ERST LESEN! » ack wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsb

PITTSBURGH -- The stakes are nowhere near the same: hockey immortality versus two points in the standings in the second week of a long season.Still, the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins expect the atmosphere to be a little more heated than the usual NHL October product when they meet Thursday night barely four months removed from Pittsburghs six-game victory in the Stanley Cup Final.It was obviously tough to go on that long a journey and lose the way we did, San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. I dont think there was any doubt at the end of the day they deserved to win, but at the same time I think for us its a chance to go in, and were a different team this year, and make a statement that we are a different team this year.The Penguins, in essence, are not. They brought back nearly the entire group that captured the franchises fourth championship and led to a raucous downtown parade in mid-June. A week removed from a giddy opening night in which the 2016 Cup banner was raised at newly renamed PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins are trying to focus on the next chapter instead of the last one.That shouldnt be a problem.The Penguins are coming off sloppy performances in an overtime loss to Colorado on Monday and a 4-0 setback in Montreal on Tuesday. Captain Sidney Crosby -- the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the 2016 playoffs -- remains out indefinitely with a concussion and goaltender Matt Murray is still on the mend from a broken hand.Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan is focused on his team getting its act together. The fact the Sharks (3-1) happen to be next on the schedule is coincidental.Youve got to bring your A-game each and every night to give yourself a chance, Sullivan said. But certainly, coming off the type of game we had (against Montreal) and our opponent moving forward, there should be plenty of motivation for us to make sure we respond the right way.The Penguins did relentlessly during the 2016 postseason, seizing control of the best-of-seven final by taking the first two games at home and eventually closing the Sharks out on the road in Game 6. The giddy celebration in the visiting locker room in San Jose will be long remembered. It also wont mean a thing when the puck drops on Thursday.Theyre probably going to have a chip on their shoulder and we obviously didnt play too great (in Montreal), so were obviously going to have a chip on ours, forward Bryan Rust said. I think its going to be a physical, playoff-like atmosphere.San Jose appears just as sharp as it was last spring when it reached the Cup Final for the first time ever. If the Sharks need a reminder of how close they came, they only need look up at Pittsburghs banner-strewn rafters. Theres no going back, however. Another long trek to the postseason awaits. Thursday night is just one more step in the process.Its important that we keep building our game and trying to get better, captain Joe Pavelski said. We understand its a long ways from getting back to that position and this is a good team that well be playing.Game notes Murray skated with a small group of teammates on Wednesday and has been cleared to practice but there remains no timetable for his return to the lineup. ... Crosby skated early Wednesday and remains out.---AP Sports Writer Vinay Cherwoo in New York contributed to this report. KWaun Williams Super Bowl Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. 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Missouri defensive end Charles Harris announced he will forgo his senior season and declare for the 2017 NFL draft.Harris is No. 11 on the latest list of top 32 NFL draft prospects, as compiled by ESPNs Todd McShay.I wish we could have another year with Charles leading our program, but theres no question in my mind that hes ready for the next level, Tigers coach Barry Oddom said in a statement.ddddddddddddHarris had nine sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries in 2016, and was second on the team with 61 tackles.He is seventh in Missouri history with 18 sacks and 12th with 34.5 tackles for loss. ' ' '