ASHBURN, Va. -- London Fletcher says he gets his bell rung perhaps twice a game. Hes played in 240 games in a row, not counting preseason and playoffs. Do the math, and it adds up. The Washington Redskins linebacker has seen a lot of stars. "I play inside linebacker and I like to play it physical," Fletcher said Thursday. "So, I dont know, it can happen a couple of times a game, but I wouldnt classify them as concussions; theyre just, you know, bell-ringing. Youll see stars for a second, and then youre back to normal in two, three seconds, whatever the case may be. Thats just the way the game is." The 38-year-old Fletcher, who has never missed a game in 16 NFL seasons, is decidedly old-school. In a profile in this weeks issue of Sports Illustrated, he reveals that he suffered a concussion last preseason that he and the team kept secret from the public. "Im not going to tell an opponent about anything that Ive got going on, so its just the way I am," Fletcher told reporters in the Redskins locker room. "You play football, you have things that bother you all the time. If I go around telling you all everything thats bothering me, youd be writing a story every day." So what was suspected was true. When coach Mike Shanahan said Fletcher was "not feeling right" and kept evading follow-up questions, it turned out that the linebacker did get a concussion when he was hit by a teammate while defending a pass in the preseason opener in August 2012 against the Buffalo Bills. Fletcher stayed in the game a few more plays before telling trainers he was feeling dizzy, and he missed the next preseason game. Asked why he didnt reveal Fletchers concussion, Shanahan said: "I dont remember, to be honest with you. Ive got a hard enough time thinking about what it was last week with injuries, yet a year ago." Teams are not required to issue regular injury reports during preseason. Still, had the injury occurred in September instead of August, Fletcher wouldnt now hold the longest active consecutive games streak in the league. "If I had suffered the concussion in a regular season game, I would not have been able to play that following week," he said. What Fletcher didnt tell the trainers was that he was dealing with a byproduct from the concussion well into the regular season. He was over the actual concussion, but something still wasnt right with his head. "It wasnt a situation where I was all wobbly or anything like that," Fletcher said. "Its just every now and then I would maybe have a little sway. I would notice it. Nobody else would notice it. So I never told the team about that." It wasnt until he had a hamstring injury in October that Fletcher told the team about his "balance" issues. It turned out to be problem in his neck that was resolved easily. Fletcher hadnt been his usual self up until then, and once the problem was treated he had a strong second half and was named second-team All-Pro. "I think players sometimes go running to the training room too much," Fletcher said. "You get a hangnail, you go run to the trainer. You get a sprained finger, you go running to the trainer, things like that. For me, Im just of the mentality, if you can go out and play, you dont need to run to the training room about every little thing thats going on. "Obviously, looking back, I shouldve told the team about that part of it a lot sooner because it was something that was taken care of immediately. Thats the only regret I have about the situation." Fletchers comments about regular "bell-ringing" are sure to add the growing debate surrounding football safety. Experts have tried to educate coaches and players that "getting your bell rung" is not something to be ignored. That only works, however, if the player reports it or a coach or teammate notices it. "I remember a number of quarterbacks come to the sideline, and you knew there was something wrong," Shanahan said. "And you give the old 1-2-3 finger test and they go back out there. Times have changed, and education has changed for the right reason." Fletcher said he hasnt "taken the time" to count all of his concussions, including maybe one or two hes had while playing pickup basketball. Hes fully aware of concussion-related lawsuits filed by former NFL players, so he knows what hes up against once hes retired. "I signed up for this," he said. "Nobody makes me play this game." Notes: Robert Griffin III (right knee surgery) had his second full practice in a row, still progressing toward a target of playing in the regular season opener Sept. 9. "He was able to get a lot more reps," offensive co-ordinator Kyle Shanahan said. "And do some that werent totally scripted." ... With QB Kirk Cousins recovering from a sprained right foot, Mike Shanahan said Rex Grossman and Pat White will probably each play a half Saturday against the Bills. Zack Greinke Astros Jersey . Azarenka needed exactly one hour in a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Austrian Yvonne Meusburger to start the night session at Laver Arena. Sharapova had a much easier time earlier in the day with cooler conditions and took full advantage in 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, while Radwanska had to rally for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Kyle Tucker Astros Jersey . "It was awesome," he said. Coming off an ugly three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, Toronto found itself in a deep hole early after the Reds put an eight spot up on starter Liam Hendriks (six runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched) and Todd Redmond in the second. https://www.cheapastros.com/1483o-nolan-ryan-jersey-astros.html . Smith, who raised eyebrows at the CFL combine in March with his ability on both sides of the ball, confirmed in a statement he tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol prior to auditioning for league officials. Zack Greinke Jersey . Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN. Jake Marisnick Astros Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists.The Calgary Flames got off to a miserable start last season, recording nine regulation wins in their first 50 games, but did manage to finish strong over the final 32 games. Off-Season Game Plan looks at a Flames team that has new management and will be looking to build on the strong finish and hope not to fall back to where they started the 2013-2014 season. Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke was positive about what the Flames accomplished late in the season. "I think there were a lot of positive developments in this season that Im proud of," Burke said at seasons end. "I think we gave (the fans) a product they enjoyed watching." The first move of the Flames offseason was to hire a new general manager and that resulted in Burke picking Brad Treliving, who had been the Assistant GM for the Phoenix Coyotes. At his introductory press conference, Treliving sure sounded like would be in alignment with the plans of the president. "I think the style of play, people talk about big and whatever word you want to use, I think you need to have heavy teams now," Treliving said. "I think you have to play a heavy game." Its challenging enough for rebuilding teams to acquire good hockey players, let alone doing so with size as a pre-requisite. Making matters even more fun is that the Flames top prospect is a tiny scoring forward, Hobey Baker winner John Gaudreau, so there will be some challenges if the Flames are intending to get bigger and better immediately. Nevertheless, those are some of the challenges that Treliving faces with a team that also has to believe their finish to the 2013-2014 season wasnt fools gold. If it wasnt, then adding the likes of Gaudreau and getting further development from last years sixth overall pick, Sean Monahan, could help advance a team that, if nothing else, put forth a good effort for head coach Bob Hartley. Effort is admirable, character and grit are admirable. But if the Flames are going to climb the ladder in the Western Conference, they are ultimately going to need more talent, no matter the size. The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- Corsi, adjusted for zone starts, quality of competition and quality of teammates, hits, blocked shots, penalty differential and faceoffs. Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be around 70, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013-2014 regular season ratings at 87.12. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com. CF% = Corsi percentage (ie. percentage of 5-on-5 shot attempts), via www.extraskater.com. GM/COACH Brad Treliving/Bob Hartley Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Mikael Backlund 69.48 76 18 21 39 51.7% $1.5M Curtis Glencross 69.41 38 12 12 24 42.7% $2.55M Jiri Hudler 69.20 75 17 37 54 46.7% $4.0M Matt Stajan 68.36 63 14 19 33 47.6% $3.13M David Jones 65.31 48 9 8 17 45.3% $4.0M Sean Monahan 64.76 75 22 12 34 43.8% $925K Brian McGrattan 54.61 76 4 4 8 38.4% $750K Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Mike Cammalleri 72.04 63 26 19 45 50.8% UFA $6.0M Paul Byron 65.08 47 7 14 21 50.4% RFA $644K T.J. Galiardi 61.48 62 4 13 17 49.5% RFA $1.25M Joe Colborne 61.47 80 10 18 28 45.4% RFA $600K Lance Bouma 59.16 78 5 10 15 43.5% RFA $578K Kevin Westgarth 55.99 74 7 12 19 42.9% UFA $725K 25-year-old centre Mikael Backlund could be the top returning forward on the Flames roster and hes coming off a season in which he scored a career-high 39 points. But Backlund also been the Flames best possession forward over the past five seasons and, over the past three seasons, hes been doing it while not getting the easy work, starting shifts in the defensive zone and facing quality opposition. Hes widely underrated because he doesnt have big point totals, but is a quality player at a bargain price. Curtis Glencross had knee and ankle injuries cost him more than half the season, and his possession numbers werent good, but hes been an effective goal-scorer. Even with some injuries, 77 goals over the past four seasons ranks 65th in the league and hes somehow one of the highest-percentage finishers in the game. Jiri Hudler was the Flames leading scorer last season and while hes not a dominant player, hes also put up three 50-point seasons over the past five (including one lockout-shortened campaign), so his skill stands out in this group. Matt Stajan didnt bring the best bang for the buck on his last contract but, given a better opportunity last season, he handled some difficult assignments with a lot of defensive zone starts, earning a new contract. Stajan seems like he can be a good fit as a responsible third-line centre, but there have been times in the past that they havent had enough better options available. Veteran winger David Jones was a risky enough signing last year and, following an injury-marred season, hes managed a dozen goals and 26 points in 81 games over the past two seasons. He can skate, has good size and may fit better in a checking role, even if his salary is a tad high for that expectation. For as impressive as a 22-goal rookie season was for 19-year-old Sean Monahan, he naturally has much room to improve and, to his credit, there was progression in his game as the year went on. For example, prior to Christmas, he was on the ice for 40.7% of 5-on-5 shot attempts and 45.9% after. Thats progress and Monahans emergence is a big part of the Flames future. On the basis of pure hockey skills, there isnt an argument to justify Brian McGrattan holding down a spot in the lineup. He was overmatched, despite favourable usage, but when it comes to evaluating enforcers on the roster, there is a different set of rules, especially on teams that believe in the intangible benefits of having a heavyweight on the roster. Clearly, the Flames are a team that wants a tough guy patrolling their fourth line and McGrattan is one of the best fighters in the league -- hes fought 20 times over the past three seasons and, according to hockeyfights.com voters, hes won 18 and has a couple of split decision draws (one for, one against). Hes not much of a finisher, and doesnt look like hes ever going to approach his rookie season total of 39 points again, but T.J. Galiardi can be an effective checking winger. He was last season, as his minus-13 rating was effectively sabotaged by a low on-ice save percentage. Its been a gradual climb for Paul Byron since getting drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round in 2007, but he may have cracked through last season, using his tremendous speed to generate solid possession numbers; solid enough that, for the first time, he ought to be part of next seasons roster plans. After failing to stick with Boston or Toronto, Joe Colborne finally got a chance to play with the Flames and, while a 24-year-old scoring 28 points in 80 games isnt a resounding success, Colbornes underlying numbers (Corsi % wa 47.1% from January 1 on; 43.1% before) improved as the season progressed, enough that he should get the opportunity to see if he can build upon that foundation in his second NHL season. 24-year-old Lance Bouma has managed 19 points in 121 career games and doesnt have an ideal puck possession track record, but he also played hard minutes last season, with lots of defensive zone starts against quality opposition, so those underlying numbers do need to be considered in context. That doesnt mean that Boumas most definitely an asset, but it may be enough to warrant a depth role. Looking ahead, the Flames need more skill in their forward group. Collegiate scoring sensation Johnny Gaudreau should have an opportunity next season, as may the fourth overall pick in the draft, but if the Flames want more immediate help -- especially if they dont re-sign unrestricted free agent Mike Cammalleri -- then they may need to dip into the free agent pool. Landing a proven scorer like Radim Vrbata or Matt Moulson could at least offset Cammalleris potential departure. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Mark Giordano 81.29 64 14 33 47 53.3% $4.02M T.J. Brodie 69.72 81 4 27 31 51.5% $2.125M Dennis Wideman 67.41 46 4 17 21 45.9% $5.25M Kris Russell 67.00 68 7 22 29 43.5% $2.6M Ladislav Smid 58.00 73 2 6 8 41.2% $3.5M Shane OBrien 54.87 45 0 3 3 44.0% $2.0M Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Chris Butler 61.dddddddddddd08 82 2 14 16 42.8% UFA $1.7M If not for a broken ankle suffered in October, Mark Giordano would be front-and-centre in the Norris Trophy discussion. Even after missing 18 games, Giordano justifiably received lots of praise at seasons end, putting up out-of-this-world possession stats, while playing the hardest minutes for a generally poor team. This was the best year of Giordanos career and it would be great for the Flames if this is his new standard level of play going forward, but there is some risk that hes not going to be able to duplicate such an impressive campaign. Sure, its a first-world problem to have to worry about your number one defenceman duplicating his Norris Trophy-calibre season, but it should be taken into consideration. Rising with the tide created by Giordanos season, 23-year-old T.J. Brodie turned in a strong season as Giordanos partner. Brodie has had strong relative possession numbers pretty much since arriving in the league, but he did it last year while playing in a top-pair role, with tough matchups and more defensive zone starts. His ability to move the puck is a major asset on the Flames blueline. Since 2009-2010, Dennis Wideman has the worst plus-minus in the league, but thats not a fair representation of his game. Over that same period, hes been on for 50% of the 5-on-5 shot attempts for while ranking near the bottom in on-ice save percentage. With that in context, Wideman remains a capable puck-moving defenceman who can man the point on the power play. After six seasons of struggling to establish a consistent presence in the NHL, with Columbus and St. Louis, Kris Russell took advantage of an opportunity in Calgary last season, playing 23:08 per game for the Flames (4.33 per game more than his previous career high). Trouble is, he was likely asked to do too much in that role, as his possession stats steadily declined as the season went along. In a secondary role, though, Russells skating should make him an asset. There were 10 defencemen that had more combined hits and blocked shots than Ladislav Smids 361 but, as one might suspect, that indicates that the Flames didnt have the puck much with Smid on the ice. To that end, the Flames probably need to limit Smids use to third pair and penalty killing minutes to make the most of his skills. Shane OBrien was demoted to the AHL part way through the year after playing sparingly. Hes a year removed from a relatively strong possession season, so the 30-year-old doesnt have to be done altogether, but might need a change in order to land an NHL gig for the final year of his current contract. The good news for the Flames is that they appear to have the core of their defence set. If Giordano, Brodie, Wideman, Russell and Smid make up the top five, then the rest may involve minor adjustments. At the same time, it would come as no surprise if Burke, er Treliving, had interest in a bruising veteran (Team USA) defencemen like Brooks Orpik. Returning Goaltenders Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Karri Ramo 65.42 40 17 15 4 2.65 .911 $2.75M Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class 13-14 Cap Hit Joey MacDonald 56.31 11 5 4 1 2.91 .890 UFA $925K There was definitely a leap of faith taken last year in making 27-year-old Karri Ramo the Flames No. 1 option in goal after four years in the KHL. The early returns werent good, as Ramo opened with an .890 save percentage through the end of November, but he was pretty good from December on, posting a .918 save percentage in his 30 games played from December on. Thats hardly enough of a sample to decide that Ramo is all set as a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL, but its encouraging. How the Flames address the backup goaltending situation could shine a light on the teams expectations for next season. If they decide to go with prospect Joni Ortio, that could be an indication that theyre willing to take some of the lumps that tend to come with unproven goaltenders. If they bring in a veteran to compete with Ramo, though, maybe there would be reason to have higher hopes. They could sign a free agent like Thomas Greiss or Brian Elliott, or maybe theyre a viable trade partner for Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer. Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats John Gaudreau LW Boston College (HE) 36-44-80, +42, 40 GP Sven Baertschi LW Abbotsford (AHL) 13-16-29, +1, 41 GP Emile Poirier LW Gatineau (QMJHL) 43-44-87, +30, 63 GP Markus Granlund LW Abbotsford (AHL) 25-21-46, +10, 52 GP Jon Gillies G Providence (HE) 2.16 GAA, .931 SV%, 34 GP Morgan Klimchuk LW Regina (WHL) 30-44-74, +26, 57 GP Joni Ortio G Abbotsford (AHL) 2.33 GAA, .926 SV%, 37 GP Max Reinhart C Abbotsford (AHL) 21-43-63, +6, 66 GP Bill Arnold C Boston College (HE) 14-39-53, +43, 40 GP Corban Knight C Abbotsford (AHL) 18-26-44, +11, 70 GP Mark Jankowski C Providence (HE) 13-12-25, +15, 39 GP John Gaudreau won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in U.S. College hockey after scoring two points per game (36 G, 44 A, 40 GP) for Boston College. Gaudreau is tiny, listed at 5-foot-7 so, like any undersized player, there are questions about whether he can handle the grind of the NHL. The way to find out is to let Gaudreau play. He scored a goal in his NHL debut, against Vancouver, and has been named to the U.S. team for the World Championships, so its not like hell be completely shell-shocked when he arrives in training camp next season with expectations of filling a role on a scoring line. The 13th overall pick in 2011, Sven Baertschi has picked up 24 points in 51 NHL games to this point, but he doesnt seem to be a favourite of the new regime. If Baertshi isnt going to get an opportunity to be part of the solution for the Flames, hes still young enough, with offensive potential, to be a valuable trade chip. Taken with the 22nd pick last summer, Emile Poirier continued to improve in the QMJHL last season, then added five points in five (regular season plus playoff) AHL games with Abbotsford. Hes only 19, so theres no rush, but Poirier could challenge for a position soon. Not nearly as heralded as brother Mikael, who plays for the Minnesota Wild, Markus Granlund had a smooth transition to the North American pro game, showing more goal-scoring prowess than might have been anticipated from his time in Finland. The 2011 second-round pick should compete for a spot next year. A premier goaltending prospect, Jon Gillies is 6-foot-5 and has a .931 save percentage in 69 collegiate games. The 2012 third-round pick is only 20-years-old, so it makes sense for him to return to school for his junior year. Morgan Klimchuk is a hard-working winger who plays bigger than his size and brings some skill too, scoring 150 points in 129 WHL games over the past couple seasons. The 28th pick in last summers draft could still use time to get stronger before hes considered for an NHL job. Drafted in the sixth round in 2009, Joni Ortio had a nice first season in North America, with a .926 save percentage in the AHL. He wasnt ready for his NHL stint (.891 SV% in 9 GP), but that was a situation forced out of need rather than part of the development plan. Could probably use another year of seasoning before looking at an NHL gig. Max Reinhart took a nice step forward in his second pro season, scoring nearly a point per game in the AHL and hes going to be in contention for a roster spot, but its starting to get crowded in terms of prospects looking for spots on the low end of the depth chart. Sturdy forward Bill Arnold made his NHL debut late in the season and was a productive player alongside Gaudreau at Boston College. At the next level, though, Arnold isnt likely to be a scorer, so hell have to do battle with the other young forwards looking for depth roles in Calgary. Drafted by the Florida Panthers, 23-year-old Corban Knight signed with the Flames as a free agent last summer and had a solid enough first pro campaign, which included a seven-game audition in the NHL. Lanky pivot Mark Jankowski was a controversial first-round pick (21st overall) in 2012 and his first two collegiate seasons havent inspired confidence that hell live up to that draft position, but he still has a ways to go if hes going to make a difference as a pro. The Flames system has been stocked up recently, with wingers Ben Hanowski and Kenny Agostino coming as part of the Jarome Iginla trade and they have defencemen Tyler Wotherspoon and Patrick Sieloff (limited to two games by a hip injury and staph infection last season) in the pipeline as well. Flames advanced stats and player usage chart from Extra Skater DRAFT 4th - Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl, Michael Dal Colle FREE AGENCY According to www.capgeek.com, the Flames have approximately $39.1M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 14 players. Check out my possible Flames lineup for next season on Cap Geek here. Needs: Two top six forwards, veteran checking forward, top four defenceman, goaltender. What I said the Flames needed last year: Two top six forwards, one top four defenceman, another defenceman, starting goaltender. They added: Sean Monahan, Joe Colborne, T.J. Galiardi, David Jones, Kris Russell, Shane OBrien, Karri Ramo, Reto Berra. TRADE MARKET Jiri Hudler, David Jones, Sven Baertschi. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '

(SportsNetwork.com) - The NBA will be on display overseas Thursday with the New York Knicks taking on the Milwaukee Bucks at O2 Arena in London. The NBA is implementing its Global Games as part of the leagues effort to connect with fans all over the world. New York is riding a franchise-worst 15-game losing streak and hasnt tasted victory since Dec. 12 at Boston. Before the Knicks crossed the pond, they dropped a 110-82 decision to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, as Quincey Acy posted 18 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15. It kind of just went bad real quick, Acy said. It looked like we kind of just gave up. The Knicks, who allowed 41 points in the second quarter, will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday after their trip. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony (knee) is questionable against the Bucks and hasnt played since Dec. 31. He is averaging 23.9 ppg. Milwaukee had won two in a row and three of four games until a 95-87 setback against the Chicago Bulls last weekend. Brandon Knight scored 20 points, Jared Dudley added 15 and O.J. Mayo finished with 12 points for the Bucks, who shot 44.4 percent and gave up 46 points and 18 rebounds to Bulls center Pau Gasol. We have to do better defensively when we see a guys got it going, Knight said about defending Gasol. We should have been able to do some different things just to slow him down. After this trip to the United Kingdom, Milwaukee will play three in a row at home versus Toronto, Utah and Detroit. Bucks forwards Kenyon Martin (chest) and Ersan Ilyasova (concussion) are listed as probable for Thursday. The Bucks have beaten the Knicks twice already this season and the two teams will meet again April 10 at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are 8-3 in their last 11 versus the Bucks. Tim McCarver Cardinals Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Red Schoendienst Jersey . The Broncos quarterback earned the offensive award Wednesday after passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 win over the Raiders Monday night. Manning completed 32-of-37 passes and had a passer rating of 135. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/ .Steamboat Ski Resort contends Steamboat Springs, Colorado has long been known as Ski Town, U.S.A., and claims in a new lawsuit that Salt Lake tourism officials violated their trademark when they rolled out the Ski City marketing campaign last month. Harrison Bader Jersey . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. Bobby Tolan Cardinals Jersey . -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt.SYDNEY - Gui Finkler scored a late winner as the Melbourne Victory beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 on Tuesday to move into third place in Australias A-League.Carl Valeri gave Melbourne the lead in the 14th round match with a powerful volley from the edge of the box. Wanderers midfielder Nick Kalmar equalized in the 55th minute — scoring the Wannderers first goal since the eighth round.ddddddddddddBut Finkler combined with Fahid Ben Khalfallah, Kosta Barbarouses and Besart Berisha in an 80th minute counterattack to secure the points and Melbournes eighth win of the season.Western Sydney, the Asian club champions, remains without a win and in last place in the standings. ' ' '

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators have re-signed defenceman Alex Grant to a one-year, two-way contract. Grant, 25, was acquired by Ottawa from the Ducks in exchange for forward Andre Petersson on March 5. Following the trade, he was assigned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League, where he recorded 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and six penalty minutes over 19 games. He was held scoreless and recorded 10 penalty minutes while appearing in each of the clubs four post-season games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. A native of Antigonish, N.S., Grant appeared in 52 games with the AHLs Norfolk Admirals, registering 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) and 46 penalty minutes prior to being traded. His 27 points led Admirals defencemen in scoring and was fifth highest overall on the team. Grant played two games with Anaheim last season, recording two goals and two penalty minutes. Originally selected in the fourth round, 118th overall, in the 2007 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Grant has recorded 99 points (26 goals, 73 assists) and 226 penalty minutes over 196 career AHL contests. Shane Greene Jersey . -- Slugger Jose Abreu, All-Star left-hander Chris Sale and closer Matt Lindstrom are on the disabled list. Billy Hamilton Braves Jersey . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. https://www.cheapbraves.com/813o-peter-moylan-jersey-braves.html . His second visit, not so much. Roark (7-5) allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk over six innings in a 7-2 setback in front of several friends and family members, as the Cubs snapped his personal streak of four consecutive victories on Friday. Julio Teheran Braves Jersey . - Aaron Rodgers makes tough throws that can leave fans of the Green Bay Packers speechless. Luke Jackson Braves Jersey . The San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders are giving it a try, too.Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Brandan Wright is on the move again. Just over three weeks after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in the Rajon Rondo trade, the seventh-year center was dealt by the Celtics to the Phoenix Suns just prior to the start of Bostons game at Indiana on Friday. The Suns will send a protected 2015 first-round pick they originally obtained from Minnesota as well as a trade exception to the Celtics. According to Yahoo! Sports, the pick is protected if it falls between slots 1-12 in both the 2015 and 2016 drafts. Boston will receive two 2017 second- round choices in the event it doesnt receive the pick in the next two years. Wright saw action in just eight games with the Celtics after coming over in the Dec. 18 trade involving Rondo, averaging 3.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 10.8 minutes during his brief tenure with the team. The wwell-traveled 27-year-old put together a strong 2013-14 season as a key reserve for Dallas, with Wright posting career bests of 9.dddddddddddd1 points and 4.2 rebounds over 58 games and shooting 67.7 percent from the field. Over 320 career NBA games, Wright owns averages of 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and a 60.9 percent field goal percentage. The rebuilding Celtics may not be done dealing, as Yahoo! Sports also reported that the team has a tentative agreement in place with Memphis to send leading scorer Jeff Green to the Grizzlies for veteran forward Tayshaun Prince and another protected first-round pick. According to the report, the Celtics and Grizzlies are awaiting authorization from a third unidentified team to complete that trade. Green was not spotted on the floor during Bostons pregame warmups for Fridays matchup with the Pacers. ' ' '

TORONTO – The numbers five and six should be top of mind for Sergio Santos as he makes his return to the Blue Jays after a month in minor league purgatory. The "five" is in reference to the number of weeks remaining in what, to this point, has been a season gone wrong for the 31-year-old right-hander. The "six" is the $6-million club option the Blue Jays hold on his services for 2015. Pitch well in the final five and maybe, just maybe, hell be back in Toronto at that $6-million number. Perform like he did prior to his demotion and Santos is assuredly headed to free agency, where hes unlikely to find a deal as friendly as the pact for which hes striving. "A humbling experience first," said Santos of being designated for assignment on July 21 and outrighted to the Bisons three days later. "Its been kind of refreshing at the same time. I think you take for granted how great it is up here sometimes and so to be down there for four weeks was kind of a big wake up call. It can be frustrating at times and good at times. Just happy its over and getting another opportunity to get back up here." Santos has work to do to chip away at an unsightly 7.78 ERA compiled before he was sent packing. His season never got on track. He missed the clubs five-week hot stretch in May with a forearm strain. As his performance declined so did his role, going from a late-inning setup guy (the right role for someone with his fastball/slider combination) to a mop-up reliever who rarely got work. "I dont think I ever lost any confidence," said Santos. "I think going down there and having consistent throwing where I was throwing every other day and it was just, you get in a rhythm, you get in a groove. Pitching is a lot about momentum and I built up some momentum because I was throwing on a consistent basis." To Santos credit, he went to Buffalo and didnt mope. In 11 appearances for the Bisons, a team making a charge for a playoff spot in the International League, he didnt allow an earned run and struck out 16 hitters in 10 2/3 innings. The adjustments, Santos said, were minor. "After looking at some video my misses with fastballs were getting a little too much of the plate up here and so I focused on my misses being on the thirds of the plate as opposed to the middle and just getting ahead of hitters," said Santos. When a player is designated for assignment, theres a three-day window during which he can be claimed on waivers by another team. That didnt happen with Santos, who remained in Toronto huddled with his wife and three children. Despite what was said publicly, in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline the budget-conscious ballclub would have been thrilled to be freed from the pro-rated amount owing on Santos $3.75-million ticket. Santos likely would have leapt at the opportunity for a fresh start. It didnt happen. "I think the hardest thing was explaining to my kids, when they were here, because they would know theres a Jays game going on but Im not going to the field and where am I going, what am I doing and so that was the hardest part, explaining to them where I was at," said Santos. "I think they just wanted to come to the kids room and play here." Now he must show hes turned the corner. "Hopefully I can restore their confidence back in me with some good outings here," said Santos. Joe Smith Jersey .J. -- Fabian Johnson scored his first international goal and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead after a defensive lapse as the United States beat Turkey 2-1 Sunday in the second of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Americans before they head to Brazil. Joe Morgan Jersey .com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season. https://www.cheapastros.com/1833o-justin-verlander-jersey-astros.html .J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. Myles Straw Astros Jersey .com) - Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 12 points in the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 70-55 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Collin McHugh Jersey .C. - NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick headlines this years electees into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.ALAMEDA, Calif. - Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis met with a delegation of officials from San Antonio on Friday to talk about a potential move for the franchise.Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros and other city officials travelled to the Bay Area for the meeting, which comes about four months after Davis and other team officials had met with the group in San Antonio.Were going to present San Antonios strengths and assets in the most persuasive way possible, Cisneros told the San Antonio Express-News before the meeting. We have a very, very good opportunity to set it forth in a way the Raiders can digest.Team officials declined to comment on the meeting.The Raiders are in the final year of their lease at the Oakland Coliseum and are seeking a long-term deal. Davis has said his first choice is to remain in Oakland but he haas been unable to reach a deal for a new stadium with local officials.dddddddddddd The Raiders also could move back to Los Angeles, their home from 1982-94.The Raiders are the only NFL team that shares its stadium with a baseball team. The Athletics recently signed a 10-year lease to remain in Oakland. But that agreement includes a provision to allow the Raiders to knock down the Coliseum for a new football stadium.The Raiders left Oakland once before when they moved to Los Angeles following the 1981 season. Late owner Al Davis brought the team back in 1995.Raiders officials also attended a college football game earlier this year at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio to determine if it was suitable as a temporary home if they decided to move there.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '

Winnipeg, MB (SportsNetwork.com) - John Beck entered the game in the second half and threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and J.R. LaRose registered a sack as time expired as the British Columbia Lions defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 28-23, at Investors Group Field to clinch a playoff spot. Regular starting quarterback Kevin Glenn was sent out of the game for BC (9-7) due to concussion symptoms, so Beck was asked to replace him. He threw a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to Ernest Jackson as the Lions retook the lead, and then another late major completion to Kito Poblah to seal the victory. With 2:27 left to play in the game, Paris Cotton carried in a two-yard touchdown for Winnipeg (6-11) to cut the BC lead, but the ensuing two-point conversion failed. The Lions were able to run out much of the clock, and held quarterback Drew Willy and his offense at bay on the final possession to end the game. BC clinches a spot in the Grey Cup Playoffs, while Winnipeg has dropped eight straight contests. Jackie Bradley Jr. Red Sox Jersey . Last year, Islanders forward Colin Mcdonald released a "Do It For Colin" campaign to promote his teammate and friend John Tavares for the EA sports honour:The most popular sports voting video ever has to go to Chris Bosh who showcased his comedic abilities in his effort to get fans to vote him into the 2008 All Star Game:You can vote for TJ and other star players for the NHL 15 cover vote here. Hanley Ramirez Red Sox Jersey . He made another correct read. The Browns, who have been shuttling quarterbacks on and off the field all season, finally got some good news on that front: Campbells ribs are only bruised. https://www.cheapredsox.com/1951z-ryan-brasier-jersey-red-sox.html . 8 Sergio Parisse for its penultimate Six Nations match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road. David Ortiz Jersey .S. international midfielder Michael Bradley is complete. Josh A. Smith Jersey . Austin Watson, Scott Ford, Filip Forsberg and Mark Van Guilder had the other goals for the Admirals (30-21-12). Scott Darling made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season. DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars have signed forward Ryan Garbutt to a three-year, $5.4 million contract extension. Garbutt has a career-high 18 points with 10 goals and eight assists in 46 games this season. He is third on the team in hits with 81 and fourth in shots with 105. The 28-year-old Garbutt has 31 ppoints in 102 games over three seasons for the Stars.dddddddddddd. He signed with Dallas as a free agent in 2011. Stars general manager Jim Nill said Wednesday that Garbutt "has played himself into a role where we ask him to play against our opponents top players on a nightly basis." ' ' '

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A dominating two-week road trip for the Chicago Blackhawks gave warning to the rest of the NHL: Its going to be difficult to dethrone the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Blackhawks seven-game, 13-day trip ended with a sixth straight victory Saturday night, as Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist in a dominant first period and Antti Raanta made 32 saves in a 5-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. "We loved the trip," said coach Joel Quenneville, whose team improved to an NHL-best 20-4-4. "We loved the consistency. We loved the contribution were getting across the board." After watching a 3-0 lead become 3-2 after a sloppy second period, Brandon Bolligs goal with 9:11 left put it away for Chicago. Andrew Shaw and Niklas Hjalmarsson also scored for the Blackhawks, and Marian Hossa added an empty-net goal. Rob Klinkhammer and Martin Hanzal scored for the Coyotes, whose fourth loss in five games left coach Dave Tippett fuming. "Thats the top team in the league and we come out and start like that?" Tippett said. "Thats just unacceptable." On their annual, lengthy trip while the United Center hosts the circus, Chicago played in Colorado, toured western Canada and stopped in Dallas on Friday night, where the Blackhawks prevailed in the 11th round of a shootout. After stopping 10 of 11 shots in the shootout less than 24 hours earlier, Quenneville gave Corey Crawford the night off. Raanta, who secured his first NHL victory Wednesday in Calgary, showed poise in his second start after the Coyotes got within a goal late in the second period. "It was much easier to play today than in Calgary," Raanta said. "It was a pretty good game and I felt really good," The Blackhawks showed no fatigue early, while getting some help from the bumbling Coyotes, who have made a habit of falling behind early. Phoenix was called for too many men on the ice after the first shift 49 seconds into the game, and 25 seconds later Derek Morris was sent to the box for holding. Chicago took advantage of the 5 on 3 against the leagues 27th-ranked penalty killing unit as Kane deflected Hossas shot from the point, beating goaltender Mike Smith high for Kanes 16th goal of the season. The Blackhawks went up 2-0 when Shaw picked up the puck in a scramble in front of the net and sent a soft, bouncing backhand that squirted past Smith by the left post at 9:18. Less than two minutes later, Hjalmarssons took Kanes pass off the boards and beat Smith from the corner and Chicago had three goals on 12 shots. "Great start. It could have been our best period to start a period all year," Quenneville said. It marked the second time this week Phoenix, which has been outscored 28-16 in the first period this season, had fallen behind 3-0 in the opening 20 minutes. "I dont know what it is. We obviously arent ready for the first period," Hanzal said. "We have to start making sure we are ready because this is unacceptable." Phoenix got within 3-1 early in the second period when Michael Stone intentionally shot wide. The puck bounced off the boards directly to Klinkhammer, who poked it in the net by the near post for his fifth goal, while Stone got an assist. Chicagos parade to the penalty box allowed the Coyotes to make it a game. With Hjalmarsson serving four minutes for slashing and then complaining about it, Hanzal redirected Radim Vrbatas pass in front of the net to make it 3-2 with 4:04 left in the second. But Chicago later killed off a 5-on-3 power play. Smith stopped 31 shots in what Tippett called a "very average" performance in a sour ending to a record-breaking night off the ice for the Coyotes. Despite competition in the area from the Arizona-Arizona State football game and the Jazz-Suns game, the Coyotes announced they broke a franchise record for single-game revenue, in part because all luxury suites were sold and the team has cut down on ticket giveaways. The sellout crowd of 17,321 was a high point for the once-troubled franchise, which was under NHL control until a group led by George Gosbee took over this summer and committed to keep the team in Arizona. But the Coyotes fell to 0-2 against the Blackhawks. "The consistency is what were appreciating," Quenneville said. "The energy and enthusiasm in the locker room and on the bench is as good as weve seen it here." NOTES: Coyotes D Rusty Klesla, who was waived Tuesday, sent to the minors Wednesday and then recalled Friday so he could attend to a personal matter, was a healthy scratch. ... The Blackhawks host Dallas on Tuesday in their first home game since Nov. 17. ... The Coyotes begin a four-game road trip Tuesday at Edmonton. Air Max 90 Ultra Outlet . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Fake Off White Air Max 90 . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-leather-iron-bronze-cheap.html . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators. Fake Air Max 90 Essential .5 million contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. Hatcher agreed to terms Thursday, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been signed. Cheap Air Max 90 2019 . The light-heavyweight champion and number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world is on an 11-fight UFC winning streak, the longest in the history of the weight class.New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - There was talk in the offseason of switching the Bayou Classic matchup, but fans will be clamoring for more of the same after Southerns 52-45 thriller over Grambling State on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Southern denied Gramblings Jonathan Williams on a quarterback sneak just inches from the Jaguars goal line on the games final play. Running Jestin Kelly tried to push Williams forward, but four defenders pushed back. It brought an end to a wild game that sent Southern (9-3, 8-1) to the Southwestern Athletic Conferences West Division and back to the conference championship game next Saturday in Houston against Alcorn State. Grambling (7-5, 7-2) finished second in the West Division after its second straight defeat. Southerns Lenard Tillery rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, while freshman quarterrback Austin Howard passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns.dddddddddddd. The Jaguars never trailed in the game and had much as a 21- point lead. Williams was masterful for Grambling with 500 yards of total offense. He was 33-for-64 for 450 yards and four touchdowns with one interception, and rushed for 50 yards on 20 carries. Chester Rogers caught 10 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown, while Verlon Hunter had 12 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Grambling made some big plays on special teams. KaJandre Domino scored on a 99-yard kickoff return early in the third quarter and Tyree Hollins blocked a field goal attempt with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter to set up the Tigers final drive - which ended inches short of a potential tying touchdown. The Jaguars have a 32-30 overall series lead and went ahead 21-20 in the Bayou Classic. ' ' '

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens and tight end Owen Daniels have reached agreement on a 1-year contract, pending a physical. The 32-year-old Daniels broke into the league with Houston in 2007 and spent his entire career with the Texans before being cut last month. Daniels rejoins former Houston head coach Gary Kubiak, who became Baltimores offensive co-ordinator during the off-season. Daniels broke his right leg last October and played in only five games. He had 24 catches for 352 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, the 6-foot-3, 249-pounder has 385 catches for 4,617 yards and 29 touchdowns. Baltimore already re-signed tight end Dennis Pitta this off-season and added wide receiver Steve Smith. Along with returning wideout Torrey Smith, the upgraded receiving corps should provide quarterback Joe Flacco with plenty of targets. John Olerud Jersey . Others describe it as taking the parrot for a walk. Jack Morris Blue Jays Jersey . Winnipeg trailed by five points in the final minute when quarterback Drew Willy completed a 13-play, 75-yard drive with Feoli-Gudinos 18-yard touchdown catch on third down to lift the Bombers to a 34-33 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/1126h-t-j-zeuch-jersey-blue-jays.html . Sami Salo scored two goals as the Canucks overcame a hat-trick from Edmonton Oiler rookie sensation Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to win 4-3 in NHL action Saturday. Anthony Kay Jersey . Summers has seen scant playing time with the Coyotes since being selected 29th overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played in 47 career NHL games. Chris Carpenter Blue Jays Jersey . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation.MINNEAPOLIS - The game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins on Sunday has been postponed because of rain. No makeup date has been set. Detroit leads the AL Central, with Minneesota a game back.dddddddddddd Justin Verlander had been scheduled to start for the Tigers in the series finale. Kyle Gibson was to have pitched for the Twins. ' ' '

TEMPE, Ariz. - All 53 players on the Seattle Seahawks active roster were full participants in practice for the second straight day ahead of Sundays Super Bowl against New England.Seattle started the workout outdoors at Arizona State University on Thursday, but moved inside the practice bubble for the final hour when rain started to fall. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said the team had a great day today, according to the pool report.All-Pros Earl Thomas (shoulder) and Richard Sherman (elbow) participated. Thomas missed two days of practice last week.Seattle will have its last full practice on Friday afternoon before a walkthrough on Saturday morning.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Discount Shoes Black Friday . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. Cheap Shoes Black Friday . -- Masahiro Tanaka knows that first appearance in a spring training game for the New York Yankees will be scrutinized. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . Mueller is the grandson of the late Ron Lancaster, the Hall-of-Fame quarterback and longtime head coach in the CFL. Last season, Mueller was quarterbacks coach of the University of Regina Rams, his alma mater. China Shoes Black Friday . -- Mixed martial arts fighter Cristiane Justino Santos has been suspended and fined for testing positive for steroids. Shoes Black Friday Deals 2020 .com) - Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some scoring depth and hell look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers.COVINGTON, Ga. - Former Oakland Athletics first baseman Kelvin Moore, who played parts of three major league seasons, has died. He was 57.The As confirmed Wednesday, with information provided by the family, that Moore died Sunday in Georgia of cardiac arrest. He had multiple illnesses in recent years, including diabetes.Moore was a member of Oaklands 1981 AL West champion team.A native of Leroy, Alabama, Moore was a sixth-round draft pick by thhe As in 1978 out of Jackson State University.dddddddddddd He made his rookie debut at age 23 in 81 and batted .255 in 14 games for manager Billy Martin.Moore played 76 games over three seasons with the As from 1981-83. He had a .223 career batting average with eight home runs and 25 RBIs.The former baseball All-American at Leroy High School in Alabama is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Chasity and Kim, and son Justin. ' ' '

MILWAUKEE -- Pedro Alvarez made the most of his opportunity to play Saturday night. The slumping slugger homered twice to break out of a 5-for-34 slide, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-2. "Anytime you can do something like that, especially when you help your team win a ballgame, is huge and it feels good," said Alvarez, who started for only the eighth time this month. Alvarez, making his second career start at first base, went 2 for 3 with four RBIs, a walk and his seventh stolen base. He said it is difficult to hit well when not playing regularly, but he approaches each game as though he is starting. "You have no other choice, its what you have to do," he said. "Its easier said than done sometimes, but the at-bats you do get every once in a while, you have to try to take advantage of them and create an environment where it feels like youre playing every day. Treat every at- bat with the same intensity, same focus." Alvarez hit a three-run shot in the fourth inning and a solo drive in the fifth against starter Wily Peralta (15-8). Russell Martin also connected for a three-run homer off the right-hander, who held the Pirates hitless for 3 2-3 innings but quickly fell apart and exited after five. Pittsburgh starter Edinson Volquez (11-7) pitched out of trouble almost every inning to improve to 3-0 in five August starts. The right-hander allowed 11 hits and two walks in 5 2-3 innings, but Milwaukee managed only two runs off him. "You got to the point, once those bases were loaded, he was able to put a foot down and just stop it with quality pitches in quality locations," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Third-place Pittsburgh won its third consecutive game to pull within four of the NL Central-leading Brewers. Each team had 12 hits, but Pittsburgh took advantage of its chances while Milwaukee squandered its opportunities. "Our big boys were up when we needed them up, but they got the big hits when we didnt," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. Martin was 2 for 4 with four RBIs, a double and a walk. Neil Walker went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk and three RBIs. Scooter Gennett hit his ninth homer in the second for Milwaukee. PREP WORK After Pittsburgh took a 3-2 lead in the fourth, the Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half. Volquez got Ryan Braun to pop out and then struck out Aramis Ramirez to end the threat. "I stayed with the scouting report, basically with the fastball inside," Volquez said. RARE SUCCESS The Pirates have won the first two games of the series but still are only 39-77 at Miller Park. "This place has been a lot of a Rubiks Cube when we come in here and play. But we always turn the page," Hurdle said. STILL RESTING Pirates rookie Gregory Polanco, in a 1-for-27 slump, was on the bench for the fourth consecutive game. BASERUNNING BLUNDER With the Brewers down 9-2 in the sixth, Carlos Gomez was thrown out by a step trying to advance from first to third on a sharp single to left. Starling Martes throw to Josh Harrison easily beat Gomez for the second out of the inning. TRAINERS ROOM Pirates: INF Clint Barmes has gone 3 for 15 in four rehab games with Triple-A Indianapolis. Hes been on the disabled list since July 6 with a left groin injury. ... RHP Stolmy Pimentel (mild right ankle sprain) pitched a scoreless inning Thursday night to begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona. Brewers: RHP Matt Garza will throw a bullpen session Sunday. Hes been on the DL with a left oblique strain since Aug. 5, retroactive to Aug. 4. UP NEXT Pirates RHP Vance Worley (5-3) looks to bounce back from his worst start of the season when the teams conclude a three-game series Sunday. Worley allowed a season-high six runs in six innings Monday during a 7-3 loss to Atlanta. Mike Fiers (3-1) will make his fourth start since replacing Garza in the rotation. Fiers has won all three of his previous starts and has a 0.86 ERA in those games. Fausse Air Max 97 Plus .com) - The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics both entered Wednesday nights game riding lengthy losing streaks. Air Max 90 Homme Promo . The Toronto Argonauts signed the veteran linebacker to a three-year deal Tuesday, hours after the start of CFL free agency. http://www.outletairmaxpascher.fr/fausse-vapormax-noir.html . The Padres made the moves before Fridays game at Washington. They promoted infielder Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio and right-hander Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso. Air Max 90 Pas Cher Femme Acheter . Wearing bib No. 1, Maze skied through the gates cleanly to defend her big first-run lead and finish 0.07 seconds ahead of Anna Fenninger of Austria. Defending champion Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany was third, trailing 0. Air Max Pas Cher Chine Paypal . 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.Ewen Murray reflects on a number of high-profile absentees at the BMW PGA Championship and looks ahead to an action-packed summer of golf. With the first five months of the golfing season behind us, our sport gets ready for a frenetic period with three majors in seven weeks, followed by golfs return to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.Englands Danny Willett has tucked away The Masters, Jason Day has The Players Championship and more recently, Chris Wood claimed the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy have been grouped together for the first two rounds of the Memorial tournament in Ohio this week A strong talking point at the European Tour headquarters in Surrey was the absence of several of the Tours top players, and Im not alone in being disappointed there were so many absentees.The BMW PGA has a purse of five million euros, its played at one of our historic venues, its our base and the fans - well over 100,000 of them - poured through the gates to enjoy the spring sunshine and an event that always has drama from start to finish.This years edition was no different. Although injured, Justin Rose flew over to England to show his respect for his home Tour and was genuinely disappointed he was unable to play, but what about the no shows? Im aware the top players cannot play every week, but there are some events that should be sacrosanct and the BMW PGA is one of these. Ewen Murray on Wentworth These are members who cut their teeth in Europe and have banked millions of euros in the process. That of course is mainly down to their sterling play, but there is more to it than that.Its not that long ago less than a handful of our players would be exempt from playing in the three American majors. The Tour, then under the guidance of Ken Schofield and his successor George OGrady, moved mountains for that to change.Their perseverance was eventually rewarded, but only after much hard work and lengthy negotiations. The Tour would not be what it is today without their diligence and work ethic. Their relationship with the sponsors and their involvement in improving courses has grown the affiliation Europe has with the other world tours, which could well fashion the future. European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley announced there are changes planned for Wentworth Then there is a gilt-edged sponsor in the shape of BMW. The Bavarian Motor Works hosts Tour events in its homeland, England, Italy, South Africa and China. They form a large part of the nucleus that is at the centre of our tournament calendar.The missing players at Wentworth are handsomely paid by various manufacturers to promote clubs, clothing, golf balls and other equipment. This can be done because the fans like to use what their favourite players use.Im aware the top players cannot play every week, but there are some events that should be sacrosanct and the BMW PGA is one of these. I, and many others, see it on a similar level to the Players at Sawgrass. Jason Day eased to a wire-to-wire victory at TPC Sawgrass last month I wonder what the PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, would have said had Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson decided to bypass Ponte Vedra?The worry for the future is that the fans might chose to bypass Wentworth. From next year, to be a member of the European Tour, it should be mandatory in my opinion to play in the springg showcase event.ddddddddddddn getting that off my chest, take nothing away from this years champion, Chris Wood. 29 shots for the front nine on Sunday was a Herculean effort. Yes, there were some moments of uncertainty on the back nine, but Wentworth is a total examination of a players skill, make-up and nerve. Down the decades, even the golfing greats have come undone over that notorious stretch for home. Chris Wood claimed a narrow one-shot win at the BMW PGA Championship Chris is a popular winner. He has had several annoying injuries in past years and with that behind him, he has a good future to look forward to - and perhaps a Ryder Cup berth in Darren Clarkes side for September.As we head into this hectic major spell, the worlds top three players are in blistering form. Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth have all won their last events. Day was top at Sawgrass, McIlroy in Ireland and Spieth, with six birdies on the final nine holes, enjoyed a hometown win at the Colonial in Fort Worth.All of this adds to the anticipation and excitement of the US Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania. This is a fearsome course where only the very best will do. Add to that the probability of searing heat and greens that run at 13+ on the stimpmeter, and this will be the ultimate test. The US Open returns to the historic Oakmont Country Club Thirteen European members made it through to the US Open last Monday at Walton Heath. Each and every one of them will hope they can emulate New Zealander Michael Campbell, who qualified there 11 years ago in last place. Days later, he held the trophy aloft at Pinehurst in North Carolina - the stuff of dreams!Royal Troon in Ayrshire hosts this years Open - a month after the years second major - and Sky Sports viewers will be treated to coverage never seen before. Sky Sports 1 HD will be dedicated entirely to The Open for 10 days.For the first time, the opening tee shots of this years Championship will be shown live in the UK and Ireland. In the run-up to the start of the 145th edition of this championship that began in 1860, practise rounds will be aired and in the evening from Thursday through to Sunday, Sky will show comprehensive highlights of the days play. Add to that, history sections and documentaries along with innovative shows will offer The Open the coverage it deserves. The Channel launches on July 11.Because of this years Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the seasons last major, the PGA Championship at Baltusrol in New Jersey, begins just 10 days after The Open is concluded.The last time we were there for this event, Phil Mickelson won on a Monday morning after storms interrupted play over the four days. Baltusrol is long and demanding and like the US Open, it will produce a fine champion. There are some significant events in between the next two majors. France celebrates the 100th playing of their Open at the magnificent Le Golf National by Guyancourt, near Versailles. This Robert Von Hagge and Hubert Chesneau masterpiece will also host the Ryder Cup in 2018.The week after, the Capital of the Highlands will take centre stage for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. The splendid Castle Stuart is the venue again after a couple of years at Royal Aberdeen and the hugely impressive Gullane, where Rickie Fowler won in dramatic fashion last year.So get ready for a fabulous summer of golf. Im sure there will be some amazing storylines in the weeks ahead. Also See: Day ready for Memorial test The Open channel on Sky Sports Golf live on Sky Sports Memorial ways to watch ' ' '

BROSSARD, Que. -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. For the first time since 1973, only one Canadian team has qualified for the NHL post-season. The Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, with only home ice advantage to be decided in the final regular-season games on the weekend. Defenceman Josh Gorges said Friday he expects a lot of attention, but it will be no more pressure than what the team deals with every day of the season. "There may be more eyes within Canada watching our games," the Kelowna, B.C. native said. "In Canada, they have their loyalties to their local teams, but come playoff time, youve watched when Vancouver was in the Cup (final) a few years ago. "Calgary, Edmonton, the same thing. The whole country rallies around because they want to see a Stanley Cup come back to Canada. But I dont think it adds anything. Theres enough pressure just because of what were trying to accomplish." In 1973, the Canadiens were the lone Canadian playoff team and they won the Cup. They are also the last Canadian team to win a Cup in 1993. They are widely considered to be long shots to go more than a round or two this time, even though theyve had an excellent season, have Canadian Olympic gold medallist Carey Price in goal, and got a major boost at the trade deadline in scoring winger Thomas Vanek. Last season, four Canadian teams made the playoffs. Only two made it in the two seasons before that. It seems odd that clubs with such enthusiastic fans and which sell out every game have so much trouble finishing in the top eight in their conferences. But Gorges said the added attention may be what makes it so difficult. "Its a little bit strange, but at the same time, its not easy playing in Canadian markets," he said. "On a lot of teams in the States, theres nothing more to it than going out and playing the game and getting the two points, whereas a lot of times in Canada, you cant escape hockey. "No matter where you go, theres added, outside things that affect your performance. I think weve done a good job here of trying to find that balance, but that could, maybe, be a reason why some Canadian teams havent been in there." The Canadiens have reached the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, missing in 2012. Their best season since 1993 was in 2010 when they reached the Eastern Conference final. The Vancouver Canucks saw a run of five straight trips to the post-season end this season. "Going into the season, you look at all the Canadian teams and youd think most of them would be contending," said Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher. "For us, being the only one, well probably have some of Canada on our side. "Some of them will still hate us, but it doesnt change what we do and how we have to prepare." The second-year forwards only playoff experience was in an all-Canadian series last spring, when Montreal was beaten in five games by the Ottawa Senators. "Theres so much expectation for Canadian teams to compete because the fans are so passionate and they care so much," said Gallagher, an Edmonton native. "Every fan base in Canada expects their team to be in the playoffs every year. "Im sure next year it will be different, but for us, it doesnt change anything. Were happy to be where we are and want to take advantage of it." While having only one team is rare, its an improvement on 1970, when no Canadian teams made it. Bobby Orrs Boston Bruins beat St. Louis in the final that year. The Canadiens, who are 0-for-20 on the power play in their last seven games, worked mostly on special teams going into their regular season finale Saturday night at home against the New York Rangers. The Canadiens hope a win coupled with a Tampa Bay loss will let them start the playoffs at home, but they dont seem to be sweating it one way or the other. "If its us or Tampa Bay that has home ice advantage, we dont know," said coach Michel Therrien. "But I can predict what the answers will be when we know on Sunday night: The team that has it will be really happy and the team that doesnt will say it doesnt matter." Forward Lars Eller didnt skate and it likely to miss a third game with a flu. Winger Brandon Prust is also out with an upper body injury. Therrien expects him to be ready for the playoffs but cautioned "were not quite sure yet." Forward Travis Moen, out eight games with a concussion, is also a question mark. Winger Michael Blunden was recalled from AHL Hamilton. The Canadiens announced that captain Brian Gionta edged out Gallagher for the Jacques Beauchamp Trophy as the teams unsung hero in voting by the local media. The two-way right winger has played 80 games this season after missing a large part of the last two campaigns with biceps injuries. "From the outside looking in, fans may not realize how important he is," Gorges said of Gionta. "Its not always about how many points you get, its what you do to help the team win games." 17:39ET 11-04-14 Clearance Soccer Jerseys . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Louis Cardinals have agreed to a one-year contract. Fake Soccer Jerseys . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines.From the standpoint of having LeBron James and Kyrie Irving already in Cleveland, the Cavaliers are looking at accelerating their chances of winning a championship. Look at the Eastern Conference landscape right now. Paul George is sidelined for the long term with the Indiana Pacers. Even with Pau Gasol in the mix, there are still some questions surrounding a healthy Derrick Rose in Chicago. And of course, LeBron left Miami. Now Im sure LeBron made it very clear to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert what his specific intentions were in coming back to Cleveland. And I think we can all agree that his supporting cast in previous Cavs campaigns were relatively inferior. But despite that knock, LeBron did a remarkable job on the court. But now when youre bringing him back at age 30 - right in the prime of his career - why wouldnt you go for it? At the end of the day, theres no guarantees. You look at a guy like LeBron signing a short-term deal in Cleveland and thats obviously cap-related. But this is a team that basically said, just go for it. Theres an opportunity for the Cavs - in the Eastern Conference right now - to get back into the NBA Finals. From Clevelands perspective, it makes sense as long as that firm agreement over a long-term deeal with Kevin Love holds up.dddddddddddd And that appears to be the case - otherwise, the Cavs wouldnt swing this deal. Now this doesnt make the Cavaliers the best team in the NBA, but it does put them slightly ahead of Chicago right now (once again, Derrick Rose is the x-factor there). And there will be a learning curve with the Cavs. They have a new head coach in David Blatt who had lengthy coaching stints overseas, so theres going to be some adjustments. This deal will make them the team to beat in the conference, but the better teams are still out West. For Minnesota, theyre getting two really talented kids. Anthony Bennett is in much better shape now - he had an excellent summer league experience and I think hes really going to blossom in Minnesota. And Wiggins will be a much bigger piece of the puzzle in Minnesota than he would have been with LeBron James in Cleveland. And Minnesota is a good environment for young players to play in. Flip Saunders is a good coach and has great support in former Raptors coach and TSN basketball analyst Sam Mitchell. They will bring plenty of accountability and discipline. I dont know how well theyll do in a difficult Western Conference, but I do believe its a win-win for both sides. ' ' '