The Athenaeum Forum

SPA, Belgium - As Mercedes tries to get to grips with the latest dispute between its two bickering drivers in their tussle for the Formula One title, Red Bull is quietly enjoying an encouraging return to form. It has been a difficult season for Red Bull, which had won the past four drivers and constructors championships thanks to the previous dominance of its car and the consistency of four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel. The roles have been reversed, with Mercedes rolling over everyone for most of the campaign and Vettel struggling. Red Bull has won the past two races, however, with Daniel Ricciardo following his success at the Hungarian Grand Prix with another win at Sundays Belgian GP. In those races, Mercedes finished third and second, conceding some ground in the constructors championship. Down in sixth place overall, Vettel is showing signs that he can be more competitive. The German driver has qualified in the top three positions three times in the past four races; compared to three times in the first eight. Although Mercedes still has a huge constructors lead with 411 points to Red Bulls 254, Ricciardo is optimistic he can add to this three GP wins so far. "I see good things ahead," the Australian driver said. "If we can collect maximum points (in Spa) it gives us a bit more hope for the races that are coming up later in the season, Singapore, Suzuka (Japan). Well see how it goes in Monza (Italian GP)." Picking up maximum points on Belgiums vast Spa track was unexpected — due to the superior straight-line speed of Mercedes — even if Ricciardos win was somewhat helped by the clash between Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Ricciardo is 35 points behind Hamilton, but with double points on offer in the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi in November, he remains hopeful of catching the 2008 champion. "If were within 50 points heading into Abu Dhabi, (then) while its still mathematically possible, well keep fighting," Ricciardo said. "Stealing some points on a circuit (Spa) where we werent supposed to is nice." Team principal Christian Horner expected Spa to be a "damage limitation" race. Instead, he saw signs that Red Bulls speed is improving. "We have managed to find a balance and Daniel has managed to find a confidence in the car," Horner said. "Ultimately we benefited from the Mercedes little get together but in like-for-like pace we were not far off them." With Monza only two weeks away, Mercedes must act fast to stop the Hamilton-Rosberg feud from escalating. Hamilton was leading when he sustained a puncture to his left rear tire on the second lap, caused by Rosberg when he tried to overtake and hit his car. It was a risky move by Rosberg, and Hamilton later claimed that the German driver had acknowledged in a team meeting that he had done it "on purpose" to "prove a point." At the Hungarian GP last month, Hamilton refused team orders to let Rosberg go past, fueling the growing tensions between the childhood friends. Mercedes has allowed them to race freely against each other providing there was no contact, but Sundays incident has prompted a rethink. "We are at that point and it needs to be managed going forward," Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff said. "We will decide what to do when everybody is in a cooler, calmer frame of mind." Although the incident was not investigated by the stewards, allowing Rosberg to open a 29-point lead on Hamilton overall, governing body FIA still has the option of reviewing the matter. Marco Estrada Jersey . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio Montreal 690. The Calgary Flames will see if they can take their recent hot streak on the road when they shoot for a sixth consecutive win Monday night in Montreal. Jason Grilli Jersey . 11 Ana Ivanovic and American Sloane Stephens, and former world No. http://www.teambluejaysprostore.us/Jose ... ys-jersey/. There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. Roberto Alomar Jersey . Head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed the news after the Leafs morning skate on Monday. Kozun was hurt during Friday nights home game against the Red Wings and did not make the return trip to Detroit for Saturdays game. Michael Saunders Jersey . -- The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will forever be tied together for making the same spectacular misjudgment on budding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin.GLENDALE, Ariz. - Headed for a last-place finish in the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers are enjoying the chance to play spoilers. Sam Gagner got the tying goal with 40.4 seconds to play in regulation, then scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the Oilers to a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday night. "Its nice to get rewarded there," Gagner said of the tying goal. "You have to learn to find ways to win, especially for us down the stretch here." It was a tough loss for the Coyotes, who are vying for the last wild-card spot in the West. Phoenix moved one point ahead of ninth-place Dallas, but the Stars have two games in hand. "Its not about being so much the spoiler. Its fun to be a part of a game that means something," Oilers coach Dallas Eakins said. "Were playing teams that these games are huge for them and we understand. Its fun and its challenging to be in games that really mean something to the other team and I was very interested in how our guys were going to respond." Coyotes coach Dave Tippett compared the loss to an overtime playoff defeat. "The way we gave up the second goal, thats demoralizing, but its no time to hang your head," he said. Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz also scored and Ben Scrivens stopped 24 shots through overtime. Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored the tying goal for the Coyotes in the second period, and Kyle Chipchura put them ahead with 7:18 left in the third. Thomas Greiss also stopped 24 shots for Phoenix. Gagner scored on a deflection, backhanding the puck into the net after a shot from behind the goal by teammate Jordan Eberle to force overtime. Eberle had two assists. Schultz gave his team the early lead in the final minute of the first period. He took a centring pass from Eberle and fired a wrist shot that bounced on the ice and over Greisss outstretched glove hand.dddddddddddd The offensive struggles continued for the Coyotes, who have three goals in the past four games, all losses with two overtime shootout defeats. "First period, I thought out execution was poor. Just couldnt get a handle on anything. Didnt pass the puck well," Tippett said. "Our intentions were good, we just couldnt get anything done. Right now we dont have a lot of that in our lineup, the pure execution at high speed." Just 13 seconds into the Coyotes first power play of the game, Ekman-Larsson held the puck for a bit, then shot high to the far corner and found the net with 5:28 left in the second period to even the score at 1-all. The goal ended the Coyotes scoring drought of more than 139 minutes. Greiss kept the Oilers from taking another lead, knocking away a quality shot from Eberle with 2:44 to play in the second. The Coyotes had a chance to add to their lead on a late third-period power play, but Mike Ribeiros shot hit the post. Scrivens went to the bench with a little over a minute to play to give the Oilers an extra attacker, and Edmonton took advantage with the late goal. "An unfortunate mixup, and we let a point slip away again," Chipchura said. The Coyotes lost in a shootout Tuesday to Winnipeg, another non-playoff team. NOTES: Phoenix G Mike Smith (knee injury) took part in the teams morning skate on Friday but is still not ready to play. The Coyotes are expected to update his status in the coming days. ... C Martin Hanzal suffered a lower-body injury early in the third period and did not return. ... RW David Moss returned to action for the Coyotes after missing the past three games with a lower-body injury. ... D David Schlemko was a scratch and has not played since March 6 due to a foot injury. ... Oilers C Tyler Pitlick missed his third straight game with a knee injury. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '