Meister der Farbe » ons retired No. 23 on the brick facade well

CHICAGO -- During his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks, Corey Crawford has played a pivotal role in helping deliver three Stanley Cup championships since 2010.So as the Blackhawks ride a three-game winning streak into a Thursday home test against the Colorado Avalanche, it is no secret that Crawford has been at the center of Chicagos recent success.Crawford, who made 33 saves in the Blackhawks 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, boosts the level of play of those playing in front of him on a nightly basis.He gives us confidence, Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin said after Tuesday nights victory. We were calmer (against the Flames). We made those little bit risky plays knowing we have a great goalkeeper behind us.Over his career, Crawford has grown more consistent in net, which, in turn, made him among the NHLs best. But over Chicagos three-game win streak, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is seeing that consistency became a staple of Crawfords game much in the way it did throughout last season.Crawford registered at least 32 saves in each of the three wins, leading to a save percentage of .926 this season. Crawford owns a 4-3-1 record.Like the Blackhawks (6-3-1), Crawford is raising his game up a level of late.Im feeling better and better every game, Crawford said Tuesday night. Im feeling quicker out there reading plays, thats a big part of it, too, being able to read a play and get out and be aggressive when its time. Just everything is coming together each game and just went out there and battled.While Crawford has the Blackhawks moving in the right directions, the Avalanche find themselves struggling. Colorado dropped a 5-1 decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night in Denver.The defeat was Colorados third in its past four games, dropping the Avalanche back to .500 for the season, 4-4-0.Its not at all how we want to play, coach Jared Bednar said after the Tuesday loss. Its pretty bad. ... We didnt find the intensity we needed for the game. It was disappointing because it was a chance for us to go a couple of games above .500, and now were just spinning in the mud again.As Crawford has experienced at times earlier this season, the Avalanche are struggling with inconsistent play. That will be put to the test Thursday night when they face a Blackhawks team that is looking to keep its positive momentum.Colorado, meanwhile, will look to reverse its course and get things back on track.Were trying to make sure we get certain things out of our group every night, Bednar said. When we get them, we give ourselves a good chance to win. When we dont get them, right now its almost a guaranteed loss.To that end the Avalanche held a team meeting after the loss to Nashville.Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said, To a man, we have to be honest and look at ourselves in the mirror and reflect the way we come to work every day. Im not going to go into details about the meeting. Were going to come to the rink ... with a good attitude. Tonight, its got to be said, this was embarrassing. Air Max 97 China . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Sale Air Max 97 Shoes .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. http://www.clearanceairmax97.com/ . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Wholesale Air Max 97 . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Wholesale Air Max . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.DETROIT -- Brandon Barnes stood in centre field and felt the wind blowing out a bit -- an ominous sign when Miguel Cabrera is at the plate with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth inning. Sure enough, Cabrera lifted a deep flyball to right-centre, forcing Barnes to race over with the game on the line. "I just knew if he hit it out there, Id have to get a good bead on it," Barnes said. "Just try to get under it and not stop until the catch was made." Barnes caught Cabreras drive against the wall for the final out, and the Houston Astros avoided a season sweep against the Detroit Tigers with a 7-5 victory Wednesday. Carlos Corporan hit a tiebreaking double in the top of the ninth for the Astros, who lost their first six meetings with the Tigers by a combined 50-12. Houston barely held on in this one after scoring two runs in the ninth to take the lead. Jose Veras pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances, but he walked two, and when he hit Torii Hunter with an 0-2 pitch, the bases were loaded with two out and Cabrera coming up. The Triple Crown winner came a few feet from a grand slam, but Barnes -- who entered as a pinch-runner in the top of the inning and stayed in to play centre -- had enough room to run it down and make the catch while jumping back a bit into the out-of-town scoreboard. The previous night, Detroits Andy Dirks hit a double to almost that same spot. Houston right-hander Lucas Harrell expressed frustration that the ball wasnt caught, and manager Bo Porter met with Harrell before Wednesdays game to discuss the teams philosophy on defensive shifts. Barnes said he was playing a bit deep for Cabrera, but wasnt too far to either side. "I was pretty straight up," Barnes said. "I mean, he can hit the ball anywhere." Corporan and J.D. Martinez homered for Houston, and Avisail Garcia went deep for the Tigers. Detroits Al Alburquerque (0-1) walked Martinez starting the ninth, and manager Jim Leyland pulled him. "Its depressing," Leyland said. "If I had seen any signs that he was going to throw the ball over the plate, I would have left him in. I didnt really want (Phil) Coke against a switch-hitter." Coke, a left-hander, came on and allowed Corporans double to the ggap in left-centre.dddddddddddd Matt Dominguez added a sacrifice fly. Alburquerque has struck out 26 in 14 1-3 innings this year, but hes also walked 13 and thrown six wild pitches. "Maybe not getting enough work -- I dont know the answer," Leyland said. "Hes struggling with his control." Hector Ambriz (1-2) got the win as Houston stopped a six-game losing streak. "Sometimes we pitch good but we dont hit. Sometimes we hit but we dont pitch good. Sometimes we put it together like today," Corporan said. "Weve been scoring some runs. It takes things like this to turn around some things." The Astros are without standout second baseman Jose Altuve, on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother. The 21-year-old Garcia, playing centre field because of Austin Jacksons hamstring injury, hit his first major league homer in the second, a three-run shot to left-centre that gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Detroit starter Max Scherzer couldnt hold it. He allowed a double to Jake Elmore to start the fourth, then balked him to third. Carlos Pena hit a run-scoring single, and after a walk to Chris Carter, Martinez hit his third homer of the year, a no-doubter to left-centre that landed near Willie Hortons retired No. 23 on the brick facade well behind the visiting bullpen at Comerica Park. The three-run shot put the Astros ahead 5-4. Scherzer allowed five runs and five hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel allowed five runs -- four earned -- and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Detroit tied it at 5 with an unearned run in the sixth. With two out, shortstop Marwin Gonzalez misplayed Victor Martinezs grounder for an error. Jhonny Peralta followed with a single, and Matt Tuiasosopo tied it with a single. Corporan opened the scoring with a second-inning solo homer. The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Brayan Pena, and Garcia followed with his home run. NOTES: Keuchel and Detroit reliever Drew Smyly were roommates while playing college baseball at Arkansas. ... The Astros have Thursday off. Detroit sends ace Justin Verlander (4-3) to the mound at Texas in a terrific pitching matchup against Yu Darvish (6-1) of the Rangers. ' ' '