o no avail. New York led 26-14 in shots through two periods,

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ALLEN PARK, Mich. . - Detroit is within striking distance of its first division title since 1993 and the automatic playoff berth that comes with it.We can taste it, defensive end Jason Jones said after Sundays 16-14 win over Minnesota. Its right there in front of us.Coach Jim Caldwells strict one-game-at-a-time philosophy has served the Lions well thus far, and he doesnt want his players losing sight of that with games at NFC North rivals Chicago and Green Bay to close the regular season.They might not go (to the playoffs) if they dont start focusing up on this next game, either, Caldwell said. That is a point to make. Its like texting and driving. You cant have your focus and attention on two things at one time. ... Its no different. Obviously, Im not talking about the same dire consequences, but Im talking about an example of distorted vision.The Lions have reached this point by toughing out close games all season. Half of their 10 wins have been by seven points or fewer. Just three other teams in the league (Green Bay, Arizona and San Francisco) have won five games by a touchdown or less. Not one has won more close games than Detroit.They have grit, Caldwell said. They are very rarely deterred when a big challenge comes their way. They are able to hang in there and play with poise down the stretch and overcome some difficult circumstances. ... They play as a unit in that way. They just arent shaken by the moment. They have supreme focus when they need it.And the Lions have fought through early holes in many of those games, including a 21-0 deficit against Atlanta and 14-point comeback wins over New Orleans and against the Vikings on Sunday.It doesnt matter however you get them, safety James Ihedigbo said. Our mindset is were going to fight. If were up in the game, were going to fight and if we have to come back, I think thats sharpening our character as a team and showing our resilience and the ability to fight through adversity.Although the offence has closed out games with critical drives, the defence has also played a big part in the Lions late-game success.The Vikings racked up 193 yards, nine first downs and two touchdowns in their first four drives on Sunday. After that, the Lions surrendered just 167 yards and 12 first downs the rest of the way.That resiliency will be tested in the next two weeks as the Lions hit the road. Its hard for everyone not to look ahead to the finale at Lambeau Field with the Packers currently sharing a 10-4 record with Detroit.But, as Caldwell has stressed all season, the only game that matters is the next one on the schedule: at Chicago on Sunday.You have to earn your way into the playoffs, Caldwell said. You dont talk your way in. . We havent earned it yet. We still have to go to work.NOTES: Right tackle LaAdrian Waddle sustained a left knee injury in the second half of the win over Minnesota, and his outlook may be in doubt. It doesnt look good for him, Caldwell said. We continue to look at him and do a little evaluation. ... Caldwell acknowledged that rugby star Jarryd Hayne did visit Detroit during his tour of NFL teams after a workout in San Diego. We take a look at a lot of different people all the time, Caldwell said. It is a constant sort of exploration for us, where were always looking for ways to improve. .A caravan greeted the former Boston Red Sox pitcher at the airport and took him to a public park in Santo Domingo, where a crowd lined a 19-mile stretch of highway to catch a glimpse of him.Once at the park, Martinez went on stage accompanied by players David Ortiz and Robinson Cano as merengue music played and fireworks lit up the sky. . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Keeping The Captain? Brian Giontas agent Steve Bartlett told La Presse on Tuesday that the Montreal Canadiens want to keep their captain - an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - in the fold, while sources tell the paper that the two sides will start talks this week. . - The Kansas City Royals are hoping All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will be back in a few days. NEW YORK -- Sidney Crosby scored his first goal of these playoffs, and Marc-Andre Fleury earned his second shutout of the New York Rangers in two nights as the Pittsburgh Penguins regained home-ice advantage with a 2-0 victory in Game 3 on Monday night. Crosby snapped a 13-game goal drought in the playoffs to give the Penguins the lead in the second period, and Jussi Jokinen added a breakaway goal. Fleury stopped 35 shots to back up his 22-save effort Sunday in a 3-0 win in Pittsburgh. He has eight career post-season shutouts and 51 wins. The Penguins, who lost the opener in overtime, lead the Eastern Conference second round series 2-1. Game 4 is Wednesday in New York. Henrik Lundqvist made 13 saves for the weary Rangers, who played for the fifth time in seven days. They have consecutive losses in these playoffs for the first time. The tide turned in Pittsburghs favour in the second period for the third straight game. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said earlier Monday that he "hated" the second period in Games 1 and 2, and he couldnt have liked this one, either. New York had 2:15 remaining on a 4-minute power play that began in the first period, but couldnt cash in. To make matters worse for the Rangers, Crosby took a long stretch pass from defenceman Robert Bortuzzo, outraced Marc Staal, and beat Lundqvist between the pads from the left circle just 19 seconds after James Neal left the penalty box. It was Crosbys 41st career playoff goal. Although Crosby didnt score in Game 2, he played a dominant game. "Eventually youre going to see him get a goal," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said before Game 3. "Eventually youre going to see him break out. Theres no question about that." The Penguins struck for their second goal again right after killing a penalty. Jokinen jumped out of the box and got to a loose puck in the neutral zone after Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello failed to connect on a backward pass in the Pittsburgh end. Jokinen came in alone on Lundqvist and scored his fifth of the playoffs with 4:40 left in the second -- 8 seconds after his penalty ended. . The Rangers were suddenly down 2-0 and had the weight of their anemic power play enveloping them even more. They finished 0 for 5 and have failed on 34 straight advantages overall -- including one in the final minutes. During their last man-advantage in the second period, the Madison Square Garden crowd implored the Rangers to "Shoot the puck!" They did, but to no avail. New York led 26-14 in shots through two periods, yet trailed by two goals. Zuccarello thought earlier in the second that he had tied the game at 1, but his drive struck the crossbar behind Fleury, skittered across the goal line, and stayed out. The Rangers received their first power play of the night 5:16 in when Marcel Goc was called for roughing Dominic Moore after an icing call. Neal later got a 4-minute power play for hitting Jesper Fast in the mouth with a high stick with 1:45 remaining. Benoit Pouliot had the best chance during the first half of the advantage when he fired a drive off the right post with 14 seconds left in the period. Before that, Zuccarello had the best scoring chance when he one-timed a pass from Pouliot during 5-on-5 play from the left circle that Fleury snagged with a stretch of his glove hand with 2:41 left. Lundqvist was sharp early for the second straight night and turned aside Chris Kunitz on a breakaway, for the second time in as many days, during New Yorks first power play. NOTES: Crosby was nominated as a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given annually to the "Most Outstanding Player" as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players Association. Crosby won the award last season and in 2007. ... The Rangers replaced rugged forwards Daniel Carcillo and Derek Dorsett in the lineup with Fast and J.T. Miller, and put defenceman Raphael Diaz in for the first time in these playoffs. John Moore sat out. ... Lundqvist made his 77th playoff appearance, the most for a Rangers goalie. ' ' '

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