ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A mere three weeks ago, Jonas Hiller was gearing up for the playoffs during another strong season as the Anaheim Ducks starting goalie. After a few poor starts got him benched to end the regular season, Hiller now appears to be the top-seeded Ducks last resort in net in the first round against Dallas. The Swiss Olympian is trying to stay positive for his teammates, but Hiller is undeniably dismayed. "Ive definitely not been the happiest guy to be around lately," Hiller said Monday. "You can ask my wife." Hiller won 29 games during the Ducks best regular season in franchise history, but he realizes hell likely watch one of Anaheims two rookie goalies make his playoff debut at Honda Center on Wednesday. Frederik Andersen and John Gibson have 31 combined games of NHL experience, but theyve both seized the opportunity created by Hillers minor slump. Hiller is still featured prominently on the wallpaper on the Ducks website, but that might be the only place Anaheim fans can see the soon-to-be free agent in uniform again unless the rookies falter. "Ive had a few sleepless nights," Hiller said. "The whole situation isnt easy, but at the same time, Im here in the playoffs, we had the best record in Ducks history, and I know Ive been a big part of it, so its not really a reason to hang your head." The Ducks (54-20-8) have the Western Conferences best record and a Pacific Division title heading to the post-season. What they dont have any more is a clear-cut starting goalie. Yet coach Bruce Boudreau and captain Ryan Getzlaf both claimed thats not a problem as they began preparations for Dallas. "Sometimes you have to make tough decisions," Boudreau said. "The good news is you see (Hiller) out there working really hard. I think were in a position where we have three good goalies. I dont think I can screw it up too bad, whoever I choose." Hiller has been the Ducks starting goalie for most of the past half-decade, starting when he seized the job from beloved veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere during the 2008-09 season. He has won a playoff series and made an All-Star team while providing steady netminding for an up-and-down club that has frequently played inept defence in front of him. But Hiller has known for months that he could be headed out of Orange County. His contract expires this summer, and he hasnt received an extension from a team with most of its key parts locked up for several years. "Not knowing whats going to be next season and all that stuff makes it even a little tougher," Hiller said. "But at the end, the further we go, the better I think for everybody. I really hope Im going to get another chance, but if not, I want to be able to help the team no matter what." The Ducks apparent decision to relegate Hiller to the bench is based on his recent play, but its also likely influenced by their future. If they let Hiller walk, the Ducks need to know their youngsters can handle the job. So far, theyve been solid. Andersen, a 6-foot-4 Dane with a powerful net presence, hasnt lost a start since mid-March, going 20-5 with a .923 save percentage as Hillers backup this season. The 20-year-old Gibson is widely considered the strongest goaltending prospect in hockey. Although he was only called up when a minor injury sidelined Andersen recently, Gibson was named the NHLs second star for last week, allowing just four goals while winning his first three big-league starts. The Ducks seem confident either rookie can withstand the pressure of a post-season run with no prior experience on that stage. "Ive seen kids step up and run with things all the time," said Getzlaf, who won a Stanley Cup title during his second NHL season in 2006-07. "Sometimes its better not to know whats going on. You just go out there and play. You always hear that old saying, The dumb kids dont know any better. We were like that when we were young. We just went out and played and enjoyed the moment, and were just hoping our goaltenders can do that." Hiller said hell be rooting for the rookies along with his teammates, while still hoping for a chance to finish what he started in Anaheim six seasons ago. "If you want to go all the way, you probably play 20-plus games," Hiller said. "And 20 games ago, I had three shutouts in four games, so it can go quick either way." Morgan Burnett Steelers Jersey . Ramon, 30, played in a career-high 97 games with the Goldeyes in 2013. He also matched a career-high eight home runs and posted 52 RBI. Terrell Edmunds Jersey . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Joe-Haden-Elite-Jersey/. Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in. Terrell Edmunds Steelers Jersey . Icardi is living with the ex-wife of former teammate Maxi Lopez, and the Sampdoria forward refused to shake Icardis hand before kickoff. Walter Samuel and Rodrigo Palacio also scored for Inter while Lopez had a penalty saved. Chukwuma Okorafor Steelers Jersey . The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back.CINCINNATI - Call it a sequel 32 years in the making. For the first time since the famous "Freezer Bowl," the San Diego Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals will square off in the NFL playoffs on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. You can see all the action on CTV beginning at 1pm et/10am pt. Early forecasts for Sundays game have the temperature reaching into the low 40s, certainly a positive development for the Southern California-based Chargers and a stark contrast from the last time San Diego visited the Queen City for a postseason game. In NFL lore, the "Freezer Bowl" was the AFC Championship Game between the Chargers and the Bengals on Jan. 10, 1982. The Bengals won that one going way, 27-7, in what was the coldest temperature in NFL history in terms of wind chill. Air temperature was minus-9 on that day with the wind chill dipping down to minus-37 due to sustained 27 mph winds. No one in their right mind wants to play in that kind of weather again but the Bengals probably wouldnt mind taking another 10 or 15 degrees off the current forecast. There was a massive cold front ahead of the relatively balmy temperatures forecasted for Sunday and another looms behind it with the National Weather Service forecasting an 80 percent chance that snow and rain will fall Sunday in Cincinnati, with some of it likely coming during the game. "Accumulating snow is expected," the weather service said in an advisory. "Snow will change to rain during the afternoon." Either way, though, Cincinnati, which will be shooting for its first playoff win in 23 years, doesnt figure to be a hospitable place for any opponent because the AFC North champion Bengals finished the regular season a perfect 8-0 record on their home field. "They have to come here to "The Jungle" and deal with our weather and our fans," Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. "Well see if we get the best out of them." The Bengals last win at Paul Brown Stadium may have been the most satisfying as they knocked their division rival and the reigning Super Bowl champion Ravens out of the postseason hunt last Sunday. Andy Dalton ran for the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter in that one as Cincinnati closed out the regular season with a 34-17 triumph. Dalton had an uneven performance with two touchdown passes and four interceptions but Baltimore could only turn those miscues into a trio of Justin Tucker field goals. He finished 21-of-36 overall for 281 yards as the Bengals (11-5) posted an unblemished home record for just the second time in franchise history. Cincinnati scored the final 17 points after squandering a 17-6 halftime lead. "We overcame the turnovers early and did a great job again in the red zone on defense, holding them to field goals early in the game," said Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis. "We got the lead back and then kind of went to work on offense." The Chargers, meanwhile, got in the postseason by the skin of their teeth. Kept alive by a pair of losses earlier in the day, including Baltimores loss to Cincy, San Diego rallied froom a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to post a 27-24 overtime win over Kansas City to nail down the AFCs final wild-card spot and end a three-year playoff drought.dddddddddddd "Its been a real long time so it feels great to be back in," said Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who finished tops in the NFL in completion percentage with a stunning 69.5 rate. Nick Novak kicked a pair of clutch field goals, the first coming with 3:21 remaining in regulation and the other giving San Diego a 27-24 edge in the extra session, while Rivers threw three touchdown passes to help the Chargers outlast a surprisingly competitive Kansas City squad fielding predominantly backups. San Diego remained in contention when both Miami and the Ravens lost prior to kickoff, then got another gift when the Chiefs Ryan Succop pulled a would-be game-winning 41-yard field goal try wide right with four seconds left in the fourth quarter. Rivers, who finished 22-of-33 for 229 yards with an interception, began the Chargers comeback with a 6-yard touchdown toss to Eddie Royal early in the fourth quarter, while Ryan Mathews ran for 144 yards on 24 carries in San Diegos fifth straight triumph to close out the regular season. "A great team effort," said Chargers coach Mike McCoy. "The one thing Ill say about this team and Ive said it since day one, the character of the organization and the players we have here never gave up." A day after the game, however, the NFL was forced to admit an officiating error that would have given Succop a second opportunity to send San Diego packing from five yards closer. "With 0:08 remaining in the fourth quarter of Sundays game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, Kansas City faced a 4th-and-12 from the San Diego 23. The Chiefs attempted a 41-yard field that was no good. "On the play, San Diego lined up with seven men on one side of the snapper. This should have been penalized as an illegal formation by the defense. "The penalty for illegal formation by the defense is a loss of five yards. This is not subject to instant replay review. Had the penalty been assessed, it would have resulted in a 4th-and-7 from the San Diego 18 with 0:04 remaining, enabling the Chiefs to attempt a 36-yard field goal." If the correct call was made and Succop connected, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have been visiting the Bengals this weekend. San Diego holds a 19-13 overall advantage against the Bengals but Cincinnati topped the Chargers in the Golden State on Dec. 1, 17-10, when BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 92 yards and a TD and A.J. Green added five catches for 83 yards and another score. Meanwhile, Rivers recorded a season-low passer rating of 80.0 and San Diego turned it over three times. "I want to be very respectful because they had a lot to do with it," Rivers said. "They caused the turnovers and they covered us. Some of it may not have been the best throw. They certainly were out there causing us to not get in the end zone and our execution wasnt great. Weve got to execute better." White NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '