VAL DISERE, France -- In the absence of established stars like Lindsey Vonn and Tina Maze, new faces are breaking through on the womens World Cup circuit.Especially Ilka Stuhec.The Slovenian won a World Cup Alpine combined race on Friday for her third victory this season -- having never finished higher than fourth before this year.Sitting in third spot after the mornings downhill, she ended up .12 seconds ahead of Michelle Gisin and .16 clear of Soffia Goggia following the slalom on the Oreiller-Killy course.Stuhec was fourth in the overall World Cup standings, while Goggia was up to second with her fifth podium in seven races this season. The Italian also had a career best of fourth before this season began.That was not the only thing these two skiers have in common. Their careers were hampered by multiple knee operations: Five for Stuhec and four for Goggia.Reflecting on those injuries, Stuhec said: I wouldnt change a thing, even though sometimes it was really, really hard. I learned a lot about myself and people around me.Goggia said injuries helped to forge her character.Its the hunger I have at the start gate. Im aching for more, always, she said. I can be really satisfied with who I am. The last injury three years ago was really heavy and it took two years for me to come back. Tough times, but Im here now.There should be plenty more points on offer for both, considering the situation in womens skiing.Vonn, the four-time overall World Cup champion, was recovering from a broken arm, while Maze -- the 2013 World Cup champion -- has retired. Two-time World Cup winner Anna Veith (nee Fenninger) was working her way back from a serious right-knee injury.Goggia, who was behind American slalom specialist Mikaela Shiffrin in the standings, played down her chances.Its a big goal, Goggia said. But at the moment not mine.Stuhecs two other wins this season were in downhill, both in Lake Louise.But prior to this year, she had finished only twice in the top five with a best of fourth in super-G three years ago.She changed her skis this summer, and her training.Most of the summer I spent with the mens speed team in Slovenia, Stuhec said. I tried to catch them every day and I was really building my confidence.Maze is Slovenias most famed skier and Stuhec never really became close with her.Honestly, I cannot say we are really friends, Stuhec said. Because she was most of the time separate from us, working alone.Gisin, meanwhile, clinched her first career podium. Her previous best was sixth last weekend in slalom in Sestriere.The Swiss skier was the younger sister of Dominique Gisin, who shared the 2014 Olympic downhill title with Maze.Big sister was watching from the bottom of the slope and burst into tears.She is helping me through so much, said Michelle Gisin, whose older brother Marc Gisin is a World Cup racer with a career best of fifth in downhill in January.Defending overall World Cup champion Lara Gut of Switzerland had a bad day, however.Sixth after the downhill run, she went off course midway through the slalom run.I know what (went wrong), Gut said. But I dont think its the right place to explain.Gut was third in the overall standings, 14 points behind Goggia and 105 behind Shiffrin.Shiffrin skipped Val dIsere and will return on Tuesday for the giant slalom in the nearby French Alpine resort of Courchevel.Gut will look to score heavily on Saturday in the downhill and on Sunday in a super-G. Tom Johnson Jersey . 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Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Kyle Rudolph Jersey . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. The Vancouver Canucks are playing the second of a back-to-back but it might be the Colorado Avalanche that are at a disadvantage.The Canucks fell to the Stars, 2-1, in Dallas on Friday night and now face a Colorado team that is dealing with injuries. When the puck drops Saturday night the Avalanche will be without No. 1 goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who is out with an upper-body injury.Theyll also play their fifth straight game without captain Gabriel Landeskog because of a lower-body injury. Landeskog skated at practice Friday and was scheduled to be on the ice Saturday morning but has been ruled out.The silver lining is Landeskog is skating and Varlamovs injury doesnt appear too serious.(Varlamov) should be full practice by Sunday, coach Jared Bednar told HockeyBuzz.com.The other bright spot is Calvin Pickard will get the start. Pickard has played well in relief of Varlamov this season, including a shutout against the Minnesota Wild three weeks ago. He is 4-1 with a 2.07 goals-against average and beat Minnesota 3-2 in his last start a week ago.Pickard is excited to be playing Saturday because the game will be the second of the Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader.As Canadians we all grew up watching it, so its going to be fun, he told HockeyBuzz.com.The Avalanche (9-10) recalled goalie Spencer Martin from San Antonio of the AHL to serve as Pickards backup and reassigned forward A.J. Greer to the Rampage.Vancouver (8-11-2) is dealing with injuries of its own. Winger Sven Baertschi missed Fridays loss in Dallas because of a toe injury. HHe took a shot off his skate in the second period of Wednesdays win in Arizona and couldnt play against Dallas.dddddddddddd He had a goal and two assists Wednesday and his line combined for eight points.It is a little disappointing, linemate Alex Burrows told the Vancouver Sun of Baertschis injury, which is considered day-to-day. I saw him get off (the ice) and it was like, shoot, its too bad because I think we were just starting to peak and we had good things going. Hopefully, he will be fine. Its part of the NHL. Youre going to have guys who go out of the lineup. You just have to dig deeper and try to get some chemistry with someone else.Winger Jack Skille, who played for Colorado last year, returned to the lineup Friday after missing one game.The Canucks are finishing up a quick three-game road trip before returning home to play the Wild on Tuesday. Vancouver is 4-3-1 in the past seven games and Burrows line is starting to play well.Theyll have to deal with a confident Pickard, who supplanted Reto Berra as the backup with some fine play last year. He signed a two-year, $2 million contract in the offseason.It definitely gives you a sense of comfort, he told HockeyBuzz.com. But that being said, things change quickly. You have to always stay on your toes and be ready for when youre called upon. Every games an audition for everybody, so its another game for me tomorrow to prove that I belong in this league. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '