As an expansion team Columbus Blue Jackets Hats Authentic , the Vegas Golden Knights have defied all sorts of odds.Long shots to even make the playoffs seven months ago, they are a favorite to hoist the Stanley Cup in June. Behind the stellar play of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, the Golden Knights completed a sweep of the Los Angeles Kings to move into the second round against San Jose.That puts the Golden Knights in some rare company as they became the first expansion team in NHL history to sweep a series in their inaugural season . The Pittsburgh Penguins recorded a sweep in their first playoffs appearance in 1970, which was their third season in the NHL. Not to be overlooked are the St. Louis Blues, who made three straight Stanley Cup finals beginning in 1967-68 after the league expanded and threw all the new teams into the same division. The Florida Panthers also had early success, going to the 1996 Finals three years after entering the league.”We’re just trying to be as good as we can be,” Vegas general manager George McPhee said. ”No one knows what exactly is going to happen. We think we’re a pretty good club, but we’ll keep trying to do what we’re doing and see where it takes us.”After a few days off, the crew gets back to work with the Sharks looming.Asked if the down time was good for his squad, McPhee responded: ”This is not like the bye week where they have five days off and they’re not skating or they’re not training. We’re not going to Mexico.”A look at a few of the expansion/charter teams that found success early:CAROLINA PANTHERS & JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSCarolina went 7-9 in its inaugural season in 1995 with Kerry Collins leading the way. The Panthers made it to the NFC championship game one season later, losing 30-13 to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Jacksonville followed a similar path. The Jaguars went 4-12 in `95 and then caught fire and made it to the AFC championship game the next season behind QB Mark Brunell, before a 20-6 loss to New England.MILWAUKEE BUCKSOK, their first season wasn’t all that dazzling at 27-55 in 1968-69. But then the Bucks drafted a center named Lew Alcindor – now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – with the No. 1 pick. In 1970-71, the Bucks captured an NBA title by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets. Oscar Robertson wasn’t too bad for Milwaukee, either.ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSStarting in 1998 Custom Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys , the Diamondbacks got off to a 65-97 mark. Three seasons later, with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling leading the rotation, they were World Series champions. Arizona beat the New York Yankees in Game 7, with Luis Gonzalez bringing home the winning run with a single off closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning.D.C. UNITEDThe Major League Soccer team was the best of the best in the charter league. The squad captured three of the first four MLS Cups – 1996, ’97 and ’98. Their first coach was Bruce Arena.PHILADELPHIA/BALTIMORE STARSDonald J. Trump owned the New Jersey Generals in the fledgling USFL, which ran from 1983-85, but the Stars ruled. The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars reached the championship game all three years, winning the title twice. They lost to the Michigan Panthers in the 1983 championship game, then beat the Arizona Wranglers to cap the 1983-84 season. After relocating to Baltimore, the Stars beat the Oakland Invaders for their second straight title in the league’s last hurrah. The team was coached by Jim Mora and their quarterback was Chuck Fusina, the former Penn State standout who finished runner-up to Oklahoma’s Billy Sims in the 1978 Heisman race.—AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.— SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Evander Kane knew San Jose was a good fit when Joe Thornton showed up for a late-night airport pickup following a trade deadline deal.That comfort was only reinforced over the next 10 weeks on the ice and in the dressing room. It left Kane with an easy choice as he headed toward free agency.Kane bypassed a chance at the open market by signing a seven-year deal Thursday worth $49 million to stay with the Sharks for the long term.”It’s good to be wanted and I wanted them just as much as they wanted me,” Kane said. ”The fact that we were able to work out a deal so quickly reflects that. Obviously, when you’re a free agent you have the option to do what you want and I made it clear to them that I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”Kane will be paid $9 million the first year of the deal, followed by salaries of $8 million www.officialstarsproonline.com , $6 million, $7 million, $7 million and two years at $6 million, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because terms were not released. He also has a limited no-trade clause.Kane, who turns 27 in August, was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline in February and became a key part of San Jose’s team down the stretch and in the playoffs.Under the terms of that trade, the Sabres will get a first-round pick in 2019 instead of a second-rounder because Kane signed with San Jose. The selection is lottery-protected, so it could be moved to 2020.The Sharks aren’t concerned about that price.”You don’t find guys like this unless you’re picking in the top three, four guys in the draft, and no one wants to be there,” coach Peter DeBoer said.”When you’re signing free agents, especially elite players and guys that are going to play huge roles for you, you really want to know about them as much as possible. And you really don’t know a player until you stand behind the bench and are around them every day. So that was a nice luxury to have. I think we all felt comfortable that this was a guy that could help us win.”Kane’s status was one of the biggest questions heading into this offseason for the Sharks, who were knocked out of the playoffs in six games in the second round against eventual Western Conference champion Vegas.Thornton is the other prominent potential free agent on the team. But he’s said he’s willing to come back on a reduced one-year deal.The Sharks still have salary cap flexibility to make more moves, which will be easier now that Kane’s deal is done and he can be slotted in on a top line.”He plays with great speed and fits with not only our game but where the league is trending Dallas Stars T-Shirts Authentic ,” general manager Doug Wilson said.”To get him in place and secured was very important to us. Top-six forwards like that, there aren’t many out there and when you get one you want to make sure that he’s secured. It fills in our roster.”Kane stepped right onto the top line with captain Joe Pavelski after arriving in San Jose and helped ease the loss of Thornton, who went down with a season-ending knee injury in January. Kane used speed and physical play to deliver nine goals and five assists in 17 games and helped San Jose make the playoffs, giving him a first taste of the postseason.Kane shined in the first round with three goals and an assist during a sweep against Anaheim. But he struggled a bit against the Golden Knights, slowed by injuries to his knee and shoulder that lingered from the end of the regular season.He had one goal and a minus-5 rating in five games against Vegas. He missed Game 2 of that series when he was suspended for cross-checking Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.Kane finished last season with 29 goals and 25 assists, his second-most productive season to his 30-goal, 27-assist run for the Jets in 2011-12. Kane has 186 goals and 168 assists in 574 games since entering the NHL as the fourth overall pick by Atlanta in 2009.Despite his credentials, there was not a robust trade market for Kane back in February in part because he had issues off the ice with some teammates during his stints with Winnipeg and Buffalo.Kane also had legal run-ins.In March 2016, prosecutors announced after a three-month investigation that Kane would not face a sexual assault charge. In June 2016, he was arrested for allegedly grabbing three women by the hair and neck during an altercation at a Buffalo bar. The charges were eventually dismissed on condition Kane stayed out of trouble as part of a plea agreement.Also that year, the Sabres suspended Kane for one game for missing practice a day after pictures surfaced on social media of the player celebrating in Toronto after attending the NBA All-Star Game.There haven’t been issues in his brief time with the Sharks.”We really started things off on the right note and it just carried on from there,” Kane said. ”The one thing about this team and this group and this organization is that they allow you to be yourself. They embrace you for that. It’s a very unselfish group that makes it super easy to come into and mesh well with.”—AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report—

DENVER (AP) The captain of the Colorado Avalanche has a pingpong paddle sitting in his locker that features a picture of him taped to one side.Merely a ploy Ondrej Palat Jersey , explained Gabriel Landeskog, the self-proclaimed table tennis champion of the dressing room.”Seeing my face, yeah, it’s distracting for them,” he said , grinning.It’s certainly been a lot of fun and games this season for the Avalanche – a stark contrast to a year ago when they were the worst team in the NHL. Behind a Hart Trophy candidate in Nathan Mackinnon , an even-keeled coach in Jared Bednar and a youthful, high-octane roster, the Avs have turned things around to the tune of a 45-point improvement so far. They are the first NHL team to post a 40-point gain over an 82-game season since the Pittsburgh Penguins jumped 47 from 2005-06 (58) to 2006-07 (105).There’s also this: Take care of business with a win at San Jose on Thursday and another in regulation against St. Louis in the season finale Saturday and they will earn their first postseason berth since 2013-14.”What our guys have done this year as a group, first year of a rebuild, a lot of new faces, I don’t know there are too many people that would’ve put us in the situation we’re in right now Ryan Callahan Jersey ,” said Bednar , whose team managed only 48 points during his first season in charge. ”Our guys have done an excellent job this year of being committed to what we’re doing and trying to turn this thing around and get to where we want to go.”Bednar and general manager Joe Sakic calmed some pretty turbulent waters after a forgettable 2016-17 season that began with Patrick Roy surprisingly announcing he would step down before camp.A year later, Bednar had a chance to implement more of his philosophies in camp. He got to know his players’ strengths better, too.Still, there were some early season obstacles to navigate, including moving on from Matt Duchene when the talented forward wanted out of town. He was traded to Ottawa in early November.Through it all, Bednar’s message was succinct: Just concentrate on hockey. The Avs won 10 straight earlier this season; they had 22 wins all of last year.”If you believe in each other and believe in the system, you can accomplish things that other people probably don’t think we could,” said defenseman Erik Johnson, who’s currently sidelined with a fractured kneecap. ”We took it upon ourselves to be the underdog.”Even through the lows of a 48-point season, Bednar didn’t lose the room. His players call him ”Bedsy,” a sign of respect for a coach who will hold them accountable but mostly helps them figure things out.”Looking back http://www.officiallightningprostore.com/authentic-adidas-ryan-mcdonagh-jersey , it’s easier to realize that he could’ve been a lot harder on us, could’ve been a lot worse. He didn’t do that,” defenseman Tyson Barrie said. ”I have a lot of respect for him with what he’s done this year and how he’s handled the team and everything.”Any other season, Bednar might even be a runaway coach of the year winner. But there’s Gerard Gallant, who has expansion Vegas headed to the postseason as Pacific Division champions.”I tried to be as fair as I possibly can be with still doing my job to the best of my ability,” Bednar said. ”I have a lot of belief in our team.”Colorado features the youngest active roster in the league with an average age of 25.7. With Alexander Kerfoot leading the way, 11 different rookies have combined for more than 410 games and 121 points.Then again, Bednar has plenty of experience dealing with youth from his days in the American Hockey League. Bednar joined the Avalanche from the Columbus Blue Jackets‘ affiliate Lake Erie after leading the Monsters to the 2016 Calder Cup trophy.”He definitely gets it,” said MacKinnon, who is among the league leaders with 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists). ”He communicates really well with the younger generation.”Colorado has had its share of bumps and bruises along the way, with MacKinnon sitting out eight games due to a shoulder injury. And now the team is missing top goaltender Semyon Varlamov (lower body injury) for the rest of the regular season. But they have veteran Jonathan Bernier to step in.”We got some of those injuries (last season) Womens Steven Stamkos Jersey , and didn’t have the depth that we needed,” Bednar said. ”When things took a turn, it was hard to stay motivated as a team when you fall out of the playoff race.”It’s not the best turnaround in franchise history: The then-Quebec Nordiques went from 52 points in 1991-92 to 104 the following season. But that was a different time.”It’s a turnaround, but we also thought we shouldn’t have been as bad as we were last year,” Landeskog said. ”We’ve still got a lot of work left. It doesn’t really count if we don’t go to the playoffs.”— The Minnesota Wild placed forward Tyler Ennis on unconditional waivers to buy out his contract and free up salary-cap space on the eve of free agency.A person with direct knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Saturday that Ennis and newly acquired Montreal Canadiens goaltender Steve Mason were put on buyout waivers at noon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the transactions had not been announced.Minnesota saves more than $2.4 million against the $79.5 million salary cap next season by buying out the final year of Ennis’ contract. The 28-year-old, who was due to make $3.65 million and count $4.6 million on the salary cap, had 22 points in 73 games with the Wild after being acquired from Buffalo a year ago.Ennis has 258 points in 492 games and could be a value free agent addition for a team looking for depth down the middle.Mason was not long for Montreal after the Canadiens acquired the 30-year-old goaltender in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets earlier Saturday. The Canadiens used their abundance of salary-cap space to take on Mason’s contract and acquire young Finnish forward Joel Armia.Montreal will have a cap hit of just under $1.4 million over the next two seasons for Mason, who becomes an unrestricted free agent. He will be an option for teams looking for a backup goaltender or someone to share the load, like Boston and Carolina.—AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.—

TAMPA Womens Shane Doan Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy delivered a record-setting performance after sitting out a month.Tampa Bay’s goalie made a career-high 48 saves in his return from a broken left foot and the Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Thursday night in a matchup of the NHL’s top two teams.“Actually (felt) pretty good,” Vasilevskiy said. “Tried to survive the first period, then the second, too.”Vasilevskiy tied the team record for saves in a game established by Ben Bishop against Carolina on Jan. 19, 2014.“He was the best player on the ice for us by a country mile,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson both scored for Tampa Bay during the final 36 seconds of the second period to make it 4-1. Vasilevskiy, who missed the previous 14 games, stopped all 23 shots he faced in the period.“That was a pretty good test for us,” Vasilevskiy said. “Guys scored important goals at the end of the second.”Anthony Cirelli and Nikita Kucherov also had goals for the Lightning (25-7-1) Anders Bjork Jersey , who have won eight in a row and lead Toronto by eight points in the Atlantic Division. The franchise record is a nine-game winning streak in 2016.Tampa Bay scored three times on 12 shots in the second. Killorn put home a backhand with 35.8 seconds left, and Johnson converted from the slot with 1.7 seconds to go.Toronto got a goal from Kasperi Kapanen, and Frederik Andersen stopped 17 shots. The Maple Leafs have lost three of four (1-2-1) after a five-game winning streak.The Leafs went 0 for 6 on the power play.“We did everything but put the puck in the back of the net,” Toronto center John Tavares said. “I don’t think you want to hang your head. I think you’re obviously disappointed in the result. We have high expectations for ourselves. It’s a long season. We’ll see these guys again.”Vasilevskiy got his glove on Patrick Marleau’s point-blank chance and then trapped the loose puck with his pad early in the third.The Maple Leafs hit the crossbar or post three times in the first and Vasilevskiy made a left pad save on Tavares’ in-close backhand late in the period.Nazem Kadri had a nifty deflection stopped by Vasilevskiy and also hit the post during a power play midway through the second.“He played unbelievable,” Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews said. “I thought we played well. We had a ton of chances. I think sometimes you’ve just got to tip your hat and move forward.”Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead on Kucherov’s power-play goal at 5:31 of the second that required a video review. A no-goal call on the ice was overturned when officials determined Andersen’s glove save came behind the goal line.Kucherov also had an assist and has six goals and 29 points over the last 15 games.Kapanen put the Maple Leafs up 1-0 after stealing an errant pass into the slot by Kucherov 5:26 into the game.Cirelli tied it on his third short-handed goal at 8:20 of the first.NOTES: Mitchell Marner (seven), Tavares (six) and Kadri (six) combined for 19 shots. … Toronto (15-1-1) lost for the first time in regulation when scoring first. … Marleau played in his 738th consecutive regular-season game and passed Jay Bouwmeester for the seventh-longest streak in NHL history. … Toronto LW Zach Hyman served the second of a two-game suspension for a hit on Boston D Charlie McAvoy on Saturday. … Tampa Bay RW Mathieu Joseph sat out with a lower-body injury.UP NEXTMaple Leafs: Play at Florida on Saturday.Lightning: Start a four-game trip Sunday in Winnipeg. LAS VEGAS (AP) After the Winnipeg Jets lost Game 3 of the Western Conference final, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck didn’t seem fazed and spoke like a confident veteran rather than a third-year player whose team appears to be unraveling.The Vezina Trophy-finalist went as far to say he liked his game better than the guy about 200 feet across the rink – 14-year veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped 33 of 35 shots and improved to 10-3 in the postseason.”I like my game, I like it a lot more Bobby Orr Jersey ,” Hellebuyck said after making 26 saves in Wednesday’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. ”I like my details and will continue chugging away and getting better every single day.”If Game 3 is any indication of the type of game Vegas will bring into Friday night’s Game 4, Hellebuyck needs to get better urgently.”I think we’ve been capitalizing on some chances we’ve been getting,” Vegas forward Cody Eakin said after Thursday’s practice. ”Getting to the dirty area, smackin’ `em into the blue paint. He’s a heck of a goalie and he’s played very well all season and all playoffs for them. It’s just one of things where you have a game plan, you stick to it. Whether it’s the bounces or capitalizing on a rush or whatever it may be, we’re just trying to finish every chance we get.”Like 35 seconds into Game 3, when a premature poke-check by Hellebuyck led to a goal by Jonathan Marchessault. Hellebuyck’s ill-advised mistake allowed Marchessault to use a forehand-backhand deke and give Vegas the momentum early with a 1-0 lead.In the second period, Hellebuyck went behind the net and lifted the puck to clear it but Erik Haula was there to knock it down and feed James Neal, who found the open net to give Vegas a 2-1 lead just 12 seconds after Mark Scheifele tied the score.Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice refuses to blame his goalie http://www.officialbruinsproonline.com/authentic-adidas-brad-marchand-jersey , though, and seemed fine Thursday, with the rather braggadocious manner Hellebuyck speaks with, despite allowing three or more goals for the second consecutive game and fifth time in his last nine games.”It’ll be across the crease, no chance in hell he’s getting that puck, and he believes he can stop that puck,” Maurice said. ”I don’t plan to stomp that mentality. He believes he can stop everyone, and then he moves on pretty darned well. He doesn’t carry it too heavy with him. He’s got confidence in the right way.”So does Fleury, who leads the NHL with a career-best 1.70 goals-against average during the playoffs. And if the Jets can’t get more production outside of Scheifele Youth Brandon Carlo Jersey , they’ll find themselves on the brink of elimination after Friday’s game.Scheifele, who now owns the NHL record for most goals scored on the road in a single playoff with 11, has 14 goals and six assists in 15 games. But for a dangerous team that gotten this far because of its depth, guys like Vegas defensemen Nate Schmidt, Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore have shown they can keep the Jets in their own zone or disrupt things in the neutral zone.”A few miscues and they made us pay for it – that can’t happen,” said Scheifele, who has three of the Jets’ seven goals in this series. ”They’re going to have their games, we’re going to have our games. We can’t sulk on this too long. We gotta pick ourselves up and be ready for a big game on Friday.”The Jets showed some life in the third period on Wednesday, and certainly outplayed what appeared to be a weary Vegas team over the final 20 minutes Womens Charlie McAvoy Jersey , but Fleury was outstanding in coming up with tremendous highlight saves to preserve the win.”I think we’re starting to get a better understanding of how we have to attack and how we have to approach the net,” Maurice said. ”At 2-1, we’re all aware that we’re down 2-1, but it’s still fairly early in the series. Both teams are going to come out guns-a-blazing and try to give the other team nothing.”History is against the Jets, who are trailing in a series for the first time this postseason. Teams with a 2-1 lead in the conference final (or NHL semifinals) have won the series 35 of 43 times (81.4 percent) since 1975.And unless Hellebuyck’s confidence translates into keeping the puck out of his net, and Scheifele gets some help at the other end, history is bound to repeat itself.—

The Edmonton Oilers have one of the league’s top players in reigning two-time scoring champion Connor McDavid. But heading into their home opener http://www.islandersfanproshop.com/authentic-adam-pelech-jersey , the spotlight may be on the club’s defensive unit as they are tasked with shutting down one of the NHL’s top lines.Edmonton finally plays at Rogers Place on Thursday night when they face the Boston Bruins, who are led by the red-hot trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.The excitement of playing at home for the first time comes after Edmonton (2-2-0) rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to top the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 on Tuesday night. That ended the Jets’ 11-game regular-season home winning streak.Article continues below ...After salvaging a split of a four-game season-opening road trip that started in Sweden, Oilers coach Todd McLellan wants to see his club play hard from the initial faceoff to the final horn.“They poured it all out, in my opinion, in the last period and a half. We didn’t pour it all out in the first period and a half, and our team cannot afford to waste minutes. It has to be on the line from minute one to minute 60,” he said Wednesday. Tuesday’s win also started a stretch in which Edmonton will play six straight games against teams that collected at least 100 points apiece in 2017-18. After facing the Bruins, the Oilers take on the Nashville Predators Anders Lee Jersey , Pittsburgh Penguins and defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals at Rogers Place before travelling to Nashville.“This homestand’s obviously really important and we’re playing some A-class teams,” McLellan noted.Last season, Edmonton was 19-18-4 at home but closed the campaign with three straight losses there.McDavid had two goals and two assists against the Jets and set an NHL record by having a hand in Edmonton’s first nine goals this season. Three of the captain’s four goals have come on the power play. He had five such tallies in 2017-18.“Pucks are going in for him and he’s very confident. He’s Connor,” McLellan said of McDavid, who has 17 goals and 18 assists in his last 16 home games, and a goal with seven assists in five career games versus Boston.Edmonton and Boston (4-2-0) close the season series with this matchup. McDavid scored early, but Cam Talbot yielded three goals in less than six minutes of the opening period en route to a 4-1 loss to Boston on Oct. 11. “That’s a good team over there,” Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said on Wednesday. “They play hard. They’re very skilled. You can’t give them too much.”Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak have spearheaded the Bruins’ offense so far, combining for 15 of the club’s 24 goals. They accounted for two goals and two assists on Wednesday Andrew Ladd Jersey , but Boston’s four-game winning streak was snapped with a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.All three players are riding five-game point streaks. Marchand has two goals and nine assists in that span, while Pastrnak — who had a goal against Calgary waved off after video review — has seven goals with three helpers.With five consecutive multipoint games, Bergeron has been the best of the bunch with six goals and seven assists. He is also the current NHL First Star of the Week.In 17 career games in Edmonton, Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak have totaled five goals and seven assists.Boston coach Bruce Cassidy is concerned about the lack of production from the remainder of the team.“We know we have a line that’s going to deliver that every night. We went home and we did get some of that much better balance. You hope that continues. It didn’t tonight,” Cassidy told the Boston Herald.Tuukka Rask stopped 23 Flames shots, but is 0-3-2 with a 3.79 goals-against average and .881 save percentage in his last five starts versus Edmonton.“We left our goalie out to dry, and it could have been worse,” Bergeron told the Boston Globe.It doesn’t appear Rask will get the chance to earn a win Thursday. In a tweet from the team earlier in the week, Cassidy said Jaroslav Halak would start against Edmonton. Halak has turned away 73 of 76 shots Anthony Beauvillier Jersey , including a 25-save effort versus the Oilers one week ago, while winning both of his starts for Boston.He’s given up a total of seven goals while losing each of his last two road starts against Edmonton. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The sting of a home loss during the weekend became a little more tolerable when the Columbus Blue Jackets learned that all-star Seth Jones will be available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Coyotes at Nationwide Arena.Jones suffered a second-degree sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a Sept. 25 preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres and missed the first seven games of the regular season. He was activated from injured reserve on Monday.The 24-year-old defenseman’s projected recovery was four to six weeks, but he will return to the ice less than a month after the injury.Article continues below ...“Obviously, (he’s) a big part of what we do,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said Monday, according to the team’s website. “He’s worked hard to get back as quickly as he’s been able to. I’m happy he’s back in.“He does everything for us. He sets the tempo of the game, penalty killing, power play. I just can’t pick on one thing he helps us with. He’s just a complete player.”Jones’ teammates certainly will welcome him back on the ice. Last season, he contributed 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points with a plus-10 rating in 78 regular-season games. He tied a franchise record Authentic Brock Nelson Jersey , also set by teammate Zach Werenski, for most goals in a season by a defenseman.Jones will rejoin Werenski to form the Blue Jackets’ top defensive pairing. Werenski has two goals this season playing alongside David Savard.“We read off each other and know what the other is going to do,” Werenski said of Jones. “We have the same mindset offensively. If he’s up in the play, I’m going to read off him. If I’m up he’s going to read off me. We just work well together.”Savard will move to the second or third pairing while Ryan Murray and Markus Nutivaara remain paired together. Candidates to join Savard include Adam Clendening, Scott Harrington and Dean Kukan.“Savvy’s not going to lose ice time. He’ll play,” Tortorella said. “He’s a big part of our back end.”The Blue Jackets (4-3-0) and the Coyotes (2-5-0) enter the matchup after losses on Saturday. Columbus was beaten 4-1 at home by the Chicago Blackhawks. Arizona fell 5-3 on the road to the Winnipeg Jets.Each team has something in common — a struggling power play.The Coyotes have converted just 2 of 19 chances this season with a man advantage. That ranks 29th in the NHL.In Saturday’s loss, they failed on a power-play opportunity with 5:38 remaining to tie the score, finishing 0 of 4 against the Jets.The Blue Jackets were similarly frustrated by their power play against the Blackhawks, also going 0 of 4. Overall, their power play is slightly better than the Coyotes Casey Cizikas Jersey , ranking 23rd in the league (4 of 29). But at home, Columbus is just 1 of 15.“We just couldn’t find a way to score” against Chicago, Tortorella said.Arizona’s Clayton Keller scored two of his team-leading three goals against the Jets. He also leads the team with five points.During Monday’s practice at Nationwide Arena, Keller was joined on the top line by center Alex Galchenyuk, who has yet to play this season because of a lower-body injury.Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said Galchenyuk has been cleared to play and will be a game-time decision. Galchenyuk came to Arizona during the summer in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens.“I don’t want him to think that he has to carry this team,” Tocchet said, according to the team’s website. “I don’t want him to play too fancy. That’s just going to defeat the purpose. He’s just got to be Alex Galchenyuk — play smart, go hard and shoot when you can.“He’s got a great shot. We need that shot in the lineup.”The Coyotes need an infusion on offense. Their 10 goals in seven games rank last in the NHL.“He can score. He can create a lot of offense,” teammate Alex Goligoski said. “We’ve kind of been missing a little bit of that scoring touch so maybe it’s a good time for him to jump back in there.”

Injury news: S DeShon Elliott broke his forearm and Greg Senat to undergo more testing Two rookie Ravens exited the field against the Dolphins with injuries. Earlier in the game C.J. Mosley Jersey , Greg Senat walked off the field and into the locker room. Later on, Elliott left to the locker room holding his left arm.Initially, Greg walked back from the locker room and returned still in uniform and carrying his helmet. Later on, he limped back to the locker room a second time.Last preseason game, the Ravens lost starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a knee sprain which pushed Senat into the starting role for this preseason game. Now, they’ve lost their second tackle in the second-straight game.As I mentioned, Senat wasn’t the only rookie to exit the field, safety Elliott left the field holding his left arm.Update: The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reporting Elliott’s left arm is in a sling.Reports now indicate Elliott has broken his forearm. It is uncertain if he will miss the full season. Greg Senat will undergo more testing for his foot/toe injuries. The latest on Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions Saturday in Canton, Ohio, and Terrell Owens' separate celebration in Chattanooga, Tennessee (all times local):10:30 p.m.With a passionate 33-minute speech in which he strolled around the stage, ad libbed, praised and joked, spoke of sacrifice, love, glory and overcoming the odds, Ray Lewis entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.One of the best linebackers and leaders the game has seen, Lewis was the final man inducted of the seven class of 2018 members on hand. He was preceeded by Randy Moss, Brian Dawkins, Brian Urlacher, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile and Bobby Beathard.Terrell Owens was not in Canton, Ohio, choosing instead to hold his own ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennessee."Tell me something can't be done is like pouring lighter fluid on an open flame," said Lewis, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who won a second Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens for the 2012 season — coming back from a torn triceps — then retired. He was the MVP of the 2001 title game."I came back, and boy did I come back," Lewis said. "When you walk off the last time with that thing, that Lombardi, it's a confirmation I am living proof of the impossible."A first-year nominee, Lewis was selected 26th overall in the 1996 draft — what were other teams thinking? He wasn't even Baltimore first choice: Jonathan Ogden was, and the big tackle made the Hall of Fame in 2013.His impact was immediate, both on the field, in the locker room, and even in pregame introductions Authentic Hayden Hurst Jersey , when his "squirrel dance" fired up fans and teammates alike. He and Ogden even did a short version on the stage.Lewis was the first player with 40 sacks and 30 interceptions in a career. An eight-time All-Pro and inside linebacker on the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team, he had a franchise-record 2,643 career tackles.9:50 p.m.NFL receivers usually are tall or fast. Randy Moss was both, making him the most dangerous pass catcher in the game, and now a Pro Football Hall of Famer.A first-year nominee, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Moss brought the perfect combination of height, speed, soft hands and agility to Minnesota as the 21st overall draft pick in 1998 after a rocky college career. His 69 receptions, 17 for touchdowns, and 1,313 yards helped the Vikings go 15-1 and earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.That was just the start for the eccentric but always dynamic Moss. When he finally hooked up with an elite quarterback, he caught a record 23 TD passes from Tom Brady in New England's perfect 2007 regular season.Moss rubbed the face and top of his bust, then delivered a sermon worthy of any church or synagogue."When I came into the NFL I had no sense of direction," Moss said. "All I wanted to do was play football. Not for one day did I not think God was with me."Moss was a four-time All-Pro and member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s who played for five franchises in all. He said he didn't regret one day with any of those clubs.He paid tribute to his family, to the fans of his teams, and to his roots in West Virginia — he promised he would return to his hometown of Rand on Sunday to show off his gold jacket.9:20 p.m.Weapon X is now a Hall of Famer.Brian Dawkins, one of the hardest-hitting and most versatile safeties in NFL history, has been inducted into the pro football shrine.Dawkins stared at his bust and nodded his approval to the crowd.An extremely popular player for 13 seasons in Philadelphia and another three in Denver, Dawkins guaranteed he would cry during his inductions speech. He was true to his word during a passionate oration that echoed his playing style."The majority of success I have had has come on the back end of pain," he said noting he had suicidal thoughts when he battled depression. "On the other side of it, all of a sudden I became better. There's a purpose for my pain."I have grown leaps and bounds because of the things I went through. For those going through this now, there is hope on the other side. Keep moving, keep pushing through."Dawkins was the leader of an Eagles defense that made four straight NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. Voted to the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team and a five-time All-Pro, Dawkins intercepted passes in 15 consecutive seasons and had 37 picks overall. He averaged nearly 100 tackles a year and spotlighted his versatility as the first player in NFL history to get a sack, interception, fumble recovery and touchdown catch (on a screen pass) in a game, against Houston in 2002.8:45 p.m.Brian Urlacher has become a record-28th Chicago Bear inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.A first-year nominee who filled the tradition of great middle linebackers in the Windy City so brilliantly, Urlacher actually was a safety at New Mexico. Chicago selected him ninth overall in the 2000 draft and immediately converted him to linebacker. He spent two weeks in training camp on the outside, then was moved inside — for 13 spectacular seasons."I love everything about football: the friendships, the coaches, the teachers, the challenges, the opportunity to excel. I loved going to work every day for 13 years," said the 2000 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, a season in which Urlacher had 171 tackles.The Bears won four division titles and one conference championship with Urlacher Youth Tony Jefferson Jersey , their career tackles leader who also had 41 1/2 sacks and 22 interceptions. The five-time All-Pro and member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team even did some work on special teams.But it was in the heart of the defense where he shone."The most coveted position for a defensive player to play is middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears," said Urlacher, who had to hold back tears several times. "Just think about it. I hope over my 13 seasons I made you Bears fans proud."8:20 p.m.The long, long wait for Jerry Kramer has ended. At last, the star guard of the Green Bay Packers has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.A senior committee nominee, Kramer became eligible in 1974 after 11 seasons with the Packers in which he won five NFL championships and two Super Bowls. Now 82, he admitted to being bitter when often passed over for the hall, but that any such feelings "disappeared" when he got in this year.Kramer noted the Packers went 1-10-1, the worst record in their history, when he was a rookie."Coach Lombardi arrived and the world turned around," said Kramer, one of the anchors of the vaunted Green Bay offensive line under Vince Lombardi, and the guy who sprung the block to lead Bart Starr's quarterback sneak to win the Ice Bowl against Dallas for the 1967 conference title. The Packers then won a second straight Super Bowl.Kramer also spent some time placekicking for Green Bay. He made five All-Pro squads, the NFL's 50th Anniversary Team, NFL All-Decade Team of the 1960s and the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team.He paid tribute to learning the importance of "preparation, commitment, discipline, consistency, pride, tenacity, belief in your team and belief in yourself.""It was an incredible experience to be with him and have him bring you along," he said of Lombardi. "Approval and belief: powerful, powerful tools."7:40 p.m.Bobby Beathard, who won four Super Bowls as a team executive and drafted four Pro Football Hall of Famers, has entered the hall himself.A contributor's committee nominee, Beathard worked for the Chiefs, Falcons, Dolphins, Redskins and Chargers. He won NFL titles each with Miami, including the perfect 1972 season, and Washington — where he hired fellow Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs as coach. He also helped Kansas City and San Diego make Super Bowls.As a scout and general manager, Beathard spent much of his time on the road seeking talent for his teams. He has said he saw in person every player he selected, and particularly bragged about getting Texas A&M-Kingsville cornerback Darrell Green with the 28th overall pick in 1983. Green played 20 seasons in Washington, winning two championships.Beathard's speech was delivered via video, although he was on stage with Gibbs, who presented him for induction."I'm really grateful for this honor http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-brandon-carr-jersey ," said Beathard, who retired after the 1999 season, ending a decade with the Chargers. He was with the Redskins the previous 11 seasons.7:30 p.m.Dr. Doom has entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Robert Brazile, who earned that nickname by playing in all 147 games for the Houston Oilers in his 10-year NFL career, has been inducted into the Canton shrine.Forcefully, Brazile, who kissed his bust when it was unveiled, spoke of his upbringing in a "house filled with love" and how he and Walter Payton made history by being selected in the first-round of the same draft from a historically black college.A senior committee nominee, Brazile was drafted sixth overall out of Jackson State, two picks behind his teammate. He made such an immediate pro impact he was the 1975 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and went on to five All-Pro seasons as one of the game's most versatile linebackers. He was in on a stunning 185 tackles in 1978.Presented by his father, also named Robert, Brazile made the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team. He retired in 1984 and became a special education teacher."When they knocked on my door," he said of finding out in February he had finally made the hall, "all of my dreams came true. And after all these years, I'm at home."4:55 p.m.Terrell Owens spent 39 minutes explaining why he was in Chattanooga alone and not in Canton with the seven other members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who are being inducted at night."In closing, I will leave you with this," Owens said. "There was a guy by the name of William James and he said the great lease of life is to spend it on something that outlasts it. My legacy starts today."Thank you so much, Chattanooga."Owens had his gold jacket and wore it at his personal celebration. Owens didn't attend the dinner in Canton on Friday night, where the other seven members of the class of 2018 got their jackets. But he had someone pick it up and bring it to Tennessee for his ceremony.He originally wore a dark suit decorated with the hall logo when he entered McKenzie Arena at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he attended college.— Teresa M. Walker reporting from Chattanooga.4:20 p.m.Terrell Owens says he wants to address the elephant in the room on his reasons for celebrating his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 600 miles away from Canton, Ohio.Owens says his character has been heavily challenged and questioned for years, but he wants to put truth to power or power to truth. He says he chose avoid Canton not because of how many times it took for him to be voted into the Hall of Fame.He says it's the fact that sports writers are not aligned with the mission and core values of the Hall of Fame. Owens says the writers disregarded the system, criteria and bylaws and ultimately the true meaning of the hall. He says he wants to take a stand so the next guy coming after him won't have to wait three years or 45 years to get what was rightfully earned.Owens came out wearing a dark suit smattered with the logo of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When his time to speak came, a woman came out with a gold jacket. Owens slipped on the gold jacket before a standing ovation from at least 2,500 fans at McKenzie Arena at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.He wiped tears from his eyes as fans cheered him and chanted "T.O., T.O."The NFL Network showed a replay of the Chicago-Baltimore preseason game during Owens' celebration.3:20 p.m.Terrell Owens will look out and see lots of his No. 81 jerseys in the stands at McKenzie Arena when he makes his personal induction speech for the Pro Football Hall of Fame at his alma mater.His No. 81 shirts from Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas are scattered around the arena where Owens played basketball while at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He played on two NCAA Tournament teams along with playing football and running track.Johnny Taylor, the 17th pick overall by Orlando in the 1997 NBA Draft, is among the former teammates on hand for Owens' moment.Taylor says he was a little surprised Owens decided not go to Canton. But Taylor says that's what he loves about T.O.: The man always does things his way. Taylor is excited that Owens is doing this in the city and at the university where he played. Taylor says that speaks volumes to the person Owens is even if other people think differently.Three of Owens' college coaches are due to speak at the ceremony: former Chattanooga receivers coach Frankie DeBusk, former basketball coach Mack McCarthy, and former football coach Buddy Green. From the NFL, Owens has two former position coaches here in Larry Kirksey and Ray Sherman.— Teresa M. Walker reporting from Chattanooga.

The Dolphins will be without Cameron Wake as the defensive end stayed home and did not travel with the team. The Pro Bowl lineman had not practiced at all during the week and it was presumed he would miss the game after he couldn’t get out and practice. It’s still not clear if DeVante Parker will play either as the wide receiver has been fighting injuries during the early part of the season. The Bengals are also a little banged up Authentic Ryan Tannehill Jersey , but the Dolphins are going to have a tough test ahead of them today.You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals preview: High stakes for bothIf the Dolphins allow themselves to keep skidding after getting knocked off course by New England la...Dolphins at BengalsMiami Dolphins: 3 position groups of concern vs. Cincinnati BengalsA week ago, the Dolphins were cruising along and eying a three-game lead over New England in the AFC...Dolphins QuarterbacksMiami Dolphins have big plans for QB Luke Falk despite injuryThe Dolphins placed fourth-string quarterback Luke Falk on Injured Reserve today to open a roster sp...Dolphins Wide ReceiversDolphins WR DeVante Parker's injury could keep him out vs. BengalsIt was a familiar scene for DeVante Parker as the rest of the Dolphins broke off from team stretchin...How did Dolphins WR Albert Wilson end up at Georgia State?Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson has a way of making things work, no matter how bleak the outloo...DeVante Parker’s odd and frustrating Dolphins tenure continues - Miami Dolphins Blog- ESPNParker didn't report his quad injury to the team last week, putting them in a bind in a game plan in which he was a major component in New England.Dolphins Defensive LineAs hype builds for young Dolphins DT's, Vincent Taylor warnsMiami Dolphins defensive tackle Vincent Taylor recently tweeted: “Don’t Believ...Miami Dolphins rule out DE Cameron Wake (knee) for Bengals gameThe Dolphins will go without five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake for Sunday’s game a...Phinsider News You May Have MissedThe Splash Zone 10/6/18: Previewing Sunday’s Game Against The Bengals - The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.The Dolphins must look out for Carl Lawson - The PhinsiderGeno Atkins isn’t the only freak the Dolphins have to be concerned with on Sunday.Florida State Seminoles @ University of Miami Hurricanes Live Thread & Game Information - The PhinsiderIn years past (okay Womens Jakeem Grant Jersey , its been a few years for FSU and quite a few for UM) one of these two teams, the Miami Hurricanes or the Florida State Seminoles entered their annual rivalry game with...Dolphins sign Gavin Escobar following torn Achilles for MarQueis Gray The Miami Dolphins announced on Thursday the signing of tight end Gavin Escobar, who had spent the summer with the team before being released in the final roster cuts before the start of the regular season. Escobar returns to the team as a replacement for MarQueis Gray, who suffered a torn Achilles on Wednesday during practice and has been placed on injured reserve.The loss of Gray, who would have been one of the top two tight ends on the depth chart for the Dolphins throughout the season, will translate to more playing time for rookie Mike Gesicki, who appeared to be set to be the starter this year. The Dolphins could miss Gray the most in two tight end sets http://www.miamidolphinsteamonline.com/daniel-kilgore-jersey , where Gray’s ability to be both a pass catcher and a blocker could have led to matchup issues. The Dolphins will likely turn to A.J. Derby to move into that role, while rookie Durham Smythe continues to develop, as well as serve as a blocking tight end when needed.Escobar was a 2013 second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, where he played from 2013 through 2016. He spent the 2017 season with the Baltimore Ravens after a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has 30 career receptions for 333 yards with eight touchdowns.The Dolphins will take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in a Week 1 matchup.

In a league that relies heavily on the forward pass http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/james-hurst-jersey-cheap , the Baltimore Ravens have gone old-school in their bid to reach the NFL playoffs.With quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the way , the Ravens rushed for 265 yards Sunday in a 24-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson ran 27 times for 117 yards, Gus Edwards garnered 115 yards on the ground and both rookies rushed for seven first downs.There's a good chance Jackson will start for the injured Joe Flacco again Sunday when the Ravens (5-5) host the Oakland Raiders (2-8). If Jackson is the starter, it's unlikely he will again slither, slide and scramble with the ball 27 times."Yeah, you don't want your quarterback getting hit that much," coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "It's not going to last that way. So, that's pretty self-evident."That said, Harbaugh mocked those people concerned about Jackson's workload."Oh, he had 27 carries," Harbaugh said. "You know what he did? He won the game. He played his tail off. Celebrate that, and move on."Whatever it takes to win."It's not what we're going to be shooting for by any stretch Youth Za'Darius Smith Jersey , but if it takes that many, Lamar will do it," Harbaugh said. "But, no, he took some hits. I think they knew the quarterback was going to run the ball. They were going after him a little bit, as you would expect. That's something that we have to look at going forward."Selected 32nd overall in the 2018 draft, Jackson was thrust into the starting lineup because Flacco has a right hip injury that has been slow to heal and could keep him sidelined against the Raiders."He has a chance," Harbaugh said, without much conviction.Jackson ran 655 times at Louisville and won the 2016 Heisman Trophy for his ability to carry the ball, not throw it. On Sunday, his carries accounted for more than a third of Baltimore's 73 offensive plays, and the Ravens finished with 54 rushing attempts compared to 19 passes.Harbaugh bristled when someone asked him about Jackson's ability to throw the football Womens Lamar Jackson Jersey , and where that fits into the game plan moving forward."Yeah, we're going to throw the ball more down the road," Harbaugh insisted. "All this veiled stuff, 'Is he really a thrower?' I got news for you: He's a thrower. He's a quarterback. I don't appreciate the insinuation of the question. Lamar Jackson is a quarterback."He's a quarterback with 256 yards rushing 鈥?second on the team behind Alex Collins 鈥?and 237 yards passing. Collins scored a touchdown against the Bengals, but his playing time was sheared by Edwards, an undrafted rookie free agent who got 17 carries and played most of the second half.Edwards, who scored his first NFL touchdown , got the call because of the way he's excelled in the days leading up to game day."He's been practicing great," Harbaugh said. "It has been a goal to get him more carries before this."Baltimore's 265 yards rushing against Cincinnati was tied for the fifth most in franchise history, and it marked the first time in NFL history that a team had a rookie quarterback and rookie running back each top 100 yards rushing.After he was done, Jackson made one final run 鈥?after the referee to snag the game ball."However you move the ball is good. You do it based on your personnel," Harbaugh said. "You want it to be a mix www.ravensauthorizedshops.com , but in the end, the players deserve the credit for running the ball so well." The Ravens are in rebound mode for their Week 6 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. A win in hand could be critical as Baltimore faces the Saints, the Panthers and the Steelers in the upcoming weeks. Below, Baltimore Beatdown contributors outline their bold predictions for the contest.Sage’s predictions:Michael Crabtree will reach the end zone.Since the clock hit zero last Sunday, Crabtree has had all week to marinate on his growing drop count. The 10 year veteran understands that he was brought in to be one of Joe Flacco’s premiere targets, and he will be looking to distance himself from his poor performance in Week 5. Expect him to score for the first time since Week 1.Baltimore will continue to struggle on special teams.The kick returner spot has plagued the Ravens through the first five weeks. Janarion Grant and Tim White both failed to perform and were sent to the practice squad, and John Harbaugh is now even considering receiver John Brown to take over the responsibility. While the hope is that progress can be made this afternoon, it is likely that special teams will still be searching for a reliable, consistent return man. Vasilis’ predictions:Hayden Hurst will lead the Ravens in receiving yards.The rookie tight end saw only 24 snaps in his debut and is still rounding into form, but the Ravens desperately need his seam stretching ability to complement John Brown on the outside. Tennessee’s trio of talented corners will check Baltimore’s wideouts, forcing Joe Flacco to target Hurst early and often.Baltimore’s cornerbacks will hold Corey Davis without a catch.Davis broke out with nine catches for 161 yards and a touchdown in Week 4 against the Eagles. However, he managed only two grabs against Jacksonville and four against Buffalo. Jimmy Smith Baltimore Ravens Womens T-Shirt , Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Carr will shut down Corey today.Dustin’s predictions:Marcus Mariota will throw for less than 100 yards.Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has only thrown for 676 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions so far this season. Against Jacksonville, Mariota threw for just 100 yards and zero touchdowns. Tennessee has relied heavily on the run game and defense to secure victories. While the Jaguars own the league’s number one defense in total yards and passing yards, the Ravens are not far behind, ranked third in total yards and fourth in passing. Mariota will struggle to find any success through the air once again this afternoon.Alex Collins will rush for over 100 yards for the first time this season.It’s no secret that Baltimore’s running game has been an area of disappointment this season. Alex Collins has yet to hit 100 rushing yards in a game so far, and the offensive line has failed to consistently open running lanes. However, the Titans run defense is currently ranked 27th in the NFL. Collins will finally hit 100 yards in a run heavy, defensive game.