Blackhawks hope to halt fall in San Jose

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02/10/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The free-falling Chicago Blackhawks will try to end their longest losing streak in over four years when they continue a lengthy road trip with tonight's battle against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion.

The Blackhawks are 0-5-1 over their last six games, marking the club's longest skid since an 0-6-2 stretch from Dec. 30-Jan. 11 during the 2007-08 season. The last four losses (0-3-1) have come at the start of a nine-game swing.

The recent swoon has dropped the 2010 Stanley Cup champions into the sixth seed in the Western Conference, where it's three points ahead of Los Angeles and four points behind Nashville. Chicago is now also fourth in the Central Division and nine points behind Detroit for first place.

The Blackhawks have allowed a total of 16 goals over their last three losses and are coming off Tuesday's 5-2 setback in Colorado. The score was tied at 2-2 heading into the third period, but Gabriel Landeskog put the Avalanche up for good with his tally just 38 seconds into the final stanza.

The Blackhawks received goals from Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane, while Ray Emery was tagged for four goals on 28 shots.

"Every mistake we make is being capitalized on," said Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith. "We have to get in a better position to turn things around. Everything we seem to do seems to be harder. We have to start outworking the other teams."

Chicago is just 10-12-3 as the road club this year and has lost eight straight (0-6-2) away from the Windy City. Joel Quenneville's team hasn't posted a road victory since Dec. 14 in Minnesota.

Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's loss and was forced to leave the game in the second period. He is questionable for tonight.

Although they're not as cold as the Blackhawks, the Sharks haven't exactly been playing their best hockey of late either. San Jose has surrendered nine goals in losing its last two games and is 3-4-1 over its last eight trips to the ice. Despite the inconsistent play, the Sharks are still leading the Pacific Division with 64 points, two more than Los Angeles.

After losing last Saturday in Phoenix by a 5-3 score, the Sharks returned home and dropped Wednesday's close regulation decision against Calgary. Olli Jokinen capped his hat trick for the Flames with the game-winner just 3:25 into the third period, lifting Calgary to a 4-3 victory. Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff also stopped 34 shots to register the 300th win of his career.

Joe Pavelski, Michal Handzus and Logan Couture all scored for the Sharks, while Antti Niemi made 32 saves in the loss.

"It's a missed opportunity," Thornton said. "We'd like to say we played good at times, it just wasn't a full 60 [minutes]."

Tonight's game represents San Jose's final home test before embarking on a season-long nine-game road trip. The Sharks are 17-9-2 as the host this year compared to a 12-7-4 mark on the road. After tonight. San Jose's next home game isn't until Feb. 28 against Philadelphia.

This evening's tilt marks the fourth and final scheduled meeting between the Blackhawks and Sharks this year. San Jose posted a 1-0 home win on Nov. 23 before Chicago posted two straight wins over the Sharks in the Windy City. The Blackhawks have taken three of four overall in this series, but San Jose has won the last three encounters at the Shark Tank.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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