The Indiana Fever have a chance to close out the first half of the regular season with wins over the first-place teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences when they face the New York Liberty on Thursday in New York.Tamika Catchings had a vintage performance in the Fevers big win over the Los Angeles Sparks, who are in first place in the Western Conference and own the best record in the WNBA. Catchings scored 23 points in the Fevers 92-82 win over the Sparks on Tuesday.We really buckled down, Catchings told reporters after the win. Defensively, that is where it starts for us. When we play really good on the defensive end, we finish it off with a rebound and were able to get out in transition, we look like a great team. The Fever (11-12) have won four of five games, but have their hands full with the first-place Liberty. New York got 69 points from its bench in an 88-80 win over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. The 69 points off the bench were a WNBA recordThe Liberty (18-7) have won six of seven and have beaten Indiana twice this season. Star forward Tina Charles, who is having an MVP-caliber season for the Liberty, had 26 points and 15 rebounds in a 78-75 overtime win against the Fever on June 19. New York also blew out the Fever 91-59 on June 3.Indiana believes it has improved since those losses.When we play like this, Catchings said after the win over Los Angeles, there are very few teams that can beat us when were playing at our best. Charles is second in the WNBA in scoring (21.2 points) and rebounding (9.5 rebounds). Sugar Rodgers is second on the Liberty in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game.Catchings, who has announced that this will be her last season in the WNBA, leads the Fever in scoring, at 13.9 points per game. Tiffany Mitchell is averaging 10.7 points per game.The two Eastern Conference rivals met in the playoffs last season, with Indiana winning the series 2-1. 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Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Fake Rays Jerseys . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Patrik Laines first NHL goal was special in many ways.It came on the power play. His parents from Finland were in the stands. It drew a roar from Winnipeg Jets fans like none hed heard before.And, more importantly, it helped the Jets come back from a 4-1 third-period deficit to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in overtime Thursday night.Mark Scheifele scored the winner at 2:41 of overtime, taking a pass from captain Blake Wheeler. The puck went high past goalie Cam Ward.Mathieu Perreault had tied it at 4 with 1:29 left in regulation with an extra attacker, with Laine assisted on the score.The 18-year-old Laine said it wasnt really a relief to get his first NHL goal, which made it 4-3 at 13:33 after Wheeler had scored short-handed.I was happy with my game before the goal, said Laine, the No. 2 overall pick this year. I think I played pretty well in all of the zones, but it was nice to get the goal and the assist at the end of that third period.Many eyes were on Laine prior to the game after this first overall pick Auston Matthews scored four goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs in his debut Wednesday.Hes playing his game and his career, Laine said. I dont want to match my game to his. He can score 20 goals in a game, I dont care. Its good for him. Im just going to help my team to win with my things.Hobey Baker award finalist Kyle Connor, who was also making his regular-seaason debut, assisted on Laines goal.dddddddddddd Shawn Matthias also scored.A young team gets down 4-1, very, very few of them come back, Jets coach Paul Maurice said.Jeff Skinner and Lee Stempniak each had a goal and add an assist for Carolina. Jordan Staal and Victor Rask also scored for the Hurricanes.Skinner wasnt happy with the run-and-gun style of play.For the fans its exciting, Skinner said. If you win that way, its nice. But its not fun to lose that way. When you get a 4-1 lead like that you definitely dont want to play that way. Theyve got some guys with some skill who can hurt you when you open it up like that.Connor Helleybuyck made 23 saves for Winnipeg, and Ward stopped 21 shots.Game notes Winnipeg center Bryan Little collided with Carolina forward Bryan Bickell midway through the first period. Little hobbled off the ice favoring a leg and didnt return to the game. ... The Jets had a two-man advantage for 1:49 in the opening period, producing shots that went off the post and one off the crossbar.UP NEXTHurricanes: Carolina moves on to Vancouver on Sunday night for the second game in of a season-opening, six-game trip. The Hurricanes also will visit Edmonton, Calgary, Philadelphia and Detroit.Jets: Winnipeg will play at Minnesota on Saturday night. ' ' '