Wartezimmer » Goff has thrown four interceptions, one touchdown an

The comparisons are inevitable. Connor McDavid understands it. So does Sidney Crosby.Franchise centers dont come along very often. Particularly ones with the skill set McDavid seems to share with the player he grew up idolizing. The footwork. The soft hands. The relentless energy. The ability to see something before it happens and the talent to make it so.A decade ago, it was Crosby who took the NHL by storm. Now its McDavids turn. A year removed from an injury-marred rookie season in Edmonton, the 19-year-old will get a chance to face Crosby for the first time on Tuesday when the Oilers visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.Both players, as is their habit, are trying to downplay the meeting. Still, Crosby has a keen sense of where McDavid is at in his blossoming career and the weight placed on his shoulders. Back in 2006, Crosby was trying to do for the Penguins what McDavid is trying to do for the Oilers: lift a once proud team back to relevance, one highlight-reel play at a time.Listen to Crosby rattle off the things that impress him about McDavid, and the two-time Hart Trophy winner might as well be describing himself.I just think his speed stands out the most, Crosby said. It allows him to do so many other things. He sees the ice really well. Hes so strong on the puck. His hockey sense and his speed are the things that stand out the most.Theyve been on display with regularity so far for Edmonton, which sits atop the Pacific Division, a solid start for a team trying to end a playoff drought that stretches back to when McDavid was still in elementary school. McDavid is tied for fourth in the NHL in points (14) and seventh in assists (nine), including a patient, heady dish to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the power play on Sunday that turned into the winning goal in a 2-1 victory in Detroit.Hes obviously one of the bright young players in the league, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. Im sure that team has taken another step and hes a big reason why.Just dont expect Sullivan do his part to make sure Crosbys No. 87 ends up in the faceoff circle with McDavids No. 97. (Oh, theres another similarity: both players using the year of their birth as their respective jersey numbers).I dont really think too much about drama, Sullivan said.Besides, Crosbys return to the lineup after a concussion that sidelined him for a few weeks last month has made the environment in Pittsburgh decidedly drama-free. The Penguins havent lost in regulation since Crosby came back (5-0-1), and the player who loves nothing more than to set up a teammate has suddenly become a little selfish, in a good way.Crosby has eight goals in six games, including two each in the final two games of a road swing through California.Nothing surprises us, Sullivan said. Hes just a great player. I dont know how else to say it. I think weve grown to expect it out of him and hes done it each and every night. I really admire his consistency of play.And that more than anything else may be what McDavid wants to emulate about Crosby above all else.Hes the best player in the world and if you can take anything from his game, obviously thatll help, McDavid said.Though theyve run into each other occasionally in random places, Crosby hasnt gone out of his way to reach out and give McDavid advice. Crosby doesnt want to overstep, pointing out the Oilers have veterans to help guide McDavid as he navigates his first full season after a broken collarbone limited him to 45 games as a rookie.Still, if there was one piece of advice Crosby will impart, its this: tune out the hype and just do what you do.The biggest thing is learning on the fly, see what works for you, Crosby said. Just remember what got you to this point and try to continue that success.---AP Hockey Writer Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report. Lee Roy Selmon Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Anthony Nelson Jersey . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. http://www.authenticbuccaneerspro.com/Matt-gay-buccaneers-jersey/ . 9. 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SEATTLE -- For all of their wild inconsistency this season, the path is straightforward for the Seattle Seahawks.Seattle can wrap up its third NFC West title in the past four seasons with a win over the listless Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.At this point, the Seahawks clinching the division title is a formality, holding a three-game lead over Arizona with three games remaining.The Rams can only dream of that kind of success after another lost season that culminated with this weeks decision to fire coach Jeff Fisher.We realize that theres a lot at stake with every one of these games, as it has always been, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. But now you know you have a chance to make some noise in your division.The more important task for Seattle is trying to regain control of the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a coveted first-round bye in the playoffs.The Seahawks (8-4-1) are a half-game behind Detroit in the NFC standings, but face a far easier schedule than the Lions over the final three weeks.While Seattle closes with Los Angeles, Arizona and San Francisco, the Lions finish off the season at the New York Giants, at Dallas and home for Green Bay.While the immediate focus is taking care of the division, there is a decent chance if Seattle can finish 3-0 it will end up with a bye.Owning the division has been something for a long time first off, its the first thing that you get a shot at and we want to focus at whats closest at hand, Carroll said.Also, when you win the division, you play a playoff game at home. This is such a decisive advantage, we feel, to play here.While Seattle is all but assured of a fifth straight playoff appearance, the Rams (4-9) are without direction after the decision to fire Fisher.The hype that surrounded the Rams return to Los Angeles has been replaced by apathy after four straight losses and just one win since Oct. 2.Couple Fishers firing with the short week and theres no telling how motivated -- or indifferent -- the Rams will be even with a three-game win streak over the Seahawks.The players are just super resilient, interim Los Angeles coach John Fassel said. I anticipate theyll go out there and put it all on the line for themselves, the team and coach Fisher.Seattle will be trying to recover from a rarity: A blowout loss.dddddddddddd The 38-10 loss to Green Bay last Sunday represented the first loss by 10 or more points in Russell Wilsons career and most lopsided Seattle setback since the 2011 season.Thats not the norm for us, Wilson said. We want to get back to playing great football, which is being very efficient and score as much as we can.Heres what else to watch:RUSH, RUSH: For the past few weeks, the Seahawks pass rush has disappeared. Over the past three games, Seattle has just one sack, that coming when Aaron Rodgers fell down in the third quarter of last Sundays blowout loss.The Seahawks have five total sacks over the past five games. This would seem a good week for Seattle to try and get the pass rush started again. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff has been sacked 10 times in the past three games.GOFF GROWTH: Its been a trying four weeks for Goff since taking over as the starting quarterback. He stepped in as the starter in Week 11 against Miami and is winless thus far. In the past two weeks, Goff has thrown four interceptions, one touchdown and been sacked seven times.Its gotten a little more comfortable, Im starting to see the field even more every game so thats been fun, Goff said.THE DONALD: Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald has made life miserable for Seattle in the past.In five games against the Seahawks, Donald has four sacks and 28 total tackles. Carroll said its Donalds combination of quickness getting off the snap and instincts that has made him so difficult for Seattle to handle.LIVING COLOR: Get your eyes ready for a Color Rush combination that will test even high definition.Seattle will wear its Action Green uniforms for Thursdays game. Its the first time a shade of green is the primary color in the Seahawks uniform since a maligned version worn during the 2009 season and was never to be seen again. The shade of green has been an accent color since Seattles uniforms were redesigned in 2012.Los Angeles wont be wearing any blinding shades of uniform, but will have a nod to its past with blue and white helmets.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '