and the scoring system, plus missing

The St. Louis Blues will try to put the defending Stanley Cup champions on the ropes when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks for Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals on Monday. The team will be without David Backes however, after the Blues captain left Game 2 early in the third period after a hit from Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook. Patrik Berglund will take Backes spot in the lineup. St. Louis has jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series thanks to a pair of victories on home ice. Both games have gone beyond regulation, with the Blues beating Chicago 4-3 in triple overtime on Thursday before taking Saturdays OT battle by the same score. The Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup title in four years in 2013, but the reigning champs need to turn things around on home ice in Games 3 and 4 or they could face an early exit from this springs postseason. Chicago did lose in the opening round in consecutive seasons after winning the Cup in 2010. Chicago had an excellent opportunity to tie the series on Saturday, as the Blackhawks overcame an early 2-0 deficit in Game 2 to grab a 3-2 edge in the third period. However, Vladimir Tarasenkos power-play goal tied the game with just 6.4 seconds remaining in regulation and Barret Jackman scored 5:50 into OT to hand St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the series. The Blues now have a commanding hold on the best-of-seven series heading into Mondays Game 3, though Blues goaltender Ryan Miller said he knows its been a lot closer than that. "The way these games have gone, you have to respect the fact that Chicago was a shot away in both of these games, too," said Miller. "Thats the weird part about hockey." Chicago snapped a lengthy shutout streak by Miller to get back in Saturdays game. But after three Chicago Blackhawks defensemen scored three straight goals against Miller, one of them took a series-changing penalty that the Blues exploited for the comeback victory. Brent Seabrooks charging major due to a check against Blues center David Backes led to Tarasenkos tying goal in the closing seconds of the third period. Millers shutout streak of 119 minutes and 27 seconds since allowing three goals on seven shots in the first period of Game 1 was snapped when Duncan Keith scored with 2:35 left in the second period to get the Blackhawks on the board. Seabrook and Michal Rozsival then beat Miller 1:45 apart in the third period to give the Blackhawks the 3-2 lead, but Chicago was later done in by Seabrooks game misconduct with 4:51 left in regulation. Skating near full speed, Seabrook checked Backes in the face with his right shoulder, sending him head-first into the corner boards and sparking a scrum between the teams as Backes tried to get back on his feet. The St. Louis captain left the game after the hit and did not return. The fallout from the hit continues into Mondays game, as Backes status for Game 3 is up in the air. Seabrook, meanwhile, was suspended three games for the illegal check and defenseman Nick Leddy expects to enter Chicagos lineup in his absence. Initially it appeared Chicago may survive Seabrooks penalty and win Game 2. The Blackhawks killed off an initial 46-second 5-on-3 and were seconds from escaping with the win before Tarasenko beat Corey Crawford to the near side with a long shot from above the right circle. "Youre right there -- six seconds away," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "The other game was tough losing it with a buck and change (left) but today was brutal." The Blues converted only one of their nine power-play opportunities in the game, but they made that one goal count. After the break, Jackmans winner from the left boards squirted in between Crawfords legs with Max Lapierre creating a screen in front. Chris Porter and Kevin Shattenkirk scored first-period goals to give the Blues the early lead. Miller ended with 25 saves. "The way these games have gone, you have to respect the fact that Chicago was a shot away in both of these games, too," said Miller. "Thats the weird part about hockey." Crawford stopped 27 shots in the loss for the Blackhawks, who have received five of their six goals in the series from defensemen. Chicago hopes to regroup at the United Center, where it posted an impressive 27-7-7 record this season. That included a 2-0-1 record against the Blues during the five-game season series. The Blackhawks, of course, are no stranger to mounting postseason comebacks. Chicago trailed Boston 2-1 in the Cup Finals a year ago before winning three straight to take the series and also overcame a 3-1 deficit to eliminate Detroit in the 2013 Western Conference semifinals. Game 4 of this series is scheduled for Wednesday at the United Center. In addition to Backes, the Blues also could be without forwards Patrik Berglund (sprained shoulder) and Brenden Morrow (bruised foot) on Monday. Berglund has yet to play in this series and expects to be out again in Game 3, while Morrow sat out Game 2 and is questionable for this evenings test. Nike Free Shoes Online Shopping . Siddikur, who led on all four days and took a four-stroke lead going into the final day, bogeyed four out of six holes starting at the sixth and continued a forgettable last round in which he returned a three-over 75 to finish with a 14-under 274. Cheap Nike Free Ireland . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux. http://www.nikefreeireland.com/. -- Derek Jeter spoke for 25 minutes, 44 seconds and answered 26 questions about his decision to retire at the end of this season. Nike Free Clearance Ireland . -- In the stadium program sold at the Miami Dolphins game on Halloween, Richie Incognito was asked whos the easiest teammate to scare. Nike Free Shoes Clearance . Curtis Davies and Robert Koren secured the victory with goals inside 35 minutes of the fifth-round replay against the second-tier side.International sports federations have expressed concern over problems with venues for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Members of the Association of Olympic International Sports Federations reviewed preparations for the Games, which open in less than four months on August 5.They miss some very important details in each field of play, ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said at the groups annual meeting. Bitti told delegates that IOC President Thomas Bach is worried like you, like me, about details for Rio.The comments followed complaints raised by the gymnastics federation, known as FIG, which is holding its artistic gymnastics test event at Rio Olympic Arena this week.FIG official Ron Froehlich cited power outages, putting at risk athletes safety and the scoring system, plus missing equipment at an underfunded temporary training venue.Most important, they have pproblems with regard to the Omega (scoring) system, Froehlich said.dddddddddddd Furthermore, power outages while the athletes were performing, which is a very serious issue.The absence of flooring at a training centre was due to lack of funding, he said.Earlier, ASOIF director general Andrew Ryan disclosed that two top IOC officials will travel to Rio soon to work more closely on preparations.Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games executive director, and sports director Kit McConnell are moving permanently to the host city, Ryan said.Dubis predecessor, Gilbert Felli, was assigned to work with local organisers two years ago amid growing concerns about Rios readiness. 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