62), and are only 3.7 per cent on the road (1-for-27). Th

LOS ANGELES -- A 42-year-old skydiver with more than 18,000 jumps made history Saturday when he became the first person to leap without a parachute and land in a net instead.After a two-minute freefall, Luke Aikins landed dead center in the 100-by-100-foot net at the Big Sky movie ranch on the outskirts of Simi Valley.As cheers erupted, Aikins quickly climbed out, walked over and hugged his wife, Monica, who had been watching from the ground with their 4-year-old son, Logan, and other family members.Im almost levitating, its incredible, the jubilant skydiver said, raising his hands over his head as his wife held their son, who dozed in her arms.This thing just happened! I cant even get the words out of my mouth, he added as he thanked the dozens of crew members who spent two years helping him prepare for the jump, including those who assembled the fishing trawler-like net and made sure it really worked.The stunt, broadcast live on the Fox network for the TV special Stride Gum Presents Heaven Sent, nearly didnt come off as planned when Aikins revealed just before climbing into his plane that the Screen Actors Guild had ordered him to wear a parachute to ensure his safety.Aikins didnt say what prompted the original restriction, and representatives for the show and the Screen Actors Guild did not immediately respond to phone and email messages.Aikins said he considered pulling out at that point because having the parachute canister on his back would make his landing in the net far more dangerous. If he had to wear it he said he wouldnt bother to pull the ripcord anyway.Im going all the way to the net, no question about it, he said from the plane. Ill just have to deal with the consequences when I land of wearing the parachute on my back and what its going to do to my body.A few minutes before the jump one of the shows hosts said the requirement had been lifted. Aikins left the plane without the chute.He jumped with three other skydivers, each wearing parachutes. One had a camera, another trailed smoke so people on the ground could follow his descent and the third took an oxygen canister he handed off after they got to an altitude where it was no longer needed.Then the others opened their parachutes and left him on his own.Aikins admitted before the jump he was nervous and his mother said she was one family member who wouldnt watch.When his friend Chris Talley came up with the idea two years ago, Aikins acknowledged he turned it down cold.I kind of laugh and I say, `Ok, thats great. Ill help you find somebody to do it, he told The Associated Press as he trained for the jump last week.A couple of weeks after Talley made his proposal Aikins called back and said he would do it. Hed been the backup jumper in 2012 when Felix Baumgartner became the first skydiver to break the speed of sound during a jump from 24 miles above Earth.The 42-year-old daredevil made his first tandem jump when he was 12, following with his first solo leap four years later. Hes been racking them up at several hundred a year ever since.His father and grandfather were skydivers, and his wife has made 2,000 jumps. His family owns Skydive Kapowsin near Tacoma, Washington.Aikins is also a safety and training adviser for the United States Parachute Association and is certified to teach both students and skydiving instructors. His business Para Tactics provides skydiving training to Navy Seals and other members of elite fighting forces. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Store . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Soccer Jerseys For Sale http://www.cheapsoccerjerseys.co/ . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Online . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim.BOSTON -- There is no panic or frustration. But Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville acknowledges his team is in a tough spot going into Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final. "You lose back-to-back games, it gets your attention," the coach conceded. "Were in a hole right now. We want to make sure (Wednesday) we prioritize the importance of that game and its a different level." Down two games to one, the Hawks face a tall order in trying to bring down the Bruins in their own building. Boston has won seven straight at home and is 8-2 overall at TD Garden in these playoffs, outscoring the opposition 28-17. At least, the Hawks can take solace from their second-round series against Detroit. They trailed the Red Wings three games to one before reeling off three straight wins. "I think were in a tough spot," Quenneville acknowledged. "In the Detroit series we found a way to get ourselves to get back into it. Thats what were looking for. (Wednesday) is a very important game, like we have to win (Wednesday) night. Come up with a good result, were right where we want to be." Quenneville said he hoped injured star Marian Hossa (upper body) will be back in the lineup. Chicagos co-scoring leader was a late scratch Monday, replaced by Ben Smith Quenneville was quizzed on why Smith didnt take the warmup if Hossa was a doubtful starter. Eventually he confessed that he did not want to tip his hand that something might be awry with his lineup. The Chicago coach has other concerns. His team is getting schooled in the faceoff circle, putting the Hawks constantly on the back foot. Boston won 40 of 56 faceoffs Monday wwith Patrice Bergeron winning 24 of 28 draws.dddddddddddd Chicagos power play, which was ordinary during the season (ranking 19th with a 16.7 percentage success rate), has been even worse in the playoffs. Chicago was 0-for-5 with a man advantage in Game 3 and has not scored a power-play goal in its last 20 chances dating to Game 2 of the Western Conference final. The Blackhawks have an 11.3 per cent success rate this post-season (7-for-62), and are only 3.7 per cent on the road (1-for-27). The Hawks are 0-for-11 with a man advantage against Boston this series. Bostons penalty killing isnt helping matters. The Bruins killed off five power plays Monday night, stretching their successful string to 27 consecutive penalties dating to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "I think special teams last night, they won that war," Quenneville said Tuesday. Whatever the manpower situation, Chicago has not scored in 122 minutes 26 seconds. This from a team that scored 155 goals during the regular season, second only to Pittsburgh. Of course, the Bruins limited the high-flying Pens to two goals in four games in the Eastern final. The numbers all seem to favour Boston. The Bruins are 2-0 when holding a 2-1 series lead in the final. The Blackhawks are 0-3 lifetime when trailing 2-1 in the final. "We know theyre a good team, tough to play against," said Chicago defenceman Johnny Oduya. "But I think we still feel confident. We know we have to steal a game here and thats what were looking to do." The Hawks, like the Bruins, had an optional skate Tuesday with most players electing to skip the session. ' ' '