Gallerie » seconds later, Talbot slipped in MacKinnons pass off the

MONTMELO, Spain -- Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso is telling his local fans to keep their expectations low for this Sundays Spanish Grand Prix. The two-time former Formula One champion downplayed his third-place finish three weeks ago in China and said progress is going slow for Ferrari as it tries to make up ground on Mercedes. "If I say we will fight for the podium I will probably be lying to you, and I dont want to disappoint our fans," Alonso said on Thursday, a day before practice begins at the seasons first event in Europe. Alonso sits third in the standings with 41 points after Mercedes pair Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton swept the first four races of the season. Rosberg leads the standings with 79 points with Hamilton four points behind. Ferraris last win came at Montmelo one year ago when Alonso got his second career victory on the circuit. Since then, it is on its longest streak without a victory in almost two decades after Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel dominated the end of last season before Mercedes took the lead this year. Alonso has yet to crack the top three spots in qualifying so far in 2014, while Kimi Raikkonen has fared even worse in his return to the team that he won the world title with in 2007. The Finn hasnt finished in the top six spots in any race, and has also lacked speed in qualifying. "We finished ninth and 10th in Bahrain and did podium in China because we had some things (come) together on that Sunday, but it is not that we are in a position to say we will fight for the podium here," Alonso said. "Barcelona is a good point to check how competitive we are." Alonso said Ferraris upgrade package is "nothing out of the world" and that the biggest advantage he will have is his knowledge of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with its single straightaway, which he hoped would reduce Mercedes ability to leverage its better overall speed. The race will be Ferraris second under new team principal Marco Mattiacci after he replaced Stefano Domenicali. Mattiacci, a former president of Ferrari North America but with no experience in F1, arrived to Shanghai in time to watch Alonso steer to a third-place finish. Alonso said Mattiacci was meeting with everyone on the team-- from drivers to engineers and crew members-- but needed time to learn the sport before he put his stamp on the Italian team. "At the moment everything is more or less the same," Alonso said. "Everything is calm, no big changes. In China, Marco arrived with little experience in motor racing and lots of experience on the management side, but he is listening and learning as much as he can. I dont think Marco wants to become an engineer, but he will need some time to settle down and make some decisions. "It is a good thing for Ferrari to move forward and past some historical mistakes." Patrick Beverley Jersey . Vonn punctuated her near-perfect season in perfect fashion Friday, earning her fourth overall World Cup title with a dominating giant slalom victory. Tobias Harris Clippers Jersey .com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/Ivica-Zubac-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third. Paul George Jersey . According to a report from ESPN, sources said Manuels college coach Jimbo Fisher told teams he didnt think Manuel had the tools to be an NFL starter. Montrezl Harrell Jersey . This time, Tebow was in a groove the entire second half -- not just in the waning minutes -- and his teammates on defence were getting gobbled up.Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Semyon Varlamov more than earned his third shutout of the season as he stopped 54 shots as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 on Tuesday. Nathan MacKinnon and Max Talbot each scored early in the game for the Avalanche, who bounced back from a 4-3 loss to Columbus on Sunday. Corey Crawford allowed both goals on 24 shots in defeat. Colorado needed just 53 seconds to open the scoring as the rebound of John Mitchells shot went right to MacKinnon, who wristed it over the glove of Crawford from the right side of the net. Just 24 seconds later, Talbot slipped in MacKinnons pass off the rush for a 2-0 game. Nearly nine minutes into the second, Jarome Iginla raced in on a breakaway, but Crawford came out to the top of his crease and denied him to keep it a two-goal game. Chicago outshot Colorado 21-5 in the middle stanza, but was unable to solve Varlamov.dddddddddddd. The Blackhawks continued to swarm the net in the third. Varlamov somehow stopped Bryan Bickells deflection in front of the net 7:22 into the period. After Crawford went to the net with under three minutes to play, Chicago had a goal waved off as the referee blew the play dead seconds before the puck trickled through the pads of Varlamov. Andrew Shaws point-blank attempt was stopped moments later and the Avalanche held on for the win. Game Notes Varlamov posted his 16th career shutout ... Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg underwent a successful procedure on Tuesday that stabilized a fracture in his left hand, which was sustained during the Winter Classic ... The season series resumes Feb. 20 at United Center. ' ' '