WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Jets have a new coach on a short-term deal who knows he has a long-term project on his plate. "Weve got our challenges," Paul Maurice said after taking in his first practice with the team Monday morning. "Im not saying Im coming in here and taking this team to a completely different level over the next week." But the veteran coach of more than 1,000 NHL games, who took the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup final in 2002, says he sees a lot of potential in the Jets. "Youth size and speed is the easiest way for me to sum that up. I like some of the pieces and some of the parts." The size was apparent when he stepped on the ice with the team at the MTS Centre. "This is the first time that Ive ever as a coach felt short and thats a really, really nice feeling," he said, following practice, as he met with reporters for the first time since arriving in Winnipeg after Claude Noels firing Sunday. The last straw for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was last weeks 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jets seemed to have taken a step backward rather than move away from the defensive lapses that have left them 19-23-5 and last in the Central Division. For 2 1/2 years, Noel tried to inject a more responsible, defensive gene into the Jets, after they moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta. Now its Maurices turn and he agreed that seems to be whats missing. "My concerns are -- and you should never introduce a negative but Ill get to this now -- getting them to play a game that has a defensive component in it (and) that, for those players that have been here a long time, they havent done it." He says its his job to find a way to get players to buy into a system they can play that will help get them out of a slump that is sapping their confidence and building frustration. They have the skills, he suggests. "Youve seen it in the games where this team can look so dominant at points in time and then you question where that goes," he said. Although hes been coaching in the NHL for almost 20 years, he said something he has learned relatively recently is that it takes time to work with players on an individual basis to help them grow and develop. "Motivation is different for each player but at the end of the day with this group, with what theyre going through, they just want to get out of it," he said. "They just want to win. They want this to go away. The anger, the frustration by the fans, its the same as the frustration in that locker-room. They want to find a way out. Its the coaching staffs job now to lead that way out." The Jets are on a five-game losing streak and well out of that playoff spot Maurice says is one of his objectives. But he says creating confidence in a game the players can understand is his primary goal. "Im used to having some challenges. You know, the underdog team that at the very least fights like a dog," he said. "Thereve been too many years where we got to within a point but there werent many when I walked away saying there was a whole lot more left on the table." At least for now, hes only here for the rest of the season, which will end April 10 for the Jets unless their game turns around. Maurice, 46, also coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for a couple of seasons and recently tried the KHL in Russia but opted to return home to be closer to his family. Other than juggling lines a little, he didnt make a lot of changes prior to Monday nights game against the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. That includes leaving Dustin Byfuglien as a forward, although he says he can see him making major contributions as a blue-liner as well. Byfuglien is one of the top-scoring defencemen in the NHL but his minus-16 rating prompted Noel to try switching him to forward. "Were not trying to go out there and change everything we do tonight," said centre Bryan Little, who will be playing on a line with familiar partner Andrew Ladd but also Michael Frolik. "Hes been here less than 24 hours and I think he realizes that and hes not going to change too much tonight but he expects us to work hard." Little says he expects the changes to come once the Jets get some practice days. The players accepted much of the blame for Noels firing and Little said a game will help. "Once youre out there you kind of forget about everything thats happened and you can just play the game. Im looking forward to it." Wholesale Jerseys China . Their offensive linemen? They got a free dinner. The Calgary Stampeders O-line has been one of the most potent in the Canadian Football League this season, helping propel the team to Sundays 100th Grey Cup game versus the Toronto Argonauts. Cheap Vancouver Canucks Jerseys . It was well worth the wait. Manning and the Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes to get the season started because of a lightning storm. http://www.cheapjerseysmall.us.com/ . There wasnt much more for the former International Boxing Federation super-middleweight champion from Montreal to say about his bout against heavy-hitting Russian Denis Grachev on Saturday night at the Bell Centre. Cheap New England Patriots Jerseys . The Crimson Tide edged out Oklahoma State in the final round of voting Sunday and will play the top-ranked Tigers in the BCS national championship game on Jan. Cheap NFL Jerseys . Parker had 22 points in his return from an eight-game absence, Tim Duncan added 19 points and 16 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs escaped with a 104-97 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz on Friday night.ST. LOUIS -- The Vancouver Canucks kept it close, then pounced. Daniel Sedin scored a power-play goal 46 seconds into overtime to give the Canucks a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night in a matchup for first place in the Western Conference. The Canucks prevailed despite getting outshot 33-21 by the upstart Blues, who have missed the playoffs five of the past six seasons. The shot total matched a season low for Vancouver, second in the NHL with 33 road points. "Its a sign of a good team when you can have so-so games and still come out on the right side," Sedin said. Alexandre Burrows had two goals and drew the decisive penalty for the Canucks, who have an NHL-best 59 points -- three more than St. Louis. David Backes was whistled for boarding with 19.9 seconds to go in regulation, and the Blues were in disarray in overtime after defenceman Roman Polak broke his stick shortly before Sedin beat Brian Elliott from the right faceoff dot. "Their guy went to get his stick, and it opened up a passing lane from Hank (Sedin) to me," Sedin said. "It wasnt the best shot, but well take it." Forward T.J. Oshie gave his stick to Polak but stayed on the ice for several seconds before responding to calls from the bench waving him over. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said it was the wrong move, but didnt blame Oshie. "We dont want to do it 4-on-3," Hitchcock said. "He shouldnt have been called off." Jason Arnott scored both goals for the Blues, who lead the Central Division by a point, despite the end of a four-game winning streak. Hitchcock thought Burrows was a fine actor, and added from his viewpoint Burrows had turned so he hadnt been checked from behind. "I didnt agree with the penalty at all, not one bit," Hitchcock said. "I saw what I saw. A hockey play." Snow and icy conditions likely prevented a sellout with attendance of 18,231, less than 1,000 shy of capacity. The goal was the 700th career NHL point for Daniel Sedin, who assisted on the Canucks first goal. Henrik Sedin had two assists, including one on hiss twin brothers game-winner.dddddddddddd Alex Edler also had two assists for Vancouver, which wrapped up a 3-1 trip with the next six at home. It was a gruelling stretch, with four games in six days. Arnott and Burrows both posted their first two-goal game of the season. Arnott has scored in three straight games, and Burrows has four goals in five games. All of the Blues thought they should have scored a lot more. "Weve got to learn to play with a lead," Arnott said. "It hasnt been our positive suit this year, but were getting better at it. Hopefully it continues, we learn from this and move on." Early pressure by the Canucks led to Burrows first goal off assists from both Sedins, which snapped St. Louis shutout streak at 148 minutes, 54 seconds. The Blues beat Montreal 3-0 and Colorado 4-0 in their two previous games, with Elliott and Jaroslav Halak both having shutouts. The Blues tied it a minute later when Arnott tapped the puck into an empty net off a pass from Jamie Langenbrunner. St. Louis then took the lead early in the second after Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo made a mistake. After stopping Arnotts drive, Luongo whirled as if uncertain of the pucks location, and dropped it into the net. "As I turned around to try to find it I saw it behind the goal line," Luongo said. "I think it might have gotten caught in my jersey or trickled down my back, Im not sure exactly." Burrows scored his 18th goal on a deflection of Edlers shot from the point at 17:52, and Luongo kept it tied, stopping short-handed breakaways by Backes and T.J. Oshie near the end of the second. NOTES: Wayne Gretzky, who played for the Blues at the end of the 1995-96 season, watched the first period from the third row just behind the St. Louis net. He was in town to visit family. ... Blues D Alex Pietrangelo has eight points during a career-best, five-game point streak. ... Blues F Alex Steen missed his seventh game because of concussion-like symptoms but is expected back in the lineup Saturday against Minnesota. ... The Canucks lead the NHL with 50 first-period goals. cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '