us.The Canucks poured it on from there

With an impressive showing as a member of Canadas Fed Cup team over the weekend, Blainville, Quebecs Aleksandra Wozniak reflects on her play and her preparation for Roland Garros in her personal blog on RDS.ca and TSN.ca. --- We took advantage of the opportunity to advance to World Group I at the Fed Cup for the first time in history by beating Slovakia last weekend, so were off to play next season as one of eight finalists in February! Playing at PEPS Stadium at Laval University, the facility was expanded to accommodate 3,500 people. While the stands werent completely filled as they were in Montreal last February, that didnt hold back the great atmosphere. People were encouraging us, shouting out our names and having fun on each point (though I had a very long match where I had to battle until the very end). My family and my friends were also among the crowd and it was really fun to learn as much as I did there. It wasnt just about me as I was playing - it was about playing for my country and all of those watching. The viewing public is important and I dont want to disappoint them, but I wasnt really dwelling on that kind of pressure at the time. I tried to stay in the present moment and simply enjoy the energy to try to give a good show and play a good game. Its always very important to do my best to win. People were just happy to be there and support us and it made for a crazy weekend! Just before the tournament, we spent several days training together in Quebec City and we had our official team dinner on Thursday night. We also took the time to work with Iris Setlakwe, as the fashion designer helped dress us for this special event (as was the case a couple of months ago in Montreal). We also got acquainted with other players and sponsors - a tradition followed by every delegation during the Fed Cup. It was also at this time that we did our traditional gift exchange. Our gift for the Slovaks - maple syrup! Never Give Up It was a bit hard early on in my opening match when I lost the first set. Jana Cepelova, ranked 52nd in the world, was very tough and had lots of confidence after a strong performance in Charleston. This is a player who went to the net a lot and never hit the same ball. Shes already beaten good players like Serena Williams and has the ability to change speeds during a point. She can make three rhythm changes by alternating her slice, or cushioning her forehand before suddenly attacking with lots of force and precision in the corners. Its not easy to guage a girl like this, as she was very gifted. That being said, it was necessary for me to raise my game up a notch and find my pace to reverse the trend. As this was the first time I was facing Cepelova, I was trying to get a read on her game at the start. It took me a little while, because it was not easy adjusting to the ball. I was hooked as I tried to avoid my earlier mistakes while trying to force errors. In short, it was a physical and mental challenge, coming back twice - in the second and third sets - as she was serving for the match. And that first victory on Day 1 was very important to set the tone for the competition. And all this time, captain Sylvain Bruneau was at my side to motivate me, telling me to remember what I should do and to always be alert. Its good to have the opportunity to rely on a coach and his advice during a match. In other tournaments, you cant ask for that much help so frequently. Finally, my next next Grand Slam stop is at Roland Garros. The challenge will be to adapt to the change from hard surface to clay. Ill be in full preparation this week in Montreal, playing on the clay courts of Uniprix Stadium at Jarry Park. Ill then fly off to Cagnes-sur-Mer in France, for the qualifications next week and then make a stop in Prague before the qualifications for the Internationaux de France - which begins on May 21. https://www.facebook.com/WozAlekshttp:/ ... om/Twitter @alekswoz David Bingham Jersey . Case in point: LeBron James vs. Ben McLemore. James was driving to the rim in the first quarter and McLemore decided to try to take the charge, which was quite admirable and predictably futile. Eric Lichaj Jersey .com) - Nate Buss 3-pointer with 5. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/sebas ... sa-jersey/. - Zac Leslie scored two goals and assisted on two more, and Justin Nichols made 34 saves as the Guelph Storm blanked the Kitchener Rangers 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday. Kellyn Acosta Jersey .com) - The Kansas City Chiefs activated linebacker Joe Mays from short-term injured reserve on Saturday. Juan Agudelo Jersey . PAUL, Minn.COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ryan Miller faced plenty of good chances from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Vancouver Canucks goalie stopped them all.Miller made 31 saves for his second consecutive shutout, his third of the season and 32nd of his career, and the streaking Canucks topped the struggling Blue Jackets 5-0 on Friday night.Columbus couldnt muster anything against Miller, who extended his scoreless run to 152 minutes, 5 seconds. The Canucks are tied for first in the Western Conference with 33 points, propelled by a 6-1-1 run.Miller is tied for the NHL lead with 15 wins.I feel all right, Miller said. I feel like Im still building the right kind of game to play with this team. Just keep going, keep improving.Chris Higgins and Brad Richardson both had a goal and an assist for Vancouver, which played the first game of a season-high, seven-game, 12-day road trip.The Canucks balanced, four-line attack started producing late in the second period and then broke out in the third. Henrik Sedin, Shawn Matthias and Alexandre Burrows also scored, and Nick Bonino added three assists.Its harder to shut us down when everybody is scoring, rookie Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said.Columbus has lost five in a row and has dropped to the bottom of the NHL standings with a 2-12-2 slide. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 29 shots.Higgins found space down the left wing, patiently holding the puck before snapping a shot from below the circle, almost to the goal line and inside the near post for his fifth goal at 15:25 of the second.It just seems like we dont have enough confidence, Columbus forward Nick Foligno said. It sounds stupid but its kind of the thingg I noticed the most.ddddddddddddWhen we get scored on it just deflates us. Its just a mental toughness that we need to have and we just dont have it right now.Just 48 seconds into the third, Radim Vrbata threw the puck back toward to the near post where Sedin was waiting for the easy goal.It was nice, Sedin said of the play leading to his sixth goal. (Radim) waited a long time. I thought it might be too late. But nice pass, I had an empty netter. That was a big one for us.The Canucks poured it on from there, adding three more goals in just under six minutes after Miller made a nice glove save on Folignos drive from the slot.I thought they had the best chances in the first and most of the second, Desjardins said of the Blue Jackets. We were lucky. I thought Ryan Miller played real well. I thought that was the difference.Matthias took a bouncing puck, and on a breakaway snapped a shot past Bobrovsky for his fourth at 11:49.Bobrovsky was pulled for an extra skater with just over five minutes remaining, and Richardson scored right away from inside the blue line for his fourth to make it 4-0.With Bobrovsky back in the net, Burrows scored from the left circle at 17:26 for his eighth to cap the scoring.I thought in the third period we were really efficient with the puck — made some nice plays, Desjardins said.NOTES: Vancouver is 14-1-2 in its last 17 games in Columbus but had lost three of four there. ...The Blue Jackets play Saturday at Nashville, which is 9-1-1 at home. ... Miller hasnt allowed a goal since 7:55 of the second period in a 4-1 win over Chicago on Nov. 23, a span of three games. ... Columbus dropped to 3-8-1 at home. 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