GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Puck management is a helpful lens through which to view the Columbus Blue Jackets and Arizona Coyotes before their meeting on Saturday at Gila River Arena.Columbus was abysmal in that department last season on its way to the NHLs fourth-worst record, but the maturation of defensemen Zach Werenski and Seth Jones played a major role in lifting the surprising Jackets into the upper half of the leagues possession rankings this season, and into its top 10 in points.Despite an emphasis on puck possession that extends back at least to the 2011-12 season, when Arizona advanced to the Western Conference Final, the Coyotes consistently struggled to hang onto the puck this season. They rank dead last in the NHL with a Corsi For percentage of 45.08 percent, and they are tied for last in the NHL standings with 19 points.We bring so much trouble on ourselves its frustrating, coach Dave Tippett said after a 4-3 loss at home to Los Angeles in which the Coyotes committed a critical late turnover that led to the Kings game-winning goal. We just need some people that can do the job. Sometimes, its just a simple play to gain a line. When you dont get them made it comes back to bite you.Its been all the more painful for Arizona this season because it played so many tight games. Nine of the teams last 10 games were decided by one goal and only six of the teams 22 games this season have been decided by more than one goal.Weve got to be better at puck management, left winger Tobias Rieder said. Weve got the puck on our sticks a lot of times and we turn it over and thats how we get scored on. Were always talking about gaining zones, so weve got to get the puck in deep and get our forecheck going.Jones emergence as a No. 1 defenseman, and Werenskis emergence as a Calder Trophy candidate at age 19, is making a world of difference for the Jackets when it comes to quick, clean zone-exit passes from their defense to their forwards.You can see how (Zach) can control the game with the puck, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. We have a lot of teaching to do with him without the puck, but the God-given ability that he has, its at a different level than a lot of other players in this league.Columbus improved possession game is impacting multiple other facets of its play. As of Friday morning, the Blue Jackets were tied for the second most goals per game (3.18) in the NHL, and they were fifth in goals allowed per game (2.23).Cleaner zone exits have ignited an underrated cast of young, skilled forwards. Cam Atkinson leads the team with 21 points in 22 games and Nick Foligno is tops in goals with nine, but Columbus has eight players with five or more goals.The Jackets are also suppressing shots, allowing 29.5 per game, which ranks 11th. Last season, they were 27th at 31.1. The lesser workload is allowing goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to regain his form of two seasons ago. Bobrovsky is tied for 13th in the NHL in save percentage (.929) and 11th in goals against average at 2.08.Theyve got a lot of good young players that I dont think the league knows about yet, Tippett said of the Blue Jackets. Youre starting to see the fruits of their labor. John has done a good job. They look like theyre playing well.As of Friday afternoon, Tortorella hadnt named his starter in goal between Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney, but the Jackets did activate left wing Matt Calvert (head) off injured reserve.Mike Smith is expected to start in goal for Arizona, which is healthy other than center Brad Richardson (broken tibia and fibula). Richardson is out indefinitely. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. http://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.com/ . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Cheap Randy Johnson Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Mike Tirico no longer is behind the microphone doing NFL play by play. That hasnt diminished his passion for the sport.Indeed, while many observers were belittling the 6-6 tie between Seattle and Arizona last Sunday night, Tirico, a host of NBCs telecast after making the move from ESPN this summer, was enthralled.I was in the stadium and had to find a place to sit somewhere near the (production) trailer or in the booth. I didnt want to leave the booth, I just sat and watched up there, he says. I thought it was a compelling game.If you are not nuanced in current football, maybe you didnt appreciate the efforts of the defensive ends who ruined the game for Seattle. And every level on defense that ruined everything Arizona wanted to do.Hey, the Browns, the poorest team in the league, score touchdowns. Arizona went nine quarters without giving up a TD. It was two really good defenses, although I dont think the offenses were particularly good. To the naked eye, I found myself watching the defensive ends and linebackers on every snap.Tirico has become more nuanced in the sport thanks to working side by side with Jon Gruden on Monday night telecasts. Hes now getting a similar education from Cris Collinsworth.Jon helped teach me football and I learned so many things about the game and how to watch the game, and we were able to share it with viewers, Tirico says. At end of the day if you as a viewer want to expand your knowledge base, I think we can make a connection. It was one of the fun parts of that experience and I feel some of the same with Cris. They just want to teach people about football. So were learning from them and letting the American public get the knowledge.One of Americas most versatile broadcasters, Tirico headed to NBC in great part because of the networks sports portfolio, particularly the Olympics, which he worked in Rio. He also will get the chance to do golf again, and next weekend he hosts the Breeders Cup races at Santa Anita.Should Tirico be asked to play a role in NBCs hockey or soccer or auto racing coverage, hes ready, calling it a chance to hit the reset button on my career.---HELPING THE KIDS: Jon Gruden is taking the Sports Matter initiative to the kids.The Super Bowl-winning coach and current Monday Night Football analyst is combining with DICKS Sporting Goods and the NFL to support youth and high school sports. They are providing football teams in the cities of Monday games with resources and sports equipment to address barriers to access, and enable more youth to participate.Gruden hosts chalk talk events with youth and high school football players and coaches to provide mentorship and discuss the value of sports participation.Football is a great game and a great teacher, Gruden says. Kids learn lessons on the field -- work ethic, teamwork, sportsmanship and mental toughness -- that will help them off the field for the rest of their lives.But like all youth sports programs, theres not enough funding to go around. ... We invite you to join us and do what you can in your own community to support youth sports and create more opportunities for kids.ESPN has donated $100,000 to DonorsChoose.org and will make additional donations to youth sports teams over the course of the 2016 season. The NFL FFoundation, together with USA Football, the sports national governing body, has matched ESPNs $100,000 donation.dddddddddddd USA Football will also host Heads Up Football clinics for participating teams in select markets.Through the Sports Matter campaign, DICKS Sporting Goods and its Foundation have made a $50 million multi-year commitment to support youth athletic programs, including donations to community sports leagues.---GOING THE DISTANCE: The Eagles are the only team in the NFL to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season and theyve done it in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.Josh Huff had a 98-yard TD return in a 21-10 win over Minnesota last week. Wendell Smallwood had an 86-yard TD runback in a 27-20 loss at Washington a week earlier.Theyre really beginning to click, and great blocks, coach Doug Pederson said. (Special teams coordinator) Dave Fipp really has those guys ready every single week. You need those things. You need special teams scores. You need defensive scores. All that helps you, especially late down the stretch. It was just great to see it two weeks in a row.Philadelphia is at Dallas in an NFC East showdown Sunday night.---TAKING BLAME: At least one website blamed Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell for getting burned last week on a 67-yard touchdown pass to the Buffalo Bills Marquise Goodwin. Soon after the game, safety Michael Thomas took to Twitter to take the blame.I cant let my boy B Max take that bullet, Thomas tweeted. That bomb was on me.Thomas later said he was trying to disguise the coverage and wound up out of position. He said he fessed up on social media mindful of his defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph.He wants to create a culture about truth, Thomas said. Every man has to be accountable for his actions. He made the perfect call right there, and I let disguise jeopardize my responsibility. It was important to me because as a leader on this team, I want to make sure every player, and especially the DBs, know Ive got their back and Ill never let me hang out to dry.---GETTING THE TIMING DOWN: Kirk Cousins has never played in England, but two offseason visits made him adjust his weekly routine going into the Washington Redskins game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium.Coach Jay Gruden opted to practice at home and fly the team over on Thursday, but his starting quarterback got a jump start on adjusting to the time difference. Cousins went to bed Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m. and woke up Wednesday morning at 5:15 a.m. with the goal of being ready for a 9:30 a.m. EDT start Sunday.Knowing his own experience from his travels, Cousins talked to sleep professionals to get advice on what to do.When I went over there this offseason, I had a hard time adjusting, Cousins said. I was only there for about three days and it was tough. I was sleeping in until noon or 1 oclock just because of how tired I was, so I want to make sure that doesnt happen.---AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner and Rob Maaddi, and Sports Writers Steven Wine and Stephen Whyno contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '