Sabres forward

MINSK, Belarus - Cody Hodgson was in the right place at the right time for his hat trick in Canadas 6-1 drubbing of Denmark on Thursday. Nike Patriots Rob Gronkowski White With C Patch Super Bowl XLIX Mens Stitched Game Jersey . In the big picture of his career, Hodgson is also right where he wants to be at the age of 24 and is showing it at the world hockey championship. "Just feeling more comfortable," Hodgson said at Chizhovka Arena after his three-goal performance. "I enjoy playing this game, I love playing hockey and when youre healthy and able to do everything you feel like you can do and your body translates what your mind wants, its fun." Hodgson is healthy again after being bothered by back injuries earlier in his career and then wrist and thumb problems this past season. In leading the way past Denmark, the Buffalo Sabres forward showed glimpses of the player scouts projected hed become as the 10th pick in the 2008 draft. "Earlier in his career, (for) young players its hard to jump in, especially with high expectations," coach Dave Tippett said. "And then he had some injury issues, I think it was some back issues, that really probably hurt his development. Youre starting to see a player now - even (if) he got lots of opportunity in Buffalo this year, put up some points - come here (and) hes playing on a line with some good players and (being) opportunistic." Hodgson scored Canadas first two goals against Denmark, and Matt Read scored twice to break the game open. Jonathan Huberdeau had his first of the tournament before Hodgson finished off the hat trick on the power play. "Sometimes youve got to get lucky to score, but Ill take em," Hodgson said. Tippetts word - opportunistic - might be better. Hodgsons first goal came about when he poked the puck past Danish defender and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Lauridsen, and his second came after a giveaway wound up right on his stick between the circles. It took skill to finish those plays. "Those first two goals were good shots," Tippett said. "Their goaltenders out and square, but when you shoot it quick like that, it makes it hard on the goaltender. Thats who Cody is: Hes a guy that weve got him in a situation where hes going to get some opportunities with the players hes playing with, and its great to see him capitalize on some of those opportunities." Hodgson just happened to pick a game with five Vancouver Canucks on the ice to shine. While the former Canucks draft pick was the star of the game, Nicklas Jensen scored Denmarks only goal, and Jannik Hansen made sure to give Hodgson a friendly bump while he was giving interviews afterward. Traded to Buffalo in exchange for Zack Kassian at the 2012 trade deadline, Hodgson had nothing but good things to say about his time in Vancouver. He still trains with Chris Tanev and felt fortunate to see a bunch of former teammates when the Sabres were in town this past season. Hodgson had a career high 44 points in 72 games after putting up 34 in the lockout-shortened 2013 NHL season. Those 34 points and his potential earned him a US$25.5-million, six-year contract that also saddled him with even higher expectations. Sabres fans had plenty to smile about Thursday at the world championship, not only with Hodgsons hat trick but a strong game from Zemgus Girgensons as Ted Nolans Latvian team beat the United States 6-5 at Minsk Arena. While the U.S. is struggling in Group B, Hodgson helped Canada to its third victory in four games. Up next is Italy on Friday before Sundays showdown with Sweden. Tippett said Thursday evening he didnt know which goaltender would start against Italy. Ben Scrivens stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in beating Denmark, while James Reimer has 57 saves on 63 shots over two starts. Beyond a scoring explosion of four goals in under 10 minutes keyed by Reads first goal midway through the third, Canada showed some more improvements in routing Denmark. For the first time in four games, it did not give up a goal on the penalty kill, and Read even scored short-handed. "Weve been focusing on it the last two days, our penalty kill," Read said. "A lot of teams they rely on their good power play, they know how to move the puck very well and if our penalty kill does our job and we break even on the night not allowing a goal or getting a goal, thats a plus for us." A minus is the four penalties Canada took that wouldve been more costly had this been an elimination game against a stronger opponent. "I think (weve) just got to play more (a) intelligent (game)," Huberdeau said. "Its some bad penalties. I had a bad penalty, so I think its (important) to keep skating and when you have the puck you wont take any penalties." Despite the penalties, Canada had no trouble rolling over Denmark. But Hodgson hopes he and his teammates are just warming up offensively. "It doesnt matter what we did now," he said. "Its what happens in the medal rounds, thats when the serious hockey begins." Notes: Danish captain Morten Green was honoured before puck drop for playing in his 257th career international game. This broke a record for Denmarks national team previously held by Jesper Damgaard. ... Canada won 62.3 per cent of its faceoffs and outshot Denmark 46-30. Danish goaltender Patrick Galbraith made 40 saves. Nike Patriots Rob Gronkowski Red Alternate With C Patch Super Bowl XLIX Mens Stitched Elite Jersey . Marian Gaborik had two goals and an assist and Martin Jones made just 17 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the lowly Oilers on Thursday. Nike Patriots Rob Gronkowski Team Color Super Bowl XLIX Mens Stitched NFL Elite Fanatical Version Jersey . -- Canadian Kevin Pangos had 18 points, Drew Barham matched his career high with 17 points off the bench, and Gonzaga beat Pacific 70-53 on Thursday night to clinch the outright West Coast Conference regular season title.LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. 17 Kentucky in overtime this time around. Perfect free throw shooting worked just fine for the Razorbacks, a fundamental they executed much better than the Wildcats, with Coty Clarke and Kikko Hayder providing the final touches in the extra session. Clarke scored four of his seven points in OT from the foul line and Arkansas upset the Wildcats 71-67 on Thursday night to complete a season sweep. Six weeks after Michael Qualls beat the Wildcats with a last-second dunk in OT, Clarke lifted the Razorbacks this time with a 3-pointer and foul shooting, making two free throws with 36.7 seconds left for a 69-64 lead. Foul shots were the difference in the game, with Arkansas making all six attempts in overtime and going 16 for 16 overall. Kentucky was 12 of 22 from the line and just 6 of 14 in the second half. "They got tired and you could tell when they were going up and missing," said Clarke, who went 6 for 6 to finish with 11 points. "We were able to capitalize. You need that going in against a team like this on the road to maintain. Thats what we were able to do." James Youngs 3-pointer brought Kentucky (21-7, 11-4 Southeastern Conference) within two, but Haydar made two more from the line with 17 seconds left for the final margin. Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison each missed a 3 at the end for the Wildcats. The surging Razorbacks (19-9, 8-7) have won four straight and six of seven. They evened their OT record at 2-2. Clarke was one of four Razorbacks in double figures. Qualls scored 14 to lead the way, with Rashad Madden adding 12 and Anthlon Bell 10. Arkansas was outrebounded 47-38 and outscored 42-20 in the paint while committing 20 turnovers and shooting just 41 per cent. None of that stopped the Razorbacks from beating Kentucky for the third straight time and earning their first win at Rupp Arena since their 1993-94 NCAA championship season. "It was good to see our guys come out on the right side of things, afteer so many overtime games," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. Russell Wilson Nike Seahawks Camo Super Bowl XLIX Mens Stitched NFL Realtree Elite Jersey. Willie Cauley-Stein led Kentucky with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Harrison and Julius Randle each scored 14 and Young 11 on a night when the Wildcats shot just 26 of 76 (34 per cent) from the field. Randle also had 10 rebounds but went 2 of 5 from the foul line. Kentucky struggled with easy shots the whole game. Despite outscoring Arkansas in the lane, the Wildcats missed many from close in as the Razorbacks disrupted their flow shooting and passing. "They beat us to loose balls," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "We missed 10 one-foot shots. We missed all free throws that mattered. We have a lead late, were leaving timeouts and not executing. "We took two steps back today. Give them (the Razorbacks) credit, they played hard." The Razorbacks also gained bragging rights in a matchup of the SECs top two offences. But they had to do it at the foul line with baskets hard to come by for both teams in a scrappy if sloppy second half. Trailing 50-43 with 12:03 remaining and struggling for offensive consistency, the Wildcats battled back with tough defence to outscore the Razorbacks 11-2 over 6:14. Cauley-Steins dunk at the 5:31 mark provided Kentuckys first lead since the early minutes. But the Wildcats missed three of four free throws late in regulation along with a couple of jumpers. Andrew Harrison also committed a costly turnover in the final minute on a lob attempt to Alex Poythress, allowing Arkansas to come back from a 60-56 deficit and force overtime. Arkansas had a chance to win at the end of regulation after Clarke blocked Andrew Harrisons jumper, but Alandise Harris long 3-pointer bounced off the rim. Clarke took over from there in overtime, culminating in a road win the Razorbacks have been waiting to secure for a long time. "We just had to stay poised," Harris said. "Weve been down, weve been up. We just had to make plays to get us where we needed to be." cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' '