lackhawks in seven games during the opening round of last seasons Western Conference playoffs, has yet to win in any of his thre

SEATTLE -- By his own admission, Cristian Roldan was trying to be a nuisance.He wound up being the hero.Roldan broke a tie in the 31st minute, and the Seattle Sounders wrapped up an MLS playoff berth with a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday in the regular-season finale.The Sounders (14-14-6, 48 points) made the playoffs for the eighth year in a row. They have never missed the postseason since joining MLS in 2009. Seattle will go in as the Wests No. 4 seed, hosting Sporting Kansas City in a knockout round game on Thursday night.Real Salt Lake (12-12-10, 46 points) also got in, thanks to Portlands 4-1 loss at Vancouver that eliminated the defending champion Timbers. RSL will be the Wests No. 6 seed and visit Los Angeles on Wednesday.Nicolas Lodeiro helped set up Roldans goal when he floated a corner kick from the left wing side into the box. Goalkeeper Nick Romando slapped away Roman Torres header, but the ball deflected off defender Luke Mulholland, who was standing just to Rimandos right. It went straight to Roldan, who drilled it in from two yards in front for his fourth of the year.I was put in the box to be a pest, and shield guys away from our big guys, from Chad Marshall and Roman, and to pick for them, Roldan said. I was lucky enough to get away from my runners and kick the ball into the back of the net.Roldan, who played out of position on the right side of midfield for part of the day before moving back to his customary center midfield spot, has gotten considerably more playing time since Brian Schmetzer took over as interim head coach in late July.The kid has blossomed -- he does everything, Schmetzer said. That wasnt his normal position tonight, and he showed he can still make an impact in games.The Sounders have blossomed as a whole, going 8-2-4 under Schmetzer during the past 2 1/2 months. Still, they needed a win on Sunday, or a Portland loss -- and got both -- to secure a place in the postseason.The last two results we had (a 0-0 tie with Houston and a 2-1 loss at Dallas) werent wins, and we needed to get into the playoffs on our own, so we didnt have to rely on anybody else, Schmetzer said. We wanted to make sure we get the nice little bump and the confidence and everything that comes along with a win like this against a tough team to beat.The teams traded goals in the first four minutes.Alvaro Fernandez put the Sounders on the board in the third minute with his first of the season, scoring from a yard in front after Jordan Morris sent a nifty backheel pass across the 6-yard box.Just 90 seconds later, Mulholland pulled Salt Lake level. Jordan Allen, under pressure inside the box from Sounders defender Joevin Jones, tapped the ball to his left. Mullholland raced up to it just to the left of the 6-yard box and sent a shallow shot across the goalmouth that slipped just inside the right post for his fourth of the year.Real Salt Lake is winless in its last seven (0-4-3), its last victory coming on Aug. 26 at home against Colorado. But coach Jeff Cassar insisted that as of now, that slump is in the past.Its a new season. What I told the guys is were in the playoffs for our body of work that weve done throughout the year, not what weve done in the last four games, Cassar said. Now its all about rest and recovery and getting ready for L.A.Alen Hanson Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Eric Sogard Blue Jays Jersey . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-roger-clemens-jersey/ . 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. George Bell Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Joe Carter Blue Jays Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks are off to an inconsistent start while the Calgary Flames are among the NHLs worst clubs in 2016-17.Struggles by stars on both teams could explain a lot.Jonathan Toews will try to help the Blackhawks continue their recent offensive surge at home Monday night when they play host to Johnny Gaudreau and the Flames.Toews, Chicagos captain, has just two assists in six games after averaging 28 goals and 35 assists during his previous nine NHL seasons. Part of the reason for his slow start may be as simple as letting a relationship with new linemates Tyler Motte and Richard Panik develop.Motte and Panik each scored in regulation and Toews found the back of the net in the shootout as Chicago (3-3-0) rallied to beat Toronto 5-4 on Saturday night. The Blackhawks scored 16 of their 23 goals in their last three games at the United Center.Motte, a rookie and a fourth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft after a solid career at Michigan, has goals in each of his last two games. In a huge surprise, Panik leads the league with six goals despite taking only nine shots.If Toews is panicking over his slow start, hes not showing it.You only get better and better when you really start understanding and really knowing everything (about your linemates), he told the Chicago Sun-Times. It just becomes feel. Sometimes you have to just go out there and let things happen, and use your instincts. That really kicks in with guys that you play with for a long time.Toews, though, has only one goal and four assists in his last nine matchups with the Flames (1-4-1), who are waiting for Gaudreau to start putting together numbers like he did last seasonn.ddddddddddddThrough six games, Gaudreau has a goal and two assists but is also a team-worst minus-7. Last season, Gaudreau was sixth in the league in scoring with 78 points on 30 goals and 48 assists, and he was rewarded Oct. 10 with a six-year extension worth a reported $40.5 million.Gaudreau has one assist in three career games at the United Center.Another key offseason acquisition is key to the Flames lackluster start under new coach Glenn Gulutzan. Goaltender Brian Elliott, who helped St. Louis eliminate the Blackhawks in seven games during the opening round of last seasons Western Conference playoffs, has yet to win in any of his three starts this season while posting a 4.72 goals-against average and .839 save percentage.Elliott didnt face his former team on Saturday night in the Flames 6-4 loss to the Blues. He also could sit when Calgary caps its road trip Tuesday night in St. Louis.Hes a confident guy. Hes a well-structured guy. We know hell be fine, Flames captain Mark Giordano told the Calgary Sun. When he gets back in there, Im sure the players will be looking to shut it down and really tighten up defensively, because we havent really given him a game where hes had much of a chance.Calgarys 27 goals allowed are most in the league. Chicago is only slightly better than the Flames with 22 goals given up.Corey Crawford, who didnt play in the win over the Maple Leafs, is 4-2-3 with a 2.67 GAA and .895 save percentage versus the Flames. Scott Darling was 2-0-1 versus Calgary last season, stopping 91 of 95 shots. ' ' '