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The Colorado Avalanche were feeling good after they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 10 days ago.It was their third win in four contests, they were heading home for a five-game homestand with a .500 mark and looking to build some momentum heading into the second month of the season.Instead of surging, the Avalanche are searching for answers after three straight losses -- including one in a shootout. Colorado can turn things around on Thursday when it hosts the Blue Jackets on Thursday night.The poor starts, defensive lapses and lack of focus for 60 minutes need to be fixed if Colorado (9-11-1) is going to start winning.It better start coming from inside, coach Jared Bednar said after Tuesdays 5-3 loss to Nashville. The players are going to have to solve that a little bit on their own. They know what the expectations are, what the standard is and we have to continually strive to meet that standard and get more consistent.Bednar wants it to start against the Blue Jackets, a team with which the Avalanche made a trade on Monday. The clubs swapped minor league defensemen with Ryan Stanton going to Columbus for Cody Goloubef. Both players reported to their respective teams American Hockey League affiliates.Goloubef could end up with Colorado if the defense continues to struggle. The Avalanche arent getting enough consistency from 21-year-old Nikita Zadarov, who had a costly turnover in the first period that led to Nashvilles first goal Tuesday.But Zadarovs play isnt the main reason for Colorados struggles. Injuries are an issue, too.Goaltender Semyon Varlamov missed two straight games but will be in net Thursday. Forward Gabriel Landeskog was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, retroactive to Nov. 15.Bednar said Wednesday that the team is considering recalling one or two players from San Antonio, one of which might be A.J. Greer. Bednar has repeatedly said Landeskog is day to day but he hasnt skated since Friday. He didnt play in Colorados 3-2 overtime win in Columbus on Nov. 21, a rare November loss for the Blue Jackets.Columbus (12-5-4) finished the month 9-2-3 and is tied with Washington for third place in the Metropolitan Division before Wednesday nights NHL schedule. The Blue Jackets are coming off a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday and are feeling confident.We certainly know weve climbed a ladder here, coach John Tortorella told The Columbus Dispatch. Weve talked about the standard of play, the accountability factor of how you play, how you practice. And then when the season starts, do you go in there and hope youre going to win, or do you go in there with swagger and know youre going to get it done?Youre certainly not going to win them all. Theres a lot of things that go into winning and losing in the NHL. But I like where the attitude has gone to here. Custom Panthers Jerseys . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Brian Burns Jersey Large . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. http://www.custompanthersjersey.com/ . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Custom Brian Burns Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Cheap Panthers Jerseys . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. CINCINNATI -- When the games on the line, Bengals and Steelers fans know where the balls most likely going.Both teams have dynamic duos with years of experience making the game-turning, highlight-reel plays.For the Bengals, its Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. For the Steelers, its Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. In their season openers, the duos were at their dynamic best.Green had 12 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown during Cincinnatis 23-22 win at the Jets. Brown had eight catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburghs 38-16 win at Washington.Theyll share the stage on Sunday in Pittsburgh, where both defenses know what its all about: Stopping those two.First off, Ben and I both have really talented receivers, said Dalton, who came into the NFL along with Green in 2011.And then it just comes with time. Ive been with A.J. my whole career, hes been with Antonio for seven years now. So its just part of the chemistry and building it.When youve got talented players, you get that chemistry. When youre both trying to be good at what you do, youre going to have big plays.Each does it their own way.Brown has a sense of what Roethlisberger is going to do when the elusive quarterback escapes the rush. Thats when the two get creative and use an instinctiveness developed during many hours of practice.You put in a lot of time and a lot of hard work, a lot of film, a lot of communication, Brown said. Were always looking to get better. We never dwell on what we did in the past.Brown has caught 375 passes in the past three seasons, an NFL record for a three-year span.Hes just got a motor, Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. You rarely see him tired. Ive played him for five years, and Ive never seen him bent over or nothing like that. That shows you what type of shape hes in and what condition he has. I just feel like the guy is a great player, man.Brown was in the middle of the ugly ending to the teams playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium last season. Bengals linebbacker Vontaze Burfict hit him in the head after an incompletion, leaving Brown with a concussion.ddddddddddddThe personal foul helped move the Steelers in range for a last-minute field goal and an 18-16 victory. Brown had to miss the Steelers next playoff game, a loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Denver.He looked as good as ever in the opener.After the play breaks down, he breaks off on the other side of the field and Ben sees him, Kirkpatrick said. Now, thats a 20-yard gain, where you had him stopped if it was a normal play.The Bengals duo gets it done a different way. Dalton gets rid of the ball quickly and looks to Green in the biggest moments, knowing that as long as he gets the ball near him hes likely to come down with it.My nickname for A.J. Green is Inspector Gadget, Brown said, referring to his ability to make acrobatic catches.Hes got those long arms, almost to his knees. Theres no catch he cant make. He always can change the outcome of a game with his big-play ability.Dalton and Green form the most productive quarterback/receiver duo in NFL history for the first five seasons of a career. They had 395 completions for 5,789 yards, the most for any tandem in the first five seasons together. Their 40 touchdown connections are tied with Miamis Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the most to start a career.From day one, it starts with me and Andy, Green said.Game notes Steelers LB Ryan Shazier (knee) was limited in practice Thursday, but defensive coordinator Keith Butler was optimistic that Shazier will play. WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder) practiced for the second straight day and should make his season debut after sitting out the opener. ... The Bengals acquired rookie CB KeiVarae Russell off waivers from Kansas City and waived G Trey Hopkins.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '