Lance Franklin is a man of few words but when he speaks, teammates listen.Franklin has served as a mentor for Sydney youngsters Xavier Richards, Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley and George Hewett throughout the AFL season.The superstars leadership may not attract the same kind of analysis and adulation as his game-breaking goals, slick passing or ability to harass.But it has made a big impression on the people who matter most, like Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh.He doesnt speak a hell of a lot but when he does we all sit up and listen, McVeigh said.Its always spot on with what hes seeing and how he sees the game ... we all stand taller when we stand beside him.The way hes taught the young players with leading patterns and the way the game should be played, theyve taken a huge amount of confidence out of it.Franklin, returning to the sports grandest stage after sitting out the 2015 finals because of mental health issues, was always going to be a star attraction at Fridays grand final parade.Id take that wouldnt I? Id take it, Franklin said, when asked if he thought hed be playing the 2016 grand final at this time last year.The 29-year-old was more interested in heaping praise on fellow forwards Richards and Papley than talking about his own form or likely role on Saturday.Theyre obviously some talented kids but theyve got in the team on the back of some really strong pre-seasons, Franklin said.Theyve been really good this week, theyve been positive ... everyones kept them pretty grounded. It does help being in Sydney though, youre sort of away from the bubble of football.Franklin looms as a wildcard in Saturdays grand final.He is arguably the player most capable of single-handedly influencing the result but theres also the fact Western Bulldogs cant confidently bank on what sort of role hell play.Franklin has booted a team-high 80 goals this year but in recent weeks has been doing his best work further up the ground, teeing up plenty of goals with pinpoint passes.It just changes, we dont go in with an absolutely specific role for him, Swans coach John Longmire said.As opposition defences change, forward lines change as well.It just depends on the state of the game, what we think needs to happen at a certain period of time or what Lance thinks about where he needs to go.We have a bit of flexibility with that ... Lance has a pretty good feel for the game.If we need to change it, we do.Franklin booted 5.4 when the two sides met in round 15, with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge saying his presence played a role in team selection.Part of it (picking Fletcher Roberts ahead of Matthew Suckling) is related to that, Beveridge said.Last time Lance kicked five and showed what he can do when he gets some supply, well have to be right on our toes around their big forwards. Cheap Air Max 97 All Pink China . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Cheap Air Max 97 Orange China . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. http://www.cheapairmax97fromchina.com/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap Air Max 97 Green China .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Air Max 97 All Gold China . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. PHILADELPHIA -- The Tampa Bay Lightning learned how to win without star forward Steven Stamkos in the past and theyll need to do it again after learning the 26-year-old sniper will be out at least four months with a torn meniscus.When they visit the Flyers (8-7-3) on Saturday afternoon, the Lightning (11-6-1) will try to continue what has been a perfect start to a five-game road trip (3-0-0).Tampa Bay did just fine in its first game without Stamkos, throttling the struggling Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Thursday night on the strength of balanced scoring and 32 saves from Ben Bishop.Obviously, its a huge blow to our team, Bishop said of losing Stamkos, who three years ago missed 45 games with a broken leg and last season missed all but one playoff game with a blood clot in his collar bone. You lose your captain and arguably one of the best players in the league. Its a tough pill to swallow. Its just one of those things where youve got to step up. Everyone has to pick up the slack a little bit. ... Youve got to go more as a team effort because you cant rely on your big dog to come through.Alex Killorn recorded a goal and an assist for the Lightning and Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point also scored for Tampa. Kucherov has four goals and two assists in his last three games and is now tied for the NHL lead with 22 points in 17 games.Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said it wont be easy replacing Stamkos, whose 20 points in 16 games ranked third in the league before his injury.Theres always that emotional first game when youre without your guy, Cooper said. So the problem iis that its not just one game, its months, and we just have to stay consistent.ddddddddddddhe Flyers, who have been seeking consistency all season, are expected to welcome back rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who was a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career Thursday night.Philadelphia won two of its last three games and received a strong 30-save effort from Steve Mason in Thursday nights 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Four different Flyers scored in that win and 12 different players recorded points.It was just the fourth time this season Philadelphia held an opponent under three goals and just the sixth time it did not allow a goal in the third period.I think definitely when youre going into the third with a lead you cant let up at all, said right wing Wayne Simmonds, who scored his team-leading ninth goal in the third period on Thursday night to give the Flyers a 4-2 lead. Weve got to pressure. Falling behind is kind of where weve laid back in the third period we kind of let teams give it to us and I think thats where we get in trouble, so weve got to keep following this groove.Mason is expected to return to the net, where hell be looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season.Mason made some huge saves for us and he cant do that every game, Philadelphia defenseman Mark Streit said. As a whole team we need to improve, especially on Saturday when we face another good offensive team. We need to be in sync. ' ' '