OTTAWA -- The power play, early in this NHL season, for both the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils is proving to be a little troublesome but for different reasons. Alan Page Vikings Jersey . The Devils are having a hard time capitalizing on their man-advantage opportunities while the Senators are having a hard time not providing their opposition with them. New Jersey did manage to score a power-play goal Thursday night in their 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, but they had seven power-play chances. Travis Zajac scored early in the third period with the Devils heading towards the end of an extended 5-on-3 advantage. It was the teams first power-play goal since the third game of the season and just the second theyve scored thus far. The Senators, on the other hand, have gotten into a bad habit of taking bad penalties all season long, and have allowed at least one power-play goal against in all but two of their seven games this season. They have been shorthanded 38 times -- tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for most in the league -- and have allowed seven goals against. Twice they have allowed two goals in a game and in both of those games they lost by a single goal. "We take way too many penalties and in my opinion theyre lazy penalties, for want of a better term," Senators coach Paul MacLean said after Thursdays win. "We reach instead of moving our feet and skating and we end up taking penalties because were reaching with our stick and that turns momentum the wrong way. With seven-and-a-half minutes left in the second period were up 2-0 and we take four minor penalties. All four of them we didnt have to take." Two of the penalties the Senators took Thursday were for holding, another for hooking and another for interference. Those are all the types of penalties that drive coaches crazy. "Thats something that were going to have to clean up. Especially the ones in the offensive zone and the ones when we dont have the stick on the ice," said Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson, who has taken but a single minor penalty this season. "Some of them are unnecessary penalties and those are the ones that we need to clean up. Hopefully we can learn it soon." While the Senators discipline problems may have cost them in a couple of games, the Devils misfortunes with their opportunities has as they continue to search for their first win of the season. The club had only 15 power plays heading into Thursday and despite going just 1-for-7 against the Senators, their percentage rose from 6.7 percent to 9.1 per cent. They also climbed from 29th to 28th overall. They only had 10 opportunities in their first five games, including a 5-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers when they were 1-for-3. In the past two games though, they are a combined 1-for-12. "It was much better than last game," Devils winger Patrik Elias said, referring to a 3-0 loss in Winnipeg Sunday when they went 0-for-5. "We created chances (Thursday) but the first five games before that we had maybe one (opportunity) a game so that doesnt tell you much about the power play. Tonight was much better. We were creating chances off of shots but youve got to score those goals, no question." The Senators didnt take a penalty in the third period so once the two penalties they took late in the second were done, the Devils didnt get a chance to gain momentum from the power-play goal they did score. "We got it going in the third and we had some opportunities. (Ottawa goaltender Craig) Anderson made some big saves so it wasnt like we didnt generate offensive opportunities," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. "Right now its Murphys Law and nothing is going right. We know well come out the other end of it, we just need it to happen now." The Devils next opportunity will come Saturday when they host the New York Rangers in just their second home game of the season. Alexander Mattison Jersey . His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. Kirk Cousins Jersey . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Fran-Tarkenton-Vikings-Jersey/ .2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted.TORONTO – It appears Melky Cabreras time with the Blue Jays wont extend beyond two seasons, general manager Alex Anthopoulos all but assuring that with Wednesdays trade with the Mariners, a one-for-one which sends pitcher J.A. Happ to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for outfielder, and Canadian, Michael Saunders. The hump day business didnt end there. Less than 24 hours after non-tendering Justin Smoak, the Jays signed the first baseman to a $1-million contract for 2015. Saunders, a 28-year-old from Victoria, B.C., can play all three outfield spots but with Jose Bautista locked down in right field and a number of options including Dalton Pompey and Kevin Pillar for centre field, Saunders is being pegged as the everyday left fielder. A left-handed bat, Saunders projects to hit toward the bottom of the order, an obvious comment considering Jose Reyes, Russell Martin, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson appear locks at the top. Saunders is arbitration eligible, coming off a year in which he made $2.3-million, so hell get a raise but hell be cheaper than Happ (due $6.7-million). Thats nothing to sniff at as Anthopoulos looks for ways to accrue talent while prudently spending available dollars. Its believed the Blue Jays and Cabrera still cant agree on the players value. Now 30, it was in the middle of the 2012 season when Cabrera was baseballs leading hitter. He was closing in on a five-year extension with the San Francisco Giants, believed to be in the neighbourhood of $75-80-million, a deal which got shelved in the wake of Cabreras positive test for a performance enhancing drug. Cabrera is trying to recoup as much of that lost contract as possible. The Jays see it differently, thrilled with Cabreras 2014 but just as concerned about investing in a player with drug and health history. Anthopoulos is careful not to compare Cabreras and Saunders offensive abilities, but he thinks hes hit on something with Saunders glove. Hes an above average defender in left field, which is important, said Anthopoulos. I mean, I know this wasnt talked about that much, but at least our internal evaluations, from a metrics standpoint, we were below average defensively in the outfield last year. Were trying to get better. Im not calling any player out. Im saying overall, as an outfield group, we didnt have the greatest year so were looking to get better if we can. The Blue Jays dont have a defined ace starting pitcher. Guys like Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey would benefit from improved outfield defence. The problem didnt fall solely in Cabreras lap, however. When Anthony Gose wasnt in centrefield, there were problems there and that affects the corner outfielders. Saunders was limited to 78 games last season thanks to shoulder and oblique injuries, but if he can duplicate his numbers (eight home runs, 126 wRC+, . Randy Moss Vikings Jersey. 791 OPS) over a full year, the loss of Cabreras offence (16 home runs, 125 wRC+, .808 OPS) wont sting quite as badly. Also, as stated before, Saunders wont occupy Cabreras spot in the batting order and so he wont be expected to set the table for Bautistas, Encarnacions and Donaldsons thunder. By dealing Happ (4.22 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 133 strike outs in 158 innings pitched last season), Anthopoulos clears a spot in the rotation for Aaron Sanchez. The 22-year-old dazzled in 24 relief appearances (1.09 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 27 strikeouts and 14 hits allowed in 33 innings pitched) following his July promotion. Anthopoulos was clear, Sanchez will have to earn the job in spring training, but assuming he does it doesnt sound as though hell be working under an innings limit. People say 20-percent, 30 innings, well is 30 innings if you threw 100 the year before the same as if you threw 180? Is 20-percent of 100 the same as 20-percent of 180 and wheres the science to it, said Anthopoulos. You do monitor. You give him rest. You stay on top of it and I dont think you stay locked in to a number. As of now the starting rotation, in no particular order, consists of Marcus Stroman, R.A. Dickey, Sanchez, Mark Buehrle and Drew Hutchison. The likes of Marco Estrada, Daniel Norris, Todd Redmond, Liam Hendriks and Jeff Francis will back fill. Estrada and Redmond would start the season in the bullpen. Norris, a top prospect coming off of elbow surgery to clean out bone spurs, would continue his seasoning at Triple-A Buffalo. Hendriks and Francis, on minor league deals, also would toil for the Bisons. Smoak has the inside track to get most of the starts at first base; Encarnacion will get most of his starts as the designated hitter. Theres concern about Smoaks offence, and rightfully so, but hes a steady-handed defender who should better pick throws in the dirt. Getting out of the American League West and into the East, playing at Rogers Centre and visiting Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and Oriole Park often should benefit Smoaks bat. Its difficult to imagine he wont improve on last seasons dismal .202/.275/.339 with the Mariners. The club still has questions in centrefield – do you hand the spot to Pompey after just 17 big league games? How does Kevin Pillar figure in? What about second base? Theres much to be desired amongst the group, which includes Maicer Izturis, Ryan Goins, Steve Tolleson and Devon Travis. Theres also the matter of the bullpen, which Anthopoulos considers to be his top priority now. The general manager, who prefers to conduct his business away from the frenzy that is the annual winter meetings (which take place next week in San Diego), has more to do. But Anthopoulos win-now roster is starting to take a clearer shape. ' ' '