Page 2B
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Friday, January 5, 2018
NFL
Missing playoffs could equal personnel changes for Seahawks
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
RENTON, Wash. — Pete Carroll
knows after eight seasons in charge
of the Seattle Seahawks that his
message always needs to evolve.
Much like Carroll’s messaging,
the Seahawks’ roster could see
some major changes going into next
season after missing the playoffs for
the first time since 2011.
“We all have to keep changing
and growing together. That’s why
I always come back to compete,
you know,” Carroll said. “Keep
competing to find a way to make
sense and help a guy and pushing
him to have success. Then we will
do what we can do. Sometimes we
do it better than others. Sometimes
we shock the heck out of this, with
all kinds of things that happen.”
There’s no denying Seattle’s
core group is getting older, which
coupled with salary cap concerns
could lead to major overhauls at
some positions.
Here are some positions to watch
in the offseason:
JIMMY EFFECT: Despite
catching 10 touchdown passes
and finally becoming the red-zone
threat Seattle hoped for, don’t
expect Jimmy Graham to be back.
It’s likely Graham’s last chance at a
big contract and Seattle appears to
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) tries to fend off
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (36) as Graham runs after a
reception in a Dec. 31 game against Arizona in Seattle.
have more pressing needs. The tight
end position remains an important
piece of Seattle’s offense, but both
Graham and Luke Willson are free
agents. Willson spoke hopefully
of returning to the only team he’s
played for. Seattle would be smart
to get a tight end who is a premier
blocker with pass-catching skills,
similar to Zach Miller. But that’s
easier said than found.
ON THE LINE: Michael
Bennett was bluntly honest at the
conclusion of the season that the
NFL is a “young man’s game,” and
at age 32 he may be cycled out.
Even if Bennett does return,
Seattle’s likely to see an overhaul
along the defensive line. Cliff
Avril appears to be leaning toward
retirement. Sheldon Richardson
played well in his one year with the
Seahawks but is now a free agent.
The Seahawks have a decent
foundation to build around with
Frank Clark, Quinton Jefferson,
Nazair Jones and Jarran Reed. They
should bring back Dion Jordan
after the former first-round pick’s
performance once he became
healthy. Bennett could return, but
if so should take on less of a load.
Despite playing with a foot injury
the second half of the year, Bennett
still played 84.7 percent of the snaps
this season.
OFFENSIVE SKILL: Seattle
has high hopes next season for the
running back duo of Chris Carson
and Mike Davis. Still, expect the
Seahawks to add another ball
carrier to the mix and move on from
Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls. At
wide receiver, there is a big decision
to be made with Paul Richardson,
who will be an unrestricted free
agent. Richardson finished with
44 receptions and flourished early
in the season, but faded late with
just nine receptions in the final five
games.
WITNESS PROTECTION:
Seattle’s offensive line woes have
been an issue for three straight
seasons. Youth, injuries, inconsis-
tency have combined to make the
Seahawks line a constant problem
and brought plenty of criticism for
offensive line coach Tom Cable.
But don’t expect massive
changes. Part of the beauty of the
deal for Duane Brown was having
him under contract through 2018.
Seattle immediately started playing
better once Brown arrived. Justin
Britt has proven a capable center
and Seattle has high hopes for Ethan
Pocic. The big question will be
what Seattle does with George Fant.
He was the presumptive starting
left tackle before suffering an ACL
injury during the preseason. Seattle
could opt to put Fant at right tackle
and move Germain Ifedi to guard
after he struggled at tackle.
UNSPECIAL TEAMS: No,
Blair Walsh will not be back.
At least that’s an obvious early
indication with Seattle already
signing former Jacksonville kicker
Jason Myers to a futures contract.
Walsh became a convenient person
to blame after missing kicks in three
games, leading to Seattle losses.
While Seattle is likely to make
a change at kicker, it’s likely to
be a low-cost move. This is why
punter Jon Ryan may be in trouble.
The veteran had an up-and-down
season, will turn 37 next season and
the Seahawks can save $2 million
against the salary cap by releasing
Ryan.
Ryan is the only player
remaining on Seattle’s roster from
before Carroll’s arrival.
MLS 2018 schedule US to play for bronze after loss to Sweden
includes 9-day break
for World Cup
Hockey
By JONAH BRONSTEIN
Associated Press
Timbers, Sounders
will play three
times in Cascadia
Cup rivalry
By ANNE M. PETERSON
Assocaited Press
Major League Soccer’s
upcoming season includes a
nine-day break in June for the
World Cup in Russia.
The league’s hiatus for the
2014 World Cup in Brazil
was two weeks. But the U.S.
national team, which played
in 2014, did not qualify for
soccer’s premier tournament
this year.
More than two dozen
MLS players from other
national teams are expected
to play in the World Cup,
although rosters have not
been announced.
The World Cup break will
run from June 14-22, during
the group stage of the tourna-
ment.
The MLS season opens on
March 3 with Toronto hosting
the Columbus Crew in an
afternoon match.
The league’s newest team,
Los Angeles FC, debuts on
March 4 in Seattle against the
Sounders.
LAFC will play its first
rivalry match against the
LA Galaxy on March 31 at
StubHub Center in Carson,
California. LAFC was named
as an expansion team in late
2014 shortly after Chivas
USA folded.
The team’s ownership
group is led by venture capi-
talist Henry Nguyen, as well
as Mandalay Entertainment
CEO Peter Guber and former
NBA executive Tom Penn.
The addition of LAFC
puts the Western Conference
at 12 teams and the Eastern
Conference at 11.
The East teams will play
two league opponents three
times each, and the rest twice,
while the West teams will
play one league opponent
three times and the rest twice.
The Sounders will play the
Portland Timbers three times
in the Cascadia Cup rivalry.
But those two teams will each
play the Vancouver White-
caps just twice, impacting the
point system for the rivalry’s
annual trophy.
The Timbers open the
season with five matches
on the road because of the
expansion of Providence
Park. Portland will play its
home opener on April 14
against Minnesota United.
DC United will officially
open its new soccer-specific
stadium, Audi Field, on July
14 when they host the White-
caps.
BUFFALO, N.Y. —
Sweden reminded the
United States how difficult
it is to earn a medal at the
world junior hockey cham-
pionship.
Filip Gustavsson made
29 saves and Sweden had
a three-goal third period to
beat the defending champion
Americans 4-2 on Thursday
in the semifinals.
Sweden will face the
Canada-Czech
Republic
winner in the title game
Friday night.
“You have a chance
to win gold. You have
nothing to lose,” Swedish
coach Tomas Moten said.
“We have the silver medal
already, so you go for the
win. You go for the gold.”
Elias Pettersson, Lias
Andersson, Oskar Steen and
Axel Jonsson Fjallby scored
for Sweden, which has not
trailed in any game during
the tournament. Linus Lind-
strom had two assists.
With the expected No.
1 pick in this year’s NHL
draft, defenseman Rasmus
Dahlin, and several other
top prospects on the roster,
the Swedes believe they
have the talent to claim their
first gold medal since 2012.
Sweden finished fourth each
of the last three years after
finishing second in 2013 and
2014.
“We have every chance
to win gold,” Dahlin said.
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
United States’ Brady Tkachuk (7) is held up by Swe-
den’s Jesper Sellgren (23) during the third period of a
semifinal game at the world junior hockey champion-
ship in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018.
“We’re so excited about
tomorrow.”
The U.S. was trying to
become the first country
to win back-to-back gold
medals
since
Canada
claimed five straight from
2005-09. The Americans
have never won a gold
medal on home ice.
“This one blindsided us
because we felt so strong
with how we were going,”
U.S. coach Bob Motzko
said. “We had a vampire
suck it out of us today. It just
tells you how tough it is.”
Kieffer Bellows and
Brady Tkachuk scored
late goals for the U.S. after
Sweden built a 4-0 lead
midway through the third
period.
“The goal at the begin-
ning of the tournament when
everything starts is gold
medal,” Bellows said. “But
I know we have to push
this behind us and get ready
for the bronze medal game.
We’re doing this for the
team in the locker room and
USA Hockey as a whole.”
The U.S. controlled the
action for much of the first
two periods before Petters-
son’s power-play goal put
Sweden ahead 1-0 with 6:30
left in the second.
With U.S. defenseman
Dylan Samberg in the
penalty box for high-
sticking, Pettersson, the
Vancouver Canucks’ No.
5 overall pick last year,
received a pass in the left
faceoff circle from Buffalo
Sabres 2016 first-round
selection Alex Nylander and
one-timed a slap shot over
SCOREBOARD
Local slate
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Friday
Riverside at Nyssa, 6:30 p.m.
Silverton at Hermiston, 7:00 p.m.
Joseph at Echo, 7:00 p.m.
Imbler at Pilot Rock, 7:30 p.m.
Heppner at Union, 7:30 p.m.
Condon/Wheeler at Mitchell/Spray, 7:30 p.m.
Ione at Dufur, 7:30 p.m.
Powder Valley at Nixyaawii, 7:30 p.m.
Griswold at Cove, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Baker at Mac-Hi, 4:30 p.m.
Irrigon at Vale, 4:30 p.m.
La Grande at Nyssa, 5:00 p.m.
Union at Pilot Rock, 5:30 p.m.
Elgin at Heppner, 5:30 p.m.
Imbler at Weston-McEwen, 5:30 p.m.
South Wasco County at Condon/Wheeler,
5:30 p.m.
Powder Valley at Helix, 5:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Friday
Riverside at Nyssa, 5:00 p.m.
Imbler at Pilot Rock, 6:00 p.m.
Ione at Dufur, 6:00 p.m.
Helix at Cove, 6:00 p.m.
Joseph at Echo, 6:00 p.m.
Powder Valley at Nixyaawii, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday
Baker at Mac-Hi, 3:00 p.m.
Irrigon at Vale, 3:00 p.m.
Elgin at Heppner, 4:00 p.m.
Union at Pilot Rock, 4:00 p.m.
Imbler at Weston-McEwen, 4:00 p.m.
South Wasco County at Condon/Wheeler,
4:00 p.m.
Powder Valley at Helix, 4:00 p.m.
PREP WRESTLING
Friday
Echo, Heppner at JO-HI
Riverside, Irrigon, Heppner duals
Mac-Hi JV at Mountain View JV Invitational
Mac-Hi at Rollie Lane Invitational
Saturday
Pendleton at Brunner Invitational
Riverside, Irrigon, Heppner at Riverside Rumble
PREP SWIMMING
Saturday
Pendleton at The Dallas
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Friday
EOU at Evergreen, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
BMCC vs. Big Bend CC, 4 p.m.
EOU at Northwest, 7:30 p.m.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Friday
EOU at Evergreen, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday
BMCC vs. Big Bend CC, 2 p.m.
EOU at Northwest, 5:30 p.m.
Basketball
NBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W
L Pct GB
Boston
31 10 .756 —
Toronto
26 10 .722 2½
Philadelphia
18 19 .486 11
New York
18 20 .474 11½
Brooklyn
15 23 .395 14½
Southeast Division
W
L Pct GB
Washington
22 16 .579 —
Miami
20 17 .541 1½
Charlotte
14 23 .378 7½
Orlando
12 27 .308 10½
Atlanta
10 27 .270 11½
Central Division
W
L Pct GB
Cleveland
25 13 .658 —
Detroit
20 16 .556
4
Milwaukee
20 16 .556
4
Indiana
19 19 .500
6
Chicago
13 25 .342 12
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
W
L Pct GB
Houston
27 10 .730 —
San Antonio
26 13 .667
2
New Orleans
19 18 .514
8
Dallas
13 26 .333 15
Memphis
12 26 .316 15½
Northwest Division
W
L Pct GB
Minnesota
24 15 .615 —
Oklahoma City
22 17 .564
2
Denver
20 17 .541
3
Portland
19 18 .514
4
Utah
16 22 .421 7½
Pacific Division
W
L Pct GB
Golden State
31
8 .795 —
L.A. Clippers
17 20 .459 13
Phoenix
15 25 .375 16½
Sacramento
12 25 .324 18
L.A. Lakers
11 26 .297 19
———
Thursday’s Games
Golden State 124, Houston 114
Oklahoma City 127, L.A. Clippers 117
Friday’s Games
Detroit at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Minnesota at Boston, 4 p.m.
New York at Miami, 5 p.m.
Toronto at Milwaukee, 5 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
Phoenix at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.
Utah at Denver, 6 p.m.
Washington at Memphis, 6:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Portland, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.
NCAA
Men’s Basketball
Top 25 Schedule
Thursday’s Games
No. 9 Wichita State 81, Houston 63
No. 1 Michigan State 91, Maryland 61
Colorado, 90, No. 4 Arizona State 81
No. 29 Cincinnati 55, Temple 53
No. 14 Arizona 94, Utah 82
No. 19 Gonzaga 89, Pepperdine 59
Friday’s Games
No games scheduled.
Pac-12 Schedule
Thursday’s Games
Colorado, 90, No. 4 Arizona State 81
No. 14 Arizona 94, Utah 82
Stanford 107, UCLA 99
USC 80, Cal 62
Friday’s Games
Oregon at Oregon State, 7 p.m. (FS1)
Women’s Basketball
Top 25 Schedule
Thursday’s Games
No. 13 Maryland 80, No. 18 Iowa 64
No. 7 Tennessee 70, Auburn 59
No. 19 Texas A&M 74, Kentucky 70
No. 4 South Carolina 88, Ole Miss 62
No. 22 Michigan 80, Wisconsin 57
No. 10 OSU 91, Minnesota 75
No. 11 FSU 69, Clemson 47
No. 3 Lousville 66, No. 17 Duke 60
No. 2 Notre Dame 83, Miami 76
LSU 69, No. 15 Missouri 65
No. 5 Miss St. 111, Arkansas 69
Friday’s Games
Xavier at No. 21 Villanova, 4 p.m.
No. 24 Stanford at Arizona, 5 p.m.
No. 16 Oregon State at No. 14 UCLA, 6 p.m.
No. 23 Cal at No. 25 Arizona State, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Oregon at USC, 8 p.m. (PAC12)
Pac-12 Schedule
Thursday’s Games
No games scheduled.
Friday’s Games
No. 24 Stanford at Arizona, 5 p.m.
Utah at Washington, 6 p.m.
No. 16 Oregon State at No. 14 UCLA, 6 p.m.
No. 23 Cal at No. 25 Arizona State, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Washington State, 8 p.m.
No. 9 Oregon at USC, 8 p.m. (PAC12)
Hockey
NHL
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
GP W
L OT
Tampa Bay 40 29
8
3
Boston
38 22 10
6
Toronto
42 24 16
2
Florida
39 17 17
5
Detroit
39 16 16
7
Montreal
41 17 20
4
Ottawa
38 12 17
9
Buffalo
40 10 21
9
Metropolitan Division
GP W
L OT
Washington 41 25 13
3
New Jersey 40 22 11
7
Columbus 42 23 16
3
N.Y. Rangers 40 21 14
5
Pts
61
50
50
39
39
38
33
29
GF GA
147 95
119 95
138 122
109 126
106 120
103 127
99 130
88 135
Pts
53
51
49
47
GF GA
128 117
126 120
115 117
125 114
Carolina
40 19 13
8 46 114 119
N.Y. Islanders 41 20 17
4 44 141 150
Pittsburgh 42 20 19
3 43 116 133
Philadelphia 40 17 15
8 42 113 118
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
GP W
L OT Pts GF GA
St. Louis
43 26 15
2 54 124 105
Winnipeg 41 23 11
7 53 136 113
Nashville
40 23 11
6 52 125 110
Dallas
42 23 16
3 49 127 117
Minnesota 41 22 16
3 47 121 116
Colorado
40 21 16
3 45 128 122
Chicago
39 19 14
6 44 117 108
Pacific Division
GP W
L OT Pts GF GA
Vegas
39 27 10
2 56 136 108
Los Angeles 41 24 12
5 53 123 95
San Jose
38 21 12
5 47 104 96
Anaheim
42 19 14
9 47 115 117
Calgary
40 20 16
4 44 112 117
Edmonton 41 18 20
3 39 116 132
Vancouver 40 16 19
5 37 106 132
Arizona
42 10 27
5 25 97 148
———
Thursday’s Games
Carolina 4, Pittsburgh 0
Toronto 3, San Jose 2, SO
Philadelphia 6, N.Y. Islanders 4
Montreal 2, Tampa Bay 1, SO
Minnesota 6, Buffalo 2
St. Louis 2, Vegas 1
Dallas 4, New Jersey 3
Calgary 4, Los Angeles 3
Edmonton 2, Anaheim 1, SO
Colorado 2, Columbus 0
Arizona 3, Nashville 2, OT
Florida at Boston, ppd.
Friday’s Games
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m.
Florida at Detroit, 4:30 p.m.
San Jose at Ottawa, 4:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Winnipeg, 5 p.m.
Vegas at Chicago, 5:30 p.m.
Football
NFL
Wild-card Playoffs
Saturday’s Games
Tennessee at Kansas City, 4:35 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
Atlanta at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday’s Games
Buffalo at Jacksonville, 1:05 p.m. (CBS)
Carolina at New Orleans, 4:40 p.m. (FOX)
Golf
PGA TOUR
SENTRY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Site: Kapalua, Hawaii.
Course: Kapalua Resort (Plantation Course).
Yardage: 7,452. Par: 73.
Purse: $6.3 million. Winner’s share: $1,134.000.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 6-10 p.m. (Golf
Channel); Saturday, 3-7 p.m. (Golf Channel);
Sunday, 6-10 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Justin Thomas.
Woll’s shoulder into the far
corner of the net.
Nylander’s assist gave
him 28 career points at the
world juniors, equaling
father Michael Nylander for
fourth on Sweden’s career
list.
Gustavsson’ preserved
the lead when stopped U.S.
forward Casey MIttelstadt
on a 3-on-0 breakaway
in the final minute of the
second period. Mittlestadt,
the Sabres’ most recent first-
round pick, entered the game
leading the tournament with
10 points.
Andersson made it
2-0 when he tapped in his
sixth goal of the tournment
on a 2-on-1 with Fredrik
Karlstrom early in the third
period. Steen and Jonsson
Fjallby scored shorthanded
goals 38 seconds apart
before the U.S. pulled
goaltender Joseph Woll with
11:25 remaining.
“We failed Joe tonight,”
Motzko said. “Joe didn’t fail
us.”
Bellows scored his
tournament-leading seventh
goal on a power play to end
Gustavsson’s shutout bid
with 7:36 remaining. The
U.S. could not convert on
its first four power plays
while allowing the two
shorthanded goals.
Tkachuk’s goal came
with 3:01 left to play and the
U.S. was unable to score on
a power play in the closing
minutes.
PREPS: Golden
Eagle boys top 80
in win over Echo
Continued from 1B
BOYS BASKETBALL
NIXYAAWII 84, ECHO 51 — At Echo,
the Nixyaawii Golden Eagles broke the
80-point barrier for the third straight game
as they defeated Echo on Thursday night.
“We played really well on the road
against a better team in the league,” head
coach Shane Rivera said.
The Golden Eagles (10-2, 3-0) had big
performances from Quanah Picard and
Deven Barkley, each finishing with a game-
high 19 points. Picard got his on an efficient
9-of-12 shooting, while Barkley went
8-of-11 with eight rebounds as well. Mick
Schimmel also added 17 points and seven
rebounds and Magi Moses had 10 points and
six rebounds.
Rivera praised Barkley as being a big key
for Nixyaawii defensively, and one of the
reasons why the Eagles were able to limit
Echo’s top post player, Morgen Marcum’s
touches.
The Cougars (5-8, 2-1) were led by
Marcum with 14 points and eight rebounds
while Charlie White added 12 points.
UP NEXT
Nixyaawii hosts Powder Valley on Friday
at 7:30 p.m., while Echo hosts Joseph at 7 p.m.
————
NCS
23 27 13 21 — 84
ECHO
14 2 19 16 — 51
NIXYAAWII — Q. Picard 19, D. Barkley 19, M. Schimmel 17, Ma.
Moses 10, N. Enright 6, T. Burns 6, D. Sigo 5, W. Oatman 2.
ECHO — M. Marcum 14, C. White 12, D. Craig 9, B. Macpher-
son 6, T. Mulder 5, N. Scott 3.
3-pointers — NCS 7, ECHO 4. Free throws — NCS 5-13, ECHO
5-9. Fouls — NCS 9, ECHO 11.