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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cam Atkinson believes the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting better. But hes also realizes just how far they have to go. "We got a little taste of what we wanted in making the playoffs," the 24-year-old winger said the day after the Blue Jackets were eliminated in Game 6 of their wild first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "We just won two games. Its a stepping stone." For years an NHL doormat, the Blue Jackets are both inspired and also realistic after the best season in the franchises mostly rocky 13 seasons. "I heard on the radio the other day that Game 4 is one of the great sports moments in this city," forward Mark Letestu said, referring to a three-goal comeback at home that was capped by a last-minute tying goal in regulation and Nick Folignos overtime winner. "I think theres a lot more that we can give. We can give series victories and further cement the Blue Jackets in the hearts of people here. Thats whats on guys minds right now." It was a season of firsts for the Blue Jackets, who have spent much of their existence toward the bottom of the NHL standings. They set club records with 43 regular-season wins, 21 road victories, 93 points and 231 goals. They had made the playoffs just once previously and their stay lasted only four games, all losses. But one of the leagues youngest teams overcame a 5-10-0 start with a strong finish to clinch a playoff spot. Then, they won Games 2 and 4 against the Penguins with stirring comebacks. In Monday nights Game 6, they were outclassed early and trailed 4-0 heading into the final period before scoring three goals in a 4:52 span to energize a crowd of 19,189 that stood and roared throughout the final minutes. The 4-3 defeat left them disappointed, but most will likely only remember the Jackets scrambling at the finish for a possible tying goal while the Penguins struggled to hold them off. "The building was rocking," defenceman Jack Johnson said. "But theres going to be a lot more and better times ahead." Beyond everything else they accomplished, they gave their patient followers some hope. Over their past 111 games, the Blue Jackets are 62-37-12 -- far and away the best such span in the franchises history, and exceeded by only seven other teams in the league. "Its been great to see where we came from halfway through last season to where we are now and how excited the city gets," said fourth-line centre Derek MacKenzie, an unrestricted free agent this summer. "Weve already talked about that. What would it be like if we could have a great start? Is that arena going to be like that all season long? We sure hope so." The Blue Jackets poor history has become, well, old news. "Everybody hears about the past," said rookie defenceman Ryan Murray, taken No. 2 in the 2012 draft. "It hasnt been very good. Everybody thats here now just wants to change that, to change the culture and bring in more fans and change the city into a hockey town." Judging from the capacity crowds down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the excitement generated around this city of 787,000. For the past few weeks, the Blue Jackets have been the talk of the town, pulling off a rare coup by bumping Ohio State football off the front page of the local newspaper. Now that the Blue Jackets have stamped themselves as a good team, the hard part is getting better. "I dont think were going to catch anybody by surprise anymore," defenceman James Wisniewski said. "Everybody realizes the identity that weve created here, that its going to be a hard-fought game and that theyre going to have to bring their A game or were going to run them out of the building." Many of the Blue Jackets had already shaved off their playoff beards before meetings with the coaching staff on Tuesday morning. Several of the younger players were barely able to grow one. So now a team that didnt know what it was missing when it didnt make the playoffs is disappointed that it has been eliminated. "Ill be watching (the playoffs) for sure," Atkinson said. "What else is there to do now? You wish you could be playing." Jason Taylor Jersey . His absence against the Celtics comes a day after he scored 43 points in the Heats 100-96 win at Cleveland. Laremy Tunsil Jersey . -- Orleans Darkwa ran in from 1 yard with 1:45 left, and the Miami Dolphins rallied from two scores down in the final minutes to beat the Dallas Cowboys 25-20 on Saturday night. http://www.officialmiamidolphinsfootball.com/authentic-jakeem-grant-jersey-womens . The Reds will host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the opener of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the debut matchup will feature a pair of pitchers whose recent resumes have included a fair number of bases-clearing hits. Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey . Joel Embiid was nearly unstoppable in the paint in the second half, and Naadir Tharpe seemingly couldnt miss. William Hayes Jersey .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South.MILAN, Italy -- Kaka scored his 100th goal for AC Milan on Monday to help it to a much-needed 3-0 win over Atalanta in Serie A, and Napoli beat Sampdoria 2-0 to close the gap on second-place Roma. Kaka, who is in his second spell at Milan, scored twice to take his tally to 101 goals for the club. Teenage striker Bryan Cristante scored the third in his first start. "I dont know how to explain the emotion of having scored 101 goals with Milan," Kaka said. "Every goal has its own feeling and waiting for one always causes the usual anxiety. I was waiting for this one for a few matches. I hoped it would arrive in the derby, like my first goal 10 years ago. Its still a crazy feeling. I am really happy to have started 2014 like this." In the early match, Dries Mertens scored twice to help Napoli move two points behind Roma, which lost to Juventus on Sunday. Also, Luca Toni scored twice as newly-promoted Hellas Verona won 3-1 at Udinese, while Edy Reja steered Lazio to a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in his first match back in charge. In other matches, it was: Parma 3, Torino 1; Catania 2, Bologna 0; and Genoa 2, Sassuolo 0. Milan had endured a bad finish to 2013 with a derby defeat to Inter Milan and was still without Riccardo Montolivo, Stephan El Shaarawy, Valter Birsa, Ignazio Abate, Kevin Constant and Sulley Muntari. Mario Balotelli had flu-like symptoms and was only fit for the bench so the 18-year-old Cristante was handed a first league start. Cristante had previously played only five minutes of Serie A football but he had two goalscoring opportunities within the first 14 minutes and hit the crossbar. Kaka had been waiting for more than a month to reach a century of goals for Milan and he did so in the 35th minute, finishing off a swift counterattack led by Urby Emanuelson following an Atalanta corner. He celebrated by brandishing a Milan shirt with his name and the number 100. "I dont know where I can get to. I would like to think immediately of 200 goals, but its better to aim for 110," Kaka said. "I want to leave my mark in the history of Milan, I will try to be an example for the youngsters and to always do my job, then history will say what role I had." Atalanta threatened to equalize, notably just before halftime when Cristian Raimondis shot was deflected onto the upright. However, two goals in three minutes all but sealeed the match after Balotelli was introduced shortly before the hour mark.dddddddddddd Milan doubled its lead against the run of play when Balotelli pulled the ball back and, although Robinho mishit his effort, Kaka slotted the ball home. Moments after the Brazilians 101st goal, Cristante netted his first, with a fine angled drive into the bottom corner from outside the area. Milan moved provisionally into 10th spot with its first win in four league matches. In the early kickoff, Napoli broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half following an entertaining first period. Gonzalo Higuain cut the ball back into the area from the right flank for Mertens to volley into the bottom right corner. Manolo Gabbiadini hit the crossbar for Sampdoria shortly before Mertens doubled his tally with a free kick over the wall which bounced under Junior da Costas arms. Sampdoria had a chance to get back into the game when an effort from substitute Nicola Pozzi hit both posts but stayed out. It was Sampdorias first loss under Sinisa Mihajlovic. Verona is only six points behind Napoli after another strong performance by the 36-year-old Toni, who continues to boost his claims for a spot in the Italy World Cup squad. "I didnt start out with the idea of going to the World Cup," Toni said. "I will try to do my best and to score as many goals as possible, then it will be up to (Italy coach Cesare) Prandelli to decide, he knows me. "If the coach needs me, even for a few minutes, I am ready to give him a hand. We are playing a good football. If I score goals the credit also goes to the squad who are playing for me." Inter slipped to sixth, a point behind Verona after a stunning volley by Miroslav Klose 10 minutes from time. Torino saw its run of three successive victories ended as Amauri ended his goal drought for Parma with his first goal since the opening day of the season.. Elsewhere, there was controversy over Catanias opening goal as at least four home players appeared to be offside when Gonzalo Bergessio headed home Francesco Lodis free kick. Lodi was playing his first game for Catania after a six-month spell at Genoa and he also got on the scoresheet with a penalty after Archimede Morleo had handled. In Genoa, Alberto Gilardino scored one penalty but had another saved in the final minute. Andrea Bertolacci volleyed home the second goal. 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