Pearce. "Its always good to have someone like that who always wants the ball -- a guy who gets mad when he doesnt

TORONTO - A stretch of six wins in eight games has the Ottawa Senators achingly close to a playoff spot. And this recent run of success also has general manager Bryan Murray re-thinking his plans for the near future with the March 5 trade deadline not too far away. Murray, who on Monday agreed to a contract extension through the 2015-16 season, said his team probably needs another piece — most likely a forward — to make a run this spring. Through Sundays games, the Senators sat two points back of the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings, who hold the Eastern Conferences two wild-card spots. "Just watching the progress in the last month and a little bit, I think that the objective now is certainly more than it was a month before," Murray said on a conference call. "We are available to make a deal." As an example, Murray pointed to the July 5 trade with the Anaheim Ducks that landed the Senators Bobby Ryan. Ottawa gave up young forward Jakob Silfverberg and prospect Stefan Noesen to get the winger who filled a void left by Daniel Alfredssons departure. Again, the Senators would be willing to trade from their position of youth in the organization. "We do have a number of players that probably are deserving of playing some games or playing in the NHL that may not get a chance because of our numbers up here that we would talk to teams about for a more veteran-type player," Murray said. Earlier in the season, Murray expressed a desire to upgrade his teams mobility on the blue-line and talked to "a number of teams" about a puck-moving defenceman. That need has been eased by the recall of 20-year-old rookie Cody Ceci, who has been a mainstay since making his debut in mid-December. "Hes young, but we cant get him out of the lineup now that weve brought him up from Binghamton," Murray said. "Hes been real good for us, real solid for us." Like a lot of teams, Murray said the Senators could use a forward who could help in the scoring department or add a physical element. "Either-or, and I think that would address a need on our hockey team.," he said. Perhaps physicality and defensive responsibility should be priorities. The Senators have given up 146 goals in 46 games, which is third-worst in the league. No matter the area of improvement, Murray has limits on how much hell draw from Ottawas prospect pool. Blue-chip centre Curtis Lazar, last years first-round pick, had three goals and four assists for Canada during the world junior championship and is, at least for now, considered untouchable. "Were not moving Curtis Lazar, I can tell you at this point in time," Murray said. "We would make the right common-sense trades if there was something there without robbing what would be our future." The Senators scouting staff is expected to meet soon to draw up a list of trade-deadline targets. "We hope to have kind of an objective by the trading deadline, by the Olympic break, whatever the case may be, and then well see where we go," Murray said. The playoffs appear to be back as the most immediate goal. Murray reiterated that "there are no guarantees in this business," and owner Eugene Melnyk understands that specifically applies to the post-season. "Once the playoffs start, as we all know, anything goes," Melnyk said. "We have to get there first, and then after that, we just cross our fingers and hope for the best." — Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at @SWhyno. Arizona Diamondbacks Store . Phoenix originally signed Barbosa to a 10-day contract on Jan. 8 after Eric Bledsoe injured his knee and then signed him to another 10-day deal. Arizona Diamondbacks Shirts . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . As Valanciunas was whistled for a rare technical toward the end of the third quarter - a result of waving his hand at an official after being called for a foul - Lowry pulled the Raptors sophomore aside, corralling him by his jersey and patting him on the back. Diamondbacks Jerseys China . The striker headed Spurs into a 35th-minute lead and tapped in their third in the 71st after Chico Flores own goal. Wilfried Bony hit the bar and had a good penalty appeal for a push by Tottenham captain Michael Dawson turned down in the first half, before getting Swanseas consolation late on. Arizona Diamondbacks Gear . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St.MONTREAL -- Marco Di Vaio could only sit and watch as the Montreal Impact lost their first three games of the Major League Soccer season. But now that Di Vaio and midfielder Andres Romero have served their three-game suspensions for a melee in a 2013 playoff game, the Italian striker is ready to get back to the business of scoring goals. "Ill try to bring something more, some experience, to the field," Di Vaio said Thursday. "I trained hard the last three weeks and I want to play." The scoring touch that saw him amass 20 goals last season -- all in open play, no penalties -- was clearly lacking as the Impact opened with losses of 3-2 in Dallas, 1-0 in Houston and 2-0 to Seattle in their home opener at Olympic Stadium last week. The 38-year-old, who will see his first action Saturday when the Impact play the Union in Philadelphia, cautioned that he cant turn the clubs fortunes around on his own. It will be his first competitive game in five months. "I hear that people are expecting us to get points because me and Romero are returning, but its not just two players that are going to change everything," he said. "I have to do my job -- try to score and be dangerous -- but the most important thing is that the team keeps its confidence because when you lose a game, sometimes you think what youre doing on the field is no good. I see every day the team is training really well, with a good attitude." Andrew Wenger filled in for Di Vaio up front and had a goal against Dallas, but foor the most part, the Impact created plenty of chances that went wanting for someone with the goal-scorers knack.dddddddddddd Montreal leads MLS with 57 shot attempts and 20 shots on goal, with midfielder Felipe Martins at the top with 13 shots. Defender Heath Pearce only joined the Impact this season, but the former New York Red Bull knows what Di Vaio can bring to a match. "Hes a great goal scorer and hes a really busy and active player on the field," said Pearce. "Its always good to have someone like that who always wants the ball -- a guy who gets mad when he doesnt get the ball all the time. "Thats the kind of guy you want making big plays in the tough moments for your team." The suspension stemmed from an ugly 3-0 loss in Houston in the Impacts first MLS playoff match in October. Late in the game, Romero touched off a skirmish by kicking an opponent. Di Vaio took a red card when he jumped into the fracas. It wasnt clear whether Romero will play in Philadelphia, but his return gives coach Frank Klopas an extra option. The Argentine played mainly on the left wing last season. "Its never easy for players being out, especially when you look at Marco," said Klopas. "Its kind of crazy, the three-game suspension he got, but his attitude has been great and hes worked extremely hard." The Union may be the ideal opponent for Di Vaio, who scored four times in three matches against them last season, including a hat-trick in a 5-3 win on May 25 in Montreal. ' ' '