Preise » And that while it was tough to lose a game

There are two very different kinds of shrugs that athletes can give when asked about how their season is unfolding. One is a shrug of frustration, a gesture that says theres no satisfying explanation for whats gone wrong.The other, though, is a happy shrug that says, Theres really no magic formula for why were playing very well. Were just executing.We all know the Los Angeles Sparks have had more than a few seasons of unpleasant shrugging, where they couldnt pinpoint exactly why a team that clearly had talent was inconsistent or sometimes even floundered.Now, though, any shrugs the Sparks might give are accompanied by smiles. They can detail all the reasons things have gone so well in whats been a 20-2 season thus far. But its ultimately more a mindset that has taken hold -- one that is not defined as much by the specific things the Sparks are doing well, but the general sense that they now expect them.As they close out the pre-Olympics part of the season this week -- with games Tuesday at Indiana (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET) and at Washington on Friday -- the Sparks sound confident that theyll have a strong finish now and then be able to pick up where they left off when the season resumes in late August after a monthlong break for the Summer Games.I think that what separates us this year as opposed to other years, said Sparks guard Kristi Toliver, is that weve always had the talent, but I think everybodys been willing to sacrifice a little bit of themselves. When you do that, great things happen. And thats just been the case this season. We just have a really good team, and we know how to play the game.Yes, the Sparks on Sunday dealt with one of their rare disappointments this year when they fell 91-74 at Atlanta. Had Los Angeles won, a 21-1 mark would have been the best start for a WNBA season. Instead, the Sparks share that distinction with the now-defunct Houston Comets at 20-2.How upsetting was that loss? Guard Alana Beard said the Sparks really put no emphasis on the record. And that while it was tough to lose a game, Los Angeles wasnt overly concerned about it from a historical context.It was never a focus of ours, Beard said. The record means nothing if you dont have a championship at the end.Toliver echoed that, saying that the Dream seemed more motivated to prevent L.A. from getting the mark than the Sparks were motivated to set it. When it was over, though, Toliver did acknowledge feeling worse about it than she probably expected to.I think its unfortunate that we were not able to capitalize on such a special opportunity, Toliver said. But in the big picture, we have a lot of work to do, and we know we have to get better. If it takes that kind of sting to really make changes, then I think ultimately it will be worth it.Shes speaking sort of rhetorically, though. Because there really arent many big changes that need to be made for a team that remains the pacesetter for the WNBA. The Sparks are averaging 85.7 points, which is third-best in the league. And they are holding their opponents to 75.1 points, which is best in the WNBA.Forward Nneka Ogwumike is on the short list of league MVP candidates, averaging 19.5 points and 8.7 rebounds, while shooting a WNBA-best 71.4 percent from the field. Candace Parker is also having a very big season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.Did not being chosen for the U.S. Olympic team give Ogwumike and Parker a little extra motivation this season? It almost certainly has, but that isnt a bad thing. Neither player is dwelling on it, but can use it as an understandable bit of fuel.Toliver is the Sparks third-leading scorer at 14.1, and shes shooting 45 percent from 3-point range. And in his second season in L.A., Brian Agler has a full buy-in from his team. Again, that has not always been the case with the Sparks and their coaches.But it is now, and the Spark have no intention of letting any of that slide.We have a mature team, and they understand what its going to take on both ends of the floor, Toliver said. I think Coach has done a really good job of preaching the little things to us. We attack each day with just wanting to get better. We dont take wins for granted; we know how hard it is to get them in this league. Juan Foyth Jersey . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Moussa Sissoko Hotspur Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. http://www.footballhotspurstore.com/Women-Erik-Lamela-Tottenham-Hotspur-Jersey/ .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Georges-Kevin NKoudou Hotspur Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Davinson Sanchez Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Solid starting pitching, timely hitting and some much-needed relief from a struggling bullpen.The last-place Tampa Bay Rays got all three for a change Monday and ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the reeling Los Angeles Angels.It feels good to get a win, manager Kevin Cash said. Kind of difficult to come by these days.Logan Morrison homered and drove in two runs for the Rays, who won for just the third time in 19 games. Matt Moore (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings, improving to 4-0 in his career against Los Angeles and handing the Angels their 12th loss in 14 games.Matt Moore set the tone. Hes on a really good run. Its great to see, Cash said after the left-hander won consecutive starts for the first time since September 2013.Tampa Bays beleaguered bullpen got the job done, with Erasmo Ramirez getting four outs before Dana Eveland and rookie Ryan Garton combined for a scoreless ninth.Garton got two outs for his first major league save.Obviously, the back end of the bullpen, were asking some guys we know are not accustomed to doing things like that at the major league level, Cash said.Hopefully Ryan Garton has got a smile from ear to ear and doesnt wipe it off all night, the manager added. I dont know if he envisioned closing out a ballgame today for us, but we felt he was a good option, especially with the fastball hes able to locate up in the zone.During the 18-game stretch leading into Monday, Rays relievers compiled a 9.29 ERA and allowed at least one run 16 times. Tampa Bay was outscored 20-4 in innings seven through nine during a four-game sweep Detroit completed on Sunday.It was great to get the call and be able to help the team out this time, Garton said. I felt good to be able to do my job.Morrison hit a solo homer off starter Nick Tropeano and gave the Rays the lead for good with an RBI single off Fernando Salas (3-6). Brad Miller also had a solo homer for the last-place Rays, who won for just the third time in 19 games.Jefry Marte homered off Moore before leaving in the sixth with a bruised left knee. The outfielder was hit by a pitch in the fourth but remained in the game long enough to go deep on the first pitch of the sixth to make it 2-all.Andrelton Simmons drove in the other run for Los Angeles with a fourth-inning double.Salas has taken the loss in four of his last eight appearrances.dddddddddddd The right-hander has a 9.72 ERA over his past 16 outings, compared to 2.01 through his first 22 appearances this year.Fernando just hasnt been as crisp. His command has been in the equation of why hes been struggling, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Hes a better pitcher than hes shown. Theres no doubt about that.Tropeano was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game to make his first major league start since May 29. The right-hander, who spent much of the past month on the disabled list because of shoulder tightness, allowed two runs and four hits in five innings, including solo homers to Miller in the third and Morrison in the fifth.The Rays snapped a 2-all tie in the sixth against Salas, with Morrison delivering a go-ahead single and Steven Souza Jr. doubling into the left-field corner to drive in Morrison from first base to make it 4-2.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: Scioscia said C Geovany Soto (right knee) could return during the four-game series with the Rays. Soto is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake.Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will start a rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte on Wednesday. . Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome (right biceps tendinitis) felt fine after a bullpen session Sunday and didnt rule out being ready to return this week.COMING AND GOINGAngels: To make room for Tropeano, LHP Jose Alvarez was optioned to Salt Lake to find his release point, according to Scioscia. The move leaves Los Angeles without a left-hander in the bullpen. In a perfect world you have one or two lefties that can go there and match up, but were not there right now, Scioscia said.Rays: CF Desmond Jennings was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. RHP Tyler Sturdevant was recalled from Triple-A Durham to help a struggling bullpen.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Tim Lincecum (1-2, 6.75 ERA) makes his second career start against Tampa Bay, which hasnt faced him since Aug. 3, 2013, when he was with San Francisco.Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 3.91 ERA) tries to end a stretch of nine consecutive home starts without a win, the longest streak by a Rays pitcher to start a season since Scott Kazmir went 10 in 2007. Odorizzi is 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in three career starts against the Angels. ' ' '