Once again, the Vancouver Whitecaps did it the hard way. For the second time in five days, Martin Rennies team started slowly at home and had to dig deep to overturn an early deficit, but they finished the night by jumping into the Western Conference playoff places. This time it wasnt as big a mountain to climb. A few days earlier they were down 2-0 inside the opening 20 minutes against New England but on Wednesday there was just a one goal deficit. It was a worrying start for the Whitecaps against a Chivas USA side that arrived at BC Place winless in its last eight matches and sitting on the foot of the Western Conference. Tristan Bowens early strike gave Chivas the lead and in the opening quarter of the match, the visitors looked comfortable in possession and were dominating in midfield. The Whitecaps were unable to play through the middle of the pitch and took some time to put a "Plan B" into action. When Vancouver started to use the full width of the pitch and get the full backs to push further forward, they started to have much more success. The leadership of veterans Kenny Miller and Nigel Reo Coker was key to the transformation. At one stoppage in play when the Caps were trailing, both senior players took on the responsibility of making sure the message got through to their teammates about how they needed to change their approach. It is those leadership qualities and the drive and determination of two players who have played at the top level in Europe that helped lift the whole eleven. The goals didnt come immediately, but as the half progressed the Whitecaps grew into the game. Starting slow is something that must be addressed if this team is to make the playoffs this year. They have now conceded then first goal four games in a row. The good thing is, they are confident going forward right now, but its unlikely the goals will continue to flow at this pace. When the Whitecaps are playing well, getting the fullbacks forward is a key part of their success. It happened on Saturday with Jordan Harvey starting and finishing a move, and Harvey was again on hand to score the game-tying goal against Chivas in first half stoppage time. Its been quite a run for the left back of late. After scoring just two goals in his previous 133 career MLS appearances, he has now found the net three times in the last four games. A big impact for a player who couldnt get into the starting lineup during the first nine games of the season. Its also no coincidence that the Whitecaps recent run of goal-scoring has come at a time when Camilo has found his form. At the moment, hes likely playing as well as he ever has during his time in Vancouver. He now has eight league goals and 11 in all competitions this season. The three pronged attack with Camilo flanked by Miller and Russell Teibert continues to combine well and Teibert is revelling in his role, with two more assists against Chivas taking his total to six for the season. It will change the dynamic of the Caps attacking play when the 20-year-old from Niagara Falls is called up to Canadas Gold Cup squad, but the chance to represent his country is a much deserved reward for a player whose form has made him an integral part of the Whitecaps team. Vancouvers biggest concern remains the lack of a settled defence. There has been no MLS clean sheet since the opening day win over Toronto FC, but they are starting to get healthy at the back once again. Brad Rusin hopes to be available by the time the Caps return to action on Washington DC, and Andy OBrien also hopes to be able to play a part in at least two of the three games the Whitecaps have that week - Kansas City away and Seattle at home follow the trip to the US capital. Over the last few days, Vancouver needed to make home advantage count and they did. Back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening day of the season leaves them in a much more positive position in a crowded Western Conference playoff race. The seven goals scored in two home matches has provided plenty of entertainment for the home fans, and its certainly rarely dull watching the Whitecaps of late. Now the big question is whether they can be defensively sound on a consistent basis. That is likely to be the key in ensuring the Whitecaps stay firmly in the playoff race as the summer progresses. Wholesale Mens/Womens Nike Air VaporMax 97 Silver Bullet AJ7291-002 . 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. Wholesale Womens Nike VaporMax Moc Flyknit Multi-Color Black/Volt/Hot Punch/Dark Grey AA4155-003 . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.wholesalevapormaxplus.com/ . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Wholesale Womens Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit 2.0 Grey/Ultramarine-Hot Punch 942843-104 . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Wholesale Womens Nike Air VaporMax 97 Metallic Dark Sea/White-Black AO4542-901 . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year.After 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators - 13 as team captain - Daniel Alfredsson officially said goodbye to the only NHL home hes ever played in. Alfredsson, who was at Ottawas Royal Health Centre on Thursday to help promote his charitable focus on mental health awareness, also explained his reasons for choosing to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. "To Ottawa, to the always loyal Sens fans, to the Sens organization - thank you from the bottom of our hearts," said Alfredsson, who was welcomed into the room with cheers from attending fans. "When I did my last contract for four years ending in the (2012-13) season, I was asked to help the team manage the salary cap by adding on a extra year to my contract," he said in an opening statement. "I agreed. Each side fully expected I would retire and not play the 2012-13 season." However, after the 2012 season, I told the Sens I wanted to play another season. I also asked to look at a possible extension this upcoming season at a fair amount to balance out the two years for both of us. They agreed. Sadly, the contract negotiations went nowhere. But I played out the season as I had promised and I believe this past season, in my view, was a very special one." Alfredsson became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and was free to talk to teams in a limited capacity mandated by the NHL. "In late June this year, I decided I had it in me to play one more season," he added. "I told management I was willing to return and I reminded them of our agreement from the year before." Alfredsson surprised many a few days later when he signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Red Wings. The Senators, unable to come to terms with their longest-serving player, made a blockbuster trade just hours later acquiring winger Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks. "I respected Bryan (Murray) for everything hes done for this team as a coach and GM," said Alfredsson. "I understand it was hard for them to make it work under my terms." In a follow-up interview with Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun, Murray said he wasnt sure Alfredssons agent J.P. Barry gave his client all the details over the contract negotiations between both sides. "I can say this: Im disappointed," Murray told The Sun after hearing what was said at the news conference. "It seems Alfie isnt totally informed of what went on. That had to do with J.P. - didnt tell me the truth during the week. He kept saying I cant get in touch with Alfie. I will get back to you with a number. "He never got back to me. I never heard back from him after the phone call on Tuesday (July 2). Alfie called me himself on Thursday night to tell me that he was leaving. I said to J.P. during the earlier conversations I cant pay you $7 million. Thats what they asked for for the year. "I offered $4.5 million. I said, Both of us hopefully are fleexible and we will talk.dddddddddddd (Barry) said he would get back to me. I just took for granted that would happen and it never happened. I never heard back. I have not J.P. since the $7 milliion (demand in New York) Saturday meeting we had. It was $12 million for two years and $7 million for one. Thats disappointing." Barry - one of the games most prominent player agents - responded to Murrays remarks, telling TSN on Thursday afternoon that his client had taken below market deals before and that the negotiations were simply done in the best interest of the business at hand. "Shooting the messenger is something I have never believed in nor will I ever," Barry explained. "Its just not productive in our business to make negotiations personal." "I decided not to respond in July when Bryan chose to criticize my role as an agent in this process. It was an emotional day. I get it. "The fact is this was a negotiation concerning impending free agency. We made multiple offers and invited them to negotiate. They provided a number on the weekend prior to July 5 and said this is all they can do due to internal budget restrictions. It wasnt a market offer in our estimation. They wanted Daniel to take a below market deal again after he had done the same several times previously and we didnt feel that was appropriate." Daniel and I spoke every day during the process at length. Essentially, the Senators wanted us to present lower offers to them and that is not how the process works. When a player has impending free agency and the Club wants to keep that player, they need to present their best offer and not ask the player to negotiate against himself. The interview window opened after we couldnt bridge the gap over the weekend and a new opportunity and a new challenge came along. By that time it was simply too late. I wont make any further comments. Its time to move on." NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Ottawa Citizen Thursday afternoon that the league doesnt intend to investigate on whether or not the Senators intentionally circumvented the salary cap with Alfredssons previous contract. "I would say that if negotiations went down precisely as Daniel described (them), that would be a concern," Daly stated in an email to The Citizen. "We havent independently verified that, and at this point we dont intend to." Alfredsson made his NHL debut with the Senators in 1995-96 after being selected in the sixth round of the 1994 draft by Ottawa. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHLs top rookie and went on to play in six All-Star games. Ottawas captain since the 1999-2000 season, Alfredsson is the all-time leader in games played, goals and points for the team. He played all 1,178 games of his NHL career with the Senators, putting up 426 goals and 682 assists. Files from The Ottawa Sun and The Ottawa Citizen were used for this report. ' ' '