There are two main issues for Tiger Woods as he prepares to return to competitive golf after multiple back procedures:How well will his back hold up to the rigors of practice and play? And will he be able to use his usual swing going forward, given the jarring motion involved?Fred Couples, who was dogged by back issues throughout his career, once said: I can speak for a back. A lot of things are going to feel different, and I didnt even have surgery.But while I have not examined Woods directly, I believe he should be able to have a sustained return to the sport, provided a few provisions:If he wants any chance of a sustained return, he needs to play a lighter -- albeit consistent -- schedule. If I were his doctor, Id say, Lets set realistic practice and play goals that will hold up over the long term. Create a practice schedule that is sufficiently condensed so that injury is avoided while maintaining an acceptable level of play. At this point, being the hardest worker on the course will probably lead to additional health issues and a complete absence from the PGA Tour.Keep an eye on his swing. He needs to move to a tempo that lessens, if not eliminates, his more violent acceleration from the top. Think Ernie Els- or Couples-like tempos.Continue to reinforce what he likely used to build back strength during rehab: Work diligently on flexibility and core strength. No one has better core strength than Tiger. Weightlifting exercises, meanwhile, should be avoided -- they will only create stiffness and irritability in his back.If Tiger can stick to this outline, it will increase his chances of a successful return.A look back at Tigers injuriesTiger Woods injuries have been well documented throughout his career, starting in his collegiate days at Stanford and continuing throughout his nearly 20 years on the PGA Tour:Click here for a complete outline of Woods injuries.Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Adickes, a former offense lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins, is currently a medical analyst for ESPN and ESPN.com. Puma Shoes Discount Canada .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Puma Shoes Canada Sale . 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He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Justin Williams knows from missing the playoffs twice with defending Stanley Cup champions just how difficult it is to make it to the postseason, which is why the Metropolitan Division standings have his full attention.I see our division, I see everyone winning, the Washington Capitals right winger said. The top eight in the East is going to be tough to get in this year. We plan to be at the top.Even for the Capitals, who ran away with the Presidents Trophy last season, thats easier said than done. They are on pace for 112 points, which would leave them in third place because the Metropolitan is home to five of the top eight teams in the NHL.Since Dec. 3, Metro teams are an astounding 29-7-3, led by the Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, red-hot Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets, and streaking Capitals. The Flyers have won a league-best nine in a row and the Blue Jackets and Penguins six, so the Capitals four-game winning streak doesnt have them moving up the standings.Win them all if you can, coach Barry Trotz said. You have a bad day, you could fall like three or four spots. You could go from being a wild-card team to not being in the playoffs to being second in your division if you win.The competition is so hot that the New York Islanders are still in last place despite winning six of their last 10, and the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are five and seven points out of the last playoff spot in the East. At the top of the division, the Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Blue Jackets and Capitals have combined to win their last 28 games.Everyones playing at a high level, Rangers center Derek Stepan said. Theres no room. Were in our playoff push.No team has pushed toward the playoffs harder than the Flyers, who were 13th in the East before their run began Nov. 27. Philadelphia has risen to fifth in the East behind Jakub Voracek, goaltender Steve Mason and strong special teams.Coach Dave Hakstol said the Flyers are finding different ways to win games, as evidenced by them beating the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 and then a few days later the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 in overtime.I think were playing better defensively as a team, said Voracek, who has 32 points and trails only Edmontons Connor McDavid in the NHL scoring race. When were making mistakes, Mason is playing unreal ... I think as an overall game we got better not only over the winning streak but in the games before. We lost the games when we shouldve won earlier in the year and now were wiinning them.dddddddddddd Its a good sign.The Penguins have avoided the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover thanks to Sidney Crosbys league-leading 21 goals in his first 23 games. As Henrik Lundqvist sits, Rangers backup goalie Antti Raanta has won three consecutive starts with a 0.33 goals-against average and .984 save percentage.After losing four of its first six games, Columbus is rolling under coach John Tortorella. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is among the league leaders with a .932 save percentage and 1.98 GAA this season, and forward Cam Atkinson has 27 points in 26 games.Everybodys bought in, said Columbus center Brandon Dubinsky, who also played for Tortorella in New York. I would venture to say hes probably the most fair coach as far as time off and days off and treating the players with respect and giving them their space and just allowing them to focus on one thing and one thing only, which is the 60 minutes ahead of them and the game. Its a two-way street with him, and I think its allowed us to excel.Meanwhile, the Capitals shrugged off some early malaise, and Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Braden Holtby said, Were realizing a little bit more who we are. Three-time Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin snapped a seven-game goal drought Sunday, but Nicklas Backstrom and others are picking up the slack.Defenseman Karl Alzner isnt surprised by the Metropolitan might.We all knew that when the divisions got made that ours was going to be really hard and it wasnt as hard as it couldve been, I think, the last few years, Alzner said. I think were finally getting to see what the Metropolitan is all about.Asked if Washington getting tested by a tougher division could help come playoff time after running away with it last year, Williams simply shrugged and said, Maybe. His coach definitely thinks so, or at least that the Metropolitan being this good isnt a bad thing for any team that makes the postseason.I think competition makes you better, Trotz said. I think the quality in the Metro this year is terrific. Thatll make all the teams better, not only ours. Its a good challenge, and I think it prepares you just to have some consistency in your game. If you dont, then youll fall out.---AP Sports Writers Vin A. Cherwoo in New York and Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed.---Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . ' ' '