The Day in 100 Words or Less Spain entered the day having won 47 and lost just one of their last 54 competitive matches since October, 2006. Luc Snuggerud Jersey . They go to bed having suffered the heaviest defeat of any reigning World Cup champion, conceding five goals in a game for the first time since 1963. It was a landmark day, one that could well have brought down the curtain on one of the greatest eras in international football. Spain 1-5 Netherlands - It was a day when the world champions were humiliated. There were some – including this writer – who felt Spain would lose and were vulnerable. No one saw the manner in which it went down. - It was a day when the Dutchs dynamic duo embarrassed the Spanish captain and quite possibly ended his international career. - It was about being clinical. Dutch detractors didnt think they had enough but if you have genuine world class finishers like Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben then you have a chance. Four years ago they didnt take their chances; this time they did. - As it happened they got three half chances and an absolute gift combining to score four of the five goals. - We were told it was a rematch of the 2010 World Cup but there was no direct line to be drawn between Johannesburg and Salvador aside from the two countries involved. The teams were dressed in different colours and they couldnt have played any differently. - It turned on one of the greatest headed goals you will ever see. Sergio Ramos, who had a nightmare match, failed to recognize the run of van Persie, or the ball played by the excellent Daley Blind, and the Manchester United man sprinted in and headed brilliantly over Iker Casillas. It was the perfect time to score, right before half-time. Spain had gotten their lead after a Brazilian had won a penalty in controversial circumstances for the second straight day. We will remember that for now but we should remember the pass from Xavi, to Diego Costa to win it, for a lifetime. - The Dutch kept their nerve. Wesley Sneijder, despite picking up a yellow, stayed tight on Sergio Busquets. It was this time, at 1-0, that will be forgotten but that was so crucial. - They also got away with one. Less than a minute before the goal Andres Iniesta played one of the best passes you will see, a no-look give to David Silva who should have made it 2-0 but was too tentative on the ball. - Spain were abysmal in defence. The first goal was bad enough but it got worse as the game went on. Robben checked his run and confused Gerard Pique for the second goal, before finishing brilliantly, and on the fifth goal they were countered for fun and Sergio Ramos was skinned by the Bayern Munich man. - Quite unusually, given the game was over, there was a lot to take from a 5-1 goal. Sneijder picked up the ball deep and immediately looked for Robben. To follow the script, YouTube the second goal scored against Cameroon in 2010 and Robbens goal vs. Slovakia in the last 16. It followed the same pattern, with their creator picking up the ball and hitting Robben quickly on the right. This time, however, the Dutch maestro got in behind a high defensive line rather than cutting back and doing the damage in front of the defenders. - For Casillas it also highlighted more concerns. Ramos was clearly beaten and you can see him on the buildup desperate for his keeper to come out and help. - The skipper, who was fouled by van Persie in the build-up to the third goal, had a nightmare giveaway to make it 4-1 and was very apprehensive on the fifth, while Ramos clearly didnt want to go down and risk an unnecessary red card. It was very evident that Spain didnt know what to do when trailing and before they knew it they were two... then three... then four down. - Vicente Del Bosque has been very loyal to the men who won him three straight trophies but how he reacts to this will be fascinating. It is clear the Real Madrid man is not what he was, as shown in the Champions League final, and the manager may have to make a big call and drop him for their next game. - Regardless, Spain are in deep trouble. They lost their opening game of the last World Cup and progressed with six points. They can now only hope to do the same but even if they win both games, if Chile beats Netherlands and Netherlands beats Australia then they would likely be eliminated on goal difference. Mexico 1-0 Cameroon - The World Cup needed a day without controversy regarding the officials. Instead, after just ten minutes of the opening game of the day, the spotlight shone even brighter on the men in black. Giovani dos Santos had two legitimate goals called off in the first half for offside by the same linesman. - However, while day ones error was down to pure incompetence by an official it was hard to put these mistakes in the same category. What it does is highlight just how difficult it is for one man to look at two different things at the same time. He has the right to make a call but the sport equally has the right to not have to be a slave to it. The second error was the most frustrating one because the man in charge should have overruled his assistant. He was in the box and had a much clearer look that the ball deflected off a Cameroon defender en route to dos Santos. - As it happened justice was served as Mexico came out worthy winners, Oribe Peralta carrying on his reputation as a goal-scoring machine for the national team, picked up a rebound and placed the ball into the net just after the hour. They won by a goal but the two disallowed ones could still cost them. The likely scenario of Brazil beating Mexico and Croatia defeating Cameroon next could mean Croatia have a better goal-difference and would only need to draw their final game against Mexico. - Mexicos positives included the attacking play of Miguel Layun on the left, the form of dos Santos and the excellent distribution of Jose Vazquez in the middle, with him making 44 of 45 passes in the first half when he constantly had three outlets to pick from when he got the ball. (Stats powered by Opta) - Cameroon adjusted to this after half-time with Stephane Mbia and Alex Song pressing higher (Vazquez was just 16-of-19 in the second half) but other teams will need to react to that quicker. Croatia, in particular, will need Mateo Kovacic to sit on him and stop that, while trying to play into space in behind their fullbacks. Mexico allowed a very average full back in Benoit Assou-Ekotto far too much space and he had a good game because of it. - I will be very surprised if Cameroon gets a point in this tournament. They are a shambles. Brazil could get six against them. Neymar? Hell be licking his lips to play them. They have some power but lack positional awareness and fitness. To me, they wouldnt look out of place in Englands second tier, the Championship, and might even be in a relegation battle. Chile 3-1 Australia - For the first twenty minutes Chile looked like a potential World Champion. In defence they looked like a team who will go home after the group stages. It seems their final destination will be somewhere in between but there was very little surprises on show by Jorge Sampaolis men. - Much of the first half was played in Australias half, with Chile dominating possession (74 per cent) of the first half but this is a team that allowed more goals per game in qualifying than any team and they do allow chances. - Australias direct style worked and it surprised no one when Tim Cahill rose above Gary Medel to head home and make it 2-1. - Chile had started at a breathtaking pace, scoring two goals in three minutes with Alexis Sanchez finishing one and creating the other. - I was delighted for Jorge Valdivia who has had a rough time as an international footballer in recent years but is very important in this system. Without Mati Fernandez, Chile need a playmaker to connect with Sanchez and he gives them that. - Much like Brazil on day one it was a case of job done for Chile but they were far from impressive, particularly in the second half. World Cups are about building momentum but Sampaolis men will want to work on increasing their tempo in other games. Man of the Day Nominees: Giovani dos Santos – Once again another excellent performance for his national team. We have seen this story before from him and he certainly is someone who rises to the occasion. It will be interesting to see what he can do against two much more respectable opponents. Louis Van Gaal – The diary asked yesterday whether the Dutch were brave enough to go with five at the back and they did. Playing Robben next to Van Persie was a masterstroke Robin Van Persie – He ran, he leaped, he headed, he face-planted, he celebrated and he changed the game. Arjen Robben – His goals were magnificent and he made world class defenders look like they should be playing in a pub league. Tim Cahill – Chile won the game but the New York Red Bulls man was the reason it was an absorbing contest. His goal meant he was the first Australian to score goals in three World Cups. The winner... Arjen Robben – Very few players can score the goals the Bayern Munich man did today. He has waited four years to have a shot at Spain on a big stage and after winning the Champions League last year he added another monumental performance in a big game to his resume. What Comes Next? If you are single then get in the food and drink and sit on the couch. The only day of the World Cup with four games played at different times comes Saturday. Colombia vs Greece Noon et/9am pt, Uruguay vs Costa Rica 3pm et/Noon pt, England vs Italy 6pm et/3pm pt and Ivory Coast vs Japan 9pm et/6pm pt. Burning Question for Tomorrow Who will track Andrea Pirlo for England? Key stat of Day 2 Fifteen goals have been scored through the first four games of the World Cup. It took nine games in 2010 before the 15th goal of the tournament went in. Keith Magnuson Jersey .J. - The New York Jets have signed former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Graham Harrell, giving them some added depth at the position. Bobby Orr Jersey . The three Calgary natives will compete after the sport was skipped by the Vancouver Games in 2010 but later included on the program for Sochi, Russia. The fight to include womens ski jumping prior to Vancouver went to the courts only to have the Supreme Court of Canada rule against the athletes appeal in 2009. http://www.officialblackhawksauthority.com/tony-esposito-blackhawks-jersey-c-37/ .35 million, avoiding arbitration. Davis led the majors last season with 53 home runs and 138 RBIs, both career highs. He earned $3.The Boston Bruins finished with a league-high 117 points, their most since 1971-1972, but after losing in their second-round series to Montreal, changes are expected. Off-Season Game Plan looks at Bruins team that has reached two of the last four Stanley Cup Final series, winning in 2011, yet wants more while their Stanley Cup window remains open. The core is in place, with Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask among the best at what they do, and the Bruins even built a solid supporting cast around them last season, but they didnt make up for the loss of Dennis Seidenberg due to injury, which weakened them enough on the blueline that they were vulnerable. A top-four possession team in back-to-back seasons, the Bruins are the best bet to come of the Eastern Conference next season, but not without some work this summer by GM Peter Chiarelli. Because the Bruins took advantage of Jarome Iginlas age and signed him to a bonus-laden contract, they are likely to be facing a more restrictive salary cap situation next season as bonus overages come due. If that means losing Iginla, or trading a defenceman, there will be some shuffling of the deck in Boston. Whats good for the Bruins is that they have the organizational depth from which to pull a prospect or two in order to refresh their forward ranks and go into next season nearly as strong as the team that on the Presidents Trophy. Additionally, the playoff disappointment might also facilitate more change with the Bruins, as they could add more speed and skill to their lineup. Nothing wrong with making a few changes to this team, but theyre plenty good enough that minor tweaks would be enough for the Bruins to go into next season as Cup contenders once again. The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- Corsi, adjusted for zone starts, quality of competition and quality of teammates, hits, blocked shots, penalty differential and faceoffs. Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be around 70, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013-2014 regular season ratings at 87.12. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com. CF% = Corsi percentage (ie. percentage of 5-on-5 shot attempts), via www.extraskater.com. GM/COACHPeter Chiarelli/Claude Julien Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Patrice Bergeron 79.71 80 30 32 62 61.2% $6.5M David Krejci 73.69 80 19 50 69 52.6% $5.25M Milan Lucic 72.82 80 24 35 59 53.6% $6.0M Brad Marchand 72.55 82 25 28 53 59.8% $4.5M Carl Soderberg 69.11 73 16 42 48 52.6% $1.008M Loui Eriksson 68.25 61 10 27 37 58.4% $4.25M Chris Kelly 63.24 57 9 9 18 51.5% $3.0M Daniel Paille 60.04 72 9 9 18 48.0% $1.3M Gregory Campbell 58.86 82 8 13 21 45.6% $1.6M Marc Savard $4.027M Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Jarome Iginla 75.50 78 30 31 61 53.6% UFA $6.0M Reilly Smith 70.15 82 20 31 51 58.5% RFA $900K Shawn Thornton 56.72 64 5 3 8 47.7% UFA $1.1M Jordan Caron 56.49 35 1 2 3 48.7% RFA $640K There may not be a better puck possession player in the game than Patrice Bergeron, the brilliant two-way centre who has been on the ice for more than 60% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 over the past three seasons and hes done it with a heavy dose of defensive zone starts -- because hes the best in the business in the face-off circle (winning 58.9% over the past five seasons) -- against a high calibre of opposition. Because Bergeron takes on more difficult minutes, David Krejci gets turned loose in an offensive role and hes a creative playmaker that thrives with shooters on his wings. He may not be an elite offensive player, but Krejcis 351 points over the past six seasons ranks 28th, which is really good. Over the past four seasons, there are two players to score at least 80 goals while recording at least 400 penalty minutes, Scott Hartell and Milan Lucic, yet Lucic is unique as a physical presence; skilled enough to score, but also intimidating like few others. According to hockeyfights.com voters, Lucic has lost three of 25 fights over the past four seasons. He got criticized for his handshake-line threats to Dale Weise and Alexei Emelin after the playoff loss to Montreal, but its that intensity that can set Lucic apart and, polite or not, every team wants his combination of talent and toughness. Brad Marchand puts up elite possession numbers, though there is a reasonable argument to be made that those numbers are driven by Bergeron, and the agitating winger is one of the most efficient shooters in the league. Hes been a good complement to Bergeron, but his per-game shot and point production dipped last season and it wouldnt come as a total shock if the Bruins considered moving him. A late arrival in the NHL, Carl Soderberg had a strong season in his first NHL campaign, with point production similar to Bostons top six forwards, while he anchored an improved third line. He was also a first-rate point producer on the power play. Expectations were higher for Loui Eriksson after he came over from Dallas in the Tyler Seguin trade, but even though his point production wasnt great, Eriksson had strong possession stats, as should be expected from a two-way player of his ilk. True as that may be, the Bruins would likely prefer to see more of the 25-plus goal-scorer that Eriksson had been for four years prior to the past couple seasons. A broken leg and back injury cut into Chris Kellys playing time last season, and the 33-year-old was not as effective as hes been in the past, but wth two years left on his contract, which includes a no-trade clause, he figures to have some role with the Bruins next season. Spending much of his time on the Bruins fourth line, Daniel Paille gets obliterated in puck possession, but has some upward mobility in the lineup because of his speed and has scored nine or more goals in seven of the past eight seasons. No one questions the toughness of Gregory Campbell, who has missed six regular season games, and scrapped 31 times, in four seasons with the Bruins, battling his way in a fourth-line role, but he frequently ends up at the wrong end of the possession game and that could make him expendable. Practically an afterthought in the Tyler Seguin trade, Reilly Smith delivered a surprising 20 goals and 51 points in his second NHL season. While playing with Bergeron and Marchand certainly aided his production, Smith had been a strong possession player as a rookie in Dallas, so perhaps that scoring outburst shouldnt have been such a shock. A 23-year-old winger, Smith faded somewhat down the stretch, with 19 points in his last 40 games, but overall it was a very productive year. The last couple seasons have dimmed the star of Jordan Caron, a prospect who had shown prosmise, but now has two goals and six points in 52 games over the past two years. Given his poor possession stats, it would be easy to see Caron supplanted in the lineup by younger prospects on the way up. Jarome Iginla was productive for the Bruins, with yet another 30-goal season, but it could be more difficult for the Bruins to retain Iginla since the bonuses he earned for his production will on next years cap. If the Bruins need to seek out other-- and perhaps less expensive -- scoring options via free agency, they could look to Ales Hemsky, Radim Vrbata or perhaps try Nikolai Kulemin as one of three balanced right wingers. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Zdeno Chara 74.66 77 17 23 40 55.2% $6.917M Dougie Hamilton 70.40 64 7 18 25 56.3% $894K Johnny Boychuk 69.76 75 5 18 23 55.0% $3.367M Dennis Seidenberg 65.13 34 1 9 10 49.7% $4.0M Adam McQuaid 61.57 30 1 5 6 50.4% $1.567M Kevan Miller 61. Corey Crawford Jersey. 9 47 1 5 6 51.1% $800K Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Torey Krug 72.87 79 14 26 40 55.4% RFA $1.704M Andrej Meszaros 68.50 52 7 15 22 48.2% UFA $4.0M Matt Bartkowski 64.04 64 0 18 18 53.2% RFA $650K Corey Potter 60.91 19 0 5 5 42.3% UFA $775K Even at 37-years-old, Zdeno Chara is a dominant force on the Bruins blueline, but there are some allowances being made for age at this stage of his career. He spent a lot of power play time with his 6-foot-9 frame parked in front of the oppositions net and his 24:39 average time on ice was his lowest since 2003-2004. In the past seven seasons, hes in an elite class when it comes to goals-for percentage. There were ups and downs in Dougie Hamiltons second NHL season, but he finished strong, with 18 points in 34 (regular season plus playoff) games to end the year, showing the kind of offensive game that helped make him the ninth pick in the 2011 Draft. He also delivered strong possession stats while facing tougher matchups in his second season, so the 20-year-olds career is on a nice upward trajectory. Hard-rock defenceman Johnny Boychuk played a career-high 21:12 per game for the Bruins last season, finishing with a career-high 23 points. He doesnt do anything fancy, but has a hard shot and plays a steady physical defensive game that has led to consistently effective puck possession stats. A knee injury ended Dennis Seidenbergs season after 34 games, creating a void on the Bruins blueline that was never quite adequately filled. Seidenberg wasnt as effective last season as he had been previously, but the 32-year-old has made his bones as a physical defensive defenceman and has played at least 21:50 per game for six seasons running. Adam McQuaid has his season shortened by quad and ankle injuries, though he did play a career-high 16:03 per game before he was sidelined. McQuaid has limited puck skills, but is 6-foot-5 and plays a physical game that can fit on a third pairing. A 26-year-old who was a rookie NHLer in his third pro season as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Vermont, Kevan Miller had his usage sheltered and his on-ice save percentage of 96.6% was highest among those to play at least 21 games last season, an indication that his plus-20 rating was fueled by good fortune. The top-scoring rookie defenceman last season, Torey Krug is on the small side, but the Bruins utilize him in a way to emphasize his offensive strengths, with more offensive zone starts against weaker opposition, but the question is whether or not Krug is destined to be a third pair defenceman who quarterbacks the power play, or will his skating and puck skills be enough to climb higher on the chart? Scratched a bunch early in the year, then thrust into a bigger role once Seidenberg was injured, Matt Bartkowski played 20:33 per game from January on, and hes posted solid possession stats over the past couple seasons. A strong skater who is improving his defensive reads, Bartkowski gives the Bruins really nice blueline depth. Returning Goaltenders Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Tuukka Rask 79.90 58 36 15 6 2.04 .930 $7.0M Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Chad Johnson 72.87 27 17 4 3 2.10 .925 UFA $600K Over the course of his five NHL seasons, Tuukka Rask has the best save percentage among goaltenders with at least 175 games played. The 27-year-old has finished with a save percentage under .929 once during those five seasons and after playing a career-high 58 games last season, every indication suggests that Rask will be among the games top netminders for the forseeable future. Chad Johnson went from career minor-leager to an effective backup for the Bruins last year, but if he manages to cash in as a free agent, it would be easy enough for the Bruins to find a backup with a similar pedigree for an inexpensive one-year deal. Their own prospect, Niklas Svedberg, could be the first choice. Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Malcolm Subban G Providence (AHL) 2.31 GAA, .920 SV%, 33 GP Ryan Spooner C Providence (AHL) 11-35-46, +13, 49 GP Alexander Khokhlachev C Providence (AHL) 21-36-57, +11, 65 GP Niklas Svedberg G Providence (AHL) 2.63 GAA, .910 SV%, 45 GP Joe Morrow D Providence (AHL) 6-23-29, -1, 56 GP David Warsofsky D Providence (AHL) 6-26-32, +8, 56 GP Brian Ferlin RW Cornell (ECAC) 13-14-27, +3, 32 GP Matt Fraser LW Providence (AHL) 20-10-30, even, 44 GP Seth Griffith C Providence (AHL) 20-30-50, even, 69 GP Anthony Camara LW Providence (AHL) 9-13-22, +2, 58 GP Ryan Fitzgerald C Boston College (HE) 13-16-29, +8, 40 GP At some point in the future, Malcolm Subban may force a goaltending decision on the Bruins, but they have to be pleased with the 20-year-olds first pro season. As he proves he can handle more work in the minors, the 2012 first-rounder will start closing the gap from Providence to Boston. A skilled forward who has yet to score in 27 career NHL games, Ryan Spooner has tallied 103 points in 108 AHL games over two pro seasons and had respectable possession stats to go along with 11 points in 22 games for the Bruins last season. If the Bruins need to inject offence into their forward group, Spooner, a second-round pick in 2010, is the natural one to get a shot. Alexander Khokhlachev, a second-round pick in 2011, played a full year in North America after some back-and-forth with Russia the year before, and Khokhlachev had a terrific year, scoring 30 goals and 71 points in 77 (regular season plus playoff) games. That puts him in prime position to challenge for a job in Boston. 24-year-old Niklas Svedberg, an undrafted free agent from Sweden, wasnt as strong in his second AHL season as he had been in 2012-2013, but is a viable candidate to hold down a backup role in Boston as soon as next season, particularly if that opens up more playing time for Subban in Providence. Part of the Tyler Seguin trade, Joe Morrow was Pittsburghs first-round pick (23rd overall) in 2011, and while he still needs to refine his defensive game, thats a work-in-progress for a 21-year-old that has puck skills and can run a power play. Acquired from the Blues for Vladimir Sobotka in 2010, David Warsofsky is a small defenceman that has made steady progress through three AHL seasons. He saw action in six games with Boston last season, putting up a couple of points, and may be on the cusp of being NHL calibre, but the Bruins are currently rather deep on the blueline. A power forward who scored 72 points in 92 games in three seasons at Cornell, Brian Ferlin was a fourth-round pick of the Bruins in 2011 and is set to embark on his pro career. The 22-year-old Florida native could use some time to get used to grind that is pro hockey. Yet another piece of the Seguin deal, Matt Fraser is a physical winger who got into 18 (regular season plus playoff) games for Boston last season. Hes been a decent possession player in his 27 NHL games, too, so he could challenge for a depth role. Drafted in the fifth round in 2012, Seth Griffith made a smooth transititon to pro hockey, injecting himself into the discussion of forwards that are due consideration when a call-up is required. A third-round pick in 2011, Anthony Camara doesnt have the highest ceiling as a scoring winger, but he plays a physical game and, with time to develop, could earn a bottom six spot. Picked in the fourth round last summer, Ryan Fitzgerald is the son of former NHLer Tom Fitzgerald, and coming off a strong freshman year at Boston College. Fitzgerald is undersized, but has time to fill out and get stronger before he is considered for pro hockey. Bruins advanced stats and player usage chart from Extra Skater DRAFT25th - Roland McKeown, Julius Honka, Connor Bleackley. FREE AGENCYAccording to www.capgeek.com, the Bruins have approximately $58.0M committed to the 2014-2015 salary cap for 16 players. Check out my possible Bruins lineup for next season on Cap Geek here. Needs: One top line forward, backup goaltender.What I said the Bruins needed last year: One top six forward, two defencemen, backup goaltender.They added: Jarome Iginla, Reilly Smith, Loui Eriksson, Carl Soderberg, Torey Krug. TRADE MARKETBrad Marchand, Chris Kelly, Gregory Campbell, Matt Bartkowski, Adam McQuaid. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2018 ' ' '