2D-Grafik » with Mike Fisher steering the pass

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps are unbeaten to start the Major League Soccer season, but rookie head coach Carl Robinson knows his club is still very much a work in progress. After thumping the New York Red Bulls 4-1 in their home opener on March 8, the Whitecaps secured a pair of road draws the last two weeks — 1-1 against Chivas USA and 0-0 against the New England Revolution. Catch the action live on TSN2 at 7pm et/4pm pt. Points away from home are always a bonus in MLS, but Robinson wasnt happy with certain aspects of the games as goalkeeper David Ousted was forced to bail out his teammates on a couple of occasions. With that in mind, the Whitecaps spent time this week getting back to basics in preparation for Saturdays home date against the Houston Dynamo. "We havent played enough football in the last two games that I wouldve liked," said Robinson. "We tried to break it down into segments of building from the back at the right times with a midfield player, breaking lines in the midfield and transitioning quickly. "The boys took the concepts very well." Robinson will hope the lessons stick as Houston (2-0-0) comes to town rested, having not played since a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact on March 15. "A very tough game," said Robinson. "I said to the guys in the changing room that theyre always in the playoffs, theyre a very strong team, well coached ... and its going to be a stern test for us." Vancouver is 2-2-0 against Houston all-time in MLS play, including a 3-1 home victory over the Dynamo at B.C. Place Stadium back in 2012. "Its always been a fortress for us," Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit said of his teams home field. "Throughout the years weve been able to pick up good results and well look to continue that. We know we have a tough opposition this week." Robinson, who was promoted to the top job in December after former head coach Martin Rennie was fired, has tempered expectations as he attempts to put his mark on the club and return the Whitecaps to the post-season. "I was never getting too carried away after the first game and Im not getting too down after two difficult away games," said the former Welsh international. "Its important we try and put our stamp on the game. Because were a young team with new players, its important we manage games better." That begins at the opening whistle, where the Whitecaps struggled the last two weeks to assert themselves early on the road. "A lot of teams in Major League Soccer play very well at home," said Robinson. "Its difficult to go on the road and play. The successful teams manage to find a way to win on the road. Were very good at home. We know that, and if we want to be competing for the playoffs weve got to be very good at home." One player the Dynamo will have to pay close attention to is Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks, who has two assists this season, and three goals in two career games against Houston. "Mattocks is a fast guy," Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie told the clubs official website. "As long as we stick together as a back line as weve been doing and just kind of eliminate space in behind, I think we can nullify them throughout the match." DeMerit said the Whitecaps have had past success against the Dynamo because their style suits the matchup. "That means getting the ball down, getting our link play up and our combinations up front to create chances in our final third," said DeMerit. "The way you beat them is to pick them apart, and weve been able to do that most of the time." The Dynamo — who will face their first road test of the season — have yet to concede a goal this year, while striker Will Bruin already has three of his own to go along with an assist. "Strong team," said Ousted. "Good crosses and big guys up front that are good in the box, so we need to study up on those guys and be ready for it. Hopefully we can go in and dictate the play a little more than we did in the two away games." DeMerit will draw back into the lineup for Vancouver after a week of rest. Another change comes out of necessity, with Gershon Koffie expected to replace Nigel Reo-Coker in the centre of midfield. Reo-Coker suffered a bizarre injury on Sunday when he tripped over a bike rack in Vancouver and suffered a concussion and cuts to his face. Koffie, who has started 77 games for the Whitecaps since 2011, subbed in for Reo-Coker for the final 20 minutes against the Revolution for his first action of 2014. "Its always learning when youre on the bench," said Koffie. "Its not easy to be on the bench ... but also you have to learn from the bench." Robinson said hes pleased with Vancouvers unbeaten run to kick off the campaign but stressed its far too soon to be looking at the standings. At this point, the process is what concerns him. "We started off very well. Weve still got obviously a long way to go. Were unbeaten in three but its early stages," said Robinson. "Its important we progress every game and along the way well win games and well lose games. "But as long as were progressing in the right way and trying to put the style of play I want in the team, then were moving in the right direction." Note: The Whitecaps will honour Y.P. Lee before Saturdays game. The famed South Korean defender joined Vancouver in 2012 after a lengthy career in Europe and the Middle East before retiring in October. Follow @JClipperton on Twitter Cheap Real Yeezy Shoes .C. -- Authorities say the brother of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White has been shot and killed outside a South Carolina nightclub. Yeezy Wholesale Authentic .C. -- Steve Spurrier was much happier about South Carolinas improved performance than about his lastest career milestone. http://www.cheapyeezy.net/.Fiji striker Roy Krishna scored in the 14th minute to give Wellington its fourth win, along with a draw, from its past five matches, putting the Phoenix fourth but only a point behind third-placed Adelaide. Yeezy Cheap Real . -- Justin Verlander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and won his fourth straight decision, leading Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 9-4 Sunday and extending the Tigers winning streak to a season-high five games. Yeezy Shoes From China .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch.Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Barry Trotz received a warm welcome back from the Bridgestone Arena crowd in his return to Nashville. His former team didnt quite return the generosity, however. James Neal scored his second goal of the night with 1:40 remaining, capping a furious late comeback from the Predators that produced a 4-3 triumph over Trotzs Washington Capitals. Nashville overcame a 3-2 deficit by scoring twice in the final 4 1/2 minutes, with Mattias Ekholm netting the equalizer on a power play to help the Predators to their first five-game win streak in three years. I felt like we stuck with it throughout the night, Neal said. We responded every time we gave something up. I loved the way the guys battled back at the end. Trotz was behind the bench for that run, as well as many others while serving as the Predators head coach for the franchises first 15 seasons of existence. That tenure came to an end when he was fired at the conclusion of the 2013-14 campaign, shortly before taking over in Washington. Seth Jones added a goal and an assist for Nashville, while Carter Hutton came up with 31 saves in his first start since the Predators announced standout goaltender Pekka Rinne would miss 3-to-5 weeks with a sprained knee. Alex Ovechkin notched a pair of goals in the loss, which halted a stretch of 10 straight games of recording at least one point for the Caps. Braden Holtby finished with 26 saves. We wanted to win for (Trotz), Ovechkin said. We had the lead, but didnt finish it up. Marcus Johanssons power-play tally 2:38 into the third period gave Washington a 3-2 edge, but a costly tripping penalty to Capitals defenseman John Carlson with 5:14 remaining enabled Nashville to draw back even. Ekholm fired a wrister past Holtbys glove hand on the resulting 5-on-4 to even the contest, and Neal made Washinngton pay for a defensive miscue in its own end less than three minutes later.dddddddddddd Neal intercepted a clearing attempt by the Caps Matt Niskanen before slipping the puck between Holtbys pads while in all alone for the eventual game- winner. Trotz took several bows to the home crowd after receiving a standing ovation as a video tribute aired during the games first timeout, though his new team trailed 2-0 early in the second period before battling back to take the lead. Jones registered the games first goal with a long wrist shot that got through traffic with 3:44 left in the opening period, and Neal made it a 2-0 Nashville lead just 1:50 into the second. The Predators Victor Bartley threw the puck toward the Washington net to set up the second goal, with Mike Fisher steering the pass right to an uncovered Neal for a tap-in into an open right side. Ovechkin quickly brought the Capitals back, however, by scoring twice within a span of just over 2 1/2 minutes later in the period. The star sniper rifled in a bad-angle attempt from the left of the Nashville net off a Karl Alzner give with 3:46 elapsed in the second. Ovechkin struck again 6:18 in with Ekholm in the box for a tripping call, one-timing a feed from Mike Green past Hutton to knot the score at 2-2. Game Notes Washington had gone 7-0-2 over its previous nine games, while Nashville improved to 8-0-2 in its last 10 ... Nashvilles last five-game win streak took place from Jan. 19-31, 2012 ... The Predators set a new franchise record by recording their 30th win in their 43rd game of the season, bettering the mark of 44 games set by Trotzs 2006-07 squad ... Ovechkin has scored eight goals in his last nine outings ... Green finished with two assists ... Washington went 2-of-3 on the power play while the Preds ended 1-of-4. ' ' '