SANDY, Utah -- The Vancouver Whitecaps might just have found the confidence they need heading into their first-ever playoff series. . With Saturdays scoreless draw at Real Salt Lake, the Whitecaps earned a point on the road for the first time since July 7. They also got a taste of the style of play and hostile environment that will await them Thursday when they visit the Los Angeles Galaxy in the franchises MLS post-season debut. "I think its the same style, the way they move the ball and the way we need to keep the shape to be competitive," Vancouver defender Alain Rochat said. "Now we need to rest for L.A. and give the same kind of performance. "Weve never had a good result there, so we are focused to change that. Well try to play the perfect game and win there." The Whitecaps had already sewn up the Western Conferences No. 4 seed, but a draw in the regular-season finale gave them 43 points for the season and moved them ahead of Montreal as the top Canadian team. Vancouver earned points in four of its final five games in the regular season and posted its 12th shutout of the season on Saturday behind three saves from Brad Knighton. Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said he was encouraged by yet another solid defensive showing on the road. "When you come on the road, thats how you need to perform -- be hard to play against, be hard to beat," Rennie said. "I think we saw the hunger and the belief were going to require (against L.A.). "Its a good end to the regular season. Coming into it as the worst team last season, we find ourselves coming out of it much improved." But if Vancouver has visions of advancing from the knockout round of the MLS playoffs, its going to need to find a way to score a goal. Saturday marked the 12th time the Whitecaps were shut out this season, and they have just 10 goals away from BC Place Stadium all season -- tied for worst in the league with Portland. The Whitecaps nearly broke through in the 57th minute, but Darren Mattocks goal on a Rochat free kick was disallowed by an offsides call. "Maybe on another day, Darren gets called onsides and we win 1-0," defender Jay DeMerit said. Vancouver managed just one shot on goal against Real goalkeeper Kyle Reynish. What seemed like a dump-and-chase approach on offence in the first half -- sending long passes deep into Salt Lake territory with minimal results -- developed into more of a controlled possession style as the game wore on. Rochat had two shots, and none of his teammates had more than one. "Theres ways to play at times, and tonight I think we showed thats a good way for us to play," DeMerit said. "Stay defensive and make we keep things scoreless and go in and try to get results of our own. LAs a perfect team to do that against." Salt Lake (17-11-6), which is also in the playoffs, set a quirky defensive record. The club became the second team in MLS history to not allow a goal in the first 15 minutes of a match all season. The only other team to do so was the 2009 Houston Dynamo. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-morris-claiborne-jersey... Claiborne Jersey . He was asked to smile. "You dont have to force me to smile," Irving said before beaming. Healthy and happy, the NBAs reigning rookie of the year is ready for his second season. . -- San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is taking on another coach. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-emmitt-smith-jersey-dx-... . In the West, San Antonio took the first two tests in its set with the Thunder in the Alamo City before Oklahoma City rebounded to hold serve in the Sooner State with the pivotal Game 5 set for South Texas tonight. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-jason-hatcher-jersey-eb... Hatcher Jersey . LOUIS -- Over and over again, the scene was repeated. . Danny Califf provided the killer blow to the Timbers, scoring in the 68th minute to see Chivas (8-8-5) take nine points from its three games against Portland. Since Wilkinson took over for John Spencer as head coach, Portland (5-13-4) has lost four in a row by a combined score of 12-3.PHILADELPHIA -- With a swarm of reporters surrounding backup quarterback Nick Foles, Michael Vick saw an opening and took off. Injured ribs didnt affect Vicks escapability in the locker room. Still, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback stopped to say he is "doing good, feeling better," and there is no doubt he will be ready when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. Vick didnt practice Wednesday after bruising his ribs during a win at New England on Monday, and Eagles coach Andy Reid said he probably wont play the rest of the preseason. Foles, the rookie third-round pick, will start in his place Friday night at the Browns. "That was a pretty good shot he took," Reid said of the hit that knocked Vick out of the game against the Patriots after just six plays. "It was in a soft spot, and a good shot he took." Vick is just 4 for 7 for 11 yards and has been on the field for only 12 plays in the first two preseason games. If he doesnt play again, he could be rusty for the season opener. "Would I like him to have some more reps? Would he like more reps? Yeah, Im sure both of us would like him to have more reps, but you bank on his maturity and experience to get him through a situation like this," Reid said. "So, thats what well do." Vicks teammates arrent worried about it, either. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-tony-dorsett-jersey-wl-... Dorsett Jersey. "I dont think thats a concern at all," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. "Weve been around him long enough, we had all those OTA reps." Vick has missed three games because of rib injuries in each of the past two seasons and has started 16 games just once in his nine years in the NFL. His style of play has been called reckless, and critics wonder if he can ever hold up over a full season. "Its not every day you get that type of athlete who can play quarterback," Maclin said. "I dont think its reckless. He just has a unique style. Theres other quarterbacks who can do that, but I dont think anyone does it like Michael Vick." Reid defended Vicks intentions on the play he was injured. "He was trying to make somebody miss, and he wheeled backward about 15 yards," Reid said. "He had an available receiver down the field, and he was trying to make a play. To tell him that he cant make that throw, youre not going to tell him that. You just want everyone to do their job so that doesnt happen back there. It was when he spun around that he got caught with that." The Eagles (No. 8 in the AP Pro32) finish up the preseason against the New York Jets on Aug. 30. Reid said the starters will play one quarter this week. ' ' '