Kritik und Lob » finished a distant third in the 2015 Jockey Club G

LOS ANGELES -- Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov already looked comfortable with the Philadelphia Flyers from the first moments of their NHL debuts.The Flyers all made themselves quite comfortable at Staples Center in an impressive season opener.Boyd Gordon and Sean Couturier scored 48 seconds apart to kick off a four-goal second period in Philadelphias 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.Couturier got two goals, Mark Streit also scored and Michal Neuvirth made 23 saves as the Flyers took a 4-0 lead and cruised to a win in their season opener for the first time since 2011.But even after running over the two-time Stanley Cup champion Kings, the Flyers veterans mostly wanted to talk about 19-year-old rookies Konecny and Provorov, two first-round draft picks from 2015 who cracked the Philadelphia roster in training camp.Its awesome having them here, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. They bring an element I dont think we necessarily had last year. Theyve got speed, and they can make plays.Konecny had two assists, setting up both of Couturiers goals with nifty plays. Provorov added another assist on Streits goal.I can play better, and Ill play better (Saturday), Provorov said. You expect the best. Its the best league in the world. (Los Angeles) came out hard. We weathered the storm and started to play our game.Drew Doughty and Brayden McNabb scored in the home opener for the Kings, whose 50th anniversary season is off to an 0-2 start after a strong first period led to a dismal second against Philadelphia.We were turning over pucks, giving odd-man rushes and had a few bad changes, said Doughty, last seasons Norris Trophy winner. It was one of the worst periods we have played as a team in a long time.Jeff Zatkoff made his home debut with 26 saves in his first game as the Kings presumptive starter in the absence of Jonathan Quick, the Vezina Trophy finalist. Quick is out for several weeks with a groin injury, but Zatkoff wasnt the Kings biggest problem while his teammates repeatedly left him without help through poor decisions.(Quick) is arguably the best goalie in the NHL, but we cant do anything about it, Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar said. We have to play hard and play with what we have.The Kings opener went downhill from the pregame ceremony to kick off their landmark 50th anniversary season. The Flyers, who entered the NHL alongside the Kings in the leagues Second Six expansion, also celebrate their 50th this year.Los Angeles welcomed back several members of its original team and other stars from the franchises founding days. Every former player with a number retired in the Staples Center rafters made an appearance, including Wayne Gretzky.The Flyers couldnt put a shot on Zatkoff until Streits tame try 13 minutes into the first period, but Gordon started the scoring for his new team early in the second after the Kings made a poor change. Couturier then scored consecutive goals 7:21 apart.Streit capped the barrage when the Swiss defenseman banked a shot off the back of Zatkoffs head.Doughty finally snapped the Kings 97 1/2-minute scoreless drought late in the second, and McNabb scored early in the third.Game notes Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere was cut on the right cheek by Kings F Kyle Cliffords skate early in the first period, but stayed in the game. I was just thankful it wasnt worse, said Gostisbehere, who didnt need stitches. Ill take this any day over what could have happened. ... Kings F Tanner Pearson finished his two-game suspension for a preseason hit on Edmontons Brandon Davidson. ... The Kings sold out their 173rd consecutive regular-season home game.UP NEXTFlyers: A three-game road trip continues Saturday night at Arizona.Kings: Theyve got the weekend off before they open a two-game road trip at Minnesota on Tuesday. Shaun Alexander Womens Jersey . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Patrick Kerney Womens Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.seahawksfansofficial.com/cortez-kennedy-jersey/ . LUCIE, Fla. Russell Wilson Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Cody Barton Womens Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. With just four weeks remaining until the Breeders Cup World Championships, the last major prep race for the $6 million Breeders Cup Classic will be held this Saturday, that being the historic Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park.The Jockey Club Gold Cup will be telecast on NBC Saturday with live coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET.The 1-1/4-mile race has drawn a small but elite group of six horses, two of which faced off against Breeders Cup Classic favorite California Chrome earlier this year.Those two horses are Mubtaahij (#2) and Hoppertunity (#3), who finished just a neck apart when second and third behind California Chrome in the March 26 Dubai World Cup, the richest race in the world with a purse of $10 million.Since then, Mubtaahij and Hoppertunity have gone their separate ways. While Mubtaahij has compiled a better record this summer -- finishing third in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap and a close second in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes -- Hoppertunity has arguably faced tougher competition, finishing fourth behind the talented Melatonin in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita and fourth behind California Chrome, Beholder, and Dortmund in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes.Of the pair, I narrow prefer Hoppertunity. Even though he is shipping in from California and has never run at Belmont Park, he has done well shipping to other locations and has handled a wide variety of racetracks, including Churchill Downs, Keeneland Race Course and Oaklawn Park. In addition, he won the 2014 Rebel Stakes on a sloppy track. With a chance of rain on Saturday at Belmont, Hoppertunitys proven ability on wet tracks is a positive.Hoppertunitys schedule this summer was interrupted by a slight illness: he missed the Cougar II Handicap in July as a result and entered the Pacific Classic off a two-month layoff, which probably wasnt ideal. He has trained in uninterrupted fashion since then, turning in a series of eye-catching workouts at Santa Anita, and looks ready for a winning effort while facing an easier field than the oone he tackled in the Pacific Classic.ddddddddddddEffinex (#6) is another major contender capable of running a huge race on his best day. Hes got a great record at 1-1/4 miles and won the Suburban Handicap at this distance in July. While he was no match for Frosted in the shorter Whitney Stakes, he raced wide on the turns that day and was beaten just a half-length for second place. He is a candidate to win, but enters the Jockey Club Gold Cup off a two-month layoff. Effinex seems to do better with more frequent racing, and its very likely that this race is being used as a prep for the Breeders Cup Classic, in which Effinex finished a strong second last year. Additionally, a wet track probably wouldnt be to Effinexs liking -- he finished a distant third in the 2015 Jockey Club Gold Cup on a sloppy track.One longshot who could contend for a spot in the top three is Protonico. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Protonico was a top-class stakes competitor in late 2014 and early 2015, winning the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap, Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes and Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes and finishing second by a half-length to Hoppertunity in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap. Protonico wasnt as sharp during the second half of 2015, but after a long rest, he returned on Sept. 9 to win a one-mile allowance race at Belmont Park, winning by a nose in a fast time to bring his record at Belmont to a perfect 2-for-2. Pletcher has enjoyed great success with horses making their second start off long rests, and Protonico will be ridden by the three-time Eclipse award-winning jockey Javier Castellano. If any horse can step up with a surprisingly big performance, I think Protonico is the one.Wagering Strategy A$5 exacta: 3 with 1,2,6 ($15) $3 exacta: 1 with 2,3,6 ($9)Wagering Strategy B$2 trifecta: 1,3 with 1,2,3,6 with 1,2,3,6 ($24)Good luck, and enjoy the race!For more stories like this check out Americas Best Racing. ' ' '