The Vancouver Canucks opted to hold on to centre Ryan Kesler for a possible run at the playoffs and the struggling club tries to avoid a fourth straight setback on Thursday night when it visits the Dallas Stars. The Canucks figured to be active prior to Wednesdays trade deadline, getting a jump on things the previous day when they dealt goaltender Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers for netminder Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias. Keslers name was heavy in the rumor cycle going into the deadline, but no deal was done and the 29-year-old can now focus on trying to get the Canucks back into a playoff spot. They are currently two points behind the Stars for the second wild card position in the Western Conference thanks to losses in 10 of their past 11 games. Kesler leads the Canucks with 21 goals and is third on the club with 39 points, one back of both Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Daniel Sedin, though, is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, further hindering an offense that has scored just eight goals in the previous eight games. Vancouver failed to light the lamp on Tuesday versus the Phoenix Coyotes, falling 1-0. Eddie Lack, the Canucks clear No. 1 goaltender with Luongo dealt, stopped 31 shots and gets the start again tonight. "We just couldnt get that last push and its just been that way for the last month or so," said Lack. "These games are important and we need to start putting together some wins real quick." The 26-year-old rookie is 9-10-4 in 26 games this season, but with a solid 2.05 goals against average and .926 save percentage along with three shutouts. Lack has never started versus the Stars, but did face them in relief on Dec. 19 and stopped all seven shots faced in 17 1/2 minutes of action. The Stars have won both of their meetings with the Canucks this season, taking three in a row and six of the last nine encounters overall. Dallas, just one point ahead of both Phoenix and the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card berth, failed to earn a point for just the second time in its last nine games (5-2-2) when it lost a 4-2 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Coming off a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres the previous night, the Stars got goals from Alex Goligoski and Trevor Daley as well as 16 saves by backup netminder Dan Ellis. Ellis was making his first appearance since Feb. 1 and it turned out to be his last with the Stars as he was dealt to Florida for goaltender Tim Thomas, who became expendable when the Panthers acquired Luongo. Thomas will help lessen the load for Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen and provide veteran insurance in the crease after going 16-20-3 with a 2.87 GAA in 40 games for the Panthers. "Weve liked how hes played. Hes played very well. Hes experienced," Dallas general manager Jim Nill told his teams website of Thomas. "I think it is going to be good for Kari Lehtonen to see a guy, how he prepares, how he handles pressure. Kari is kind of growing into this role. Its Karis team still, but when we have back-to-back games or four games in six nights, he knows there is somebody that can go into the net and the team is going to continue to win. Thats very important." Lehtonen figures to get the start tonight and is 5-7-0 with a 2.92 GAA lifetime versus the Canucks. Soccer Jerseys Outlet . - Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis said Wednesday hes "nodded off" during meetings, but he said its something every player does. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China . Dragic was a game-time decision because of a sore right ankle that had kept him out of Wednesdays loss at Utah, but played all but the last 10 seconds of the second half in the first 40-point game for a Phoenix player since Amare Stoudemires 44 on March 19, 2010. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/. The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. Replica Soccer Jerseys . Three days after falling to Hamilton, Abbotsford scored three goals in 53 seconds en route to a convincing 5-1 win over the Bulldogs Saturday in American Hockey League play.MADRID - Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic won their second Madrid Masters doubles title, beating Americans Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday. The 58-minute victory ended the Americans win streak at 24 matches with titles at their last five events. "Today we played amazing, that was the most important thing," said Nestor. "We played well on a big occasion when it really mattered." Nestor, 41, from Toronto, claimed his fifth trophy in the Spanish capital after capturing it three times with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas (2002, 2004, 2009). He has won the last two (09, 14) with Zimonjic. Nestor and his Serbian partner have won 26 titles together, including two this year. They won in Sydney in January and have lost in the final in Dubai and Barcelona on clay. Nestor also won the Brisbane title alongside Mariusz Fyrstenberg in the opening week of the season. Nestor moved into third in all-time titles with 84, trailing Mike Bryan (100) and Bob Bryan (98). Nestor appeared in his 139th doubles final. The victory was redemption for Nestor and Zimonjic after losing to the Bryans in a Monte Carlo semifinal, their only otherr previous meeting this year with the top-ranked Americans.dddddddddddd "I cant complain about a fifth trophy here," said Nestor, "Weve had a couple of chances to win titles this year but we didnt play well on those opportunities. "We got ahead early against them today, that is the key, They are such great front-runners. Its important to lead or at least stay close. We had some tough situations but we fought through them. Weve been resilient all year. Its nice to play our best match in the final." Nestor said the 800-metre Madrid altitude has always been good for him. Up next for Nestor and his partner will be an event in Rome, the last major tuneup prior to the French Open, which begins May 25. "I have a lot of experience at altitude form South American Davis Cup matches," said Nestor. "It will be an adjustment next week to get back to sea level but there is nothing better than playing matches and winning them. "This is the best situation possible going into a grand slam. We have huge confidence, we really put it together this week with four really good matches. Its a good sign going forward." ' ' '