Toronto at Winnipeg Optimism is high in Winnipeg. A new head coach, new quarterback and new attitude to start the 2014 season. But I am not sure if they have the personnel yet to compete at the highest level consistently. And come Thursday Night, they do have to compete against a quarterback in Ricky Ray that completed 77 per cent of his passes last year and had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 21-to-2. Drew Willy for Winnipeg is a complete unknown, so an immense advantage at quarterback for Toronto. Both teams are also unknown on defense. Can the Argos be dominate as a four man pass rush team, dropping eight into coverage? In Winnipeg, can Gary Etcheverry create game-changing pressure all night long or, through preparation, the Argo starting 12 be able to find opportunity all night long? Final point; there is also a special teams return advantage with Chad Owens over any returner in Winnipeg. The Bombers will have to play a near perfect game to win, while the Argos just need to stay calm in tough a atmosphere to win. Week 1, Game 1 - Argos over Bombers. Montreal at Calgary Both teams looked dreadful in their respective last exhibition games and normally I would not consider that an issue because they are exhibition games, But, Troy Smith was physically inaccurate with his passes and the combination of Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell were no more efficient. Pure football logic says both teams will have better quarterback play working with the starters in preparation throughout the week and a repeat of last weeks performances should not happen. This one should be either a single touchdown win or even only a field goal, and I do like Calgary to create the win. Excellent special teams battle Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium. Larry Taylor, the former Stampeder on one side for Montreal, against Jock Sanders - the best free agent pick up of 2014, a former rider and presently a Stampeder. Calgary by no more than 6 -- maybe only 3. Edmonton at B.C. I think Edmonton may be a better team now then as the team back in October. Chris Jones ran a tough training camp and as a first year head coach it always is. To obtain early positive results, it should be. By the time Saturday turns into Sunday, we will get a much clearer picture of Eskimo football. Now, in BC Kevin Glen will be fine and even though they are young upfront, he should stay upright though the game. I really think the strength of BC will be the front seven on defense. Eric Taylor at one defensive tackle is underrated and Khalif Mitchell at the other with be effective. I think BC can make Edmonton one dimensional and create enough second and longs to win. Mike Reilly will be protected this year through design and personnel, but in a home opener, I like BC to win in the 4th. Lions over Eskimos. Hamilton at Saskatchewan The best game of Week 1, yet tough game for the Ticats to win in the opening week. I do not underestimate Hamilton. Last year, after five games they were 1-4 and by the end of the season had gone through 88 players and 57 different starters. Last year was about evaluating and molding and yet they made it to the Grey Cup. Kent Austin has a plan and you saw it develop as the season progressed. Last Thursday, seeing Zack Collaros was impressive. He has excellent in and out of pocket movement and is a thicker player than I thought - important because you know he will run. Hamilton will not start the season 1-4 this year and will not go through 88 players and 57 starters this year. But, I do think they will begin O-1. The single-biggest issue for Saskatchewan is who is the running back to replace Cory Sheets. That may not be decided until mid-season but they have to find one. Until the do, the strength of the Riders is a well-established offensive line and a winning quarterback that is coming off an excellent playoff run. Who will replace Kory Sheets, who will replace Weston Dressler and who will replace Craig Butler? All important questions to be answered. I do not expect either team to dominate but I do expect the best fans in CFL football to show up and make a difference. Riders in a close game. Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts . The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back. Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . Milan was held to 1-1 at home by Torino. Cagliari scored six minutes from halftime when Mauricio Pinilla blasted home from the penalty spot after Facundo Roncaglia tripped Marco Sau. The home side could have doubled its tally in stoppage time as first Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic almost scored an own goal then Albin Ekdals shot clipped the top of the upright. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/. Catch the action live on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Wild lead the Northwest Division and look to get back into the win column after having a season-high seven-game winning streak cut short with Tuesdays 2-1 loss at Winnipeg in the finale of a five-game road trip (4-1-0). Penguins Jerseys 2020 . Grimes signed a $32 million, four-year contract to remain with Miami. The deal, which includes $16 million guaranteed, rewards Grimes for his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to miss almost all of the 2012 season. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint.NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets are so good at home now that even the Houston Rockets cant beat them. The Nets clinched a playoff berth by beating the Rockets at home for the first time in 11 years, getting 32 points from Joe Johnson in a 105-96 victory on Tuesday night. Shaun Livingston added 17 points for the Nets, who extended their home winning streak to 14 games, longest in their NBA history and tops in the league this season. They finished 18-12 overall against the Western Conference. "Weve just been playing and trying to protect home court. They came in here and we try to send them on their way with a loss, and thats for everybody," Livingston said. "It just happens to be weve been playing good basketball against the West." The Nets ended a 14-game skid against Houston with their first victory in the series since March 13, 2006. The Nets hadnt defeated the Rockets at home since March 31, 2003, when they were still playing in East Rutherford, N.J. The Nets also pulled within 1 1/2 games of Toronto and Chicago for the No. 3 seed in the East and home-court advantage in the first round, quite a change for a team that was so bad during its 10-21 start that Johnson had trouble envisioning where it is right now. "Honestly, I couldnt even see it," he said. "I kept saying to myself eventually this is going to turn around, things are going to turn for us. Eventually it did starting the new year. We were a different team, our mindset was different and the way we played was different." James Harden scored 26 points for Houston, which lost its second straight following a five-game winning streak. Still without Dwight Howard because of a sore left ankle, the Rockets shot just 38 per cent from the field. "We just missed some shots, missed some opportunities," Harden said of the Rockets, also without starters Patrick Beverley and Terrence Jones. "We let them get too comfortable early in the game. They got it going and it was tough." Harden was 16 of 16 from the free-throw line. Omer Asik had 12 points and a career-high 23 rebounds while starting for Howard, while Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsoons each added 16 points.dddddddddddd The Nets held the NBAs second-highest scoring team 11 points below its average and improved to 30-12 overall since Jan. 1. They havent lost at Barclays Center in more than two months and make just a short trip Wednesday to visit the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. "We know these games, even if you say they dont mean more, they mean a lot more, I think, just because of the rivalry thats been formed," Nets guard Deron Williams said. Brooklyn had six players score in double figures in its third win in a row overall. It was once again without starting centre Kevin Garnett because of back spasms, as it was all March while going 12-4, as well as key reserves Andrei Kirilenko (sprained left ankle) and Marcus Thornton (back). The Nets shot 59 per cent in the first quarter, getting 11 points from Johnson in taking a 29-24 lead. Houston moved ahead for the first time midway through the second, but Brooklyn put together an 11-0 spurt late in the half and took a 54-51 edge into the break. The Nets opened their largest lead when Johnsons 3-pointer made it 78-67 with 4:03 left in the third, but the Rockets were back within one before Johnson nailed another 3 with 45 seconds remaining to send Brooklyn to the fourth with an 83-79 advantage. Brooklyn put it away midway through the fourth, re-opening an 11-point lead on a questionable goaltending call that gave a basket to rookie Jorge Gutierrez and earned Rockets coach Kevin McHale a technical foul for arguing. McHale was more frustrated with Houstons lack of ball movement. "I dont know how (long) you have to play with somebody to throw the ball to the open man," he said. "What, youve got to know him personally?" NOTES: McHale said Howard had received another shot in the ankle, saying there was mostly soft tissue inflammation that hopefully would calm down. The All-Star centre has missed five of the last seven games. ... Brooklyns Jason Kidd was the Eastern Conference coach of the month for March, joining Chicagos Tom Thibodeau as the only coaches to win two monthly awards in their rookie seasons. Kidd won for the first time for January. ' ' '