f-Famer Tim Duncan. As for who repl

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - It was a similar game — only with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the winning side — less than 48 hours later. . Artem Anisimov scored a short-handed goal late in the second period and special teams provided four goals in the Blue Jackets 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. In a disappointing 5-2 loss at New Jersey on Thursday night, the Blue Jackets fell behind 3-0, giving up two early power-play tallies, and then allowed a short-handed goal in the final minute of the second period. Fast forward to Saturday, when their power play clicked and Anisimov scored with his team a man down. "When we go to the locker room ... huge momentum for us," Anisimov said of his goal with 10 seconds left in the period with the game tied at 3. "Every goal you score in the last minute is huge for the team." With the Panthers on the power play after Derek MacKenzie went off for a high stick, Anisimov created the goal with hard work. He skated from the left boards, behind the net and to the far wall to force a turnover by Jonathan Huberdeau. The Russian Olympian then skated with the puck to the crease past defenceman Tom Gilbert, got goalie Scott Clemmensen to go for a fake with the backhand and then scored on the forehand. "The Russian air was good for him," joked Nick Foligno, who added one of two empty-net goals. "Hes come back flying. When youre playing against elite players like that it gives you a ton of confidence." Columbus, which had lost its past three, couldnt afford another effort as they had against the Devils. Anisimovs goal charged up his teammates and the crowd. "I didnt realize it was such a great play until I saw the replays," coach Todd Richards said. "That got the energy back for us." David Savard, Cam Atkinson and R.J. Umberger added power-play goals — the Blue Jackets were 3 for 4 with the man advantage — while Jack Johnson had three assists. Savard also had an assist. Foligno, playing in his 450th NHL game, collected his 200th career point on his goal. Matt Calvert added another empty-netter. Sergei Bobrovsky wasnt tested much, making 17 saves, but had a couple of big stops with the outcome still in doubt. Shawn Mathias and Nick Bjugstad each had a goal and an assist and Sean Bergenheim also scored for the Panthers, who lost their fourth in a row and have dropped seven of eight. The Panthers, last in the NHL on both special teams, failed to kill five consecutive penalties over two games including the first three against the Blue Jackets. Coach Peter Horachek was seething. "Special teams stink!" he said. "Those guys arent taking their responsibility for the penalty killing. ... There were individuals who let everybody else down." Forward Brad Boyes was also disgusted. "Its a broken record," he said of the special teams lapses. "Its killing us." James Wisniewskis hard shot from the top of the right circle handcuffed Clemmensen, who finished with 31 saves, with Umberger there to jam in the rebound on the power play at the 7:42 mark for the first. After Scott Gomez went off for interference soon after, the Blue Jackets scored with just one second left in the power play when Savards wrister from the right point was redirected by Atkinson. Johnson, whose whiff on a power-play shot from the point resulted in a costly short-handed goal in Thursdays loss, assisted on both goals. The Panthers countered late in the period when Wisniewskis pass went right to Matthias who tucked a shot inside the near post on Bobrovsky. Bjugstad won a puck battle with 20-year-old defenceman Ryan Murray at the blue line and then coasted in with plenty of room to move, eventually deking Bobrovsky to the ice before lifting a backhand for his 14th to tie it. Savard then carried the puck from the right boards unimpeded to the slot where he flipped a backhand past Clemmensen but 40 seconds later Bergenheim converted a rebound. That set the stage for Anisimovs big play. Notes: D Fedor Tyutin, expected to be out two to three weeks with an ankle injury suffered while playing with the Russian Olympic team, missed his second game for the Blue Jackets. ... The Panthers were opening a three-game road trip; they play at the Islanders on Sunday, then at Boston on Tuesday. . According to Tony Barrett of The Times, the Liverpool captain is set to announce that he will leave the club at the end of the 2014-15 season. . This weeks Raptors Report puts a bow on Gays brief, 10-month tenure in Toronto and ponders how his absence will affect the teams offence. Are they a better team without him? In addition to acquiring some valuable cap flexibility, what impact will the four incoming players have this season and beyond? Click here for the Dec. . -- Jonas Hiller is cautiously confident he has kicked his vertigo.The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will meet in the Western Conference finals for the second time in three years, starting with Game 1 tonight at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. In 2012, the Thunder prevailed in six games to advance to the NBA Finals. They lost to the Miami Heat, but the Spurs can relate, falling to LeBron James and company last year. Despite the success two years ago, and sweep (4-0) of the series during this past regular season, the Thunder are 10-12 against the Spurs in 22 regular- season meetings since the team moved to Oklahoma City. The teams were Nos. 1 and 2 throughout most of the 2013-14 season. "Players step up and play well," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "There arent really surprises." "Were very familiar with what they do," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "Theyre a very good basketball team. Theyre well coached. They have good players, good role players, good bench players and they have a style of play that demands that you play with great effort for the entire shot clock." The Spurs needed seven games to get past the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round, then took five games to best the Portland Trail Blazers. Oklahoma City survived a physical seven-game set with the Memphis Grizzlies, then knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers in six. Injuries will play a role in this series, starting with Tony Parker. The Spurs All-Star point guard suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strrain in Game 5 against Portland, but should be good to go by Monday. . The same cant be said for Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma Citys premier defensive big man. A calf injury will keep him out for the remainder of the postseason, which is a huge blow for the Thunder. Ibaka would probably be tasked with covering future Hall-of-Famer Tim Duncan. As for who replaces him in the starting lineup, Brooks has options. Nick Collison might make the most sense as a veteran and a strong defensive presence. Steven Adams could help combat the size of the Spurs. Duncan, at 38, is leading the Spurs in minutes during the postseason, while scoring 15.8 points with 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Parker is averaging 19.3 points and 4.9 assists. San Antonios biggest challenge will be stopping OKCs two-headed monster of league MVP Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Theyve been sensational in the postseason and will represent a huge task for Parker and Kawhi Leonard. Durant was named MVP for the first time and has continued his amazing play in the postseason. He is averaging 31.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists, but his shooting numbers are down from the regular season. Durant is playing almost 45 minutes a game and that may take its toll. Westbrook has been very strong in the postseason, averaging 26.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists. He has registered three triple-doubles during these playoffs and thats three more than the rest of the NBA combined. Game 2 will be Wednesday night in San Antonio. ' ' '

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