VANCOUVER, BC -- It comes with the territory, but Willie Desjardins will face all kinds of difficult decisions as rookie head c

VANCOUVER, BC -- It comes with the territory, but Willie Desjardins will face all kinds of difficult decisions as rookie head coach in the National Hockey League a€“ roster moves, in-game adjustments, heck, even picking the right tie to match his suit on game night. Davante Adams Super Bowl Jersey . So on the rare occasion the coach is presented with an easy choice, you know hea€?ll jump at it. And that will be the case the first time Desjardins and the Canucks find themselves in a shootout to decide a game. Through seven exhibition contests and Wednesday nighta€?s 4-2 victory in Calgary in the Canucks regular season opener, Desjardins hasna€?t had to go through the process of selecting shootout shooters. But when that day arrives -- and rest assured, in todaya€?s NHL with so many hard-fought and closely-contested games on the schedule, there will be shootouts in the Canucks future a€“ the coach has an ace up his sleeve. Without a doubt, Radim Vrbata will be Desjardinsa€? easiest decision. The newcomer is fourth all-time in the NHL with 35 shootout goals to his credit. In fact, Vrbataa€?s career total matches the rest of the current roster combined and that means the Canucks will be depending on him to continue his mastery of the skills competition to help them pick up valuable points in the standings. Yes, you read that correctly. Radim Vrbata has 35 career shootout goals. The rest of the Canucks current roster combined has that same number. a€?Ita€?s just one of those things,a€? Vrbata says of his shootout success. a€?I cana€?t explain it. I just hope it continues here. When you look at it points-wise, every point you can get in a shootout is huge in the end. The last two years in Phoenix we missed the playoffs by four points and two points. Thata€?s two wins or losses. Every point you can get will be important.a€? Like Vrbataa€?s former team, his new club knows all too well the pitfalls of coming up short in shootouts. The Canucks won just five of the 12 games settled after overtime last season and of greater concern they managed just 8 goals in 50 attempts. Only the New Jersey Devils scored fewer shootout goals than the Canucks last season. And in the Western Conference where every standings point is a valuable commodity ita€?ll be one of Desjardins challenges to find guys who can rise to the challenge when games are settled in the one-on-one showdown. a€?It probably would have been good to get in some games to get some practice on it,a€? the coach says. a€?We have to be better in that area. Ita€?s something that we have to work at a little bit.a€? To that end, the coach put a hand-picked group of shooters to the test prior to a recent practice at Rogers Arena. In addition to Vrbata, he had Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Nick Bonino, Chris Higgins, Zack Kassian, Linden Vey, Brad Richardson and Alex Edler demonstrate their best moves. Higgins was one of only two Canucks to score more than a single shootout goal last season (Mike Santorelli was the other). a€?I dona€?t think it will necessarily be the same three shooters,a€? the coach says of his approach to player selection a€?It will depend on whoa€?s playing well. It will depend on a few things.a€? After Vrbata, Alex Burrows is the best of the rest when it comes to Canucks shootout shooters. The veteran is 12 of 32 in his career (37.5%) and is the only other player available to Desjardins to reach double-digits in shootout goals. In limited opportunities, Nick Bonino has had relative success scoring six times in 13 career attempts. One intriguing option for the Canucks is to give Linden Vey a chance in shootouts. A scoring machine in junior and in the minors, Vey has demonstrated an ability to make things happen wherever hea€?s played. And that scorera€?s touch has followed him to Vancouver where he had five points in five preseason appearances and added an assist in his Canucks debut against the Flames. He failed to convert in his only NHL shootout attempt, but says hea€?d welcome the chance to contribute in any way he can. a€?With the game nowdays, ita€?s key to be able to win those shootouts and we need to be sure we bear down in that aspect and thata€?s why wea€?ve been practicing it,a€? Vey says. a€?Ia€?ve got a few moves -- you always have something in mind. But I always like to read what the goalie is doing and go from there.a€? With just two games in the first 10 days of the new National Hockey League season, the Vancouver Canucks will have plenty of time to work on all aspects of their performance and that will surely include more time dedicated to shootouts. Willie Desjardins has no choice but to find guys who can make a difference for his hockey club. And shootouts are one area where there is plenty of room for improvement. VANCOUVER CANUCKS CAREER SHOOTOUT LEADERS Radim Vrbata 35/82 (42.7%) Alex Burrows 12/32 (37.5%) Nick Bonino 6/13 (46.2%) Alex Edler 6/23 (26.1%) Chris Higgins 5/21 (23.8%) Daniel Sedin 4/27 (14.3%) Geronimo Allison Super Bowl Jersey . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. Kyler Fackrell Super Bowl Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a course-record 10-under 62 on Wednesday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.com/Jimmy-graham-packers-jersey/ . This game was inside. Adrian Peterson was missing. The stage was set for another step toward the playoffs.MINNEAPOLIS - J.A. Happ returned to the Blue Jays in time for the clubs three-game series against the Twins. Hell be a long reliever for the foreseeable future, something with which hes not thrilled. "Its not necessarily what I prepared to do but if the phone rings and its me Im going to try and get guys out and take it from there," said Happ. "Other than that, I dont have a lot to say about the bullpen role." Happ entered spring training with a spot in the starting rotation. He pitched his way out of it, posting a 20.57 ERA in four appearances, battling inflammation in his back through most of March. After two poor outings, Happ was away from the club for two days, March 7-8, on what the Blue Jays termed "doctors orders" to remain off his feet. Happ returned and was no better in final two starts. The back issues, deemed to be a non-issue after Happs final appearance in a 22-5 loss to the Pirates on March 25, were the cause of his being placed on the disabled list the very next day. Happ made two rehab starts, one for Single-A Dunedin, the other for Triple-A Buffalo. With the Bisons, Happ struck out six hitters in 4 2/3 innings. The arrival of Happ, coupled with the optioning of catcher Erik Kratz to the Bisons, puts the Blue Jays back into an eight-man bullpen, three-man bench scenario. Another pitching decision is on the horizon with the impending return of closer Casey Janssen. Neil Wagner, Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond and Happ are the four who could be realistically considered on the bubble. Both Rogers and Redmond are out of options. On merit, Redmonds earned the right to remain with the club. Happ has an option remaining but because he has more than five years of major league service time, he has the right to refuse assignment to the minor leagues. Rogers has given up four home runs in 8 1/3 innings of predominantly low leverage relief. However, he carries a $1.85-million ticket and is, indirectly, the asset the Blue Jays have from the John Farrell "trade" to Boston. Rogers was acquired from Cleveland for Mike Aviles, whom the Jays got from the Red Sox for Farrell, and Yan Gomes. Gomes, by the way, just signed a six-year extension with the Indians for $23-million. Or, the Blue Jays could simply option Neil Wagner back to Triple-A Buffalo, although that would fly in the face of any claim to stick with the best 25-man active roster. Manager John Gibbons trusts Wagner in hiigh leverage, late-game situations but when Janssen is back, right-handers Steve Delabar and Sergio Santos will fill that role. Darnell Savage Jr. Super Bowl Jersey. The bullpen is, once again, a crowded place, and now includes a member who doesnt want to be there. "I see myself as a starter," said Happ. "I dont think thats any secret. I want to be a starter in the major leagues. Thats that." RASMUS PROGNOSIS GOOD Colby Rasmus wasnt in Tuesdays starting lineup, resting his left hamstring, which he tweaked in the fifth inning of Sundays win in Baltimore. "Im hoping to be in there (Wednesday,)" said Rasmus. "Come in (Wednesday) and see how it is. Got some good treatment in today and just going to go from there." The timing is unfortunate considering Rasmus recent offensive production. He hit home runs in both Saturdays and Sundays games and went 4-12 with three runs scored in the series with the Orioles. "I definitely feel much better today," said Rasmus. "I feel good about it. I dont feel like its something thats going to carry over. Just one day to get it right and hopefully (Wednesday) it will be good." REYES AND JANSSEN PLAY FOR DUNEDIN Jose Reyes and Casey Janssen made their first appearances for Single-A Dunedin on Tuesday night, the next step in their respective rehabilitation assignments. Reyes, coming back from a strained left hamstring, went hitless in four plate appearances but drew a walk, scored a run and drove in a run. He will play for Dunedin, again, on Wednesday and is expected to return to the Blue Jays on Friday, in time for a three-game weekend series in Cleveland. Janssen pitched the first inning, allowing a hit and striking out one batter. Theres no timetable set for Janssens return from an abdominal strain. Hell have at least one more appearance for Dunedin; then, maybe another. The Blue Jays are waiting to see how the injured area responds before determining how to proceed. WEATHER PROBLEMS Minnesotans are bracing for a rain-snow mix on Wednesday, which could threaten the second game of the series. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is scheduled to pitch for the Blue Jays. The Twins are to send right-hander Mike Pelfrey to the mound. Thursdays getaway day game is scheduled for 1:10 eastern time. This is the Jays only scheduled visit to Minnesota this season so if Wednesdays game is postponed it stands to reason the teams would play a doubleheader on Thursday. ' ' '