national level, and said instilling that mentality will b

WINNIPEG -- Blake Wheeler says his Winnipeg Jets are racing for a Western Conference playoff spot. Winnipeg got out of the post-Olympic starting blocks quickly with a 3-2 shootout win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night as Wheeler scored his 23rd goal of the season. "A vast percentage of the league is going to be pretty rested after a 2 1/2-week break," said Wheeler, who played for the United States in Sochi, but saw limited minutes as the Americans 13th forward. "I think its an all-out sprint. Theres no time to be tired." Wheeler was joined on the score sheet by Bryan Little. Olli Jokinen put away the shootout winner in the fourth round for Winnipeg (29-26-6). Devin Setoguchi also beat Coyotes goalie Mike Smith in the shootout, while Antoine Vermette was the only Coyote to solve Ondrej Pavelec. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Martin Hanzal scored in regulation for Phoenix (27-21-11) in the first game for both teams after a 19-day break for the Winter Olympics. The Jets continued their winning ways under new head coach Paul Maurice, improving to 10-3-1 since he replaced the fired Claude Noel. Despite some less-than-crisp play, the coach said he was pleasantly surprised by how well his team played after such a long layoff. "It was tough at times, but just from the stuff I watched the last two days (around the league), it was a better game than I thought I was going to see," Maurice said. Winnipeg pulled within one point of the Coyotes as both teams chase a wild-card playoff spot, although Phoenix has two games in hand. Dallas sits in the final spot with 66 points, one better than Phoenix and Vancouver, and two ahead of Winnipeg. Pavelec made 34 saves for the Jets, with two of his toughest stops coming in overtime. "It wasnt an easy game for both teams. It was the first game back and we didnt know what to expect a little bit," said Pavelec, who stopped Mike Ribeiro to end the shootout. Smith stopped 27 shots for the visitors, including a pair of scoring chances in the final seconds of regulation. "For the most part I felt not too bad," said Smith, who was a member of Canadas gold medal-winning team in Sochi but didnt see any playing time. "But like I said, it doesnt matter how you feel, you need to come out on the better side of things." Hanzal put away a rebound to tie the game at 2-2 with Jets centre Jim Slater in the penalty box 6:40 into the third period. Winnipeg took advantage of a giveaway by Coyotes defenceman Zbynek Michalek to take the lead late in the second period. With Ekman-Larsson in the penalty box, Little intercepted Michaleks pass in the low slot and beat Smiths glove hand to make it 2-1. The teams wasted no time reminding fans of one of the differences between international hockey and the NHL game. Winnipegs Zach Bogosian and Phoenixs Rob Klinkhammer dropped the gloves just 78 seconds into the game after Klinkhammer shoved Bogosians defence partner Toby Enstrom into the boards. The Coyotes opened the scoring with an Ekman-Larsson wrist shot from the high slot that went in off the post 12:17 into the first period. It took the Jets less than three minutes to respond, as Wheelers shot from the corner hit Coyotes defenceman Michael Stone in the leg and bounced into the net. Smith was distracted earlier in the sequence by Winnipeg forward Dustin Byfuglien, and the Coyotes argued for an interference call. Smith and Coyotes coach Dave Tippett both said they disagreed with the non-call in their post-game comments. "Personally, I think if theres incidental contact in the net and then the puck goes in after, it shouldve been not a penalty, but it shouldnt have been allowed," Smith said. Notes: Jocelyne Larocque of Ste. Anne, Man., a defenceman for Canadas Olympic gold medal-winning womens hockey team, performed the ceremonial puck drop. a The Jets welcomed back Slater, who missed 52 games with a sports hernia, and left-winger Evander Kane, who sat out the last six games before the Olympic break with a hand injury. a The Jets head to Nashville for a one-game road trip on Saturday, while the Coyotes play in Denver Friday night before heading home. a The teams have one remaining meeting, April 1 in Arizona. Cheap Wholesale Nike Sb Shoes . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. Nike Sb Clearance Sale . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. http://www.wholesalenikesbaustralia.com/ .The team had a meeting prior to facing Russia at the world junior hockey championship and got the effort theyve been looking for by defeating the Russians 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. Nike Sb Sale . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Cheap Nike Sb Shoes Australia . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee.Matt Le Tissier believes England are not the force they once were and need to lower their expectations going forward. Gareth Southgates side held on for a 0-0 draw in Slovenia on Tuesday following an underwhelming 2-0 win over minnows Malta on Saturday.Southgate, who replaced Sam Allardyce on an interim basis in September, has two more games in charge, a World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly versus Spain, before the Football Association makes a decision on his long-term future. Gareth Southgate was frustrated as England failed to win in Slovenia and conceded his side had to be happy with a 0-0 draw But former England international Le Tissier is unsure the next boss - whoever that may be - can have the desired impact, suggesting the current group of players may not be good enough to meet expectations.To be honest, Im not really sure it matters who the England manager is at the moment, Le Tissier told Sky Sports News HQ. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. I think the way we are playing and the squad we have, it doesnt seem whoever is in charge can get the best out of them.dddddddddddd.It might be that maybe were just not good enough and we have to accept were not the force we once were and perhaps we have to lower our sights a little bit. Joe Hart made a number of spectacular saves against Slovenia Joe Hart came to Englands rescue against Slovenia, who sit 67th in the FIFA world rankings, as Southgates men stuttered to a goalless World Cup qualifying draw in Ljubljana.Le Tissier believes England still lack a club culture at international level, and said instilling that mentality will be the main task as they attempt to qualify for the 2018 finals in Russia.Unfortunately we have kind of got used to those kinds of performances, which is a bit of a shame, he added. We had to rely on Joe Hart, which is something you wouldnt have said before the game, to come out of it with a point. Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak denies Daniel Sturridge on Tuesday They have to get some type of club culture going on with England. Its very difficult and I know they have tried to do it but it is so difficult to merge a lot of different players from a lot of different clubs into one style of play and for everyone to be comfortable with it.Thats why the England managers job is such a tricky one, and so well paid. It is pretty complicated.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: England talking points Southgate: I inherited a mess England player ratings TableHart stars as England held ' ' '