Storm- News » Hutchinson at 14:21.

WHISTLER, B. Earnest Byner Jersey .C. -- Fourth place is starting to get old for Canadas Justin Snith and Tristan Walker. The Calgary duo produced their best result of the World Cup luge season Friday, only to fall agonizingly short of the doubles podium for the fourth time in 2013. Snith and Walker were sixth after the first run before blazing to the third fastest time on their second trip down the course to finish just 0.027 seconds out of third. "We know were close. We were definitely closer than we were last year," said Snith, who along with Walker finished fourth in doubles at the 2013 world championship on the same track. "It was just the difference of our first run. We had a couple little skids on the way down and that was the difference between fourth and third." Snith and Walker, who also finished fourth in last seasons final two World Cup events, wound up with a combined two-run time of one minute 13.378 seconds. "The first run had a couple little sloppy mistakes and its been kind of the story of the season so far," said Walker. "Its been frustrating. We know we have so much more to give once you get the two runs combined, but we know were right there." Germanys Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt continued their doubles dominance while extending their lead in the World Cup standings with a third victory in four races this season, finishing first at the Whistler Sliding Centre with a time of 1:13.087. "Its a very good track for us," said Arlt, who paired with Wendl to win gold at last years world championship. "We like it a lot. Its awesome to be here." German teammates Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken, the only men to beat Wendl and Arlt this season, were second with a time of 1:13.171 at the venue that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. Austrias Penter Penz and Georg Fischler were third in 1:13.351. Germanys Felix Loch then continued his reign in mens singles at Whistler, winning his third straight race here after finishing his two runs in 1:36.686. Loch, who took the overall lead in the World Cup standings with his second victory of the season, won gold at the 2010 Olympics and again last year at the world championship. "The two runs today were really good," said Loch. "In the first run, a little mistake out of (Turn) 12 but it was not a problem. The second one was really good. "Im happy about the two times." Chris Mazdzer of the United States surprised the field with his first-ever podium, finishing in second at 1:36.978. "I love this track," said a jubilant Mazdzer. "Last year I had my best result of my entire career and this year I upped it." German teammates Andi Langenhan and David Moller were second and third after the first run behind Loch, but a couple of mistakes opened the door for Mazdzer in the frigid conditions on the track perched above this picturesque resort town. "I made myself a little more out of control to go faster and it paid off," he said. "Those were two very sketchy runs, Ill call it. Just kind of out of control, on the verge. Luckily I kept the sled going straight and made it down both times. "There were some times I didnt really know where I was going." Italys Dominik Fischnaller finished third with a time of 1:36.981, while Calgarys Sam Edney wound up sixth for the third straight time this season, 0.420 back of Loch. "Sixth place is a great result again. I know that its that close to the podium," said Edney, whose two runs clocked in at 1:37.106. "Its a matter tenths of a second, which is inspiring and motivating." Snith and Walker started the World Cup season with a disappointing 19th-place finish in Norway before following that up with a 12th-place showing in Austria the following week. The pair got things going last week with a fifth-place finish in Winterberg, Germany, and went one better on Friday. "The second run, right from the start, nailed the start cut," said Snith. "On the way down, no problems, no skids anywhere. I knew it was a good one." Canada has never won an Olympic medal in luge, but is hoping to change that in Sochi in February. Germany is the dominant power in the sport, but Canada is in the mix in all four events -- doubles, mens and womens singles, as well as the team relay, which will be making its debut at the Games. "(The Germans) are just humans, theyre not robots," said Snith. "They will make mistakes and we just have to be ready and capitalize on those opportunities. "Theyre a little bit further away than Id like them to be right now, but if we keep working like the way we have been going and working on the start, Im sure that time difference will come down." Arlt agreed that the Canadians are close to cracking a top-three finish in doubles. "Its getting closer," he said. "Theyre very concentrated and work very hard. Its not (far) to the podium." The womens singles and team relay events go Saturday. Notes: Mitchel Malyk and John Fennell, both of Calgary, finished the mens singles race in 19th and 24th, respectively. ... Snith and Walker cost Canada a chance at a second-straight World Cup medal in the team relay last weekend when they left the gate early in their leg of the race and were disqualified. ... The World Cup luge schedule continues next week in Park City, Utah. ... The Whistler Sliding Centre is the same venue where 21-year-old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died just hours before the start of the 2010 Olympics, prompting criticism that the course was too fast. Jaylon Ferguson Jersey . Campbell, playing on loan with Greek club Olympiacos, found the net with a left-footed shot in the 44th minute off a pass from second-half substitute Jorge Rojas to open the scoring at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica. Cory Ross Jersey . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom-marlon-brown-jersey-large-803d.html . Hamelin overcame a weak start to win bronze in the 500-metre race behind winner Wu Dajing of China and American J.R. Celski on Saturday at the world short track speed skating championship.Winnipeg, MB (SportsNetwork.com) - John Klingberg had two goals and two assists in the Dallas Stars 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Shawn Horcoff, Patrick Eaves and Jason Spezza also lit the lamp for the Stars, who have won two in a row since a two-game skid. Kari Lehtonen made 38 saves. Dallas went 4-for-8 on the power play, while Winnipeg went 0-for-2. Obviously they were trying to play real physical, and they took a few penalties, said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. The only way you can stop physical play is by putting the puck in the back of the net. For us, we had the opportunities. If you dont use those opportunities, then it keeps coming. Andrew Ladd and Toby Enstrom scored for the Jets, who have lost three straight for the first time since a season-high four-game slide from Oct. 11-19. Michael Hutchinson gave up all five goals on 32 shots. Eaves gave Dallas a 1-0 lead at 5:13 of the first period when he put home a rebound. Ladd tied the gamme at 10:14 of the middle stanza when his shot from the top of the left circle got past Lehtonen. Raheem Mostert Jersey. But the Stars scored the next four goals to take control. Horcoff tipped defenseman Trevor Daleys shot past Hutchinson at 14:21. Dallas made it 3-1 at 18:47 with its third power-play goal of the game. Tyler Seguins shot hit off the end boards and went right to Spezza, who beat Hutchinson from the bottom of the left circle. Klingbergs shot from the right point beat traffic in front and got past Hutchinson at 4:31 of the third. He then scored on the power play at 8:40. Enstrom lit the lamp at 12:46 to account for the final margin. I dont think were executing as well as we were, said Jets forward Mathieu Perreault. Like I said, they got some good players on the power play. Game Notes Seguin had three assists for the Stars ... The Jets start a two-game road trip Monday in Calgary, while Dallas hosts Colorado on Tuesday. ' ' '