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ACCRA, Ghana - Ghana picked Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng in a preliminary 26-man World Cup squad on Monday. Carolina Hurricanes Gear . The group will be trimmed to a final 23-man squad after a friendly game against the Netherlands on May 31, the Ghana Football Association said. AC Milans Essien and Schalkes Boateng were named after returning to international football last year. They had both asked for time away from the national team in the years after the last World Cup. Ghana captain and striker Asamoah Gyan and midfielder Sulley Muntari were also included and are set to play in their third consecutive World Cups. Ghana was the best-performing African team at the 2010 tournament, reaching the quarterfinals and just missing out on the semifinals after a penalty shootout loss to Uruguay in South Africa. Ghana will play the United States, Germany and Portugal in Group G in Brazil, and opens its campaign against the U.S. in Natal on June 16. Ghana beat the U.S. in the second round of the last World Cup. Coach Kwesi Appiah didnt reveal what his target was for the team that nearly became the first African nation into the last four of a World Cup four years ago. "Once the players are all fit we hope to deliver," Appiah said. "Every coach has a target and l believe in my players and the national team, but l cannot tell where we will get to. The only thing l can say is we will not disgrace Ghanaians." Essien missed the 2010 World Cup through injury and is likely facing his last chance to play at the showpiece in Brazil. Boateng stepped down from national team duties in 2011 but was recalled to Ghanas squad toward the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign late last year. Ghana will play in its third straight World Cup in Brazil. Appiah also picked Marseilles Andre Ayew, Juventus Kwadwo Asamoah and young attacking midfielder Wakaso Mubarak. Defender Jeffrey Schlupp, who plays for Englands Leicester City, was the biggest surprise in the initial squad. The GFA announced Monday that Ghana would play the Netherlands in Rotterdam on May 31 and South Korea in Miami on June 9 in its final World Cup warm-ups before facing Jurgen Klinsmanns U.S. team in Brazil. ___ Provisional squad: Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey, Fatawu Dauda, Stephen Adams. Defenders: Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, Jeffrey Schlupp, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Jerry Akaminko, Rashid Sumaila. Midfielders: Michael Essien, Rabiu Mohammed, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari, Albert Adomah, Wakaso Mubarak, Christian Atsu, David Accam, Andre Ayew, Afriyie Acquah. Forwards: Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Abdul Majeed Waris, Jordan Ayew. Carolina Hurricanes Store . Damyean Dotson, 19, Dominic Artis, 19 and Brandon Austin, 18, were suspended after the school received a police report concerning allegations made by a student who said she was assaulted by the players in early March. Wholesale Hurricanes Jerseys .com) - The St. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . - After three days of light, make that very light, workouts, Team Irvin and Team Carter are ready for tonights Pro Bowl.Wayne Simmonds is on a stretch not seen by a Philadelphia Flyers skater in 32 years. The Vancouver Canucks will be tasked with slowing him down when they host the Flyers Monday night. The red-hot winger looks to extend his goal-scoring streak to four straight games on Monday night when the Flyers resume their road trip against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks played for the first time in a week on Sunday night in Calgary and did so without No. 1 netminder Roberto Luongo due to a lower-body injury that has him day-to-day. Vancouver didnt miss a beat with backup Eddie Lack in net as the rookie posted his second career shutout with an 18-save effort in the 2-0 win. Jannik Hansen and Mike Santorelli each scored a goal for the Canucks, who have won three in a row and are 10-1-1 overall in December. "I thought we played in the areas and we played hard. Im very happy we found a way to get it done," Canucks coach John Tortorella said. Vancouver did lose defenseman Andrew Alberts 2:43 into the game when he took an elbow from Calgarys Brian McGrattan, who was given a major penalty and game misconduct for the hit. Alberts did not return to the game. The 25-year-old Simmonds meanwhile, netted two of Philadelphias three power-play goals in Saturdays 4-3 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers. Scott Hartnell had the other and Steve Mason made 13 saves and another two stops in the tiebreaker. Michael Raffl had the winner for the Flyers in the third round as he skated down and out to the left, out-waiting Edmonton netminder Ilya Bryzgalov before throwing the puck in under the crossbar for the win. &"I didnt really expect to be sent out there. Hurricanes Jerseys China. I really enjoyed it," said Raffl, who took his first chance in an NHL shootout in his 26th career game. It was the first time Philly faced Bryzgalov since buying out the final six seasons of his eight-year, $51 million deal over the summer. Philadelphia trailed 2-0 after the first period, but Simmonds led the comeback charge with his third straight two-goal game. He is the first Flyer to post such a streak since Reggie Leach in 1981. "Obviously we had (Bryzgalov) the last two years and I actually thought he played a really good game. He made a lot of stops for them," Simmonds said. "We just had to keep crashing the net, and we had some pretty nice goals in that shootout. It was nice to get the two points." Philadelphia improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven games and won the opener of six-game road trip, snapping a six-game losing streak as the visiting club. Simmonds has nine points over a five-game point streak, while Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux, who also scored in the shootout, extended their respective runs with two assists each. Voracek has six goals and nine helpers over a nine-game point streak, while Giroux has posted five goals and 10 assists during an eight-game run. The trio will try to help the Flyers avenge a 3-2 home loss to the Canucks on Oct. 15. Vancouver has won three of its past four versus Philadelphia overall. That includes a 6-2 victory the last time the clubs met in Vancouver on Dec. 28, 2010. Philadelphia had won seven in a row as the guest in this series before that meeting. ' ' '

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays offence was one of the most feared in the major leagues through May and early June. Reggie White Jersey . The inevitable cold spell has arrived. The Minnesota Twins blanked Toronto 4-0 on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre, handing the Blue Jays their third shutout loss in four games. "Thats the way it goes sometimes," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "When youre not hitting, youre not scoring runs, youve got to match them on the mound and we didnt do that." Twins starter Kevin Correia (3-7) threw six-plus innings and three relievers completed the seven-hit shutout in front of an announced crowd of 20,681. Brian Dozier homered as Minnesota (30-33) won for the second time in six games. Toronto (39-27) pulled out a 5-4 walkoff win in the series opener Monday after dropping a pair of 5-0 decisions to the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. The Twins and Blue Jays will close out the three-game series with a matinee on Wednesday. "We just couldnt get anything going offensively," Gibbons said. "I mean thats what it comes down to. Three out of four days shut out, you dont expect that. But quick turnaround tomorrow." The Blue Jays remained 5 1/2 games up on second-place Baltimore in the American League East standings. The Boston Red Sox blanked the Orioles 1-0. Danny Santana opened the game with a walk and scored when Dozier homered in his first at-bat for the second straight night. He turned on an 0-1 pitch from Toronto starter J.A. Happ (5-3) for his 14th home run of the season. The Blue Jays had some chances early on but stranded five runners over the first two innings. Correia settled down after that and retired 13 straight batters before giving up a two-out single to Adam Lind in the sixth. "It looked like he was kind of searching to find it but once it got going he got his confidence, (he) started making pitches," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "Great performance by him." Minnesota padded its lead in the fourth inning when third baseman Juan Francisco hurried a throw to first base and launched it high, allowing two runs to come across. Chad Jenkins relieved Happ after the play and allowed just one hit over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Its the first time Toronto has been shut out in three of four games since 1990 when they failed to score over a three-game stretch. "You cant put up seven runs every game, its just impossible," Jenkins said. "But theres no doubt that these guys will come back and well start scoring more runs and start winning more ball games." Correias night came to an end when Dioner Navarro singled to open the seventh. The right-hander gave up six hits and a walk and had one strikeout. Happ allowed six hits, three earned runs, three walks and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings. It was Minnesotas fifth shutout of the season and Torontos fourth shutout loss of the year. The Twins outhit the Blue Jays 9-7. Notes: The game took three hours seven minutes to play. ... Blue Jays right-hander Sergio Santos (elbow) began his rehab assignment with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Tuesday. He gave up three hits, three earned runs and a walk while striking out two over one inning of work. ... Marcus Stroman (3-0, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toronto in the series finale. The Twins will counter with fellow right-hander Phil Hughes (6-2, 3.46). ... Minnesota has an off-day Thursday before continuing its season-long 10-day road trip with a weekend series in Detroit. The Blue Jays will kick off a four-game series at Baltimore on Thursday. ... Jose Bautista singled in the first inning and has reached base safely in 63 of his 66 games this season. ... Twins right-fielder Oswaldo Arcia was hit by a pitch in the leg in the fifth. On the next pitch, Eduardo Nunez fouled a ball off his leg and also hopped around in pain. Both players stayed in the game. ... Jose Reyes singled in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games. He has reached base safely in 35 of his last 37 games. ... The Blue Jays signed their second round draft pick RHP Sean Reid-Foley and fifth round draft pick CF Lane Thomas on Tuesday. Dexter Williams Jersey . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. James Lofton Jersey . Canadas 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal ranks as the tournaments most-watched game with a record 2.7 million viewers, the largest ever for a World Juniors game played outside of North America, and winning Saturday as the most-watched program on Canadian television. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/custom-jerry-kramer-jersey-large-912r.html . Smith has spent the last three seasons with the Rockies, playing both left and right field, and has a .275 batting average with 51 homers and 181 RBIs in 487 major league games. CHICAGO -- First, it was Jonathan Toews on a power play, and then Patrick Sharp got loose on a breakaway. Andrew Shaw tipped one home, and it was all over. One dazzling stretch for the Chicago Blackhawks put an end to their tight first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. Duncan Keith had a goal and three assists, and the Blackhawks used a four-goal third period to finish off the Blues with a 5-1 victory in Game 6 on Sunday. "It feels good to contribute in a big game," Keith said, "and I think just the main thing for me is just being able to move on and get a couple days to relax and just regroup and focus on the next round." Chicago won four in a row after a slow start in St. Louis. The defending Stanley Cup champions will play the winner of the Minnesota-Colorado series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Avalanche lead the Wild 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Minnesota on Monday night. Toews, Sharp and Shaw scored in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third and Keith closed out the scoring as the Blackhawks improved to 14-2 in home playoff games over the past two seasons. Bryan Bickell scored in the first and Corey Crawford made 35 saves, keeping Chicago in a tie game when St. Louis controlled the second period. "They were dominating the first 40 minutes here and we came back with maybe the best period of the year," coach Joel Quenneville said. T.J. Oshie scored for the Blues, who outshot the Blackhawks 36-27. Ryan Miller finished with 22 saves. St. Louis went 0 for 6 in 10 minutes of power-play time over the first two periods, wasting a chance to take the lead. The Blues went 2 for 29 with the man advantage for the series. "I think both the PK and (Crawford) won the game and the series ultimately," Quenneville said. "I think that was the big factor in us getting through." The Blackhawks also struggled on the power play, but they scored when it mattered most. With Jay Bouwmeester in the box for tripping, Keith made a nice stop to keep the puck in the St. Louis zone, and then sent a pass over to Toews. The captain beat Miller over his right shoulder for a 2-1 lead just 44 seconds into the third. It was Toews third game-winning goal of the series. He also scored on a breakaway in overtime of Friday nights 3-2 win. Toews 23rd career post-season goal seemed to take the air out of the Blues, and it got even worse for St. Louis. Sharp got loose for a breakaway, shook off a stick to the face by defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk and slid a shot past Milller. Tim Harris Jersey. "The third goal was really a backbreaker for us," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "That was really the one that hurt. We had been chasing them all series and able to catch up in games, but I thought the third goal really took the wind out of our sails." Sharps first point of the playoffs sent a charge through the towel-waving sellout crowd of 22,144, and there were mocking chants of "Mil-ler! Mil-ler!" as Shaw added his second goal of the series and helped set up Keith for his second. It was an eerily similar playoff exit for St. Louis to a year ago, when the Blues also were eliminated by the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games in the first round. In that 2013 playoff series, St. Louis won the first two games at home against Los Angeles, and then lost four in a row. This year was supposed to be different, especially after the Blues acquired Miller from Buffalo on March 1. But they lost their last six games of the regular season, putting them in a first-round series against rival Chicago. St. Louis rebounded for two 4-3 overtime victories, but the Blackhawks found their stride when the series shifted to Chicago. Crawford had a shutout in Game 3, Patrick Kane scored in overtime in Game 4, and Toews breakaway score in St. Louis put the Blackhawks in position to advance. "It was one play here, one play there," Blues captain David Backes said. "But it was on our stick and we needed to get the job done. We didnt get it done and were going home too early." Chicago defenceman Brent Seabrook returned from a three-game suspension. Seabrook was punished by the NHL for his hit on Backes in Game 2. "It was tough. I cant watch hockey," Seabrook said. "Youre hanging on every shot, every save, every play. You want to be out there helping the guys. It was obviously tough to watch it, but they did a great job." Backes exacted a measure of revenge when he delivered a hard hit on Seabrook into the end boards in the second period. But Seabrook added two more assists and had six points for the series. NOTES: Blackhawks F Kris Versteeg was scratched after he played in the first five games. ... Keith, a top candidate for the Norris Trophy awarded to the NHLs top defenceman, tied a playoff career high with four points. ... Miller, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency, on his immediate future: "I dont know. Ive just got to take things as they come right now. I guess Im free to go to my sister-in-laws wedding. Thats about it." ' ' ' TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays offence was one of the most feared in the major leagues through May and early June. Reggie White Jersey . The inevitable cold spell has arrived. The Minnesota Twins blanked Toronto 4-0 on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre, handing the Blue Jays their third shutout loss in four games. "Thats the way it goes sometimes," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "When youre not hitting, youre not scoring runs, youve got to match them on the mound and we didnt do that." Twins starter Kevin Correia (3-7) threw six-plus innings and three relievers completed the seven-hit shutout in front of an announced crowd of 20,681. Brian Dozier homered as Minnesota (30-33) won for the second time in six games. Toronto (39-27) pulled out a 5-4 walkoff win in the series opener Monday after dropping a pair of 5-0 decisions to the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. The Twins and Blue Jays will close out the three-game series with a matinee on Wednesday. "We just couldnt get anything going offensively," Gibbons said. "I mean thats what it comes down to. Three out of four days shut out, you dont expect that. But quick turnaround tomorrow." The Blue Jays remained 5 1/2 games up on second-place Baltimore in the American League East standings. The Boston Red Sox blanked the Orioles 1-0. Danny Santana opened the game with a walk and scored when Dozier homered in his first at-bat for the second straight night. He turned on an 0-1 pitch from Toronto starter J.A. Happ (5-3) for his 14th home run of the season. The Blue Jays had some chances early on but stranded five runners over the first two innings. Correia settled down after that and retired 13 straight batters before giving up a two-out single to Adam Lind in the sixth. "It looked like he was kind of searching to find it but once it got going he got his confidence, (he) started making pitches," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "Great performance by him." Minnesota padded its lead in the fourth inning when third baseman Juan Francisco hurried a throw to first base and launched it high, allowing two runs to come across. Chad Jenkins relieved Happ after the play and allowed just one hit over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Its the first time Toronto has been shut out in three of four games since 1990 when they failed to score over a three-game stretch. "You cant put up seven runs every game, its just impossible," Jenkins said. "But theres no doubt that these guys will come back and well start scoring more runs and start winning more ball games." Correias night came to an end when Dioner Navarro singled to open the seventh. The right-hander gave up six hits and a walk and had one strikeout. Happ allowed six hits, three earned runs, three walks and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings. It was Minnesotas fifth shutout of the season and Torontos fourth shutout loss of the year. The Twins outhit the Blue Jays 9-7. Notes: The game took three hours seven minutes to play. ... Blue Jays right-hander Sergio Santos (elbow) began his rehab assignment with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Tuesday. He gave up three hits, three earned runs and a walk while striking out two over one inning of work. ... Marcus Stroman (3-0, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toronto in the series finale. The Twins will counter with fellow right-hander Phil Hughes (6-2, 3.46). ... Minnesota has an off-day Thursday before continuing its season-long 10-day road trip with a weekend series in Detroit. The Blue Jays will kick off a four-game series at Baltimore on Thursday. ... Jose Bautista singled in the first inning and has reached base safely in 63 of his 66 games this season. ... Twins right-fielder Oswaldo Arcia was hit by a pitch in the leg in the fifth. On the next pitch, Eduardo Nunez fouled a ball off his leg and also hopped around in pain. Both players stayed in the game. ... Jose Reyes singled in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games. He has reached base safely in 35 of his last 37 games. ... The Blue Jays signed their second round draft pick RHP Sean Reid-Foley and fifth round draft pick CF Lane Thomas on Tuesday. Dexter Williams Jersey . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. James Lofton Jersey . Canadas 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal ranks as the tournaments most-watched game with a record 2.7 million viewers, the largest ever for a World Juniors game played outside of North America, and winning Saturday as the most-watched program on Canadian television. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/custom-jerry-kramer-jersey-large-912r.html . Smith has spent the last three seasons with the Rockies, playing both left and right field, and has a .275 batting average with 51 homers and 181 RBIs in 487 major league games. CHICAGO -- First, it was Jonathan Toews on a power play, and then Patrick Sharp got loose on a breakaway. Andrew Shaw tipped one home, and it was all over. One dazzling stretch for the Chicago Blackhawks put an end to their tight first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. Duncan Keith had a goal and three assists, and the Blackhawks used a four-goal third period to finish off the Blues with a 5-1 victory in Game 6 on Sunday. "It feels good to contribute in a big game," Keith said, "and I think just the main thing for me is just being able to move on and get a couple days to relax and just regroup and focus on the next round." Chicago won four in a row after a slow start in St. Louis. The defending Stanley Cup champions will play the winner of the Minnesota-Colorado series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Avalanche lead the Wild 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Minnesota on Monday night. Toews, Sharp and Shaw scored in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third and Keith closed out the scoring as the Blackhawks improved to 14-2 in home playoff games over the past two seasons. Bryan Bickell scored in the first and Corey Crawford made 35 saves, keeping Chicago in a tie game when St. Louis controlled the second period. "They were dominating the first 40 minutes here and we came back with maybe the best period of the year," coach Joel Quenneville said. T.J. Oshie scored for the Blues, who outshot the Blackhawks 36-27. Ryan Miller finished with 22 saves. St. Louis went 0 for 6 in 10 minutes of power-play time over the first two periods, wasting a chance to take the lead. The Blues went 2 for 29 with the man advantage for the series. "I think both the PK and (Crawford) won the game and the series ultimately," Quenneville said. "I think that was the big factor in us getting through." The Blackhawks also struggled on the power play, but they scored when it mattered most. With Jay Bouwmeester in the box for tripping, Keith made a nice stop to keep the puck in the St. Louis zone, and then sent a pass over to Toews. The captain beat Miller over his right shoulder for a 2-1 lead just 44 seconds into the third. It was Toews third game-winning goal of the series. He also scored on a breakaway in overtime of Friday nights 3-2 win. Toews 23rd career post-season goal seemed to take the air out of the Blues, and it got even worse for St. Louis. Sharp got loose for a breakaway, shook off a stick to the face by defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk and slid a shot past Milller. Tim Harris Jersey. "The third goal was really a backbreaker for us," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "That was really the one that hurt. We had been chasing them all series and able to catch up in games, but I thought the third goal really took the wind out of our sails." Sharps first point of the playoffs sent a charge through the towel-waving sellout crowd of 22,144, and there were mocking chants of "Mil-ler! Mil-ler!" as Shaw added his second goal of the series and helped set up Keith for his second. It was an eerily similar playoff exit for St. Louis to a year ago, when the Blues also were eliminated by the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games in the first round. In that 2013 playoff series, St. Louis won the first two games at home against Los Angeles, and then lost four in a row. This year was supposed to be different, especially after the Blues acquired Miller from Buffalo on March 1. But they lost their last six games of the regular season, putting them in a first-round series against rival Chicago. St. Louis rebounded for two 4-3 overtime victories, but the Blackhawks found their stride when the series shifted to Chicago. Crawford had a shutout in Game 3, Patrick Kane scored in overtime in Game 4, and Toews breakaway score in St. Louis put the Blackhawks in position to advance. "It was one play here, one play there," Blues captain David Backes said. "But it was on our stick and we needed to get the job done. We didnt get it done and were going home too early." Chicago defenceman Brent Seabrook returned from a three-game suspension. Seabrook was punished by the NHL for his hit on Backes in Game 2. "It was tough. I cant watch hockey," Seabrook said. "Youre hanging on every shot, every save, every play. You want to be out there helping the guys. It was obviously tough to watch it, but they did a great job." Backes exacted a measure of revenge when he delivered a hard hit on Seabrook into the end boards in the second period. But Seabrook added two more assists and had six points for the series. NOTES: Blackhawks F Kris Versteeg was scratched after he played in the first five games. ... Keith, a top candidate for the Norris Trophy awarded to the NHLs top defenceman, tied a playoff career high with four points. ... Miller, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency, on his immediate future: "I dont know. Ive just got to take things as they come right now. I guess Im free to go to my sister-in-laws wedding. Thats about it." ' ' '

Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - World No. Carolina Hurricanes Store . 1 and four-time U.S. Open titlist Serena Williams breezed past Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-1 on Friday to move into the fourth round at the U.S. Open. The reigning U.S. and French Open champ Williams, a 16-time Grand Slam winner, needed just over an hour to dispose of Shvedova in straight sets on the hardcourts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Williams, who defeated Victoria Azarenka in last years outstanding final in Flushing, will take on fellow American Sloane Stephens in the round of 16 after the 15th-seeded Stephens downed No. 23 Jamie Hampton 6-1, 6-3. The Aussie Open semifinalist Stephens is now an impressive 15-3 at the Slams this year. A pair of top-five seeds -- Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na -- also moved into the fourth round at the U.S. Open on Friday. The third-seeded 2012 Wimbledon runner-up Radwanska topped 32nd-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), while the fifth-seeded former French Open champion and two-time Australian Open runner-up Li popped 11 aces in taking care of 30th-seeded 19-year-old British left-hander Laura Robson 6-2, 7-5. Li avenged a third-round loss against Robson at last years U.S. Open. "I was really happy how I was hitting on the court," Li said. "And I thought I served really well." Robson, who piled up 30 unforced errors on a sunny Day 5, was the first British woman to be seeded at a Grand Slam event since Jo Durie at the 1987 Australian Open. Last months Wimbledon semifinalist Radwanska is seeking her first-ever trip into a U.S. Open quarterfinal, while the 31-year-old Li reached her lone quarterfinal in New York City four years ago. Nine-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis, who was named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July, made her first Grand Slam appearance since returning from retirement by pairing with Czech Daniel Hantuchova for a doubles match against Italys Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. However, Hingis and Hantuchova were no match for the Italians, who earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory to advance. Hingis later returned for a mixed doubles match with Indias Mahesh Bhupathi against Swedens Robert Lindstedt and Taiwans Chan Yung-January, but Hingis and Bhupathi were handed a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) setback. Eight-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany cruised past 25th-seeded Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-0, 6-4, while 18th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro notched a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Chinas Zheng Jie. Ninth-seeded former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic reached the round of 16 with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Japans Kurumi Nara. Jankovic was the 2008 U.S. Open runner-up and will battle Li in a quality fourth-round matchup here on Sunday. Meanwhile, 24th-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova sent 16th-seeded Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki packing in 6-4, 7-5 fashion. The German slugger Lisicki has never advanced beyond the fourth round in Flushing. Makarova will face Radwanska on Sunday in her first-ever fourth-round match at the U.S. Open. Carolina Hurricanes Shirts .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. Stitched Hurricanes Jerseys .J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . The 29-year-old Mills started three games for Oakland this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.41 earned-run average. He opened the season appearing in 14 games and making 12 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers triple-A affiliate in Nashville, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.OAKVILLE, Ont. - Ben McIntosh of Coquitlam, B.C., was selected first overall by the Edmonton Rush on Monday in the National Lacrosse Leagues annual draft. McIntosh played midfield for Drexel University in NCAA Division I, scoring 48 goals and adding 17 assists in 2014. Edmonton acquired the pick in a trade with the Minnesota Swarm. Jeremy Noble, from Orangeville, Ont., was taken second by the Rochester Knighthawks &mdashh; via trade with the Vancouver Stealth — and Minnesota picked Miles Thompson third overall. Fake Hurricanes Jerseys. Eli McLaughlin (Colorado Mammoth), Shane MacDonald (Minnesota), Mark Cockerton (New England), Robert Hope (Colorado) Quinn Powless (New England Black Wolves) and Brandon Goodwin (Buffalo Bandits) rounded out the first round of the draft. A total of 55 players were selected in the six-round draft. ' ' '

(SportsNetwork. Buzz Sawyer Jersey Retro .com) - After leaving some points on the table during a recent homestand, the Minnesota Wild will try to tighten their grip on a playoff spot during a three-game road trip. A stop in Boston could be a good place to start. The Wild look to avoid their first ever setback at TD Garden as they visit the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins on Monday night. You can watch the game live on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Minnesota will try to keep this a 60-minute contest as it lost three shootouts during a 1-0-3 homestand. Still, with 80 points the Wild own a five-point edge for a wild card position in the Western Conference. Saturdays 2-1 shootout setback to the Columbus Blue Jackets closed out Minnesotas residency. Jason Pominville scored in the third period for the Wild and Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves through overtime. Minnesota then grabbed a 2-0 lead in the shootout on goals by Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu, but Artem Anisimov and Mark Letestu countered for Columbus. Matt Moulson then had his fourth-round chance stopped and Kuemper was beaten by Ryan Johansen. Kuemper tried to disrupt the attempt with a poke check, but Johansen pulled the puck to the backhand and sent it into the net. The goal was upheld after it was ruled that Kuemper did not get his stick on the puck. That left the Wild with five of a possible eight points on its homestand, but Moulson said, "down the stretch every point is important." The Wild will visit the New York Islanders on Monday night, so both Kuemper and Ilya Bryzgalov could see action over the next two days. Kuemper has gone 12-4-4 with a 2.19 goals against average in 22 games (21 starts) this season and has never faced Boston, while Ilya Bryzgalov is 6-3-3 with a 2.49 GAA versus the Bruins. Bryzgalov has made just one start with the Wild since being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers. Minnesota has had no trouble picking up points versus Boston. The Wild lead the all-time series 10-1-1, having won the past two meetings, and have never lost in six trips to TD Garden. They have outscored the Bruins 19-6 in those games. The Wild host the Bruins on April 8 to wrap the season series. Boston will also play games on back-to-back nights as it will visit the New Jersey Devils after concluding a three-game residency on Monday. The Bruins come into this matchup having won eight in a row to post their longest winning streak since a 10-game span from Nov. 1-23, 2011. The Bruins picked up a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Jarome Iginla scored twice and Milan Lucic had a goal and two assists. Both players are on four-game point streaks, with Iginla having totaled four goals and an assist and Lucic notching two tallies and four helpers. Chris Kelly and Torey Krug also scored, while David Krejci picked up three assists in the victory as Boston improved to 11-1-2 in its past 14 games and leads the Montreal Canadiens by 14 points for first place in the division. "It just seems like everything is clicking for us right now," said Lucic. Chad Johnson got the start in the Boston and made 29 saves, improving the backup to 8-0-0 with a 1.40 GAA at home this season. It wouldnt be shocking to see Johnson face the Wild for the first time in his career tonight given tomorrows road game and his success at home. No. 1 Tuukka Rask is 1-1-0 with a 1.45 GAA in two previous meetings with Minnesota and has made a career-high 49 starts this season. Taylor Decker Jersey Retro . -- The guys in green raced off the court and into the locker room where they danced and sang, compared whose shot was most likely to end up featured on "One Shining Moment," and checked Twitter to see who was giving them a shoutout. Randy Coffield Jersey Retro . He will play 10th-seeded Feliciano Lopez in Sundays final, after the Spanish left-hander defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7), 6-4. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/ray-neal-jersey-retro/ . 11 Ana Ivanovic and American Sloane Stephens, and former world No.LOS ANGELES -- The Miami Heat played the final minutes the way championship teams are supposed to. The Los Angeles Clippers are still perfecting the art of closing out games against the elite teams. LeBron James had 31 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, Ray Allen hit a clinching three-pointer in the final minute, and the Heat snapped a five-game road losing streak against the stubborn Clippers with a 116-112 victory on Wednesday night. Allen had 15 points off the bench for the two-time defending NBA champions, who began a six-game road trip that will be interrupted four games in by the All-Star break. Dwyane Wade, one of seven Miami players scoring in double figures, had 14 points and eight assists in his 700th regular-season game. The Heat had lost 10 of their previous 12 road games against the Clippers, and hadnt beaten them at Staples Center since Dec. 9, 2007. Los Angeles, coming off Mondays stinging 116-115 loss at Denver on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by ex-Clipper Randy Foye, got a season-high 43 points and 13 rebounds from Blake Griffin and 31 points from Jamal Crawford. DeAndre Jordan extended his franchise record of consecutive double-digit rebound performances to 29 games with 16 boards and 16 points. The Pacific Division champions are 11-6 since Chris Paul went down with a separated right shoulder on Jan. 3 at Dallas. With Darren Collison and Crawford replacing Paul and J.J. Redick (sore right hip) in the starting lineup, the Clippers bench produced only two points -- a 20-foot jumper by Jared Dudley with 3:17 left in the first quarter -- until Willie Green hit a pair of free throws to pull Los Angeles within 91-84 with 9:51 to play. Allen, who holds the NBA record for career three-pointers, converted a four-point play after Green fouled him behind the arc. That extended Miamis lead to 99-87 with 8:07 remaining. His second three, a rainbow from the left corner, made it 112-107 with 42.4 seconds to go. "Thats when the talent kicks in," James said. "The play was broken down a little bit, but D-Wade made a heck of a play by getting into the paint, and Ray just kept moving into his favourite spot -- one of those corners. D-Wade found him with a great pass, and Ray nailed it." Allen, in his 18th NBA season, played in his 1,271st regular-season game and overtook John Havlicek for 19th place all-time. "Hes a pro and he takes care of himself. Hes in just phenomenal shape, and he can run forever," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who had Allen for five seasons with the Celtics. "Whhat impressed me the most when we were in Boston was his professionalism and his ability to make big shots. Jim Ritcher Jersey Retro. Ray could go 0 for 20, or 20 for 20, and the next day hed be the first guy in the gym, shooting all of his shots from his exact spots at the exact speed. Ray lives that." The Clippers, who held Miami to just two field goals over the first 7:47 of the fourth quarter, narrowed the gap to 99-95 with a 10-0 run capped by Griffins tip-in with 5:15 left. But James responded with a three-pointer and a layup 53 seconds apart. "Obviously weve had our battles with Doc, being in the Eastern Conference for so long, so we know how well his team is going to be prepared," James said. "I think it was just our mental toughness, especially in the third quarter when they made their run. We just stayed composed and found a way to get a win. We made stops and executed offensively." The Heat opened the third quarter with an 11-5 run that extended their seven-point halftime lead to 73-60. Wade set up an alley-oop dunk by James, and Mario Chalmers hit a three-pointer from in front of the Clippers bench to cap the rally with 8:48 left in the period. Chalmers basket put all of Miamis starters in double-figure scoring. Griffin led all scorers in the first half with 22 points and Crawford added 18, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter. But the Heat led 62-55 at intermission after shooting 57 per cent. Miamis ball movement was superb from the outset, recording assists on all but one of its first 18 field goals and building a 43-24 lead with 9:44 left in the second quarter. The Heat had 33 assists on 41 field goals overall. "We pride ourselves on moving the ball, and we know that makes it easier for all of us," James said. "We keep everyone in a rhythm when were passing the ball and sharing the ball. Tonight we had some turnovers, including myself. I mean, I was the main culprit (with seven), and Ive got to be more conscious of that and not turn the ball over so much." NOTES: James was called for a reach-in foul against Griffin with 3:17 left in the third quarter, his first of the game, and was assessed a technical foul by referee Bill Kennedy for complaining about it with Miami leading 81-69. ... The Clippers began a five-game homestand that includes four opponents that entered Wednesday with a combined 126-62 record -- Portland and division leaders Miami, Toronto and San Antonio. ... Miami improved to 8-2 against teams that currently lead their division. The Clippers are 3-6 in that department. ' ' '

Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara has been named flag bearer for Slovakia at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Bruins head coach Claude Julien said Chara could miss the teams two final games before the Olympic break as he travels to Russia. The Bruins captain has nine goals and 19 points with a plus- 5 rating this season. Chara has appeared in two previous Olympic Games, playing for the Slovakia in 2006 and 2010. Wholesale Jerseys 2021 . Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the Houston Texans No. 1 pick in the draft, was on the field Tuesday for the first time with former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J. Wholesale Jerseys . Still, Milan remained five points behind city rival Inter Milan in the race for fifth place and the final Europa League berth, after Inter beat 10-man Parma 2-0. Meanwhile, Paul Pogba led the way as Juventus stayed on course for a third consecutive title with a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Bologna. https://www.wholesalejerseysaaa.com/ . He also had some help Monday night.Hibbert scored a season-high 29 points to help Indiana beat the Utah Jazz 97-86 Monday night, ending the Pacers six-game losing streak.CINCINNATI - Cam Newton re-emerged as dual-threat danger. Andy Dalton missed on only one pass in overtime a€” a sack-saving throwaway, no less. Back and forth they went, rallying their teams through a pulsating finish.Mike Nugents miss left it tied, unsatisfying and confusing. And perfectly appropriate.Nugent missed a 36-yard field goal attempt on the final play of overtime Sunday, leaving the Bengals and Panthers in a 37-37 tie a€” the NFLs first this season. A game full of big plays and big comebacks was basically a wash.Its a weird feeling, Dalton said. Ive never been part of a tie. You didnt lose, but you didnt win. We had our chances and when you dont win, its tough.It doesnt happen very often a€” at least, not outside of Cincinnati.The Bengals and Eagles played to a 13-13 tie at Paul Brown Stadium in 2008, when Cincinnatis Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard try with 7 seconds left in overtime. Four years later, San Francisco and St. Louis played to a 24-all tie.The NFL changed the overtime rules to avoid having games end on a field goal by the receiving team. Minnesota and Green Bay finished 26-all last season under the new format.The crowd of 57,053 at Paul Brown Stadium was standing and ready to celebrate when Nugent set up for the final kick with only 2 seconds left on the clock. It was a good snap and hold. Nugent rushed his approach and sliced it wide right.That was the worst ball Ive ever hit in my career, Nugent said. My plant foot was way too far forward. I think there was a little excitement. I was a little too quick.The crowd stood stunned. The players walked onto the field to shake hands, trying to figure out what it all meant.Im treating it as if it was loss, said Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker, who had a 4-yard touchdown run. We had many opportunities to win it. But it doesnt hurt as bad (as a loss), I guess.A matchup of division leaders and impressive quarterbacks came down to the kickers.Nugent made a 42-yard field goal that put Cincinnati (3-1-1) up after the opening drive of overtime. Carolina (3-2-1) tied it on Graham Ganos 36-yarder with 2:19 left.That was enough time for Dalton to manoeuvr the Bengals into positioon to win it. Wholesale Jerseys 2020. He was 8 for 9 for 87 yards with one throwaway in overtime. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Panthers end Charles Johnson helped the Bengals get in position for Nugents final kick.On that last drive, I thought wed go down there and put ourselves in a position to win it, said Dalton, who was 33 of 43 overall for 323 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. We did that. We were close.The game marked Newtons return as a running threat. He had been mostly limited to throwing the ball because of off-season ankle surgery and cracked ribs from the preseason.With their backfield depleted by injuries, the Panthers turned Newton loose on Sunday. He ran a team-high 17 times for 107 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown in the second half. He also completed 29 of 46 for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a 13-yarder that put Carolina up 31-24 with 4:50 left.The drama was just starting.Adam Pacman Jones ran the kickoff back 97 yards to set up a tying touchdown, and the kickers traded field goals in the closing minutes. Ganos 44-yarder sent it to overtime.There were other big plays, too. Giovani Bernard had an 89-yard touchdown run a€” the second-longest in Bengals history a€” to help Cincinnati to a 17-10 halftime lead. Bernard carried 18 times for a career-high 137 yards, missing part of the second half with an injured right shoulder.All of that aside, it came down to a kicker missing one thats usually routine.You want to come away with a victory there, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. Thats a shame.NOTES: The 74 combined points were the third-most in an NFL tie, according to STATS. The Patriots and Raiders tied 43-all in 1964. The Broncos and Bills tied 38-all in 1960. ... The Panthers have given up the two longest runs in the NFL this season a€” Bernards TD and LeVeon Bells 81-yarder. ... Bengals WR A.J. Green was inactive because of an injured big right toe that has bothered him all season, only the second time in his career he was inactive. ... Corey Dillon had the longest TD run in Bengals history, 96 yards in Detroit in 2001.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '

The agent for a handful of NFL players has been charged with mail fraud and accused of trying to swindle his clients out of millions of dollars he claimed would be invested in 13 Burger King franchises across Virginia. Ray Lewis Jersey .Vinnie Porter, who is certified by the NFL Players Association and listed as the agent for six players, including New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray, was arrested along with Joseph Vaccaro, a New York-based financial adviser. The arrests late in 2014 were first reported by the website The Smoking Gun, which also reported they have pleaded innocent and are scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 2 — the day after the Super Bowl.According to a federal complaint filed in San Diego, the two told their clients that they needed $20 million to buy 50 per cent of the fast food franchises even though the actual cost for the whole deal was $16 million. The two, along with a third person working with the FBI as a confidential informant, were to split the extra $4 million and then continue to draw profits through their concealed half-ownership.Although Porter is listed on the NFLPA website as Grays agent, The Smoking Gun quoted Porter as saying Gray recently fired him. Porter, who did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment, is listed as the representative for five other NFL players, mostly on practice squads; the NFLPA site says he has negotiated eight NFL contracts.The players union said it had been in contact with law enforcement on the issue. We are reviewing the facts and will take appropriate action, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah said.Vaccaro is not certified by the NFLPA as a financial adviser, Atallah said.Porter was a co-founder of Elevate Sports Management along with Alex Hicks, the son of former Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks. The company also represents baseball players, including Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Zake Spruill.Vaccaro is the founder of Dynasty Management, which bills itself as a state of the art business management platform for athletes and entertainers. The firms website lists as a client relationship director Leonard Marshall, a defensive lineman who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants in 1987 and 91.According to the complaint, Vaccaro and Porter were recorded telling the confidential informant that they could raise $20 million for the $16 million deal, clearing $4 million immediately and another $2.5 million a year in profits.My big thing is, these guys would (expletive) us in a heartbeat, Vaccaro was quoted as saying. So if Im going to have a player, Im going to make as much money as I can make because I run the risk of him firing me at any time for no reason.The informant asked if they were cool not disclosing, not telling, lying, whatever you want to call it, about the kickbacks, the structure, anything like that.Yeah, Porter responded, wed all be committing suicide. Marquise Brown Jersey . Hes had three top-10 results this season and feels ready to put it all together and finally hoist a trophy at the top level. Marcus Robinson Jersey . Two weeks after suffering a concussion, Foles will start in place of Michael Vick, who is out for the second time this season with a hamstring injury. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom-patrick-ricard-jersey-large-2153d.html .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times.Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - With the holiday season right around the corner, Sidney Crosby got into the giving spirit Saturday night. Crosby had five assists in the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1 rout of the Buffalo Sabres, extending his league-best totals to 17 helpers and 24 points. The captain of the Penguins now has a 19-game point streak against the Sabres, upping his ledger to 10 goals and 26 assists in those contests. Kris Letang added two goals and two assists for Pittsburgh, which has won seven in a row for the first time since Dec. 9-21 of last season. Patric Hornqvist had two goals and an assist. Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves for the Penguins, who have won five consecutive games against the Sabres, outscoring them 23-3 in that stretch. That includes a 5-0 win Nov. 1 in Pittsburgh. Zemgus Girgensons scored the lone goal for Buffalo, which has lost three in a row. Jhonas Enroth stopped 33-of-39 shots in defeat. The Penguins dominated from the start with Letang opening the sscoring 1:21 into the game by scoring off Crosbys pass from behind the net. Mark Andrews Jersey. Hornqvist lit the lamp on the power play at 3:31 when he deflected Letangs blast past Enroth. Letangs one-timer found the back of the net at the 15:04 mark of the first period. Hornqvist scored another goal on the power play at 4:56 of the second and Robert Bortuzzo then made it 5-0 with six minutes remaining on his first of the young season. Girgensons tipped in Josh Gorges shot from the point to put the Sabres on the board with 3:08 to go, but Evgeni Malkin kicked the puck from his skate to his stick and scored from the slot with 45 seconds left. Enroth made 13 saves in the third to keep it a 6-1 game. Game Notes Crosby last recorded five assists in a 6-1 win over the Islanders on March 10, 2013 ... Pittsburgh went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Buffalo went 0-for-3 ... Chris Kunitz had two assists for the Penguins ... The Sabres fell to an NHL-worst 3-11-2. ' ' '

OTTAWA – Jonathan Bernier and Nazem Kadri left the nations capital under the cloud of injuries as the Leafs pulled out a 3-2 exhibition victory. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys . Scheduled to play his first full outing of the exhibition season against the Senators on Thursday night, Bernier departed after just a period at the Canadian Tire Centre, nursing an undisclosed injury. Kadri left two shifts into the third frame with a bruised left hand. Neither injury appeared serious, but both offered a scare with the regular season less than two weeks away. Competing for the starting job with James Reimer this fall, Berniers injury first occurred at the Leafs morning skate in Toronto, the team flying to Ottawa later that afternoon. "I wanted to give it a try," said Bernier, reluctant to offer much in the way of details as to his injury. "[But] it just felt worse, I guess, as the game was going so I just figured it was a better move to step off. Its a long season." The 25-year-old faced 11 shots in 20 minutes – yielding a goal to Fredrik Claesson – giving way to Drew MacIntyre following the opening frame. "It felt okay," he continued, "but I guess thats why I came off." Bernier didnt consider the mysterious injury to be overly concerning and hoped to play in at least two of the remaining six exhibition games. Overall, after two-plus periods in two games, the former King is feeling optimistic about his performance. "I want to play a full game and obviously that was the plan tonight, but it didnt happen," he said. "Im starting to feel better, seeing the play a little bit slower than the first game." Kadri, meanwhile, managed to defeat Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the faceoff dot early in the third before he too was forced to depart. The 23-year-old took a puck awkwardly off the hand late in the second frame, suffering from a "little bit of bruising" shortly thereafter. "He just felt that he couldnt grasp his stick," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said of Kadris exit from the game. X-rays came back negative on the prospective second line centre, a huge sigh of relief to the organization with the October 1 opener in Montreal fast approaching. The Leafs are already dealing with injuries to Colton Orr (bone bruise) and Frazer McLaren (finger) and appear to have just gotten past an early issue with Joffrey Lupul (back). Injuries to the likes of Kadri and Bernier thus would only add to the concern. At this point, it appears the club may have dodged a pair of bullets. Five Points 1. Time is now for Colborne Randy Carlyle issued a challenge of sorts to a player on the bubble ahead of Thursdays game with the Senators. "Joe Colbornes got to separate himself from some people here," Carlyle said of the 23-year-old, paired with James van Riemsdyk and David Clarkson at the outset of an eventual win. "The time is now for a player like Colborne to show that hes got the necessary assets and attitude and commitment to make an impression in the NHL." So far, that case remains muddled. While he boasts a real shot to crack an NHL roster for the first time in his career, Colborne, as of yet, has done little to "separate himself" at camp. He has yet to consistently demonstrate the capacity in which he could be of use at the next level. On Thursday night, the Calgary native totaled 15-plus minutes opposite Ottawa, mustering just one shot while falling on 11 of 16 draws. Before the injury to Kadri, he had been shifted away from the power duo of van Riemsdyk and Clarkson and onto a unit with Nik Kulemin and David Broll. "The bus only goes by so many times and you want to be on that bus," Carlyle continued, though speaking more generally about the process of earning a job. "Youre going to get so many opportunities. Who knows when the last one is... If you want to ride to downtown you want to get on the bus." Following Thursdays game, Carlyle said he thought Colborne "played okay". 2. Rielly Watch Morgan Rielly suited up for the third of the Leafs three exhibition games, totaling 20 minutes alongside Paul Ranger. Looking to crack the NHL as a 19-year-old, Rielly has focused his attention this fall on proving his worth in the defensive zone. "Obviously I knew that would be an area of the game that I would have to concentrate on," he told TSN.ca of the physical aspect of defending. "And I put quite a bit of hard work in terms of training into that area in order to be okay down low and what not. I feel like its going pretty well so far." Rielly got his first taste of the professional game with the Marlies this past spring, the B.C.-native playing in 14 games before adding eight more in the playoffs. The experience, defending against bigger and stronger competition, proved beneficial, handing the fifth overall pick an early lesson ahead of his first full training camp this fall. "I was pretty happy with the way that I played in terms of handling the puck and on the power-play and that kind of stuff," he said of the American League experience, "but when it came to playing in our own end, having to play against some older players down low I knew that that was an area I had to improve. "I kind of realized that if I wanted to make the jump I had to keep getting stronger and I think thats an area I put a lot of work into and Im happy with the way it went." 3. Positive impressions continue from Raymond For the second time in as many games Mason Raymond offered a burst of the speed that may well earn him a place on the Leafs roster. Raymond broke free of Chris Wideman by just a step, enough to tap in a cross-ice feed from the streaking James van Riemsdyk in the second frame against Ottawa. "It feels good," he said, "but yeah I need to continue to build on that." A veteran of six NHL seasons, Raymond finds himself in the uncomfortable and unusual position of being without a contract, toiling on a professional tryout with the Leafs. "Its different, but those are situations you cant control," Raymond said of his current standing. "This is reality, this is a situation that Im in and youve got to make the most of it. Again I dont know why it happened or what it is, but as I said thats reality and you just have to go out and control what you can control and put your best foot forward." 4. Gunnarssons health At issue for the entirety of the 2013 season, Carl Gunnarsson is feeling good about his hip after a weeks worth of training camp. Inked to a three-year contract in the summer, the 26-year-old told TSN.ca that while the injury would still require treatment throughout the year, it felt considerably better from where it began last season. "Not saying that Im not going to have to get treatment or stay on top of it every day because thats what its going to be," Gunnarsson said, noting the need for regular treatment, including electronic acupuncture. "I think thats how it is for every injury. If you have a knee surgery or you strained your ACL or whatever it might be, youve got to stay on top of that. Some guys play with braces or whatever it might be. I feel way better from last year so thats a good feeling coming into this season. Hopefully its going to stay on this level and whenever we get a couple days off just treat it the way it needs to be treated." 5. Depth in Marshall Kevin Marshall has quietly made a positive impression on the Leafs coach through the first week of training camp. Formerly of the Flyers, where he played in 10 games, Marshall adds depth for the club on the back-end. "You notice him in his battle and compete level," Carlyle observed of Marshall. "When you can surround your organization and fill your organization with people that have that attitude towards playing it makes everybody better because youve got to compete for your space on the ice and youve got to compete for your job." A second round selection of Philadelphia in 2007, Marshall spent last season in the American League, splitting time between Hershey and Toronto, the latter as a Marlie for 24 games (including the playoffs). With T.J. Brennan added in the offseason via free agency, the Leafs now boast 10 defenders with NHL experience – including the unsigned Cody Franson – a valuable commodity over the grind of 82 games. Austin Gomber . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday. Adolis Garcia . DeGrom outpitched Jake Peavy in a tantalizing hitless duel that carried into the seventh inning Saturday night before the New York Mets broke loose and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-whitey-herzog-jersey-large-671q.html . He even addressed his group of relievers Sunday morning. Dustin McGowan made those worries a nonfactor, at least for a day. McGowan pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2.DOVER, Del. - NASCAR driver Kurt Busch had his turn on the witness stand Wednesday and testified that he repeatedly told his ex-girlfriend to leave his motorhome the night she claims he assaulted her.Testifying at a hearing on Patricia Driscolls request for a no-contact order, Busch said she came uninvited and unannounced to his motorhome at Dover International Speedway in September, a week after he broke off their relationship. He said she demanded that he tell her son to his face that their relationship was over.Driscoll, 37, testified a day earlier that Busch choked her and smashed her head into the bedroom wall three times and that she still fears for her safety.I dont know what hes capable of doing, she said.Busch, 36, said that while the two were in his bedroom, he again asked her to leave, for what he said was the fifth time.I took my hands and cupped her cheeks and I looked at her eye to eye and I said you need to leave. I was defusing the situation, he said.Buschs attorneys have denied the assault allegations, which are the subject of a separate criminal investigation by Dover police.Busch was called to the stand by Driscolls attorney, Carolyn McNeice. She did not ask him whether he smashed Driscolls head against the wall.She just did not want to hear that denial, Busch attorney Rusty Hardin said after the hearing. Hardin will cross-examine Busch when the hearing resumes Jan. 12.He will explain in detail his side of it, Hardin said.Busch did offer some details, including that he was naked the entire time that Driscoll and her son were in the motorhome.The man known in NASCAR circles for a bad-boy image that has earned him the nickname The Outlaw also testified that he had been crying earlier that night while watching Seven Years in Tibet, a 1997 movie starring Brad Pitt.It was a moving experience... It was a spiritual movie, Busch explained, adding that the movie led him to reflect on his own life. There were some tearjerker moments.In a text to Driscoll that night, Busch told her that he was crying, lying on the floor and didnt know which way was up.In another text that night, Busch told Driscoll I dont love anything right now.Driscoll testified tthat she became concerned about Busch after seeing the texts and went to check on him, thinking she and her son could comfort him. John Brebbia. Driscoll and Busch both testified about an angry exchange following a race in New Hampshire, one week before Dover. It resulted in him damaging a rental car and her driving off, leaving him stranded at a Boston airport. She also said she tried to reach out to Buschs mother after the New Hampshire race, saying Busch was drinking and struggling with depression.Busch testified that he told Driscoll bye forever after New Hampshire but acknowledged sending a text nearly a month later hoping to talk to her.Buschs attorneys have portrayed Driscoll as a scorned woman out to destroy his career. Driscoll runs a small Washington, D.C.-based defence consulting firm and is president of the Armed Forces Foundation, a non-profit for veterans,The first witness called by Hardin on Wednesday was Michael Doncheff, who was hired earlier this year to drive Buschs motorhome and serve as a personal assistant to the couple.He said Busch treated him well but had a temper at times. Busch often deferred decisions to Driscoll, who Doncheff said could be high maintenance.Doncheff said on the night of the motorhome encounter, Driscoll sent him a screenshot from her earlier text conversation with Busch. He said he thought it might be a good idea for Driscoll to drive to Dover.Doncheff also said he believed Driscoll when she later told him Busch had assaulted her, even though she previously had made what he considered unbelievable statements.The day before the New Hampshire race, Doncheff said, he noticed that Driscoll was moving gingerly and seemed very stiff. She told him that she had been picked up by a big man and slammed to the ground while helping round up illegal immigrants at the Mexican border, a story Doncheff considered far-fetched.Doncheff also recounted a time when Driscoll was involved in a dispute involving a NASCAR sponsorship issue.NASCAR is nothing, he quoted Driscoll as saying. I take down foreign governments. I own Washington.Doncheff also said Driscoll told him she was a trained assassin for the U.S. government. ' ' '

ANAHEIM, Calif. David Bakhtiari Super Bowl Jersey . - A day after the Los Angeles Angels partied into the wee hours to celebrate their AL West title, a lineup composed of backups, Triple-A regulars, and a spot starter took on Felix Hernandez and the desperate Seattle Mariners. And for eight innings, the Angels junior varsity looked ready to pull out an unlikely win. Instead, Logan Morrison hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth, and Seattle boosted its AL wild-card hopes with a 3-1 victory Thursday night. With late night celebrations still ringing in their ears, several Angels got Thursday off, including Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick, Kole Calhoun and Erick Aybar. Manager Mike Scioscia also scratched ace Jered Weaver and handed the ball to Wade LeBlanc, who matched zeros with Hernandez into the sixth inning. "I think it just sets some things up for what we want to do in our rotation moving forward this next week, and then getting ready for the first playoff series," Scioscia said. "It gives us the best shot to hopefully win the best record. It was something we felt strongly about doing, and Wade came through." LeBlanc pitched three-hit ball in his second start for the major league-leading Angels, who are still playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their lead over Baltimore for the majors best record is down to 2 1-2 games. The Angels pulled Weaver about six hours before game time, pushing his next start back to Saturday to put him in line to start the AL division series opener on Oct. 2. LeBlanc significantly improved on his only previous start for the Angels, a 7-1 loss to Miami on Aug. 25. LeBlanc cleared waivers and returned for the Angels post-season push, making five solid relief appearances before striking out three Mariners and walking none. "Thats the life of a swingman, or a long reliever, or a spot starter," LeBlanc said. "Ive been fortunate to do that in the past, so it wasnt anything new. Anytime they want to give me the ball, Im ready for it." Hernandez struck out 11 during seven innings of three-hit ball as the Mariners pulled within one game of the slumping Oakland Athletics for the second AL wild-card spot. Seattle still had to sweat out its third win in nine games, ending a 17-inning scoreless stretch with Morrisons ninth homer. "Words cant describe that feeling," Morrison said. "I just know were in a race, and we need every hit we can get. We need every run we can get. We need every win we can get. Weve had some offensive struggles lately, but weve got a bunch of guys that dont know how to quit." After Kendrys Morales singled and pinch-runner James Jones advanced on a bad pickoff throw by Kevin Jepsen (0-2), Morrison deposited a belt-high changeup into the left-field stands. "We had to lure them into a false sense of security," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said with a grin. "Everybody thinks thats easy (to face a lineup of unknowns)," McClendon added. "Thats scary. Its hard to prepare. You read scouting reports, but you havent had firsthand competition against them, so that makes it tough." Tom Wilhelmsen (3-2) escaped a bases-loaded jam of his own making in the eighth. Fernando Rodney allowed Hank Congers homer in the ninth before finishing his 46th save, passing Kazuhiro Sasaki for the most in a single season in club history. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Cleanup hitter Josh Hamilton has a new pain in his upper body, and he sat out for the 13th time in 14 games. Scioscia hopes the injury is minor. UP NEXT Mariners: Taijuan Walker (1-2, 2.96) travelled early to Houston to prepare for the opener of a key series against Brad Peacock and the Astros. Angels: Hector Santiago (5-8, 3.55) opens Los Angeles final home series against the Texas Rangers and Lisalverto Bonilla. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Super Bowl Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics third baseman Scott Sizemore has undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Aaron Jones Super Bowl Jersey . -- Ryan Millers debut for the St. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Kevin-King-Packers-Jersey/ . So what happens? Stevenson lands a huge left to Dawsons temple only 76 seconds into the opening round and walks away with the championship belt. "I said Id knock him out," said Stevenson (21-1).Two quarterbacks entered the 101st Grey Cup with questions about their ability to win the big one. Only one answered them. Darian Durant and Henry Burris each had reputations for fading when the lights shine brightest heading into the championship game a couple weeks ago; Durant left hoisting the Grey Cup while Burris left to an uncertain off-season. To his credit the 38-year-old Burris has a Grey Cup ring won as a starter with the Calgary Stampeders in 2008, but his time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has thus far amounted to big stats and small tangible results. The Tiger-Cats now have to make a decision on Burris, a pending free agent. Does general manager and head coach Kent Austin think Burris can lead the black and gold to a Grey Cup win with a few roster tinkers at other positions, or is he better off cutting his loses and building toward a championship with someone younger at QB? If he chooses the latter, the Tiger-Cats should expect a periodd of regression. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey. Dan Lefevour has shown potential during his brief stints behind centre in Hamilton the past year, and the team also boasts young promising arms in Jeremiah Masoli, Brain Brohm, and Stephen McGee, but none of those guys could be expected to put up Burris-like numbers – leading the league in passing the past two years – right out of the gate. If Austin is unconvinced Burris will ever be his championship quarterback, and one of the aforementioned young QBs could grow into that role, he may decide to move on from the former Most Outstanding Player. The decision could also ultimately be a numbers one. Burris will be 39-years-old next season and likely wont come cheap with the resume hes amassed in his 14 years in the league. Burris has stated this off-season he wants to return to Hamilton. Is the feeling mutual? The Rouge asks: Should the Tiger-Cats re-sign Henry Burris? As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City had an answer for every challenge from the Chicago Bulls. Fake Hurricanes Jerseys . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Oklahoma City led by 15 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but the Bulls pulled within seven on D.J. Augustins 3-pointer with 8:50 to go. Oklahoma City then outscored Chicago 16-4 over a late 5 1/2-minute stretch to pull away. "I thought our defence was good the whole game," Durant said after topping 30 points for the 13th time this season. "They slowed us down a little bit with their free throws, but I thought we just played through it in the second half. We were able to come out and speed it up a little bit, get some turnovers and get some easy points." Russell Westbrook had 20 points and 10 assists, and reserve Reggie Jackson added 18 to help the Thunder improve to 13-0 at Chesapeake Arena. Oklahoma City is the only NBA team with a perfect home record. "If we move the ball like that with the guys we have that create for everybody, create for themselves, it makes it tough on other teams," Durant said. Joakim Noah had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the banged-up Bulls, who have lost four straight and seven of eight. Taj Gibson scored 16 points and Augustin added 15. Chicago played without Kirk Hinrich (back tightness) and Luol Deng (sore Achilles), and Jimmy Butler left during the game with a right ankle injury. "I thought we still had a shot in the second half," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I thought we were within striking distance, but we couldnt get the key stops when we needed them. ... Youve got to give them credit." Oklahoma City led by 14 in the first half, but their advantage was cut to three at the break, prompting a strong response from the Thunder in the third quarter. They used a 13-4 run to go up 68-56 with 7:52 to go in the period. Westbrooks layup increased the advantage to 13 about 1 1/2 minutes later, and then he had a layup and Durant made a jumper to make it 79-64 with 3:25 left in the third. Jacksons 3 in the final minute put Oklahoma City up 84-72 heading to the fourth, and Nick Collison opened the final quarter with three-point play. The Bulls put together another spurt to close to 89-82 on Augustins 3, but that was as close as it would get. "We were just trying to shut down the paint," Jackson said. "That was our main focus at halftime and I think we did a good job of locking in, getting some stops, and getting out on the break. ... Theyre physical. They play really well defensively, especially half-court sets. Right now theyre a little depleted, people are banged up, beat up." Jeremy Lambs dunk with 7:44 left made it 93-82, pumping up the home crowd. Durant made a 3-pointer and Westbrooks two free throws with 3:06 to go extended the lead to 105-86. "I think our defence just hasnt been there to help us out," Gibson said. "We are normally a great defensive team. We just got to get guys more reps, especially now that we lost Jimmy with the ankle." Jackson made six of the Thunders seven baskets in a 6:13 stretch bridging the first two quarters. Lambs steal and fast-break dunk with 9:21 left in the second interrupted Jacksons streak at four consecutive baskets. Jacksons jumper about a minute later gave Oklahoma City a 41-27 lead. Chicago battled back, and Mike Dunleavy hit two 3s in the final minute to get the Bulls within 55-52 at halftime. NOTES: Durant was whistled for a technical foul with 2:25 left in the first quarter for arguing following his second personal foul. ... Led by Jackson and Lamb, Thunder reserves came in averaging 33.6 points per game, the franchises highest since moving to Oklahoma City. ... Deng missed four games earlier this month due to a strained left calf. The Bulls are now 1-4 in his absence. ... About 45 minutes after the game, Thabo Sefolosha brought Noah to the Thunder locker room with the media still present, but the Bulls star was chased out by Oklahoma Citys Kendrick Perkins. Stitched Hurricanes Jerseys . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Hurricanes Jerseys 2020 . They were right in that they responded to coach Randy Carlyles goaltending switch to erase a two-goal deficit. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Blue Jays opted to give veteran R.A. Dickey some extra rest after a groin injury knocked him out of his last start. The Cincinnati Reds usually cant get Johnny Cueto back out on the mound fast enough. The two six-game winners go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at Cincinnatis Great American Ball Park. Dickey was previously in action last Saturday in Baltimore, exiting after 6 2/3 frames due to injury and taking a loss despite giving up just two earned runs. He was in line to start the opener of this set on Friday, but will now go on an extra three days of rest. The 39-year-old righty had a four-start unbeaten streak (2-0) snapped with the loss to the Orioles and is 6-5 on the year with a 4.08 earned run average. Dickey is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA in three previous meetings with the Reds. Cueto, meanwhile, is 6-5 with a 1.92 ERA on the year and logged six scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 11. He then took on the rival Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday and did not factor into a 6-5 win despite giving up just two runs over six frames. The righty, though, did struggle by allowing seven hits and four walks while notching just two strikeouts. Still, Cueto sits at 6-5 with a 1.92 ERA on the year. Cueto, 28, beat Toronto on June 25, 2009 the only other time he faced the club, but did give up five runs over six frames of work. The Reds blew an early 8-0 lead in losing Friidays opener, but did not make the same mistake last night en route to an 11-1 triumph that evened the series. Hurricanes Jerseys China. Each of the Reds first seven hitters contributed an RBI, with Jay Bruce and Devin Mesoraco homering to help Cincinnati snap a two-game skid and win for the seventh time in 10 games. Mike Leake allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts over eight solid innings to get the win. "What (Leake) did today by staying in the game for eight innings and giving us a chance to win the game, was save our bullpen," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "It was hopefully something that will pay dividends (Sunday)." J.A. Happ was roughed up for eight runs -- seven earned -- over four innings of work for the Blue Jays, who have lost four of their last five and fell to 3-6 on a 10-game road trip. Like Dickey on Friday, the Blue Jays will give shortstop Jose Reyes some precautionary rest today after he fouled a ball off his leg in the fifth inning of Saturdays loss. Reyes came out of the game and is day-to-day. "I have to ice it like three more times tonight and see how it feels tomorrow," Reyes said on Torontos official website. "Right now its a little bit sore, but its not a big deal. "(Manager John Gibbons) went to my locker and said he was going to give me the day off. Its OK, Ill take that and see what happens." Toronto is 9-5 versus Cincinnati dating back to the 2003 campaign. ' ' '

Conor McGregor’s rematch against Nate Diaz is still not official but remains the preferred fight for the Irishman’s team. Ken Margerum Jersey . The UFC featherweight champion stepped up two weight divisions earlier this month but lost by submission to Diaz, who was a short-notice replacement for Rafael Dos Anjos.A potential rematch with Diaz has been suggested for the milestone UFC 200 event in July, held at Las Vegas brand new arena, but McGregors striking coach Owen Roddy has insisted that they havent been approached yet. If he beats Jose Aldo again, what does that really say? Frankie Edgar? That could possibly be the one. Rafael Dos Anjos? I dont think he wants the fight. McGregors coach Owen Roddy I havent heard it from Conors mouth yet so its just speculation at the moment, Roddy exclusively told Sky Sports. It seems to be the case but its not 100 percent yet.If he does what we have planned now, he can beat Diaz on the second occasion. It makes for the most exciting fight.If he beats Jose Aldo again, what does that really say? Frankie Edgar? That could possibly be the one. Dos Anjos? I dont think he wants the fight.But if Conor goes back and puts Diaz away, that would be amazing. Owen Roddy (right) is the man behind McGregors KO wins McGregor & Rousey: What now? How will UFC star duo react to defeat? McGregor, the 145lbs champion, was due to challenge for Dos Anjos 155lbs belt until the Brazilian withdrew, to be replaced by Diaz. Concerns about Diazs short-notice weight cut meant the hastily arranged fight was set at a 170lbs limit.Despite Diaz being ranked at No 6 in the lightweight (155lbs) division, Roddy insists McGregors team have no problem with revisiting welterweight (170lbs).He said: Its looking like 170 again but that isnt confirmed. Conor probably wants to prove it was a small mistake and he slipped up. I saw claims that the issue was fighting above his weight, but realistically Conor walks around at the weight he was fighting at on that night. Roddy insists weight isnt an issue for McGregor But everything still has to be confirmed. Until it is, its up in the air. Conor will get the offers, and it will be basically whatever he wants. Hell put it to [head coach] John Kavanagh, who gives his opinion, and we go from there. Ill go with whatever Conor wants because I really do believe he beats everybody. I dont care who they put in front of him in those weight categories.Confidence from the Irish camp stems from a belief that McGregor was comfortably beating Diaz until tiring in the second round, leading to his downfall.Roddy, responsible for McGregors striking training, thinks a few minor adjustments would result in another knockout victory. McGregor landed plenty of early punches against Nate Diaz He was winning the fight but punched himself out, Roddy said. He was trying to force the finish. He was landing his shots but, because Diaz was able to take them, Conor was throwing higher and higher combinations and got exhausted. The tables turned.Conor is smart, he read it very well. He believed he was trying to knock him out with every punch and was putting too much behind every shot. If we get him to only put power behind certain shots, he should reserve his energy more.In the build-up to the fight we had him moving a lot more but he didnt seem to do it because he was landing his shots and wanted to put the guy away. In the training, we had Conor counter-striking. Because he was landing so early, he got himself tired. If we stick to popping shots and moving, I think hell put Diaz away. McGregor v Diaz talking points Five things we learned Also See: McGregor & Rousey: What now? New York ban lifted McGregor v Diaz: Talking points Diaz submits McGregor Reggie Phillips Jersey . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. Johnny Morris Jersey . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. http://www.custombearsjersey.com/custom-jesper-horsted-jersey-large-2326t.html .Y. - Carey Price had an early feeling that one goal might be enough to settle the latest matchup between his Montreal Canadiens and longtime Original Six foe, the New York Rangers. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins say defenceman Kris Letang will miss at least six weeks after having a stroke last week. The Penguins made the announcement on their website, adding his condition is treatable with blood thinners and at this point isnt believed to be career threatening. Letang has been cleared to go on vacation with his family during the NHLs Olympic break. Further testing also showed Letang, 26, has had a very small hole in the wall of his heart since birth. This defect is present in all individuals before birth but usually seals shut in most cases and its possible the condition led to the stroke. "Kris had one brief episode of dizziness and nausea last week," Penguins GM Ray Shero said. "We held him out of the Los Angeles game Thursday night, and when he continued to feel ill, tests conducted in Phoenix on Saturday gave us the first inddication of his condition. Rex Grossman Jersey. "Further testing then was conducted when he returned to Pittsburgh, and he continued to undergo a battery of tests here this week." The six-foot, 201-pound Letang was a Norris Trophy finalist last year as the NHLs top defenceman and has 10 goals and 18 points in 34 games this season. Letang has played 419 career games over seven seasons, registering 227 points, including 54 goals. "I hope that by making my condition public at this time, I can help other people by encouraging them to seek medical help if they experience some of the symptoms associated with a stroke -- regardless of their age or general health," Letang said. "It obviously was a shock to get the news but Im optimistic that I can overcome this and get back on the ice." After six weeks of treatment, Letang will be re-evaluated. ' ' '