The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 24

C6 Saturday, January 14, 2012 SPORTS Leader-Post leaderpost.coin NFL Crosby skates with team for first time in month Packers, Giants renew rivalry REUTERS of concussion symptoms, was on the ice for about 27 minutes in a morning workout ahead of the Penguins game with the Florida Panthers. I feel pretty good, he told reporters. Its nice to get back out there for the first time. Im taking it in stride, but its nice to get back out there. The workout was his first with the team since Dec.

7. The Penguins have given no timetable for the centers return to the lineup, but he is expected to skate in practice on Sunday before the slumping Penguins play at Tampa Bay. (The) symptoms have got a lot better, the NHLs top draw said. Im allowed to lightly exert. Thats positive Well see how it goes.

Crosby chatted briefly with coach Dan Bylsma at the Friday workout before taking some passes from conditioning coach Mike Kadar and shooting at an empty net, the leagues website reported. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby skated with his team mates for the first time in more than a month on Friday, the NHL club said. Crosby, who has been sidelined since December after a relapse lllilllll! LARRY FINE REUTERS Illl if r-ira'irJiU at ealssfi is iUflfigfi Illiiillll kff i hi Ifflffglfii IsstSsf iifii Fu i ll UJ ifiPi iflligllP 5 fig'll-! I iisflgsl? SfJ 1st II IllilPIls iffjjif il Oil ls3 flail The Green Bay Packers, led by Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, host the pass-rushing New York Giants in the National Football League playoffs Sunday A test of strength against strength, pass attack versus pass rush, will determine which team reaches the NFC title game and moves within one step of next months Super Bowl. The Packers are aiming to become the first team in seven years to win back-to-back NFL titles and, after enjoying the luxury of a first-round playoff by, have all their players ready for the clash between two of the leagues oldest rivals. Rodgers threw 45 touchdown passes against just six interceptions to set an NFL season record for best quarterback rating, targeting a sterling set of receivers in Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and tight end Jermi-chael Finley You can see the rhythm in which he operates.

He has great velocity on the ball. He has great accuracy and good vision, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. He moves the ball around and has large contributions from a whole bunch of players. New York counters with a dangerous collection of sack artists, now that Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are back at full speed to join irrepressible second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. We have a lot of respect for their defensive line, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

They have an excellent seven-man rotation theyve been operating with. Theres no let-up in all seven of them. The Giants defensive secondary has been a weakness so upsetting Rodgers timing with a rush by the front four is critical to slowing down Green Bay. But the Packers signal caller can also confound a pass-rush with his mobility "Hes kind of like Houdini out there a little bit, said New York defensive tackle Chris Canty. He avoids pass rushes, he avoids that initial surge.

He can get out of the pocket and make plays downfield with his wide receivers. The Giants, who clawed their way into the post-season with wins against the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, can also put points on the board with quarterback Eli Manning throwing to big-play receivers Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham, and using a revitalized running attack. Our focus is on putting the ball in the end zone. Weve done that better than anybody during the regular season, McCarthy said. Whether we run it in there or we throw it, I dont really have a preference.

Last month, the then unbeaten Packers beat the Giants 38-35 after Rodgers briskly moved the Pack- ers into range for a game-winning field goal after taking possession with just 58 seconds left. That victory made the Packers 12-0. Two weeks later Green Bay was ambushed 19-14 by the hardhitting Kansas City Chiefs for their only loss. The Giants won the last playoff showdown between 1 the teams, an overtime victory in the NFC title game four years ago in frigid conditions at Lambeau Field. That defeat, however, came with Brett Favre at quarterback for Green Bay IE Sal II Is iSi 1 AT PURCHASE PRICE unniirux TS595-1W B1-WEEKIY72M0T (JHT PDI PLUS I (i ma nnutu oitruck PDI PLUS BI-WEEKLY 72 MONTHS $1,339 DOWN 2.75 PURCHASE FINANCING" 182HP 2.4L 4-Cylinder ECOTEC Engine with 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Steering Wheel Audio Controls 6-Speaker Sound System with CD, MP3 and Auxiliary Audio Input jack Standard OnStar- DIimAraAU riiniM4ii.Uii Diuetootn lonnectivity 17" Aluminum Wheels PAYMENT .1 1 WIN CONTEST BASE AWARD jjfflfil 2012 TRAVERSE LS 111 iP Itf .3 FHUOMt PURCHASE PRICE I OWN IT FOR $32,995 188 Wtf Ilf 1 14 MONTHS INCLUDES FREIGHT PDI PLUS $1,000 CONNECT 1 WIN CONTEST BASE AWARD" $3,700 CASH CREDITS alii 55 8 i 8 uijflM mm 6 if WELl EQUIPPED WITH: 3.6L V6 Engine with 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Air Conditioning 6 Speaker Audio System with XM Satellite Radio Standard OnStar- Bluetooth Connectivity 17" Steel Wheels 34MPG HIGHWAY 1 4 1100 KM HWY 1 12 7 1100 KM CITY 5i iiiff 2:1 illfflf! ifilifil 13 THE BEST COVERAGE IN CANADA 5 YEARS 160.000 KM SCAN HjrSH HERE TO FIND yours Eo-w; PRAIRIECHEVROLET.COM 5 5JD Of YiJiUT DILAWRI GROUP OF COMPANIES CANADAS LARGEST AUTO DEALER GROUP I (gflcoasift (gjauEBoBi CALL THE INDOOR HOTLINE 522-XD13(n MONDAY TO THURSDAY 10 AM-8 PM FRIDAY SATURDAY 9 AM-6 PM SUNDAY 10 AM-5 PM.