mpts and a 70 percent completion rate with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Ive had the conversation with the offensive staff about can we win with less read plays maybe, Herman said. But if we need t

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Puck management is a helpful lens through which to view the Columbus Blue Jackets and Arizona Coyotes before their meeting on Saturday at Gila River Arena.Columbus was abysmal in that department last season on its way to the NHLs fourth-worst record, but the maturation of defensemen Zach Werenski and Seth Jones played a major role in lifting the surprising Jackets into the upper half of the leagues possession rankings this season, and into its top 10 in points.Despite an emphasis on puck possession that extends back at least to the 2011-12 season, when Arizona advanced to the Western Conference Final, the Coyotes consistently struggled to hang onto the puck this season. They rank dead last in the NHL with a Corsi For percentage of 45.08 percent, and they are tied for last in the NHL standings with 19 points.We bring so much trouble on ourselves its frustrating, coach Dave Tippett said after a 4-3 loss at home to Los Angeles in which the Coyotes committed a critical late turnover that led to the Kings game-winning goal. We just need some people that can do the job. Sometimes, its just a simple play to gain a line. When you dont get them made it comes back to bite you.Its been all the more painful for Arizona this season because it played so many tight games. Nine of the teams last 10 games were decided by one goal and only six of the teams 22 games this season have been decided by more than one goal.Weve got to be better at puck management, left winger Tobias Rieder said. Weve got the puck on our sticks a lot of times and we turn it over and thats how we get scored on. Were always talking about gaining zones, so weve got to get the puck in deep and get our forecheck going.Jones emergence as a No. 1 defenseman, and Werenskis emergence as a Calder Trophy candidate at age 19, is making a world of difference for the Jackets when it comes to quick, clean zone-exit passes from their defense to their forwards.You can see how (Zach) can control the game with the puck, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. We have a lot of teaching to do with him without the puck, but the God-given ability that he has, its at a different level than a lot of other players in this league.Columbus improved possession game is impacting multiple other facets of its play. As of Friday morning, the Blue Jackets were tied for the second most goals per game (3.18) in the NHL, and they were fifth in goals allowed per game (2.23).Cleaner zone exits have ignited an underrated cast of young, skilled forwards. Cam Atkinson leads the team with 21 points in 22 games and Nick Foligno is tops in goals with nine, but Columbus has eight players with five or more goals.The Jackets are also suppressing shots, allowing 29.5 per game, which ranks 11th. Last season, they were 27th at 31.1. The lesser workload is allowing goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to regain his form of two seasons ago. Bobrovsky is tied for 13th in the NHL in save percentage (.929) and 11th in goals against average at 2.08.Theyve got a lot of good young players that I dont think the league knows about yet, Tippett said of the Blue Jackets. Youre starting to see the fruits of their labor. John has done a good job. They look like theyre playing well.As of Friday afternoon, Tortorella hadnt named his starter in goal between Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney, but the Jackets did activate left wing Matt Calvert (head) off injured reserve.Mike Smith is expected to start in goal for Arizona, which is healthy other than center Brad Richardson (broken tibia and fibula). Richardson is out indefinitely. Mikkel Boedker Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Nick Schmaltz Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/1238z-robbie-russo-jersey-coyotes.html . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Shane Doan Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Daniel Carcillo Jersey . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. DALLAS -- Houston followed its first loss of the season to Navy with a narrow victory against Tulsa, a three-touchdown underdog that fell inches short of tying the score in the final seconds on the road.If the 11th-ranked Cougars want to regain the dominance that carried them into the top 10, coach Tom Herman figures they have to recognize that they will get the opponents best effort. And that includes SMU on Saturday night.We are learning to be the overdog instead of the underdog, Herman said. It is interesting, you are drawing on different senses to motivate yourself. Its all pride when you are the underdog that is disrespected. There is the pride of the, `Hey, Im going to prove all of you wrong. Now its the pride of, `Hey, we have to prove everybody right.The realistic playoff chances for Houston (6-1, 3-1 American) ended with the loss to Navy. If quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and the Cougars want to rekindle those hopes, theyll need some convincing victories leading into a late-season nonconference showdown with Louisville.And SMU (2-4, 0-2) is another three-touchdown underdog.There is a little rivalry being that we are the only two teams in our conference in the state of Texas, Herman said. Theyre going to give us their best shot, and their best shot is good enough to beat us if were not hitting all our cylinders.Things to consider in the resumption of a series that Houston leads 15-3-1 since the Mustangs returned from the so-called death penalty in 1989 and lost to the Cougars 95-21:FORGET ABOUT IT: Herman says he had zero interest in news this week that the Big 12 rejected Houston and 10 other schools for possible expansion. The anti-Big 12 reaction in the state was swiift, including a rebuke from Gov.ddddddddddddGreg Abbott . Im dead serious when I tell you it consumes zero amount of my time, energy, effort or thought at all, said Herman, whose name will be prominent in high-profile coaching searches this offseason.WORKING WARD: The senior standout has more than twice as many rushing attempts as any of the Houston running backs, leading to questions of whether he is being overused. He has 105 carries for 414 yards with six touchdowns. Ward is ninth nationally at 323 yards passing per game. He has 224 attempts and a 70 percent completion rate with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Ive had the conversation with the offensive staff about can we win with less read plays maybe, Herman said. But if we need to win the game, well use him.SPEAKING OF OVERWORKED: The Cougars still havent had a bye, and wont until after hosting Central Florida next week. The Louisville showdown comes a Thursday after playing Tulane the preceding Saturday. And SMU is coming off a bye. Were playing football for 12 1/2 weeks straight, so its going to take its toll on their bodies, Herman said.THE FADE ROUTE: SMU stayed close for a half as a double-digit underdog against high-scoring Texas rivals Baylor and TCU. The Mustangs were even with the Bears on the road at 6-6, and trailed the Horned Frogs 6-3 at home. But Baylor, now ranked ninth, outscored SMU 34-7 after halftime for a 40-13 win. TCU pulled away for a 33-3 win after a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second half.---College Football: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '