and the indelible image of Crosby

(SportsNetwork.com) - If the St. Louis Cardinals are going to advance to their second World Series in three seasons they are going to have to earn it. Tonight, the Cardinals will try to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium. That may be easier said than done, though, as the Cardinals will be going up against perhaps the best pitcher in baseball in left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw is likely headed toward another NL Cy Young Award after a remarkable regular season that saw him go 16-9 and lead the major leagues with a minuscule 1.83 ERA and an NL-best 232 strikeouts. The Cardinals, though, have given him fits, as he lost twice to them in the regular season and, despite a terrific effort, was defeated by them on Saturday in Game 2 of this series. Kershaw gave up an unearned run and two hits over six innings of that one to fall to 1-1 with a 0.47 ERA in three starts this postseason. "All we have to do is score for him," said Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. St. Louis, meanwhile, will be trying to secure an amazing 19th NL pennant behind rookie Michael Wacha, who has been spectacular this postseason, winning both of his starts, while pitching to a 0.64 ERA. Wacha was able to outduel Kershaw in Game 2 by scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Counting his last start of the regular season, when he came within an out of a no-hitter, he is 3-0 with an 0.42 ERA. "I just expect Michael to go out and do what hes done, just like the rest of our guys," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Stick with what youve done all along the way, and dont ignore and dont deny the excitement." Los Angeles staved off elimination on Wednesday, as Gonzalez hit two of the Dodgers four home runs in a 6-4 win at Dodger Stadium. Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis also delivered solo blasts for the NL West champs, who hadnt homered at all in dropping three of the first four matchups to St. Louis. "I think if you look at it now, weve kind of become Americas team because everyone wants to see a seventh game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Probably even fans in St. Louis want to see a seventh game, so I figure that everyones for us to win on Friday night." Zack Greinke (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the first, then limited the Cardinals to two runs on six hits over seven innings. He also helped his cause with an RBI single. "When Zack got out of that inning with no runs, it was just a huge momentum swing in the game," Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis said. "Sometimes a game is won or lost in that first inning. I think that first inning had a huge impact on todays game." Matt Holliday went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Matt Adams and Matt Carpenter each collected two hits in the loss for the Cardinals, who, of course, have lost an NLCS both times they have held a 3-1 lead, including last year to the San Francisco Giants. Unlike last year though, the Cards will play the final two games in St. Louis, where they are 25-6 since Aug. 11. "Were not going to San Francisco, were going home, so I think thats a big plus," Cards third baseman David Freese said. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Saturday at Busch Stadium. Jon Casey Jersey . With the union re-formed, negotiations with owners will resume Friday on the remaining issues that would be in the collective bargaining agreement, according to a person familiar with the plans. Brian Bellows Jersey . At quarterback, all agree that Andy Dalton has been a wonderful surprise, but to truly progress he has to play his best in the playoffs. The two losses in the wildcard rounds keep the evaluation on Dalton open -- just like it did for Peyton Manning many years ago and Matt Ryan until last year. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/neal...-hockey-jersey/. - Kobe Bryant and LeBron James traded hugs, big shots and verbal jabs all night with warmth and humour. Gump Worsley Jersey . -- The Denver Broncos are shuffling their offensive line this off-season and Orlando Franklin provided some insight into their plans Monday by tweeting that hes moving from right tackle to left guard. Dino Ciccarelli Jersey .C. - Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Danny Granger, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are still not ready to play and will miss Wednesday nights game against the Charlotte Hornets.Sidney Crosby is still the best hockey player in the world. Thats not by any means an outrageous statement and its one that not too many would disagree with, at all. As Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins prepare for Game 7 against the New York Rangers in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, there is one thing about the Pens captain, though, that is considerably less definitive. When it comes to crunch time, is Sidney Crosby still the first player you would turn to? To the northwest of Pittsburgh, in St. Paul, Minnesota to be exact, there is another captain playing tonight in a game that could see his team advance to the conference final, just as Sidney Crosbys Penguins can. In Game 6 of their Western Conference second-round series, the Chicago Blackhawks - led by Jonathan Toews - can advance to a second-straight Western Conference Final by defeating the Minnesota Wild as they continue their defence of the Stanley Cup. As a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has Toews taken over the mantle as hockeys preeminent go-to guy? The suggestion that Crosby wouldnt be the first player you would turn to in the clutch is by no means a referendum on his status as the games best. It isnt and the Hart Trophy hes likely going to win next month at the NHL Awards (to go along with the one he earned in 2007), confirming his status as the NHLs MVP cements thhat.dddddddddddd Crosby is hockeys best all-around player and has been for some time. Still, the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native has recently disappeared when the chips are down. Going into tonights game, Crosby has just one goal in his past 17 playoff games (of course, Rick Nash is enduring that exact same streak of futility, but thats another discussion altogether) and the indelible image of Crosby in these playoffs, thus far, was his Game 6 spear of Dominic Moore. Conversely, Toews could be looking at another Conn Smythe Trophy if he can help lead the Blackhawks to a third Stanley Cup in five seasons. While Crosby languishes with a solitary marker in this years playoffs, Toews has five in 11 games - with four of them game-winning goals. Thats now 10 game-winning goals in his career, most in his teams history. Sure, thats a long ways away from Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hulls joint record of 24 career game-winning goals in the playoffs, but its four more than Crosbys tally in eight fewer career playoff games. Perhaps, even more telling about Toewss current status of big game-breaker is that Crosby, upon being informed that he was being named Canadas captain for Sochi, reportedly wanted Toewss blessing before accepting the C. So who would you rather have in an elimination/advancement game like tonight: Sidney Crosby or Jonathan Toews? As always, its Your Call. ' ' '