BOULDER, Colo. -- The constant stream of personal-foul penalties on No. 16 Colorado last week provided an instant wake-up call.As in, having to set those alarms for bright and early because 80 reps of up-downs along with a series of timed sprints awaited the Buffaloes the next day. The impromptu workout session was the punishment handed out by coach Mike MacIntyre for eight personal-foul penalties in a 20-10 win over UCLA on Thursday.The Buffaloes (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12, No. 12 CFP) vow to keep cooler heads Saturday at Arizona (2-7, 0-6), especially in the thick of a Pac-12 South title chase.The way we played is not normally how we play, said senior outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert, who was flagged for targeting in the first quarter for a hit on sliding UCLA QB Mike Fafaul that carried an ejection. In order to be Pac-12 champions, we cant play like that -- ever.We gave up a lot of (yards) just because of penalties -- stupid personal fouls, offsides, things like that. By coach punishing us for that, its a way of getting that mistake corrected and putting a message in our head that that isnt acceptable.The Buffaloes averaged the least amount of penalty yards per game in the league before Thursdays meltdown in which they drew 12 flags for 128 yards. MacIntyre can live with some of the personal-foul calls. Those were just his team being overly aggressive, he explained.But he took issue with the unsportsmanlike conduct flags such as taunting and hitting a player out of bounds.Thats totally selfish and all that does is hurt the team, MacIntyre said. After the whistle is blown -- those type of plays are what really irritates me.The Buffaloes met as a team the following day and addressed it.We looked each other in the eyes and in the face and we said, `Were not going to do that again, senior running back Phillip Lindsay said. That will get us beat down the line, making stupid penalties. Weve got to hold each other accountable.And with that, the issue was put to rest.Now on to the next task -- jump-starting a lackluster offense. The Buffaloes averaged 39 points in their opening seven games, but struggled to score against Stanford and UCLA.To not be playing our best offense is pretty frustrating, said senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, whos set or tied 82 school records in his career. After the Stanford game, I was upset with my performance. And UCLA, I was striving too much for perfection instead of throwing the ball.I want to be perfect and get the ball to the guys, let them make plays.Still, the defense and special teams have bailed the Buffaloes out. Colorados defense held Stanford to 263 total yards in a 10-5 win and special teams sealed with the victory over the Bruins, courtesy of Isaiah Olivers 68-yard punt return for a TD with 5:27 remaining.Thats just the way things have been going around Boulder this season.They can handle the moment now -- if its good, bad or indifferent, said MacIntyre, whose team is trying to move to 8-2 for the first time since 2001. They just keeping pushing through it.In the past, when they werent sure about that, it was like, `Oh, no, and panic a little bit and lose a little bit of focus. I think we now crank our focus up. I think we crank our intensity up as a whole group.Gilbert couldnt agree more.Were playing phenomenal, said Gilbert, whos tied for the most forced fumbles (5) in the nation this season. Weve still got mistakes weve got to get corrected. We still have a lot to complete, but weve made tremendous strides.Game notes Kicker Davis Price (mono) will be healthy enough to play Saturday, MacIntyre said. ... Oliver was named the Pac-12 special teams player of the week.---For more college football coverage:
http://www.collegefootball.ap.org . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. BOSTON BRUINSLAST SEASON: 42-31-9, 93 points. Fourth in Atlantic Division. Failed to qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs.COACH: Claude Julien (10th season, 14th NHL season)ADDED: F David Backes, F Riley Nash, F Dominic Moore, G Anton Khudobin.LOST: F Loui Eriksson, G Jonas Gustavsson, D Dennis Seidenberg.PLAYER TO WATCH: Brad Marchand. If the 37 goals Marchand scored for the Bruins last season wasnt enough to catch the attention of the entire NHL, he definitely alerted everyone to his status as an elite talent during the recent World Cup of Hockey. Playing for victorious Team Canada, Marchand led the tournament with five goals in six games. He also scored the game-winning short-handed goal in the third period of the decisive second game of the best-of-three finals against Team Europe. During the tournament, the Bruins made sure Marchand wouldnt be leaving as an unrrestricted free agent next summer by signing him to an eight-year, $49 million contract.dddddddddddd Marchand has matured at both ends of the ice and theres no telling how much more he could improve in the next few seasons.OUTLOOK: The Bruins seem to be caught between rebuilding and contending as they come off two straight seasons without qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs by a combined three points. With Backes their only major addition during the offseason, the Bruins are banking on the continued improvement or some of their younger players and the emergence of a couple prospects to turn their fortunes around. Boston again looks like a bubble team that will be playing for its life right down to the final weekend of the season. ' ' '
