we want to be but at the same time, we will not lower the expectations of this organization at any point." Karri Ram

INDIANAPOLIS - Things are starting to look familiar in Indianapolis.Andrew Luck is throwing touchdowns, the defence continues to improve, team owner Jim Irsay is back inside the team complex a€” and back on Twitter a€” and the Colts are atop the AFC South.Its a perfect start to a long weekend.Weve got 10 days off until we play again. Were going to have a chance to get some guys back, coach Chuck Pagano said Friday. Its an opportunity to take another look at ourselves from a self-scout standpoint, kind of assess where were at and how we can get better in all three phases.A month ago, an uncharacteristically chaotic start put the Colts plans in peril.Robert Mathis, the 2013 NFL sacks champion, was suspended for the first four games because he violated the NFLs performance-enhancing substance policy and will miss the rest of the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon during a private workout while he was away from the team. Irsay was suspended six games and banned from social media by Commissioner Roger Goodell after pleading guilty to a misdemeanour count of driving while intoxicated. Indy then started the season by losing back-to-back games for the first time in Paganos three-year tenure.Since then, Indy has reverted more to the norm.Luck followed the longest losing streak of his pro career by matching a career best with four straight wins. He not only leads the league with 17 TD passes, but he also has completed a career-high 66.2 per cent of his throws and is on pace to become the first Colts quarterback to top 5,000 yards. Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton are ranked among the NFLs receiving leaders, and Indy (4-2) has topped the 30-point mark three times in its last four games.The latest victory, 33-28 over the Texans, also allowed the Colts to seize control of the division. They now lead Houston (3-3) by one game and are 3-0 against division foes, with two of those wins coming on the road.I think we have a lot of backbone on this team and thats been Coach Paganos ethos since Ive been with the Colts, Luck said Thursday night after the win.After the break, the Colts could get even better. Theyve relied on a mishmash of interior offensive linemen to survive the last three weeks. Now theyre hoping the extra rest will allow starting guards Jack Mewhort (ankle) and Hugh Thornton (back) to return Oct. 19 against Cincinnati.Inside the team complex, the return of Irsay was welcomed, too.We havent had a chance to talk face-to-face yet, a couple of texts here and there, Pagano said. Obviously, its great to know that he (Irsay) is going to be back full-time with us in the building and all that stuff. I know hes extremely excited about where were at, the big win obviously yesterday and all that stuff.Irsay had never missed a game as team owner and was eager to get back in the mix Friday. While he wasnt available for interviews Friday afternoon, he did break his silence on Twitter with one of his trademark contests.Oh hell, lets just give away some stuff to the best sports fans in the world,Colts Fans! Irsay wrote in announcing the contest. Good Luck and I mean Luck because 4 in a row and 1st place is sweet!Colts fans, meanwhile, couldnt ask for much more.The offence is clicking on all cylinders, the defence and kick coverage continue to get better, and Indianapolis has reclaimed its spot as the AFC South leader.Were No. 1 right now in the AFC South and that was the plan coming in to this game, running back Ahmad Bradshaw said. Just take advantage of this opportunity and run with it.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . Brad Malone had the other goal for the Monsters (1-1-0), while Elliott chipped in an assist for a three-point night and the games first star. Bryan Lerg also had two assists. Corban Knight and Max Reinhart scored for the Heat (1-1-0), who opened their season Friday with a 5-2 win over the Monsters in Cleveland. Cheap College Jerseys . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale.com/cheap-jerseys. -- The Florida Gators are first yet again this season. NFL Jerseys Sale . The 24-year-old Pruneau played his CIS football with the Montreal Carabins. The six-foot, 200-pound Montreal native had 41 tackles, 3. Cheap NBA Jerseys . A veteran of 16 NHL seasons, Prospals career was highlighted by him ranking fourth in points scored, third in assists and sixth in games played among all Czech Republic born players in NHL history.CALGARY -- The misery continued for the goal-starved Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Jaroslav Halak made 33 saves and St. Louis got goals from five different players as the Blues ran their win streak to seven in a row with a 5-0 victory over the slumping Flames, who were shut out for the fifth time in the last seven games. The two teams last met on Dec. 23. In that game, also played at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Flames came from behind for a dramatic 4-3 victory. Calgarys offence has completely dried up since, scoring just five times in seven games -- four coming Monday in a 4-3 win in Colorado. In the Flames last five games at home theyve mustered only one goal, on Dec. 31 by rookie Sean Monahan. "We got outplayed in pretty much every facet of the game tonight," said Flames winger Lee Stempniak, who has no goals in his last 15 games. "Im a big believer in earning your breaks and earning your luck out there. We havent been playing well enough to get those chances." Flames coach Bob Hartley said the slump is taking its toll. "To score goals, thats the toughest thing to do in the NHL," Hartley said. "I feel for my players because I see them work every day. For many players, its pretty tough to ask more than what theyre giving us right now. They care, I see them basically mentally destroyed after some games but were proud and were going to keep fighting." Stempniak said hes never been a part of a scoring drought like this. "Individually, guys go through some tough times but never something that affected the whole team," Stempniak said. "You just have to think youre going to get out of it and believe youre going to get out of it." Coming off a 6-0 road loss Tuesday in Phoenix, Calgary got off to a quick start with a 4-1 edge in shots three minutes into the game. However, Stempniak and Dennis Wideman then took consecutive minor penalties and although the Blues failed to score, they began to apply pressure. With the games momentum having turned back in their favour, St. Louis took a 1-0 lead when Chris Stewart scored 18 seconds after Widemans penalty expired. Vladimir Sobotka scored just over two minutes later and that would turn out to be more than enough offence for Halak, who improved to 18-6-3. "Especially in the first period, they had a few chances that got me into the game," said Halak, who has three shutouts this season and 28 in his career. "Then we started playing better and we didnt give them pretty much any chances the rest of the first." Halak was at his best in the second period when the Blues were outshot 15-10 but scored the only goal. Reecently named to the Slovakian Olympic team, Halak hadnt played since getting pulled after the first period on Dec.dddddddddddd 28 after getting beaten three times on 13 shots against Chicago. Recently, Halak has been battling illness. "When you go through the sickness, youre low on energy and you get tired all the time but now, Im trying to work my way back. Im not 100 per cent back with my energy yet but I battled through it and it was a big win for us," said Halak. Ian Cole, Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored for St. Louis (31-7-5). The Blues pull even in points with Chicago atop the Central Division. The Blues have three games in hand. "Jaro had to be there in the second period for us. They make it 3-1 or 3-2, shes a different game in the third. He shut the door and good on him," said Blues coach Ken Hitchcock. Calgary (15-23-6) has lost five home games in a row in regulation for the first time since March 7-31, 2000. "We said right from the start that we were starting a rebuild," Hartley said. "Were hitting major speed bumps right now and overall if we look at the positive side, theyre tough lessons but thats going to make us better." The Flames are 28th in the NHL, three points up on Edmonton and seven ahead of Buffalo. "We have lots of young players that are in a major school right now. Theyre in the best hockey league in the world and sometimes, things dont go their way but we keep putting them out there and they battle hard," Hartley said. "Thats the No. 1 criteria. I want to see the compete level of the 20 guys in the lineup in every game. We will not accept mediocre commitment. Obviously, the results arent what we want to be but at the same time, we will not lower the expectations of this organization at any point." Karri Ramo finished with 24 stops to fall to 7-8-3. Perhaps surprisingly, as the game ended, there was minimal booing from the Saddledome crowd, who seemed to show indifference instead. Despite many rows of empty seats in the upper levels, the crowd was announced as a sellout of 19,289. Notes: With points in their last 10 (9-0-1), the Blues are one back of their team record of 11 (10-0-1), which was set Jan. 21, 1999 to March 4, 2000 ... David Jones (eye) did not play for the Flames. Hes missed three games. Calgarys only healthy scratch was D Derek Smith ... In the last 11 games, the Flames have only led for 15 minutes 25 seconds -- all of that coming in its only regulation win ... Calgarys power play is 1 for 20 in the last seven games. That stretch has come without Kris Russell (knee), who missed his eighth game. ' ' '