264 in 121 games for the Cardinals

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VANCOUVER -- Six seasons ago, Roberto Luongos attitude would have been different. But now, the veteran goaltender is attempting to take his new backup role in stride as the Vancouver Canucks prepare to host their biggest game of the 2011-12 NHL season. Cory Schneider is expected to start in goal for the Canucks on Sunday in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarter-final series with the Los Angeles Kings while Luongo watches from the bench for the third straight game. "Im much better at (dealing with being replaced) now than when I got here," Luongo said. The Canucks, who finished first overall in the NHL for the second straight season, remain in a do-or-die situation against the Kings, the club that had to settle for the eighth and final playoff position in the West. Schneider made 43 saves as he backstopped Vancouver to a 3-1 victory Wednesday, but the underdog Kings lead the series by the same count. Luongo is vowing not to be a distraction to the team, and will prepare as though he were starting in case he gets the call to go between the pipes at some point. "Im a competitor," said Luongo, who backstopped Canada to a 2010 Olympic gold medal on the same Rogers Arena ice where Sundays game will be played. "Obviously, you guys all know that, and its tough (not to start). But at the same time, this is about the team, and Im not going to put myself ahead of the team. Were in this together." Coach Alain Vigneault said his decision to go with Schneider in Game 4 was not cut-and-dried, but he had to do what he felt was best for the team that day. The decision to replace Luongo with Schneider has prompted considerable speculation about the nominal No. 1 netminders future with the club. Luongo has a decade to go on his contract and Schneider is due to become a restricted free agent this summer. But the goaltenders and Vigneault said now is not the time to be debating future crease occupants. "Robertos future is on Sunday," said Vigneault. "Weve got to focus on Sunday. Hes no different than a quarterback whos a hit (to another QB) away from going back in the game or Schneids taking a puck somewhere, etc. Hes got to focus on Sunday -- like the rest of us." The Kings scored seven goals on Luongo in the first two games, while another goal was scored into an empty net, en route to identical 4-2 victories in the first two games. Schneider has allowed just two goals while posting a loss and a win in the third and fourth games. The 26-year-old Marblehead, Mass., native, who is in his second full season with the Canucks after three seasons in the minors, downplayed his elevation to playoff No. 1, noting he has just one post-season win on his record and Luongo posted 15 last spring as the Canucks reached the Stanley Cup final. Still, Schneider relishes the chance to start with the season on the line. "Theres no doubt that the regular seasons nice, but everyone sort of proves their mettle in the playoffs," he said. "Thats where you can make your reputation and earn a spot on the team." Schneider started the sixth game of the 2010-11 Stanley Cup final in Boston, but said he has been better prepared for playoff duty this time. He appeared in a total of 33 games in the regular season after playing sparingly most of last season. He has played in the American Hockey League final as well as two NCAA finals with Boston College during his university days. Those experiences have helped him prepare for dealing with the magnitude of Sundays contest. "Pressure is a little bit of a self-manifest," Schneider said. "Its what you make of it." The Canucks have enough pressure to deal with anyway. They are trying to become just the fourth team -- after the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1975 New York Islanders and 2010 Philadelphia Flyers --to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win a series. Because of two concerts at Rogers Arena, the Canucks have had to wait longer than usual to get another crack at the Kings. The series is in the midst of a three-day break between games. L.A. coach Darryl Sutter would prefer to have the usual one-day break. But Vigneault welcomed the extra time off. "I see it in a different way," he said. "Weve got a player that came back (from a concussion) for Game 4, Daniel Sedin, and this is going to give him a little bit more time to get his game where it can get to. Hes an elite player and, unfortunately, we didnt have him at the start of this series." The Canucks are looking for more good things from Sedin after he recorded an assist on his twin brother Henriks power-play goal and was on the ice for all three of Vancouvers markers Wednesday. Daniel Sedins return helped revive the Canucks previously dormant power play as it went two-for-three after being blanked 14 times and allowing two short-handed goals in the first three games. The coach again called for more difference-makers. He singled out Mason Raymond, who worked out on the fourth line Friday, as a player who must be better. Raymond has been a second or first-line winger most of the season, but Vigneault said he does not deserve to be on a top unit right now. "We need some contributions from different people," Vigneault said. "But we also need some guys to be big-time players for us." Notes: The NHL confirmed an 8 p.m. ET start time for Sundays game. ... Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa did not practise Friday as he was given another "maintenance day" from Vigneault. ... Rookie winger Zack Kassian skated with extra players instead of the main group of regulars. jerseys from china . Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on Sunday and will be a player-coach at Triple-A Iowa after he gets some at-bats in extended spring training at the teams facility in Mesa, Arizona. The 41-year-old Ramirez is a . cheap jerseys . Not exactly bursting with sentimental feelings, Matthew Lombardi makes an odd return to the state of Tennessee on Thursday night. http://www.factorycheapjerseys.com/. A stick in the gut prevented him from getting off a clean drive, but it earned him the first penalty shot of his career. He converted, and Patrice Bergeron also scored a short-handed goal on Thursday night as the Bruins opened the defence of their Eastern Conference championship with a 3-1 victory over the Lightning. wholesale nfl jerseys . Even the longest of tenures with the Twins, though, dont last forever. Versatile veteran Michael Cuddyer, voted by local beat writers as the teams most valuable player in 2011, is gone. He will be with the Colorado Rockies next season. wholesale jerseys . Bautista led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the game, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.MIAMI -- Rafael Furcal will try to make his comeback from elbow surgery with the Miami Marlins. The free-agent infielder and the Marlins have agreed to terms on a contract, two people familiar with the situation said Thursday. Both people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it hadnt been finalized. In addition, one of the people said, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia passed his physical, and his $21 million, three-year deal with Miami was completed. The 36-year-old Furcal, a three-time All-Star and the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year, sat out this season after undergoing elbow ligament-replacement surgery in March. He made the NL All-Star team as a starter at shortstop in 2012, when he batted .264 in 121 games for the Cardinals. Furcal is a 13-year veteran and a .281 careeer hitter with 314 stolen bases.dddddddddddd Hes expected to compete for a starting job at second base even though he has played only 36 games at the position, most recently in 2004. Miami already has youngster Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop. Earlier in his career, Furcal had one of the strongest infield arms in the game. The Marlins finished last in the majors in 2013 in runs and hitting, and their second basemen combined to bat only .235. Donovan Solano started the most games there and batted .249. With the winter meetings next week, the Marlins remain in the market for help at third base. The speedy Furcal spent his first six seasons in Atlanta and the next 5 1/2 with the Los Angeles Dodgers before they traded him to St. Louis, where he helped the Cardinals win the 2011 World Series. ' ' '