In 2007, the New York Mets held a seven-game lead over the Phillies with just 17 games remaining on their schedule. The Phillies swept them at home to cut into the lead, but the Mets still seemed relatively safe. Of their 14 remaining games, six would come against the Nationals, who would finish that season 73-89. The Nationals beat the Mets two out of three in Washington. The final week kicked off with the Mets still leading the Phillies by 2.5. They hosted the Nationals for three games. The Nationals, who finished last in the NL in runs scored that season, won 13-4, 10-9 and 9-6, humiliating Mets pitching. Four days later, the Mets had lost the NL East title, losing two of three to the 71-91 Marlins.We remember the Mets collapse. We dont remember the spoilers. For teams just playing out the string there are still reasons to remain motivated in these final weeks: Players may be playing for a new contract or a bigger raise; young guys are trying to impress for 2017; and its a lot more fun to beat a contender than get your butt stomped on like it has all year. Nike Free UK Shoes Outlet . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Cheap Nike Shoes UK .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. http://www.nikefreecheapuk.com/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Wholesale Nike Free UK . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nike Free UK For Sale .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. In the opening days of training camp, Eric Fehr could sense that the Pittsburgh Penguins hadnt had much rest since winning the Stanley Cup in mid-June.That fatigue affected the runner-up San Jose Sharks more than it did the Penguins early on. But both teams are again among the best in the NHL at the quarter mark of the regular season.So much for the Stanley Cup hangover.Theres challenges that come with playing late into last year, but I think kind of the belief and trust and what we need to do and understanding our roles, that part of its there, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. When you talk about teams that kind of go through that, sometimes its fatigue, other times its maybe your mindset.Fehr said the Penguins mindset is hungry, though unsatisfied is perhaps a better word.The Penguins have the fourth most points in the league, but theyre not terribly happy with parts of their game, including balancing the workload of goaltenders Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury. Carl Hagelin, who was on the 2014 Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers team that started the next season 10-8-4, said the good start by Pittsburgh was due to carving out wins even when the level of play wasnt championship caliber.It happens a lot: You go deep in the playoffs and you kind of have a slow start, Hagelin said. For those first 10 games when we werent playing great but we found a way to get points, I think thats key, especially coming back from winning the Stanley Cup and a lot of people are saying its hard to get points early.The Tampa Bay Lightning were excelling before Steven Stamkos tore the meniscus in his right knee, an injury that will cost him four to six months. Tampa Bay has dropped three in a row, but coach Jon Cooper recently said his team was prepared for life without Stamkos from when the star forward broke his leg in 2014 and missed time last season with a blood clot.I know that feeling three years ago when Stammer went down, we were kind of a rattled group and it took us a little while to find our way, Cooper said. I think the shock value is not as tough as it may have been in the past.Continuity has helped the Penguins and Sharks, even though San Jose has been streaky. Coach Peter DeBoer said his teams formula is being hard to play against with good goaltending and timely offense, and unsurprisingly defenseman Brett Burns, captain Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Logan Couturre have led that charge.ddddddddddddThe Blues traded goalie Brian Elliott to Calgary and lost captain David Backes and right winger Troy Brouwer in free agency but havent floundered despite some inconsistency.Weve had a lot of ups and downs already this year and hopefully as the season goes on well be able to manage the roller coaster ride a little bit better, forward Kyle Brodziak said. When were playing well, we can play with anyone in the league.FAST CATSThe philosophical divide that led to the Florida Panthers firing Gerard Gallant also means theyll play much differently under interim coach/GM Tom Rowe, who preaches a faster pace.This team is built for speed and skill, Rowe said. All you have to do is watch what Pittsburgh did last year -- the way they played and the way they attacked the puck and the way they made every step of the opponent difficult by pressuring is how we want to play. Its a fun way to play, the players like playing that way and thats what the fans want to watch.Florida lost Rowes coaching debut in a shootout at Chicago.GOALIE SURPRISESCarolinas Michael Leighton on Sunday won his first NHL game since Dec. 30, 2010, in his first start since Jan. 27, 2013. Another journeyman, 30-year-old Flames netminder Chad Johnson, is 5-2-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in his past seven starts.I think its just my game has grown from when I first came in the league to where it is now, Johnson said. It just comes down to opportunity. When you play more, people I guess recognize it a little bit more and pay attention a little bit more.STREAKINGThe Columbus Blue Jackets are 8-1-1 in their last 10 home games after beating the Lightning 5-1 on Tuesday.SLUMPINGThe New York Islanders have won just three of their past 10 games. GM Garth Snow has given coach Jack Capuano a so-called vote of confidence.LEADERSGoals, Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh), 15; Assists, Connor McDavid (Edmonton), 20; Points, McDavid, 31; Goals-against average, Tuukka Rask (Boston), 1.64; Save percentage, Carey Price (Montreal), 0.947.GAME OF THE WEEKJonathan Toews could be back from an upper-body injury as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.---Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . ' ' '