ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are postponing contract talks with All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh until after the season. Suh is entering the final season of his contract, and team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew said before practice Monday that negotiations are being tabled. Lewand and Mayhew both expressed optimism that a deal can eventually be reached. "Hes told me he wants to be here. I have a good relationship with him," Mayhew said. "I know I want him to be here. I dont know what else to tell you." Lewand said Detroits salary cap situation isnt the reason for the delay in an agreement. If the two sides cant reach a deal after the season, the Lions could still keep Suh by using their franchise tag on him. "I wouldnt close the door on that," Mayhew said. "Every year, we have people concerned about our ability to function under the salary cap, and thus far weve been able to go out in free agency every year and add to our team, make our team better. ... I think the cap is going to go up next year, and probably the year after that too." Suh was drafted in 2010 by the Lions with the second overall pick, and he has 27 1/2 sacks in his four pro seasons. "We have a high degree of confidence that we can work out something thatll be mutually satisfactory at the right time, and the goal hasnt changed in the least. But the timing is such that we think the focus needs to be on the field, starting today," Lewand said. "Theres no adversarial nature to this decision. ... I think this is whats right for everybody." Mayhew said contract negotiations during the season can make it harder for a player to stay focused, so its important to put off any further discussions. He admitted these talks havent progressed as quickly as he expected. "At the combine, I probably thought around the start of free agency, possibly," Mayhew said. "After the draft, I thought probably by now. And now I think probably next year." So now the Lions sound prepared to wait until then for a resolution. "Its been my experience from doing this that when you can get a deal done in five minutes, the players not very good," Mayhew said. "It takes a little bit of time to get good players signed, and its a little bit more complicated." Nikola Jokic Nuggets Jersey . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. One day after Barcelonas 4-3 win at Real Madrid featured three penalties, referees again dominated a wide-open game that saw Almeria ultimately move out of the relegation zone and one point ahead of Getafe which took its place. 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But she gave a reassuring answer shortly afterward, saying no new damage had been done to the surgically repaired knee, and that her plans for the Sochi Olympics were still intact.WINNIPEG - Mathieu Perreault said he got some lucky bounces.Four of those bounces turned into goals on Tuesday, as the Winnipeg Jets trounced the Florida Panthers 8-2.Four goals, its something very special, Perreault said. Obviously, bounces were going my way.In the four goals, breakaways, (Michael) Frolik shoots it and it bounces right to me ... I had a couple chances in the third, too, to get maybe five. It was one of those crazy nights.Perreault scored four goals with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League about five or six years ago, but its a different feeling in the NHL.You cant compare doing it at the highest level, Perreault said, who played with Anaheim last season and was a Winnipeg free-agent signing in July.Fans gave the team and first-star Perreault a loud standing ovation after the victory, which earned Paul Maurice his 500th win as an NHL head coach.The eight-goal output was a season-high for the Jets, one short of the franchise record.Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien scored a pair of goals and added an assist. Jay Harrison and Evander Kane also scored for Winnipeg (22-14-8).Dave Bolland, with his first of the season, and Brad Boyes had goals for Florida (20-12-9), which finished a six-game road trip by going 4-2-0.Boyes said the Panthers made too many mistakes.I think my son whos 11 months now, he probably could have scored a couple tonight, too, Boyes said.It wasnt the way that we normally play.Perreaults four-goal performance tied the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise record for most goals in a game. Former Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk was the last to do it in 2005 and Pascal Rheaume recorded the first one.Its great. Any time you see a guy get those four like that, its fun, Byfuglien said. Its fun to be a group.(But) the funs over with now. Weve got stuff to maintain and get back to work.Perreault had his first-career hat trick on Jan. 24, 2012, against Boston. He almost didnt have his third goal Tuesday as it was first declared a Toby Enstrom goal, but then Perreault got the nod for a deflection.He now has 15 goals and 14 assists in 43 games after starting the season going 19-straight games without a goal.Rookie goalie Michael Hutchinson made 25 saves and had fun watching his teammates across the ice.Mathieu getting his hat trick and his fourth one, that was just huge, Hutchinson said.Hes such a key player for us and hes had such a great year. He definitely deserves everything he got tonight. It was ggreat to see it was on home ice and all the fans supported him.ddddddddddddRoberto Luongo started in net for Florida, but was pulled with 13:23 left in the second period in favour of Al Montoya after letting in four goals on 20 shots. Montoya made 11 stops.The Jets mounted a 2-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening period on Perreaults first two goals and made it 3-0 early in the second.The first goal came after Winnipeg capitalized on a Florida turnover followed by Perreault scoring his second goal just two seconds before a hooking penalty to Florida centre Nick Bjugstad expired.Winnipeg made it 3-0 at 3:39 of the second period when Byfuglien took the puck up the left side of the ice, paused for a split second like he might pass, before snapping a quick shot that went over Luongos glove.Bolland scored at 5:15 to make it 3-1, but Byfuglien responded with his second goal of the game 68 seconds later when he squeezed a close shot through a gap between the post and Luongos right pad at 6:23.Jets captain Andrew Ladd assisted on Byfugliens goal, extending his points streak to a career-tying seven games with four goals and five assists.Montoya got the nod after the goal made it 4-1.Perreault then scored back-to-back goals late in the second period to make it 6-1. Winnipeg had outshot the Panthers 25-20 after two periods.Harrison widened the gap to 7-1 at 4:26 of the third period, Boyes made it 7-2 just over a minute later and Kane scored on the power play at 13:47 to end the rout.Great, great story in Matty Perreault scoring four, Maurice said. First time Ive seen that in almost five (years).And Im happy for him, because hes done it the right way. You know hes worked so hard. He went through that stretch when he wasnt scoring. And his practices got even more competitive and he worked even harder and he had a stretch where he was just, competing on every puck.The Jets head out for two-game road trip starting Thursday in Dallas. The Panthers host Colorado on Thursday.We had a great trip, but to end it off like this with a performance like tonight, were disappointed, Florida coach Gerard Gallant said.So it wasnt one guy, it wasnt one line. It was every player on our team. Weve just got to regroup tomorrow, go back home and get ready for the next game.Notes — Panthers winger Jussi Jokinen, 31, was playing in his 700th career game … Jets Frolik was a first-round draft pick (10th overall) by Florida in 2006. ' ' '