VANCOUVER -- Perspective is always important. Maybe thats why midfielder Russell Teibert managed to sound enthusiastic about a schedule that sees the Vancouver Whitecaps play their third Major League Soccer game in eight days. The Whitecaps match against Real Salt Lake Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium comes on the heels of a 1-1 draw Wednesday in Toronto against Toronto FC and a 3-1 loss to Chivas USA Saturday at home in BC Place Stadium. The Whitecaps will have travelled over 7,300 kilometres by the time they return to Vancouver. The stretch can be physically exhausting but Teiberts rational is more games in a short time period means increased playing minutes for everyone on the team. "I think its the most exciting stretch to be going through, especially with the squad we have this year," said the 21-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., who played 82 minutes against Toronto after not getting on the field against Chivas. "You never know when you are going to have the chance to be on the field. Now that we have more games theres a better chance you have in playing. Its exciting and it keeps all the guys on their toes." A win would help Vancouver gain ground in MLSs competitive Western Conference. Heading into the weekend the Whitecaps are sixth in the West with 26 points from a 6-4-8 record. That leaves them just two points back of Salt Lake, which has a 7-4-7 record. "Each point, each win is vital," said Teibert. "Hopefully we get a good result and can jump back up there." Perspective can also be applied in analyzing the Whitecaps recent fortunes. For three months Vancouver rode a franchise-record eight game unbeaten streak (3-0-5). During that stretch the team scored 18 goals but allowed 14. Over their last four games the Whitecaps are 1-2-1. The team has managed just three goals and allowed six. "You are always going to have ups and downs in a season, thats professional sport," said Teibert. "Its how you handle those up and downs. "We have got a couple of draws and we did lose an unfortunate game last weekend. Its all about moving forward." Defender Steven Beitashour cant explain why the ball suddenly isnt going into the net for the Whitecaps. "I dont know what the reason is for that," said Beitashour, a member of Irans team at the recent World Cup in Brazil. "Any time we play we try to put up as many goals as possible and give up zero goals." Teams often improve defensively as the season progresses, said Beitashour, who is playing in his fifth MLS season. The Whitecaps are also still adapting to new coach Carl Robinson. "The coaching staff has more time with the team," he said. "Guys are getting used to each others tendencies and things like that. "With Carl being new here we are all trying to understand exactly what he wants defensively and we are starting to jell together." Real Salt Lake has struggled of late and is winless in their last five games (0-3-2). One problem is goal scoring. In the first five games of the season Salt Lake scored 23 goals. In their next seven the team managed just four, with two of those coming on penalty kicks in one match. In the first 11 games Salt Lake was shutout once. In the last seven games they have been shut out four times. Defender Tony Beltran said no one is panicking. "I feel like we talk about that every year at a certain point," he told the Real Salt Lake website. "We trust our forwards. We trust our midfielders. "We know theyre capable of finishing chances when they get them. For whatever reasons theyre not going in right now." Coach Jeff Cassar wants more production from his forwards, but said scoring is a team effort. "Scoring chances dont just come from the forwards," he said. "It comes from the build up. Getting numbers forward. "We need that final pass to not be close, but to be perfect, so that they (forwards) are then able to do their thing." The last time the two teams met Real Salt Lake took an early 2-0 lead only to see the Whitecaps battle back for a 2-2 draw. Teibert said the Whitecaps will be playing with fire if they let Salt Lake take an early lead in the rematch. "They are a very possession-based side," he said. "They play their style of game very well. "They know what they are good at. They can pass through teams. Its important for us to really key in on that. It will be a great match." The Whitecaps recent struggles havent dented the teams confidence. "Were not trying to change for anybody," said Teibert. "We are always going to stick to our game plan. Some days it works, some days it doesnt. "We always want to be an exciting team to watch. We have a never-say-die attitude. We have a sense of togetherness. We believe we can go out and win games." Nacer Chadli Jersey .com) - Delon Wright scored 17 points and No. Mousa Dembele Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Michy-Batshuayi-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ .Y. - Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby captured his second career Art Ross trophy on Sunday after leading the NHL in scoring this season. Thomas Vermaelen Belgium Jersey . Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit". Koen Casteels Jersey . Case in point: LeBron James vs. Ben McLemore. James was driving to the rim in the first quarter and McLemore decided to try to take the charge, which was quite admirable and predictably futile.PORTLAND, Ore. -- A broad smile lit up Will Bartons face when he was asked what he thought about the fans chanting his name in Portlands 124-80 rout of Brooklyn. "I like to think Im the peoples champ," Barton joked after scoring had a season-high 20 points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds off the bench in an inspired victory for the short-handed Trail Blazers. "I had a lot of fun tonight," he said. "We got a win, a big-time win. We had a lot of guys down (with injuries) so this win was huge for us." Portland won its fourth straight game despite missing forward LaMarcus Aldridge. The teams top scorer and rebounder has been out five straight games with a left groin sprain. Jason Collins, who became the NBAs first openly gay player when he signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on Sunday, entered the game without much fan reaction and played a pair of scoreless stretches in the fourth quarter when coach Jason Kidd had taken out his starters. Deron Williams had 12 points for the Nets, who suffered their third-worst margin of defeat in franchise history. It was the teams lowest point total this season. Kidd said the Nets looked listless. "Our energy was not there," he said. "On the offensive end, we missed shots and we kind of felt sorry for ourselves -- which carried over to the defensive end, and we didnt make stops." Mo Williams scored 21 points and Nicolas Batum had 19 in three quarters to lead seven Trail Blazers in double figures. Portland coach Terry Stotts also pulled his starters in the fourth quarter. The Blazers were hurting up front. In addition to Aldridge, Portland also was without forward Joel Freeland, who was missing his sixth game with a right knee sprain, and second-year centre Myers Leonard, who was out with a right ankle sprain. The Blazers also announced just before the game that forward Thomas Robinson, a key reserve in Aldridges absence, injured his left knee in Portlands 100-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. Results of an MRI on Wednesday were negative. The Blazers started Dorell Wright in place of Aldridge, who leads the Blazers with an average of 23.9 pooints and 11.dddddddddddd4 rebounds. "We didnt have anything to lose," guard Wesley Matthews said. "We look like an AAU team out there. We dont have any size other than RoLo (centre Robin Lopez). No one is playing their true positions. Were just playing off ball movement, off chemistry and its working for us." The Nets saw the return of starting guard Shaun Livingston. "That was an ugly night," said Livingston, who did not play in Brooklyns 108-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday because of a bruised tailbone. The Blazers opened with an 11-2 run, which was countered by a 10-2 run by the Nets that gave Brooklyn a 16-15 lead. Portland answered with a 12-2 run to go up 29-20 going into the second quarter. Bartons alley-oop dunk from Williams put Portland up 33-22. His jumper extended the lead to 45-30, and then a 3-pointer and his dunk pushed it to 58-34 at the break. Barton scored 12 points in the second quarter as the Blazers finished off the first half on a 19-4 run. Portland extended its lead to as many as 34 points in the third quarter. Portlands margin of victory was the largest for either team in the history of the series "Well, I didnt see that coming," Stotts said. "It was a good effort by everyone who played." Hours after Collins signed on Sunday he was on the court for the Nets, playing 11 minutes with two rebounds and a steal against the Lakers. He also had five fouls. Against the Blazers, Collins played seven total minutes and attempted a field goal. The Nets signed him to help in the absence of centre Brook Lopez, who is out for the season because of a broken right foot. The Nets will play again Thursday night in Denver. The Blazers have a break until Saturday night, when they host the Nuggets. NOTES: Portland won the only other meeting between the teams this season, 108-98 at the Barclays Center. ... Portland got a scare in the first quarter when starting guard Matthews fell after getting tangled up with Paul Pierce and briefly retreated to the locker room. Matthews later returned to hearty applause from the fans. ... Brooklyns 34 points was a first-half low for a Portland opponent. ' ' '