heat history. The Heat have won five consecutive games and trail Easstern Conference leader Indiana by one game. Nike Air Max 2015 Mens Shoes. But theyve been prone to stumble against weak opponents, and their next three games are at home against team with losing records -- the Knicks, Magic and Bobcats. Nine of the Heats 14 defeats, including one against the Knicks, have come versus teams that are below .500. "You dont want to lose to the good teams. And you dont want to lose to the teams that arent as good," Wade said. "So then you would be 82-0. Youve got to lose to somebody. You cant play your A game for 82 games, so you have some of those moments. It happens to every team. Were no different." Lately the two-time defending NBA champions have been consistently on their A game, in part because of stout defence. They held Oklahoma City to 81 points, which tied the Thunders season low, then held Chicago to 79 in a victory Sunday as an antsy James watched from the bench. The injury-plagued Knicks have lost their past three games, and in their season of upheaval, the latest jarring development came Tuesday. Point guard Raymond Felton was arraigned on two felony weapons possession charges following an early-morning arrest. After going 54-28 last season, the Knicks are 21-36. "They havent forgotten how to play," Spoelstra said. "Theyve been injury-riddled all year long, and thats tough to deal with. That adversity coming into our game is irrelevant. Im sure theyll be ready." The Knicks split two games earlier this season against Miami, and theyre one of the few teams with a player who can match James basket for basket. Carmelo Anthony has scored more than 40 points in three of the past four games. James said hes sorry to see his friend endure such a difficult season in the standings. "I want him to win, and I want him to succeed," James said. "Obviously he has been playing great basketball, but I definitely dont like seeing him lose the way theyve been losing." cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
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