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CALGARY - Radim Vrbata continued whats been a seamless fit with Vancouver Canucks linemates Henrik and Daniel Sedin into the regular season.The Czech forward scored the eventual winner for the Canucks in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday in the NHL season-opener for both clubs.The Canucks signed the 33-year-old Vrbata in the off-season with the idea the right-winger would be a finisher for the playmaking Sedins. That theory held in the pre-season when Vrbata scored three times and the Sedins combining for five assists on the three.Vrbata batted a pass from Daniel out of the air past Calgary goaltender Jonas Hiller in the second period Wednesday. It was initially waived off as a high stick, but he was given the goal after review. Im glad that a goal helped us to get two points, Vrbata said. I knew that I had a blade high over the bar, probably, but I knew I hit it with the shaft.I know that they said it was close but I was pretty sure it was a good goal.Alex Burrows and Zack Kassian also scored and captain Henrik Sedin added a hard-working empty-netter for the Canucks, who extended their winning streak against Calgary to eight in a row. Henrik was on his behind when he swept the puck into the Flames net. Paul Byron and Jiri Hudler replied for the Flames, who havent won their first game of the season since 2009.The season-opener for both Calgary and Vancouver at Scotiabank Saddledome featured two teams attempting to climb out of the bottom of the league standings. The Canucks finished 25th and the Flames 27th among the 30 teams last season.Their starting goaltenders signed as free agents on July 1 and made their debuts for their respective teams. Ryan Miller stopped 23 of 25 shots for the win, while Jonas Hiller turned away 29 of 32 in his first game in a Flames jersey.I was a little anxious leading up to these games, Miller said. You start somewhere new and want to get off on the right foot.Willie Desjardins won his first regular-season game as Vancouvers head coach. He replaced John Tortorella who was sacked after just one season with the Canucks.I was really happy we got everyone involved tonight, Desjardins said. We got a lot out of a lot of guys.The Flames out-hit the Canucks 32-16 and had the advantage in the face-off circle with 61 per cent won.But Calgary was scoreless on four power-play chances. The Flames had a minute and three seconds of 5-on-3 early in the first period, but couldnt capitalize on the two-man advantage.You dont score on those, you just make your life miserable and especially on a home opener with the fans already on their feet and theyre just waiting to light the barn on fire but we couldnt, Flames head coach Bob Hartley said.Not only did we not score, but after this, I felt we lost the momentum for basically the first 40 minutes. We were not very good in our zone, way too many missed assignments.Vrbatas goal put the hosts up 3-1, but Hudler pulled the host Flames within a goal at 13:19 of the second period when he blasted a drop pass from linemate Sean Monahan past Miller.The Canucks pounced on a Mikael Backlund giveaway along the offensive boards at 5:15 when Kassian finished a passing play from Brad Richardson and Lyndon Vey.Byron temporarily pulled the Flames even on a two-on-one with Johnny Gaudreau at 4:08. Byron opted to keep the puck and freeze Miller, who was beaten under his left pad.Burrows re-directed a Dan Hamhuis shot from the blue-line for a power-play goal at 11:52.The Flames embark on a six-game road trip starting Thursday in Edmonton. The Canucks are at home Saturday to the Oilers.Notes: Flames goaltender Karri Ramo will start in net in Edmonton . . . Brandon Bollig, Mason Raymond and defencemen Raphael Diaz and Deryk Engellend made their Flames debuts, but Devin Setoguchi was a scratch . . . Nick Bonino, Derek Dorsett, Linden Vey, and defenceman Luca Sbisa played their first games for the Canucks . . . Calgary rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau registered a shot on net in his 13 minutes 22 seconds of ice time. Cheap Swingman Blazers Jerseys . -- David Price didnt think he would be in Port Charlotte this spring. Gary Trent Jr. Jersey . The Cavaliers first-year forward will miss at least three weeks with a strained left knee, the latest setback for the No. http://www.cheapblazersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-terry-porter-jersey . Johns, N.L., to Thunder Bay, Ont., after a deal was announced to build a new $106-million "event centre" in the Lake Superior community. Cheap Blazers Jerseys China . -- Fresh off their surprising run in the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers have signed head coach Terry Stotts to a multi-year contract extension. Nik Stauskas Jersey . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66.LONDON - Doubles from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal a 4-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle on Saturday, restoring unity at the Emirates Stadium after scattered fan discontent followed last weekends loss at Stoke.Although Arsenal is still out of the top four, a sixth successive Premier League victory over Newcastle nudged Arsene Wengers side — with a makeshift defence — within two points of Champions League places.Theres only one Arsene Wenger was being sung as Arsenal completed a fifth win in six games in all competitions, a run that defied the perceptions of a crisis engulfing a team without a league title since 2004.Its always the same when you are losing a game, the first man in front of the criticism is always the boss, Giroud said. We are one pack and we will be always together. Keep the faith, keep working hard ... and its nice to hear the fans supporting the boss.This emphatic victory — following another 4-1 rout against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday — came against a Newcastle side that ended Chelseas unbeaten start to the season a week ago. With a trip to Liverpool next weekend, though, Arsenal will need to preserve this free-scoring form to be among the chasing pack at the top again.Despite the fact we were depleted at the back, we were quite solid, Wenger said. We won in a convincing way. It was needed. The response waas strong after the Stoke game.ddddddddddddAfter failing to score in the first half of the last six league matches, Giroud took only 15 minutes to beat goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, meeting Alexis Sanchezs cross with a towering header. The hosts should have been further ahead inside a minute, but referee Lee Mason wrongly penalized Danny Welbeck for a foul on Daryl Janmaat before putting the ball in the net.Having not managed a shot on goal, Newcastle unsettled Arsenals patched-up defence in the 33rd minute when Jack Colback curled in a free kick. It took a double-save from Wojciech Szczesny to preserve Arsenals lead, with the goalkeeper parrying Mike Williamsons header and the follow-up from Papiss Cisse.Despite their control, the Gunners took until the 54th to extend their lead, with Sanchez picking out Cazorla, who skipped over Fabricio Coloccinis challenge before lifting the ball over Alnwick to score on his 30th birthday.Newcastles defence crumbled again four minutes later when Hector Bellerins low cross was clipped in by Giroud at the near post with a slick left-footed finish that epitomized the ease of the game for the hosts.Although Ayoze Perez pulled one back for Newcastle with a low diving header from Colbacks free kick, Cazorla restored Arsenals three-goal cushion in the 88th from the penalty spot after Welbeck was brought down by Paul Dummett. ' ' '