VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps will try to continue their winning ways against some familiar foes Saturday. [url=https://

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps will try to continue their winning ways against some familiar foes Saturday. China Shoes Black Friday . The Caps will face former defender Alain Rochat and midfielder John Thorrington as they visit D.C. United in Washington. Of the two, Rochat is expected to play a more prominent role as he tries to curb Vancouvers potent offence after being traded unexpectedly for a pair of draft picks in early June. "(Rochat) brought the same thing here that he brings to D.C. -- obviously his presence as a veteran and his ability to get forward and his ability to defend," said Vancouver goalkeeper Brad Knighton. "Im sure they enjoy having him, and itll be good to see him." Thorrington, a steady performer who has battled injuries, made 35 appearances for Vancouver between 2011 and 2012 before being waived in the off-season. The Whitecaps (6-5-4) are looking to win their third straight game and fifth in the past seven. United is in last place overall with a 2-11-3 mark, but is coming off a win over San Jose. Vancouver has scored 11 goals in its past four games, but the Whitecaps need to shore up their goals-against record. They have allowed 24 goals -- the fourth-highest total in the league. "Were obviously scoring goals at a premium right now, which is great for us," said Knighton. "We just need to be sound defensively, and the wins will keep coming." Currently fifth in the Western Conference, the Whitecaps have a chance to move ahead of four-place Los Angeles, pending the Galaxys result Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes. Vancouver coach Martin Rennie said his charges have to balance their offensive prowess with better defence as they attempt to move up the table. While winning their last two games against New England and Chivas USA, the Whitecaps had to overcome deficits. "Weve been scoring a lot of goals," said Rennie. "So we need to make sure that we keep attacking teams and making sure that were creating chances. "I think that, as a team, we generally need to defend better, although against Chivas, they didnt really have too many chances. We limited their opportunities. So we need to do that well in the next game." The Whitecaps are surging after struggling early in the season. Rennie said another victory will do a lot for the teams morale as the organization, in its third MLS season, strives to become one of the leagues top clubs. "Confidence is hard to build, and were still working hard to build that," said Rennie. "As a team in general, were still a new team trying to create a positive culture, and I think these little steps do make a difference. Every time you get a win and go on a winning run and show good form, that always builds confidence. "Its such a tight league, Major League Soccer, so if we can go on a run and keep doing well, then we can move up the league fairly quickly." The Whitecaps will return to action following a 10-day break that has allowed some injured players to mend. Midfielder Gershon Koffie (thigh) and Brad Rusin (calf) are healthy again after they both missed the past four games. "Im looking forward to getting out there, scoring goals and, hopefully, getting a clean sheet," said Rusin, who is slated to play a holding midfield role instead of his usual central defender spot. Johnny Leveron and Carlyle Mitchell will continue in the centre back spots, while Nigel Reo-Coker, usually a midfielder, is slated to shift to right fullback, a position that he has played occasionally in the English Premier League and in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship against Montreal this season. He is making the move because veteran Young-Pyo Lee, 36, is being rested back in Vancouver. The game is the first of two straight on the road for the Whitecaps, who conclude their trip Wednesday in Kansas City. Notes: Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert of Niagara Falls, Ont., is slated to join Canadas entry in the upcoming Gold Cup after the game. Vancouvers fourth goalkeeper, Simon Thomas of Victoria, has also been called up to the national squad. ... Mitchell will also leave the Caps after the game to play for Trinidad & Tobago in the same tournament. ... Lee appears unlikely to join the Caps in Kansas City. He negotiated breaks from Eastern trips when he agreed to come back for what is expected to be his final season before retirement. ... Vancouver central defender Andy OBrien remains out with a hamstring injury. ... D.C. and the Whitecaps are 1-1-1 against each other in three MLS meetings. ... Kyle Porter, a former Whitecaps residency player who left the team in 2010, will also dress for the hosts. Buy Shoes Black Friday . Coverage on TSN is underway now while action resumes on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. TSN GO also offers TSN subscribers bonus online coverage, with live streams of all four venues. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday . -- Rodney Stuckey scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks for the first time in eight meetings, 92-86 on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . -- C.J. Wilson parked his car and laughed while signing autographs for faceless fans who handed bats, balls and cards to the pitcher from the other side of a brick wall.NEW ORLEANS - The NBAs best and brightest head to the Big Easy on Sunday night to play in the 63rd All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. You can watch all the action on TSN with coverage beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. LeBron James of the Miami Heat was the leading vote-getter as he starts his 10th All-Star Game. "Its great being here, man, and its nice to see all your fellow guys around the league, both East and West," said James. "Im honored to be here once again and excited to be part of this." He is joined in the Easts starting lineup by Heat teammate Dwyane Wade (10th appearance), Clevelands Kyrie Irving (2nd), Indianas Paul George (2nd) and New Yorks Carmelo Anthony (7th). The leading vote-getter out West was Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant, who finished second to James in overall voting and will be in his fifth All-Star Game. Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is going to make his All-Star debut as he earned the most votes in the West backcourt. Kobe Bryant was voted into the other starting spot, despite playing just six games this season. His knee injury precluded him from participating and commissioner Adam Silver named New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis to replace him on the roster. Head coach Scott Brooks of OKC selected Bryants replacement in the starting lineup and that man will be Brooks former player, James Harden of the Houston Rockets. LA Clipper Blake Griffin (4th appearance) and Minnesotas Kevin Love (3rd) round out the starting five. Pacers skipper Frank Vogel will coach the Eastern Conference team. The reserves, as always, were selected by the conference coaches and offered little in terms of controversy. Much like the fan vote, coaches were tasked with selecting two backcourt players, three frontcourt players and two wild-cards. The visitors from the East will have newbies in Washingtons John Wall, Torontos DeMar DeRozan and Atlantas Paul Millsap. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping. Miamis Chris Bosh will make his ninth appearance and fellow veterans Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets (7th), Indianas Roy Hibbert (2nd) and Chicagos Joakim Noah (2nd) complete the second unit. The Western reserves are a more veteran-laden group with Dallas Dirk Nowitzki (12th), Clipper Chris Paul (7th), San Antonios Tony Parker (6th) and Dwight Howard (8th) of the Houston Rockets. Portland has two representatives in LaMarcus Aldridge (3rd) and Damian Lillard (1st). Davis will make his All-Star debut in just his second season. "I stayed in the gym last summer trying to get better, and Im doing the same thing this summer. And I have a lot to work on," said Davis. "And to be selected in the All-Star Game and the numbers that Im putting up is amazing, but I know that I have a lot to do." The West is on a three-game winning streak. Last year, Paul earned MVP honors with 20 points, 15 assists and four steals as the West prevailed, 143-138 in Houston. Durant became the first player in history to score 30-plus points in three straight All-Star games. One of the most intriguing aspects of this matchup, (other than both teams in sleeved uniforms), is with the new voting regulations, the East doesnt have a traditional big man in the starting lineup. James has a wide array of post moves and he may be forced to jump center. He, Anthony and George might have a hard time matching up with the much bigger frontline of Durant, Griffin and Love. "I guess it would probably help more, but Im okay with the way its done," coach Vogel said of fans no longer voting for a center. The West has taken four of the last five meetings and five of the last seven. ' ' '