1-year-old British protege, given a lesson in the first two sets by a master who was not even at his best.I thought I came out of the blocks really good, Djokovi

Ryan Kesler is having a monster season for the Anaheim Ducks -- at both ends of the rink.Being tied for the team lead with 28 points (12-16) only starts to tell the story. His shutdown game against top offensive stars has also really sparkled.Tyler Seguin (two games), Joe Pavelski (three games), Connor McDavid (two games), John Tavares (two games) and Anze Kopitar (one game) are a few of the top-end players whom Kesler has shut down -- as in zero even-strength goals scored against the Ducks while he was on the ice. Linemates?Andrew Cogliano and?Jakob Silfverberg?are vital to that end as well.Faceoffs, penalty killing, power play -- the 32-year-old Livonia, Michigan, native is doing it all. He won the Selke Trophy as the NHLs top defensive forward in 2011 while still with the Vancouver Canucks, and was nominated last season. Hes making a strong case again in 2016-17.I sat down with Kesler on Sunday afternoon and asked him to break down the top (mostly Western Conference) forwards hes routinely assigned to contain, and the challenges those star players bring:Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles KingsKesler: A guy whos good on both sides of the puck. He works hard, he has good vision and I feel that if he starts with the puck, he really likes to build speed through the neutral zone. He likes to get the puck in the middle of the ice and distribute from there. So, really just trying to stay above him in the neutral zone is whats key. And winning faceoffs.Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton OilersKesler: He likes his neutral-zone play, he likes carrying the puck and getting there with speed. Youve just got to stay close to him. Hes so dynamic, hes so explosive -- you got to be above him all the time. Hes going to get his chances, but thats when the whole line comes into effect. Just got to try and stay above him and be hard on him, make him hate playing against you. Stay close to him and really make that neutral zone tough because thats where he generates most of his offense, and on the rush.Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago BlackhawksKesler: When Kane had his breakout year, it was always [difficult] playing against him. Hes more dangerous offensively. I feel like hes the life force of that team that really gets his whole team playing like he does. That line normally is him and [Artemi] Panarin. They like to swing really low, almost to the top of the circle and pick up the puck -- their D do a good job of pulling it back and stretching the zone. For us, we dont want to be sitting ducks in the neutral zone, we want to be up and have speed and skate with them. Kane is dynamic; hes going to get his chances, just like McDavid. But for me, its just swinging with him and not letting him get the puck [on the breakout], letting his center, [Artem] Anisimov, carrying it up the ice rather than Kane. Id much rather have Anisimov carrying it through the neutral zone than Kane.Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh PenguinsKesler: Everybody knows what hes about. Hes the best player in the game, probably. What can you say? Hes going to get his chances, hes explosive. He can dish, he can shoot, hes good around the net, hes strong. ... He doesnt say much on the ice. Hes a guy that really just goes about his business and puts up points. We didnt have much success against him this year [a 5-1 loss]. You just try to play him hard and know where other people on the ice are with him. Because if you just focus on him, hes going to give somebody else a tap-in.John Tavares, C, New York IslandersKesler: Probably the best one-on-one player in the NHL. Hes a guy that you have to be aware of because you think he has nothing, and then he turns it into something. Hes a guy that competes extremely hard. He battles on the draw. He makes things happen.Joe Pavelski, C/W, and Joe Thornton, C, San Jose SharksKesler: Its tough. Especially [on] faceoffs, when both can take them on their strong side, right or left. That line has so many faceoff plays, and usually with [defenseman Brent] Burns out there, too. Its a whole line you have to be aware of. They like their plays, like behind the net -- Thornton likes distributing from there. And Pavelski is a guy youve got to tie his stick up, he gets his stick on everything. For me, its just being hard on those guys. Jumbo [Thornton] likes to use his body and, [given] his reach ... youve got to try and get close, get stick on puck and take away his options. ... Thornton and I have had our battles over the years, but I think its a respect thing. We have our talks out there, he seems like a good guy, but hes the enemy. [smiles]Henrik Sedin, C, and Daniel Sedin, W, Vancouver CanucksKesler: Theyre good guys, probably the nicest guys in the league, to be honest. With them, youve got to play them hard. Its tough, obviously theyre [my] friends, but you cant let them off the hook. You have to finish your checks on them, you have to deter them physically. Youve always got to know where both of them are. They have their little plays. I think since I played with them for so long, it might be a bit easier for me because I know their reads and I know their tendencies.Tyler Seguin, RW, and Jamie Benn, C, Dallas StarsKesler: We had a tough time with them last time [a 6-2 loss]. Theyre a line that takes chances. ... We know if we turn the puck over, all three guys on that line are gone. You dont want to push too much and turn pucks over. With that line, we try to counter a lot and make them play in their own zone.Bonus question: Is Benn a guy where you dont want to poke the bear?Kesler: Hes the life of that team. They tend to feed off him when he gets into fights and when hes physical. So, if hes sleeping, were going to let him sleep.Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis BluesKesler: I think I fought him last year. I feel like I can deter him. For him, hes a skilled player, he can shoot the hell out of the puck, hes going to get his chances. For me, its limiting time and space. I know he likes his snap shot; he pulls it in and releases it really good. So, the less he has the puck, the better for us.Matt Duchene, C, Colorado AvalancheKesler: Speed, obviously, with him -- hes got a good release and a good shot. You try to deter him physically and just be hard on him. If I dont have a read on a guy, I just try to outwork him.Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg JetsKesler: Hes come on, really good player. Hes having a great year. He has that shot on the power play from the middle of the ice. The big thing is making him work off the draw. If you win the draw, youre most likely going to win the battle that shift. Nike Free Shoes Clearance . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Nike Free Shoes On Sale .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. http://www.nikefreeireland.com/ . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Nike Free Wholesale . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Cheap Nike Free Ireland . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. NEW YORK -- For 68 minutes out on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it looked like the king was back.Novak Djokovic told EPSN analyst Brad Gilbert on his way out to the court that I missed tennis, to be honest -- he had played just six games and 31 minutes in the past five days since his opener at Flushing Meadows.Tennis and Djokovic were reunited Sunday night, with Kyle Edmund, Andy Murrays young 21-year-old British protege, given a lesson in the first two sets by a master who was not even at his best.I thought I came out of the blocks really good, Djokovic said in an on-court interview, after wrapping up his 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win. I had a high intensity. Its not easy waiting the entire day, until 10 30 in the evening, to start with the right intensity.But I made Kyle work for each point. I wanted to move him around the court. The baseline shots, both the forehand and the backhand were working well. Im most pleased with that.For those first two sets, it was as one-sided as it gets in a round-of-16 major tie. The Serb, who had won their only other meeting 6-3, 6-3 at Miami earlier this year, was ruthlessly efficient; he was as frighteningly flexible on defense as ever, sliding and stretching and returning everything.He anticipated almost every shot Edmund would make -- he got the text before Edmund even sent it, as Gilbert said on commentary.All the questions Djokovic faced coming into the tournament, into this match -- the personal problems that contributed to his early Wimbledon exit; his first-round defeat in Rio; withdrawing from Cincinnati; the wrist and arm injuries he struggled with in his unconvincing first-round win against Jerzy Janowicz; the lack of time on court here -- were all being emphatically answered.It even looked like the crowd was going to see a second match of the night session, which was shorter than the wait they faced to get into Ashe Stadium, after Lucas Pouille finally beat Rafael Nadal in 4 hours, 7 minutes, finishing their day-session matchup around 7:30 p.m and delaying the start of proceedings.But then Djokovics injury problems resurfaced, and Edmund -- whom the world No. 1 had toyed with up until that point -- got up off the canvas to battle back from 2-0 down to 2-2 in the third set.Djokovic began to llook at his box.dddddddddddd He called for the ATP trainer, Clay Sniteman, and received vigorous treatment to his right elbow in a three-minute medical timeout. When they stepped back out, Edmund immediately broke him for a 3-2 lead, in what was a wild turn of events. Suddenly there was a sense that it could become an uncomfortable night for the Serb.But the crisis was averted and Djokovic, seemingly almost affronted by having his superiority questioned, restored normal order by breaking Edmund twice more to close out the win in 1 hour, 55 minutes.The No. 1 concern to Djokovic, though, will be the seven double faults he committed, and the paltry three aces he sent down. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, his quarterfinal opponent at Flushing Meadows, could well take it to him if he serves up similar stats on Tuesday.The treatment Djokovic received on his elbow had also looked painful. No, it was good. It was good. Everything was fine, he later told a media conference.When asked why he called for the trainer, Djokovic smiled and tried to bat away any concern with his characteristic humour. I needed a little bit of massage, he quipped. I like Clay. That was a little deal we had before the match.The world No. 1s four completed sets were the fewest any man has played to get to the second week of a major in the Open era, and, in the end, he was just glad to shake off the cobwebs.Im feeling very good. I really wanted to start the match well today because I didnt have much time on the court overall before the fourth round, he added. Very pleased, except a little drop in the level in the third set, midway through the third set. Other than that, everything was great.Considering I had some struggles before the tournament, I feel great at this moment physically; mentally as well Im motivated. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam quarterfinals feeling good, its exactly where I want to be.Unusually for Djokovic, he faced a lot of question marks coming into this US Open, more than he has had to answer at the start of a major for a long time, and the stark truth is that not all of them have been answered yet. ' ' '