Tweet CENTENNIAL, Colo. Philadelphia Eagles Franco Harris Jersey . -- It wouldnt be completely accurate to suggest that Chris Stewart was huffing and puffing following each of his shifts a year ago. But the Colorado Avalanche right wing would "get on the ice and get out of the gate quick, and then hed run out of gas a little bit towards the end of his shift," coach Joe Sacco told NHL.com. While Stewart still managed to enjoy a career year with 64 points and a team-leading 28 goals in 77 games, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound power forward was determined to improve his physical conditioning and stamina over the summer. Stewarts hard work is paying off. Hes among the NHLs leading scorers with 9 goals -- including three game winners -- and 7 assists in 11 games. The 9 goals tied the Avalanche record for October held by Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic; his four power-play goals are one more than he scored all last season, and hes averaging 17:33 in ice time, nearly a minute more than he logged in 2009-10. "This is definitely the best shape Ive been in my life," said Stewart, who was rewarded before the season with a two-year, $5.75 million contract. "I probably played close to 235 (pounds) last year. My body fat is down 2 percent and my muscle is up. I think now I have as much energy in the third period as I do in the first." Stewart trained at Twist Sport Conditioning in the Toronto area, spending 2 1/2 hours there five days each week. His regimen included working with a track coach for an additional 1 1/2 hours two days a week. "I just really worked on trimming down and getting faster," he said. Stewarts workout group included his brother Anthony, who plays for the Atlanta Thrashers, and Los Angeles Kings forward Wayne Simmonds. "We definitely had a great workout group," Chris Stewart said. "It was a do-or-die situation for Anthony this summer; now hes in the best shape of his life, too, and thats probably the reason hes playing so well." The group concentrated on circuit training and "heavy squats," he said. "We did a lot of core stuff. That was a big thing because I was strong, but I wanted to be strong on one leg, and I added a lot of flexibility, too." There were diet changes as well. Gone were fast foods like cheeseburgers and French fries, replaced with chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables. "I really focused on my diet," Stewart said. "I saw a nutritionist, and once you take the time to familiarize yourself with everything, its all about the right attitude and wanting to do it and seeing the results. "Theres a lot of dos and donts, but you have to invest in yourself. I thought it would make me a better player and I feel its paid off. I feel like no matter how long Ive been on the ice I still feel like I can go full speed. After a big power burst, it used to take me a couple shifts to recover." Stewarts new and improved physique hasnt gone unnoticed by his teammates. "He looks thinner," Milan Hejduk said. "Hes in better shape than he was last year. With his speed and power, he can be a nightmare for defensemen." Last season nearly turned into a nightmare for Stewart, the Avalanches first-round pick (No. 18) in the 2006 Entry Draft. Unhappy with Stewarts play and conditioning in the first few weeks of the season, the Avalanche sent him to the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League. "This is definitely the best shape Ive been in my life.  I probably played close to 235 (pounds) last year. My body fat is down 2 percent and my muscle is up. I think now I have as much energy in the third period as I do in the first." -- Chris Stewart The demotion lasted only a couple of days because several Avalanche forwards went down with injuries. "Id say the turning point was when I got sent down to Lake Erie," Stewart said. "When I came back up I definitely was a lot hungrier. I had a lot to prove. We had a few key injuries and I got a great opportunity to play. I came back up with a new attitude." Stewart eventually skated on the top line with TJ Galiardi and Paul Stastny. For the most part, hes been there ever since. "It was a great year, getting the first full year under my belt, playing with Stastny and Galiardi, and getting great time on the power play too," he said. "I had a lot of opportunities and I just have to follow up on it this year." Sacco has been especially pleased with Stewarts play this season, and he appreciates the effort his budding star put in over the summer. "The big man can make plays, we all know that," Sacco said. "Hes definitely more explosive. I think now his ability to recover quicker has helped him, and thats obviously because of what he did in the offseason. Now he should be able to maintain 30-, 40-second hard shifts and then get the rest and then get back out there and still perform at a high level." Not that Stewart is taking anything for granted. "Im not satisfied," he said. "Definitely Id say I have a lot of confidence, but I still need to have a good work ethic. I need to play hard every night. Thats what I plan on doing." Philadelphia Eagles Barack Obama Jerseys The NHL was founded on November 26, 1917. Teams included the Montreal Canadians, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Arenas, and Quebec Bulldogs. Montreal Wanderers defenseman Dave Ritchie scored the first goal in NHL history New York Jets Jersey This is a tremendous challenge and opportunity. The NHL is still trying to strike a delicate balance, keeping the physical nature of the game while removing the most dangerous hits. But now it can start with a clean slate with Shanahan replacing Campbell, new wording in the rule book and a new mandate for stiffer supplemental discipline. Franco Harris Jerseys The NHL's elite will descend onto Las Vegas Wednesday night to celebrate the 2010-2011 NHL season, hand out the league's highest individual honors and watch Jay Mohr implode on national television. Of the 14 major awards that will be presented, 11 are still up for grabs entirely (The Art Ross, Rocket and Jennings already having been secured by Daniel Sedin, Corey Perry and Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider) and one is up for grabs specifically (as in Micheal Grabner, nominated for the Calder). Leon Washington Jersey Owen Nolan and Stephane Matteau scored for San Jose, 4-4-1 on its current 10- game road trip - the longest uninterrupted swing in NHL history. Hasek suffered a strained groin during Wednesday's loss against Toronto and will miss tomorrow's game against Detroit. ... From Sports | Nhl -- Reserve Helps Sabres Win | Seattle Times Newspaper Premier Rashard Mendenhall Jersey "To me, it's not about letting the world know we're doing it," Roethlisberger said Monday morning from his youth football camp at a local high school. "As long as we know (what) we're doing and we're doing it, that's all that matters. That's just how we operate and how I operate. I've gotten some letters from people, I've heard some things like, 'Why aren't you working out?' Well, we are working out. We've probably worked out more than most teams. It's just that we choose to keep it quiet." OTTAWA - Help could soon be on the way for the Senators in the form of captain Daniel Alfredsson and it cant come soon enough for the slumping team. Alfredsson, who hasnt played since suffering a separated left shoulder during a Dec. 23 loss the Pittsburgh Penguins, is skating on his own while the Senators are on the road and hes expecting to meet up with them Friday in Montreal. Although he thinks Saturdays game against the Canadiens may come too early, Mondays matinee in Boston - the finale of the five-game trip - could see his return. Well start trying to get a little more contact the next few days and see how it responds, Alfredsson said Wednesday morning after an on-ice workout with assistant coach Luke Richardson at the Senators practice facility. Thats the one thing we havent tested and its the big test and going to determine when Ill be ready to play. Alfredsson, who has 31 points in 37 games with the Senators to rank second on the team in scoring despite his time on the sidelines, was hurt on a crunching hit by Penguins forward Craig Adams. Since then, the Senators have taken several other hits - on the scoreboard and on the injury list. Theyve won just four of their 10 games and are currently mired in a five-game losing streak going into Thursday nights game against the New York Rangers. Since losing Alfredsson, No. 1 centre Jason Spezza has also gone down with a knee injury, left-winger Milan Michalek, the teams leading goal-getter with 16, is out with a suspected concussion, and centre Jesse Winchester (knee) and defenceman Filip Kuba (wrist) are also on the shelf. The return of Alfredsson, undoubtedly the teams inspirational leader, could provide a much-needed spark with the Senators in danger of sliding out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference should they continue to struggle. You try to do everything you can when you skate and prepare yourself to get back and give yourself and the team as much of a boost as you can. I dont think anybody can expect anyone coming back to be a saviour, but hopefully be a big part of getting it back on track and maybe theyll have done that before I come back. Alfredsson was expected to be out from four to six weeks, which would have put his return just before the start of the Olympic Games, but he has a history of making quick comebacks. He made a shock return to the lineup during the 2008 playoffs despite suffering torn knee ligaments among other damage in the final game of the regular season. Last year, he was back a week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on one occasion and missed just one game after fracturing his jaw on another. Bobby Orr Jersey. . Theres no difference from me or anybody else ... its all probably in our DNA as hockey players to come back fairly quick and handle games maybe better than some other people, Alfredsson said. Alfredsson, who was named to Swedens roster for next months Olympics, said he doesnt think the injury will affect his availability for the Vancouver Games, but said he wont play if it could jeopardize his season with the Senators. Hes anxious to get back to action and help them out of their funk. When youre out and the team is not winning, its frustrating that you could be there to help, Alfredsson said. Youve just got to keep believing. Theyre not playing that bad. Its a couple of mistakes here and there thats the difference. I believe that well find our way out of this. Cynics could suggest the best way Alfredssons return could help would be if it were in goalie pads in Ottawas net, where Pascal Leclaire and backup Brian Elliott have struggled. Goaltending coach Eli Wilson paid the price Wednesday when the team announced his firing. The Senators have had to make a goaltending change in four of their last 11 games and the heat from fans and the media in Ottawa has been turned up particularly on Leclaire, who was acquired from Columbus last March to provide the answer to the teams long-standing search for quality goaltending. Leclaire, clearly feeling the pressure, snapped at reporters after a loss last week in Washington and continues to go downhill. He was pulled after the first period of Tuesdays 6-1 loss at the Atlanta Thrashers after giving up three goals on 14 shots. I think he knew how hard it was to come to (play in) Canada, but at the same time, he didnt know and once he sorts that out and feels more comfortable, hes going to be a great goalie for us for a few years here, Alfredsson said of the netminder. While the Senators try to sort out the goaltending, their offence hasnt been much better and thats where Alfredsson could really help. Ottawa has scored just four goals during its losing streak and its power play, ranked dead last in the NHL, is a big problem. The Senators are just 2-for-49 with the man advantage in the last 11 games. We cant get any goals and thats a big issue and especially, when you struggle sometimes, specialty teams can be a big difference and our power play has failed us a lot of times this year, Alfredsson said. Right now, when were on the road, maybe a little bit tired, you can tell that we need some spark and thats when the power play needs to come through. ' ' '