The last 48 hours have been a perfect example of how Jason Spezza is the most polarizing figure on the Senators roster. [url=https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/]St. Louis Cardinals Pro Shop[/url] . On Monday night, many fans in this city placed the blame squarely on the captain for his role in the

The last 48 hours have been a perfect example of how Jason Spezza is the most polarizing figure on the Senators roster. St. Louis Cardinals Pro Shop . On Monday night, many fans in this city placed the blame squarely on the captain for his role in the James Neal overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the very next night, Spezza answered his critics with a clutch three-point performance that included a pair of beautiful assists in a stunning 5-4 shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues. On both nights, our radio station was flooded with calls and e-mails from fans wanting to talk about Spezza. The first night we heard from his detractors and, on the second, we heard from his defenders. Its a predictable pattern with the fans here in Ottawa. When Spezza plays poorly, his critics say you cannot win with him. When he generates offence, the negative comments disappear into the cold night air. There is no arguing that Spezza has had a rough season in 2013-14. In many ways, Spezza is having a similar season to Eric Staal in Carolina. Staal has 14 goals and 44 points and was left off Team Canadas roster because of his slow start. Spezza has 15 goals and 42 points – numbers that look awfully similar to Staals. The Sens captain sits 24th in scoring amongst centremen in the NHL, a ranking that suggests that he is still a legitimate number-one centre in a 30-team league. Spezza is also only one point behind Kyle Turris on the team scoring list without the luxury of playing with the same quality of linemates so far this season. And while everyone can agree that Turris is trending upwards, most believe that the opposite is true for Spezza. Those who are into analytics have been trumpeting Spezzas poor Corsi numbers all season long as tangible proof of his declining skills. After Monday nights loss, where Spezza failed to clear the puck out of his own zone, many fans who arent into advanced stats said they had reached their breaking point with the captain. We were bombarded with "Trade Spezza" e-mails and calls and there seemed like a growing distaste for his style of play in Ottawa. One of the most common complaints I heard from fans is that Spezza needs to earn his $7 million salary. But what fans need to remember about Spezza is that his contract is set up very favorably for next season. While he carries a cap hit of $7 million, he will actually only get paid $4 million in actual money for the 2014-15 campaign. (Spezza is being paid $5 million this season as his front-loaded contract starts to decline). And for a team like Ottawa that is desperate to reach the salary cap floor, this contract is an absolute dream. For next season, the Sens are getting $3 million of salary cap space eaten up for nothing. If the Sens were a spend-to-the-cap team, this deal would be an issue for them, but the exact opposite is true and that is why I would expect the Senators to hang onto their captain. He gives them $7 million of salary cap space for the price of $4 million. And now ask yourself this important question: Would you pay Jason Spezza $4 million to play next season? Of course you would. In a world where the oft-injured Martin Havlat will be making $6 million next season and Mike Ribeiro will be making $5.5 million, Spezza is absolutely a bargain at $4 million in real dollars. He wont even rank among the top 50 forwards in salary next season. As his salary is lowered, perhaps the expectations on Spezza could follow suit. He is 30 years old and no longer surrounded by snipers like Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson. But at $4 million dollars next season, Jason Spezza will be worth every penny that he is paid. Gussie Busch Cardinals Jersey . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. Red Schoendienst Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/564t-mike-matheny-jersey-cardinals.html . Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- From rematches to revivals to redemption, its not a good idea to bet against Peyton Manning when it comes to second chances. He has 97 touchdown throws since hooking up with John Elway in Denver two years ago after the Indianapolis Colts released him when neck troubles clouded his football future. After dispatching San Diego Sunday on the anniversary of last years crushing loss to Baltimore in eerily similar circumstances, Manning stands one win from a shot at becoming the first quarterback to win Super Bowls with two franchises. Standing in his way are Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who beat the Broncos 34-31 in overtime in November. Thing is, its been six years since Manning lost a rematch to a team that beat him earlier in the season. The Broncos (14-3) lost just once at home this season, when they became the highest-scoring team in the Super Bowl era, propelled by Mannings record 55 TD throws and 5,447 yards through the air. That was back on Dec. 12, when they were upset by San Diego, a loss they avenged Sunday by beating the Chargers 24-17. The last time Manning lost twice in a row to the same team was in 2007, when the Colts lost 23-21 at San Diego in November and then dropped a 28-24 heartbreaker at home in the wild-card playoffs. Since then, Manning has won five straight rematches, including the AFC championship against the Jets 30-17 following the 2009 season, avenging a 29-15 loss in Week 16 that ended Indys shot at a perfect season. It took a vintage performance from Manning on Sunday to keep that streak going. After controlling the game for 3 1/2 quarters, the Broncos allowed 17 fourth-quarter points after losing shutdown cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to a torn ACL. The Broncos were facing third-and-17 from their own 20 with three minutes left and Rivers loosening up his right arm on the Chargers sideline, ready for his chance to tie this one just like the Ravens had a year earlier on their way to a 38-35 win in double-overtime. "It was deja vu," Elway, now the Broncos executive vice-president, said on his weekly podcast on the teams website Tuesday. As Manning took the snap and stepped up, the pocket began to collapse around him, but hee spotted tight end Julius Thomas open along the Broncos sideline. Rogers Hornsby Cardinals Jersey. The pass was perfect, as was Thomas tap dance until his momentum took him out of bounds at the 41. Then, on third-and-6 from his 45, Manning hit Thomas for a 9-yard gain over the middle with 2:12 left. A year ago, then-offensive co-ordinator Mike McCoy called for a run by undersized Ronnie Hillman on third-and-7 at about the same point in the game, which in turn led to Joe Flaccos 70-yard touchdown heave to Jacoby Jones over Rahim Moore with 31 seconds left. This was the ultimate second chance, and Manning made good on it. "Julius and I have spent a lot of time working on those particular routes, after practice, in practice," Manning said. "And thats one of the most rewarding parts of football, when you put that work in, off to the side and after practice, and it pays off for you in a game ... those two plays were certainly worth the hard work." Thomas had just one career catch coming into this season, his third in the NFL, and he had gotten hurt on that one reception, no less. He even briefly considered giving up his dream of playing football. But this season, he broke Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpes team record for tight ends by catching 12 TD passes and it was his emergence that freed up Mannings other targets — Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Wes Welker, along with running back Knowshon Moreno — who all joined him with 10 or more touchdowns. Thomas, who didnt play in the first matchup against the Patriots because of a knee injury, finished with six catches for 76 yards Sunday, but none was longer — or bigger — than his 21-yarder. "Third-and-17 was the play of the game," Elway said. "We had to pick it up, keep the chains moving, keep them off the field and not give them a chance and so thats where it was tremendous. The offensive line did a great job of protecting Peyton, Julius Thomas made a great catch dragging his feet on the sideline. "But who knows where the game goes if we dont make that play? Those are the types of plays you have to make in playoff football to be able to advance." And make the most of second chances. ' ' '