lot of talent. Im looking forward to the competition in the final.The competition wont include American Justin

What do you need to know about Thursday nights games? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, Morning, Joe.Great 8 debate: Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin is one of the greatest offensive players of all time. The 31-year-old forward is closing in on 1,000 career points: He has 531 goals and 444 assists for 975 points in 849 games. He scored the winner when the Caps beat the Winnipeg Jets?4-3 in overtime Thursday, finishing the night with two goals and one assist. It was the 91st game-winner of his career, tying him with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Recchi for 19th on the NHLs all-time list. Ovechkins statistics are outstanding, and the Capitals finally have the team to win. They have a Vezina Trophy-winning goalie in Braden Holtby, a strong defensive core and strength up the middle. With Ovechkin dominating, theres no reason not to win. But unless he wins a Stanley Cup, Ovechkins career numbers wont matter. The time is now for No. 8.Not sanguine about Seguin: Im still trying to figure out what type of player Tyler Seguin will become. A pure goal scorer, Seguin had a career-high four assists to help the Dallas Stars snap a three-game losing skid with a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. The 24-year-old highly skilled forward is a point-producing machine, already with 12 points in 10 games this season. He recorded 33 goals and 40 assists for 73 points in 72 games last season. Theres no doubt hes a dynamic player. His personality off the ice translates into his play and hes fun to watch. However, the second-overall pick in 2010 is fortunate to have won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, because its unlikely to happen anytime soon as long as he stays in Dallas. The Stars are an offensive juggernaut, but they have defensive deficiencies and goaltending issues, which are not qualities of a champion. Seguin is a younger version of the San Jose Sharks Joe Thornton: a talented player stuck on a team that cant win it all. Good thing Seguin won as a rookie.Marner garners respect: For all the talk about Auston Matthews, the?Toronto Maple Leafs?have another outstanding rookie who is fun to watch in?Mitch Marner, who scored twice as the Maple Leafs defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1. The fourth overall pick in 2015 has three goals and five assists for eight points in 11 games. Marner, 19, is a major part of the organizations rebuilding process and possesses dynamic offensive skill and instincts. Hes very creative with the puck, the norm for all the young talent in the league these days. Hes really good in the offensive zone and has no issues going into the hard areas. He needs to get stronger and that will come as he gets older and gains more experience. Without a doubt, he will become a high-end, skilled offensive producer. In todays game, hell also need to become a consistent two-way player, but hes off to a strong start to what should be a solid career. Noah Juulsen Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Charlie Lindgren Jersey . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-xavier-ouellet-canadiens-jersey/ . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Paul Byron Canadiens Jersey . 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. Shea Weber Canadiens Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Its no easy thing to push Usain Bolt, even in an Olympic warm-up race.It might be even tougher to upstage him.Some of Wednesday nights most entertaining theater came, as usual, from the Jamaican star, who smiled and wagged his finger at a brash up-and-comer while winning his 200-meter semifinals heat. Bolt will go for his eighth Olympic gold in the final on Thursday.Bolts main goal during the opening rounds is to conserve energy, which is exactly what he was doing when he looked to his right, saw Canadas Andre de Grasse a few steps behind him and put it on cruise control.The only problem was, de Grasse, the bronze medalist in the 100, didnt back down. He sped up, caught up and suddenly, the two were nose-to-nose, peering and smiling at each other down the stretch. Bolt finished in 19.78 to win by a scant .02 seconds. He wagged his finger at de Grasse as they crossed the line.That was really unnecessary, Bolt said. I dont know what he was trying to do. Hes a young kid. Hes great. He has a lot of talent. Im looking forward to the competition in the final.The competition wont include American Justin Gatlin, who has given Bolt more run for his money than anyone else over the past four years.ddddddddddddIn the evenings biggest stunner, Gatlin finished third in his heat and did not qualify for the final.He said he rolled an ankle in the run-up to the Olympics and was happy just to make it here.Probably, I should have rested it instead of running on it, said Gatlin, who finished second to Bolt in the 100.Team USAs Lashawn Merritt did qualify for the final. He finished first in his semifinal and third overall with a time of 19.94.Joining Gatlin (20.13) in failing to qualify was American Ameer Webb (20.43).Bolt, who has his eyes on not only the win but maybe another world record, is hoping his time will come Thursday night.I definitely think I can try for the world record, said the sprinter, whose current record in the 200 stands at 19.19 seconds. But now, its executing right, running the corner efficiently and coming in the straight and running the perfect race.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '