eShawn Shead and Jeremy Lane both have experience

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- All signs point to a low-scoring, defensive battle when the Boston Bruins visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.Both clubs struggled to light the lamp in recent games despite numerous chances, while strong defensive play and stellar goaltending allowed each team to remain competitive.All this means, of course, is the game could just as easily erupt into an old-fashioned, 1980s-era shootout.Boston (10-6-0) is coming off a stretch of six games in nine days (4-2-0) culminating with a 2-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. The team with an NHL-best 7-3-0 road record had Monday off and practiced in Denver on Tuesday before arriving in Minnesota a relatively rested team.The Thursday game marks the end of a three-game trip for the Bruins, who won a pair of tight contests over the Arizona Coyotes (2-1) and the Avalanche. But despite firing a combined 75 shots on goal in the two games, only four went in, giving Boston just 22 goals in the past nine contests.Following practice Tuesday, Bruins forward Brad Marchand, the teams leading goal-scorer last season, said it is premature to push the panic button.If we continue to get opportunities and play the way we are, then goals are going to come, said Marchand, who has five goals this season. We know that. Theres no need to worry. The only time is when youre not getting opportunities and not getting the chances, but we are. Were playing good hockey, and we want to continue that.The potential absence of leading scorer David Pastrnak certainly wont help the Bruins, though. The 20-year-old third-year forward from the Czech Republic has 10 goals already this season, but he sat out a second straight practice Wednesday in St. Paul and was listed as day-to-day by Boston coach Claude Julien.Minnesota, meanwhile, spent its day off Wednesday trying to digest a flame-broiled goose egg delivered to its doorstep by a struggling Calgary squad on the night before. The Flames arrived Tuesday having been outscored 27-9 in their past seven games (1-6-0) but left Minnesota with a hard-earned 1-0 win, much to the Wilds frustration.I just dont think we played the way we needed to, Wild defenseman Ryan Suter said. We had some chances and hit some posts. At the end of the day, we have to put the puck in the back of the net.Weve got to, as a group, ask ourselves, Did we really do enough to give ourselves a chance to create offense, to sustain offense, to get scoring chances? And I dont think we did, added Wild forward Zach Parise who skated 18:53 on Tuesday, tallying two shots, one hit and two penalty minutes in his first game after sitting out six due to a lower-body injury.It doesnt get any easier for the Wild (8-6-1), as they will face the NHLs reigning NHL First Star of the Week. Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask (4-0-0, 0.75 goals-against average last week) is 10-1-0 overall with a 1.54 GAA and a .945 save percentage.Hes been solid since the start of the season and giving us a chance to win every night, Julien said of Rask after the Sunday win.Weve been playing good hockey, and Ive felt good, Rask said after Tuesdays practice. I think everybody has contributed to our success, and Im just riding along with the boys, I guess.The Wild, who also dropped a 1-0 contest at Colorado on Nov. 6, have been held to two goals or fewer in five of their six November games after outscoring opponents 13-0 in three games to close out October, the first of which was a 5-0 Oct. 25 blanking of the Bruins in Boston. Rask sat out that game due to injury.Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk, who was in goal for all three shutouts, stopped all 27 Boston shots that night, a feat he may have to duplicate if his teammates cant solve their offensive woes. Considering Minnesotas stingy defensive play recently (10 goals allowed in the last nine games), that is not out of the question.Dubnyk is tied for the league lead in shutouts (three) and save percentage (.948) and is second only to Rask in goals against average (1.60). He has allowed just nine goals in his past eight games, stopping 245 of 254 shots over that span. 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SEATTLE -- As his career has progressed, Seattles Richard Sherman has become more adept at shadowing a specific wide receiver instead of concentrating on covering one side of the field.He may have quite the challenge coming up Sunday: Atlantas Julio Jones, just two weeks removed from racking up 300 yards receiving against Carolina.I watch the wide receiver play in Julio, hes one the very greatest football minds at his position. He has a real understanding of the game, the coverage, the leverage and that was one of the things when I first met Sherm, said Atlanta head coach and former Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. I was so impressed with his football knowledge growing stronger through the years. Thatll be a classic matchup that were looking forward to being a part of.Yes, even the coaches are excited to see how this one plays out.While its not certain Sherman will match up on Jones exclusively, there have been plenty of assumptions this week that that will be the case. And should they face off, there wont be any acrimony. Jones and Sherman have become friends off the field after meeting at the Pro Bowl.Hes a fascinating dude, Sherman said.Once criticized for only playing left cornerback, Sherman has taken on more responsibility for following the opponents top wide receiver in recent seasons. Among those hes chased around are Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Torrey Smith, A.J. Green and two weeks ago, Brandon Marshall.Marshall got the better of Sherman in the first half of the Week 4 meeting between the Jets and Seahawks. But Sherman came out on top , with Seattle winning 27-17 and Sherman having his first two-interception game since the 2014 season.Jones said he doesnt know what to expect from the Seahawks.If thats what they think is going to slow me down or give them the best chance at being successful, thats what theyre going to do. Im not their coach to decide that. Its whatever they do, Jones said. Im not calling anyone out or anything; nor am I going to shy away from competition. Im definitely going to compete every play, it doesnt matter whos guarding me.Two weeks ago, Jones posted one of the best games ever by an NFL receiver. He finished with 12 catches for exactly 300 yards in the win over Carolina, becoming the sixth player to have 300 or more yards receiving in a game.dddddddddddd. Jones averaged an astounding 25 yards per reception.But he was quieted last week against Denver. The Broncos werent going to let Jones have another huge game, putting double coverage on him for most of the game and holding him to two catches for 29 yards.The Seahawks are viewing that game against Denver as an anomaly.Hes been a great player for a long time, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. He came out as a great one. Hes just got marvelous talents, and hes really fast when he gets going down field, and hes a big playmaker and all that.Shermans shadowing of top wide receivers is also an acknowledgement of the versatility in Seattle secondary. DeShawn Shead and Jeremy Lane both have experience playing as nickel cornerbacks defending slot receives and playing on the outside. Their skills give Sherman the freedom to roam.It gets easier the more you do it. If you never dribble with your left hand and they ask you to dribble with your right, youre not going to be great at dribbling with your left hand. But if they ask you to dribble both, youll be adept at it, Sherman said. Its been something thats been fun for me. Whenever they ask me to do it, whenever the challenge presents itself or a team, its always their decision. Its not like I get to pick or choose which games I do it.Game notes Jones (knee) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Jones said the day off was precautionary. Im good to go, he said. ... The Falcons hope both starting LBs Deion Jones (ankle) and DeVondre Campbell (ankle) will be able to play. Campbell has missed the past four games, while Jones missed last Sundays win over Denver. ... Seattle QB Russell Wilson said Thursday hes feeling way better, coming off the bye. Wilson said he spent the bye week in California and received treatment on his sprained ankle and knee.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '