RENTON, Wash.
[b]Jesper Horsted Jersey[/b] . - After beating up on each other twice earlier this season, Pete Carroll was not surprised to see San Francisco as the opponent coming to Seattle for the NFC championship game. He believes the division foes, with one of the most heated rivalries in the NFC, meeting for a trip to the Super Bowl is validation for how good the once-mocked NFC West has become. "This matchup is exactly what everybody is looking for and its an exciting one with a lot of background," Carroll said on Monday. "Im grateful its coming from our division. I think our division really made a statement this year about how good we were and lot of losses came within the division. When you look at it this is a fantastic matchup with a great opportunity for both teams." Seattle (14-3) advanced to the NFC title game after knocking off New Orleans 23-15 in the divisional round on Saturday. Its the second NFC championship game appearance for Seattle and third overall having once played for the AFC title. There is familiarity and contempt when it comes to San Francisco and Seattle. Theyve played six times since San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh arrived before the 2011 season with the 49ers holding a 4-2 advantage. But of Seattles four losses, only one — the first — has been by more than seven points. Seattle and San Francisco split the two games this season with each winning at home. The Seahawks rolled to a 29-3 win in Week 2, and the 49ers kicked a late field goal for a 19-17 win in Week 14. Perhaps its appropriate that the series record is tied 15-15 heading into Sunday with more at stake than ever before. "It shows how good the NFC West has been over the past couple of years," Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson said. "Its going to be a great challenge for both teams. Its going to be a physical game. Its going to be a game where everybody knows each other and everybody knows everybodys techniques so we just have to play great football and execute and be on time make the plays when we need to make them." Seattle goes into the week with two lingering injury questions. The first is with wide receiver Percy Harvin, who made his return on Saturday and suffered a concussion late in the first half. Carroll emphasized Monday they will "respect the heck" out of the process for Harvin to get cleared and said Wednesday and Thursday will be the important days if hes able to get back on the field. Harvin took two big hits in the game, the first coming from Rafael Bush on the third play and drawing a 15-yard roughing penalty. Harvin also was hit by Malcolm Jenkins as he hit the field on the play he was injured. Before he was injured, Harvin showed the flashes Seattle believed it was getting in mass quantity when it traded for him during the off-season. Carroll said Harvin had no issues with his hip that was surgically repaired in August and the concern this week is strictly for his head. He added that Seattle playing on Saturday and Harvin having an extra day of recovery could be significant. "Were going to take care of Percy and make sure we do the right thing. Were not going to stretch the limits at all. Were going to be very careful here. Well do that every step of the way." Aside from Harvin, Seattle is also waiting to see if linebacker K.J. Wright will play for the first time since suffering a fracture in his right foot against San Francisco in Week 14. Wright had surgery after the injury and was back running last week. Carroll said he would be tested on Wednesday to see where he is at in his recovery. "We ran well today and over the weekend," Carroll said. "Hell come back out on Wednesday and well see where he is. He has a chance and were excited for him."
[b]Riley Ridley Jersey[/b] . TSNs coverage of the Third Round gets underway Sunday with Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago at 3pm et/Noon pt. TSNs broadcast schedule for the Third Round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs is as follows: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings• Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago – Sunday, May 18 at 3pm et/Noon pt• Game 2: Los Angeles at Chicago – Wednesday, May 21 at 8pm et/5pm pt• Game 4: Chicago at Los Angeles – Monday, May 26 at 9pm et/6pm pt Featured in the broadcast booth for TSN are play-by-play announcer Chris Cuthbert and game analyst Ray Ferraro, with Farhan Lalji contributing reports from rinkside.
[b]Eddie Goldman Jersey[/b] . Hollis-Jefferson went 5-for-6 from the field and added six rebounds, while Stanley Jefferson contributed 14 points for the Wildcats, who used their trademark tough defense to dominate the games final 24 minutes and advance to Tuesdays winners bracket matchup with Kansas State.MADRID - Lionel Messi failed to take his chances as Barcelona was held to a 0-0 draw by a disciplined and defensive Malaga side in the Spanish league on Wednesday.Messi missed two opportunities in the first half and never looked comfortable on the ball after the break.Barcelona leads the standings on 13 points after five matches, with Sevilla second on goal difference after it beat Real Sociedad 1-0. Atletico Madrid is third on 11 points after beating Almeria 1-0 and Valencia, with 10 points, plays on Thursday against Cordoba.In other matches on Wednesday, Rayo Vallecano beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1, Eibar drew 1-1 with Villarreal and Levante beat Granada 1-0.Messi blasted a direct free kick well over Idriss Kamenis crossbar in the 15th and then chested the ball out of play in the 26th as he raced forward to try and latch onto Jordi Albas inviting cross.Malaga kept Barcelona in check and then came close to scoring in the 68th minute when Nordin Amrabat hit a powerful shot wide.This result was due to an accumulation of factors, and Malaga also played with great merit, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. Its a point, and we must carry on. Its never easy to play against a defence made up of nine or 10 men.The Andalusian side piled on the pressure after Barcelona right-back Douglas a€” who made a poor debut for the league leaders a€” made a clumsy tackle and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was forced to punch out Luis Romeros free kick in the 71st.We took the game in the direction we wanted to and knew we would have the occasional opportunity on the counterattack, Malaga defender Ignacio Camacho said.There was a tense moment in the 82nd minute when Wellington pusshed Messi to the ground when the ball was not in play a€” earning the Malaga defender a booking.
[b]Isaiah Irving Jersey[/b]. Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was shown a yellow card for protesting about the incident.Sevilla closed the points gap on Barcelona with its victory over Real Sociedad.Gerard Deulofeu found himself in front of an open goal to hit Sevillas winner in the 18th minute, following a cross by Benoit Tremoulinas.Atletico Madrid stayed close to the pacesetters after a header by Miranda gave the capital club a 1-0 win at Almeria.Miranda rose to head in Jorge Koke Resurreccions beautifully-weighted corner kick on the hour mark.Almeria goalkeeper Ruben Martinez kept his side in the game when he correctly read Arda Turans attempt to lob him in the 69th.With coach Diego Simeone still serving out a touchline ban, it was up to his assistant German Burgos to give the Atletico squad instructions and encouragement.Elsewhere, Bilbao slumped to defeat after taking the lead against Rayo Vallecano.Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz tapped in Oscar De Marcos cross in the 21st but Leo Baptistao equalized for Rayo by taking advantage of a goalkeeping blunder by Gorka Iraizoz in the 39th.Leo Baptistao then won the match when Gael Kakuta intercepted a poor clearance and picked out the Brazilian with a pass in the 89th.Mikel Arruabarrena scored in the ninth minute for Eibar and Villarreal equalized when Gerard Moreno unleashed a shot that flew just inside the far post, giving goalkeeper Xabier Iruretagoiena no chance in the 71st.Ruben Garcia scored Levantes first goal of the season when he hit left-footed shot past Granadas goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez in the 46th. ' ' '