SAO PAULO - Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is worried the street protests that are planned during the World Cup could hurt his teams chances of winning the title. Scolari says that although Brazilians have the right to complain about the government and demand improvements, perhaps the protests wont be coming at the "right time." He said the protests "could, big-time" affect his players performance during the World Cup, although he will not prohibit them from talking about the subject during the tournament. In an interview with Globo TV late Sunday, Scolari also said Brazil should have done a better job in its preparations for the World Cup, and said he has already made up his mind on 21 of the 23 players of his squad. Violent anti-government protests erupted across Brazil last year as people took to the streets calling for better services and questioning the billions being spent on hosting the World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics. The protests have since diminished in size, but they are widely expected again in the run-up to this years football tournament. "I think the protests can happen," Scolari said. "If they are peaceful, then thats democracy. Everyone has the right to protest. But I dont know if its the right time." The coach had already tried to distance the national team from the protests during last years Confederations Cup, when the largest public demonstrations in a generation broke out at the start of the warm-up tournament. Protests happened in all six host cities at the time, although matches and teams were not directly affected as Brazil went on to win the title. The players openly talked about the protests last year and the coach said they will be allowed to do it again during the World Cup. "They are national team players and they are on a mission," he said. "They can express themselves and say look, I also want a better Brazil, but I dont want it to be something that causes problems to our environment." Scolari also criticized Brazils preparations for the World Cup, saying that the country wasted time and should have done more to get things ready more quickly. "We could have done a better job to take advantage of these seven years that we had to prepare everything that was going to be needed, from airports to roads to education," he said. "But we lost time and we now we are out of time." Scolari last week confirmed nine players who will make Brazils squad — David Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Paulinho, Julio Cesar, Thiago Silva, Fred and Neymar — and on Sunday he said there are only two spots remaining in the team. "We are still making observations, there are a lot of things we are still looking at," he said. Scolari will announce the official 23-man squad on May 7. Seven possible alternates will be announced later. 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Cheap Harmon Killebrew Jersey . - Christophe Lalancette scored a third-period goal and added the shootout winner to lead the Drummondville Voltigeurs to a 5-4 win over the Quebec Remparts in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Sunday. VANCOUVER -- Nicklas Jensen is likely not being sent back to the minors any time soon. The Vancouver Canucks rookie helped keep his teams flickering playoff hopes alive Wednesday night as he scored the only goal his team needed in a 2-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. It was Jensens third goal in four games, and also just the third of his NHL career. The Danish rookie has only played seven games this season since being promoted from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League because of injuries to forwards Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. "Its huge," said Jensen of his high-scoring ways. "Its tough to know what to expect when you get up here. The way weve been playing, its been really well. "So Im happy with it. We just need to keep it going and play this way." Jensen and Alex Edler scored one minute 13 seconds apart in the third period to break open a scoreless affair. The Canucks (32-30-10) posted their fourth win in seven games, but remained in 10th place while pulling within three points of eighth-place Phoenix. The win was timely because the Canucks remained a point up on the Winnipeg Jets, who beat Colorado earlier Wednesday night. Nashville (29-31-10) is in 12th place, dropping five points behind the Jets. Vancouver goaltender Eddie Lack made 30 saves for his fourth shutout of the season -- tops among NHL rookies -- as the Predators enjoyed a 30-22 edge in shots. "Im the first one to say I havent got to my best games so far and it feels good coming out with a shutout tonight for sure," said Lack, who has inherited the No. 1 role following Roberto Luongos trade to Florida. Jensen finally opened the scoring as he picked up a loose puck while Nashville defenceman Seth Jones was checking Henrik Sedin, and then roofed a shot over Nashville goaltender Carter Huttons outstretched glove. "Henrik got the puck," said Jensen. "It was kind of scrambling and bobbling on his stick and he somehow he found a way to slide it over to me, and I just tried to release it and put it on net. "The guy (Henrik Sedin) can do a lot of things a lot of guys cant do. Thats also why hes so unique and one of the best players in the world. "When I came up here and heard that I could play with him, I knew I was gonna be ready." The 21-year-old Jensen, Vancouvers top draft choice in 2011 (29th overall), is proving himself at the NHL level in his first full season in North America. He was returned to the Ontario Hockey Leagues Oshawa Generals after he was drafted, and then split last season between a Swedish team and Vancouvers former Chicago Wolves AHL affiliate. Along he way, he has battled injuries and inconsistency. But he is proving himself to be a quick offensive study, with only nine NHL career games under his skates, after dressing for two last season. He is also impressing Canucks coach John Tortorella with his two-way play. "For a young guy, his positioning with the puck and without the puck, its really good," said Tortorella. The demanding Canucks coach said Jensen has thrived after starting slowly after his promotion. "I heard him say something wheere he really struggled early on, which he did, and then he just started getting some puck luck after that, and it just relaxed him," said Tortorella.dddddddddddd"He doesnt think about it. He just plays." Edler gave the Canucks a 2-0 lead on a power play as he slid a slapshot between Huttons outstretched leg and the right post. The goal came only five seconds after Nashville defenceman Victor Bartley was penalized for interference. The puck went in while the infraction was being announced over the public address system. The Canucks were playing their first game back home after a four-game road trip. The Predators completed their third straight series of back-to-back games within nine days. Accordingly, neither team could muster a goal in the first two periods. Tortorella said fatigue took a toll on his club. "I dont think we played that well in the first period. I dont think we won many battles. I thought, in the second period, we started winning some battles. a Going into the third period (it was) next goal wins." The Canucks did not get a shot on goal until 9:27 of the first period. Vancouver then enjoyed a spurt of offence, dominating with teams at full strength, but could not be Hutton. The Preds controlled play for the rest of the period, but could not beat Lack. The Canucks goaltender denied Gabriel Bourque from close range following an odd-man rush. Near the end of the period, Lack stopped Patric Hornqvist twice on one-timers that occurred within a few seconds of each other. In the second period, Hutton stopped Edler as he came out of the penalty box, took a pass and rushed down the right wing. Moments later, Hutton foiled Dan Hamhuis on a wraparound and Alex Burrows on the ensuing rebound. "I thought it was a pretty even game," said Nashville coach Barry Trotz. "Both teams had some looks and were just not scoring easy right now. The Preds were shut out for the ninth time this season as their playoff hopes grew slimmer. "Weve got to get some goals for our goaltender," said Trotz. Notes: The Canucks lost Burrows for a while after Jensens goal as he appeared to be slashed on the left hand by Preds captain Shea Weber as the puck went in. Burrowss glove came off on the play, but he was able to come back. Tortorella said Burrows will be evaluated Thursday. a Nashville centre Paul Gaustad was injured when Canucks defenceman Edler checked on a breakaway and proceeded to fall on him in the first period. Gaustad went to the dressing room and did not return. a Tortorella said defenceman Chris Tanev will be out three to four weeks with a broken finger suffered while blocking a shot Monday in Tampa Bay. If the Canucks miss the playoffs, he could be done for the season. No updates were given on injured centre Ryan Kesler and winger Daniel Sedin, who remain out indefinitely with undisclosed ailments. a Canucks centre Brad Richardson returned after missing seven games with an undisclosed upper-body injury. a Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis and his family donated $55,000 in conjunction with a local radio station to the teams charitable childrens foundation. 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