"It's a matter of just taking your chances when you get into it against those guys, and I did that exceptionally well today, " said the 28-year-old.

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They also know it's vital to convert chances against their first-round playoff opponent, the New York Rangers, who were whistled for the fewest penalties in the league.

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Ms. Gilgur-Cook, of Forest Hills in Queens, said she was worried about her daughters' chances now, though it felt odd to root against other parents and children.

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We had so many chances in the first half (against Spain) to put it away.

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But there are seeds, too, in the very nature of things: a promise, after all, is only a promise, even when it is supported by divine revelation, and the chances against its fulfillment may be put into a depressing mathematical formula.

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"It was a tough game - they didn't make many chances against us, " said Ferguson.

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If Rooney is back from his hamstring injury by then, it would also improve his chances of being available for England's game against Spain on 11 February.

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It's been stalled for years, but it is the kind of thing that every candidate gets asked when they come here - are you against it, and if you're not, you can kiss your Nevada chances goodbye.

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"I think there's more than one club against it, so that's all you need, " said Thompson when asked about the chances of a 10-team top flight winning a vote.

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