expects to be able to throw on the side Saturday. He allowe

DENVER -- Ryan Miller used his head with the game on the line. No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. Anything for a win, especially this late in the season. Miller stopped 26 shots, and David Backes broke up a scoreless game in the second period, helping the Blues beat the surging Avalanche 2-1 on Saturday in a Central Division showdown. "Im just trying to fit in," Miller nonchalantly said. "Im not here to save the day or anything." But he has excelled since being acquired from Buffalo last week. He is 4-0 thanks to plays like he made late in the third period with his team ahead by a goal. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog got loose in front, and while falling to one knee, tried to lift a shot past Miller. But the veteran rose up to thwart the shot. He was just getting warmed up, too, for the division-leading Blues. Miller withstood a furious rally by the Avalanche in the final two minutes after they pulled goalie Semyon Varlamov. "Im here to become part of this club and work my way in, keep good habits," Miller said. "Ive played a long time and think I have a lot to offer. Thats my job right now." The more chaos around Miller, the more he seemed to calm down. That is one of his best attributes, coach Ken Hitchcock said. "His whole disposition calms everybody down," Hitchcock said. "Hes good. Theres a reason hes won so many games." With the Blues up 2-0 early in the third, after Patrik Berglund added a pivotal insurance goal, Miller appeared headed toward his first shutout in nearly two years. But Colorado solved Miller when P.A. Parenteau lifted a shot over him. "Hes been solid back there," Backes said. "Doing everything that world-class goalies do." Avalanche rookie Nathan MacKinnon had his point streak snapped at 13 games. It is the NHLs longest streak by an 18-year-old player. It was a frustrating afternoon for the Avs as their four-game winning streak was halted. They also lost one of their top offensive players when Paul Stastny went out with a back injury after his opening shift. "That was disappointing, but we didnt hang our heads, we just moved forward," forward Matt Duchene said. "Its a game of inches and they got a little more inches than us." Colorado coach Patrick Roy felt the same way. "Sometimes you arent always rewarded for the way you play and your effort," Roy said. "I thought we had better chances than them. I thought we deserved as much to win, and they did." Berglund gave St. Louis a 2-0 cushion at 3:53 of the final period when he gobbled up the puck down low, spun and lined it over the glove of Varlamov. Moments later, Parenteau beat Miller after receiving a pass from Duchene. That certainly revved up a crowded area, giving the game a playoff feel. "The fans were into this one," Landeskog said. "We left our best out there on the ice." St. Louis made it 1-0 at 7:03 of the second period on a play set up by a long pass from defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk, who has thrived against his former team since he was traded three years ago. Deep in his own end, Shattenkirk sent a pass to T.J. Oshie, who, as he was falling down, slid the puck to Backes. From there, Backes guided the puck past Varlamovs left skate. Shattenkirk has four goals and five assists in 12 games against Colorado. Both teams had a failed power play in the first period and eight shots. Miller had the save of the period when he stopped a point-blank shot from Parenteau with his left shoulder. "Its great to contribute," Miller said. "I wanted to come in and contribute." NOTES: Hitchcock tied Ron Wilson for seventh place on the NHL career wins list with 648. ... The Blues have outscored the Avs 13-5 in taking all three games in the season series. The teams will meet again on April 5 in St. Louis. ... Colorado had 13 of its 27 shots in the final period. ... Roy said of Stastnys injury: "Well know more in the next few days." Cheap Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Cheap Cleveland Browns Jerseys . Bostons bats exploded in Mondays opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1. http://www.wholesalenfljerseyschina.net/?tag=cheap-carolina-panthers-jerseys . Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel also accused Pistorius of tailoring his testimony to fit the evidence at the scene. Pistorius denied the accusations. Nel alleged that the Olympic runner changed his aim with his 9 mm pistol to ensure that he hit Steenkamp as she fell back against a magazine rack in a toilet cubicle. Cheap New England Patriots Jerseys . For the Blue Jays the time was Wednesday and the ace was R.A. Dickey. He stepped up. "I feel some responsibility as a stopper from time to time," said Dickey. Cheap Indianapolis Colts Jerseys . - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night.MIAMI -- Steve Cishek said he felt fine even though he pitched poorly. The Miami Marlins closer rubbed his left shoulder several times between pitches during a dismal ninth inning Friday night, but he declined to blame any health issues after giving up four runs in a 9-5 loss to the Oakland Athletics. "I just didnt get the job done," Cishek (4-3) said. The right-hander retired only two batters while giving up five hits, including a single by Yoenis Cespedes that scored the go-ahead run thanks to a replay reversal. The Marlins trailed 4-0 but took a 5-4 lead into the eighth. They fell to 28-1 when leading after seven innings. With the score 5-all, Coco Crisp singled off Cishek to start the ninth and took second on Alberto Callaspos single. When Cespedes followed with a single, right fielder Giancarlo Stanton made a strong throw home, and Crisp was ruled out at the plate. After a review that took 3 1/2 minutes, the called was overturned, giving the As a 6-5 lead. Josh Donaldson hit a sacrifice fly for his third RBI, and Stephen Vogt and Josh Reddick followed with run-scoring singles. "With Crisp, that was a great job of hitting by him," Cishek said. "For some reason, things just unraveled after that. I thought I made good pitches, but once it got later the pitches stayed up, the slider was flat, and they were very comfortable." Cisheks ERA rose from 1.93 to 2.97. "It just wasnt his night tonight," manager Mike Redmond said. "He has been so good for us." Reddick had three of the Athletics 16 hits, including a two-out RBI triple that tied the game in the eighth. Luke Gregerson (2-1) pitched around a one-out double by Jeff Mathis in a scoreless eighth. Oaklands Jesse Chavez took a 4-0 lead into the sixth but couldnt get another out. Stantonss leadoff single was the first of five consecutive hits, and Donovan Solano greeted Dan Otero with an RBI double before pinch-hitter Jeff Bakers run-scoring single put Miami ahead.dddddddddddd. Stanton, Casey McGehee and Garrett Jones had two hits apiece for the Marlins, who lost despite going 6 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Marlins rookie right-hander Anthony DeSclafani left the game after three innings with a bruised right forearm, putting further strain on a bullpen already taxed by a 14-inning loss at Philadelphia on Thursday. DeSclafani was hit in the arm by a line drive in the first inning by Brandon Moss that went for an infield hit, and his status is day to day. He said he expects to be able to throw on the side Saturday. He allowed two runs in three innings, leaving him with an ERA of 7.40 after five career starts. The Marlins arrived in Miami at 4:15 a.m. after the 14-inning loss at Philadelphia on Thursday, and they played as if short on sleep in the early going. They had Crisp picked off midway between first and second in the fourth inning, but when first baseman Jones glanced at another baserunner, Crisp ducked past him and got back to first. "Thats two pretty tough losses," Redmond said. "Thats pretty frustrating the way weve been losing games." NOTES: With the Marlins bullpen taxed by the marathon in Philadelphia, they recalled LHP Brian Flynn as a reinforcement and optioned INF Justin Bour to New Orleans. Flynn pitched three innings and allowed two runs, then was optioned back to New Orleans after the game. ... Callaspo batted second for the first time this season. ... The game was the Athletics first in Miami since 2003. ... Athletics RHP Sonny Gray (7-3, 2.91) is scheduled to start Saturday against RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-3, 3.52). ' ' '