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A few years ago the Los Angeles Kings were celebrating their second Stanley Cup title in three seasons and looking like a budding dynasty.The once-formidable franchise is occupying the basement of the NHL these days and thinking more about positioning for the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft than winning another title. At least that was the narrative a few weeks ago.The Kings have shown life lately Martin Frk Jersey , winning four straight — three against teams in playoff position — before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night. Los Angeles will try to keep its momentum going when it plays at the struggling Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.Article continues below ...The Kings (15-21-3) are still eight points out of the second wild card in the West with half the season left. How thing unfold over the next couple of weeks could determine if the franchise becomes a seller before the trade deadline. The players are just focusing on what is happening on the ice.“I think we’re trying to just take it one game at a time, quite honestly,” Los Angeles forward Dustin Brown told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday. “We have a lot of new guys with not a lot of experience of what it takes to win at this level.”The Kings are surging as the Avalanche are stumbling. Colorado has lost four in a row, including an overtime setback to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night. Scoring has become an issue after the Avalanche were one of the top offensive teams through the first two months of the season.In five of the last six games, Colorado has scored two goals or fewer and the one contest it had four goals was a loss at Arizona.The struggles led to coach Jared Bednar shaking up his top two lines to create a spark. Despite the trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabe Landeskog combining for 160 points before Saturday’s game Bednar moved Landeskog to the second line and put Matt Nieto with MacKinnon and Rantanen.By the second period, Landeskog was back on the top line. He played well but his double minor late in the third period led to a Chicago power-play goal in overtime.“Landy is a heck of a player,” Colorado forward Alexander Kerfoot told HockeyBuzz.com about the team’s captain. “Whatever line’s he’s playing on, he’ll help them produce and help them be consistent. We’re lucky to play with him tonight. He’s very consistent in what he brings every night. You know what you’re getting out of him.”Colorado (19-13-7) has three games left on this homestand and needs to turn things around. Despite going 3-7-2 in the last 12 games the Avalanche are still in third place in the Central Division.They will try to shore up some of their defensive issues, which may help get the offense going.“We want to be dangerous offensively http://www.redwingsshoponline.com/authentic-mike-green-jersey , but we’ve got to be better on the defensive side, both on the rush and in our zone,” Bednar said Saturday night. DALLAS (AP) The Dallas Stars needed a big performance from goaltender Ben Bishop to maintain their position in the playoff race, and they got one.Bishop made 38 saves, and Dallas blanked Calgary 2-0 on Tuesday night for his 24th career shutout and fifth this season.”Ben was great, and he did an outstanding job,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. ”Held us together and it’s two points.”Those points allowed the Stars to remain in the first Western Conference wild card spot and prevented Calgary, which sits just outside the second wild card position, from moving ahead of them.”There were some chances,” Bishop said Womens Nick Jensen Jersey , ”but I think the guys did a good job of just a one and done. There (weren’t) too many sustained chances there where they were getting two, three whacks. Sometimes you’ve got to come up and make the saves.”Bishop made 17 of them in the second period, when Dallas increased its lead to 2-0 on a power-play goal by Tyler Seguin, his 32nd.Devin Shore scored the first goal with just 39 seconds left in the first period. He skated past Calgary’s Dougie Hamilton to the left faceoff circle and lifted a wrist shot over goalie Jon Gillies.Bishop’s best work was during a Calgary 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:55 midway through the first period. The Flames managed only two shots on goal but had other good chances.Calgary came into the game with nine power-play goals in the previous six games but missed on all six man advantages.”We had to get something on the power play, especially that 5-on-3,” Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. ”I saw what it did to their bench. Their crowd obviously recognizing a good kill, and I thought they got a little energy from it when it didn’t happen.”Bishop was really good tonight. We had a lot of chances. We just couldn’t get anything by him.”Midway through the second period, Seguin scored on the power play, taking a cross-ice pass from Jamie Benn low in the right circle. Seguin beat goalie Jon Gillies with a wrist shot into the upper right corner.Gillies took his first loss in six NHL games. He stopped 24 shots.”He gave us a chance,” Gulutzan said. ”I thought they made a real nice play on the first goal Thomas Vanek Jersey , and even the second goal, if Seguin gets a shot from there on the east-west pass like that he’s not going to miss too many times.”On the Stars’ third power play of the second period, Bishop stopped 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 short-handed rushes by the Flames.”What did we give up?” Hitchcock said. ”Thirty scoring chances?”We need a lot better play by a lot more people.”Shore’s goal was his first in 11 games.”The puck was coming up the wall and it kind of seemed there was nobody on Dan Hamhuis’s side. Remi Elie won his battle in their zone and it was a nice pass by him to come right out to me,” Shore said. ”I was gonna shoot and did a quick fake, and it went in.”NOTES: Bishop’s 38 saves were his most in a shutout this season. His best save total for any game this season is 39. … Dallas LW Antoine Roussel went off for interference in the first period, bringing his penalty minutes over 100 for the fifth time in seven seasons. Five seconds later, D Marc Methot joined Roussel in the penalty box. … Gillies had won his first three decisions, including the two games before Tuesday. … The Stars had been 1 for 20 on the power play over eight-plus games before Seguin’s goal. … Calgary was 9 for 21 with a man advantage in the previous six games. . Each team had seven minor penalties.UP NEXTFlames: Complete a two-game trip on Wednesday at Colorado.Stars: Play the third in a five-game homestand on Thursday against Tampa Bay.—

RALEIGH http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/matthew-ioannidis-jersey , N.C. — If there has been a good thing about the ebbs and flows through the first two games of the season for the Carolina Hurricanes, it’s that they’ve been able to work through the down stretches.“We’re making a lot of mistakes, but we’re working hard enough to make up for it,” first-year coach Rod Brind’Amour said.The Hurricanes go for their first home victory when the New York Rangers visit for Sunday’s game at PNC Arena.Article continues below ...“I think we’re dictating the pace of play,” Brind’Amour said. “I think that’s what we want to do.”The Hurricanes (1-0-1) have been strong at times through two games, though the opener became a 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.The Rangers (0-2-0) are still searching for their first victory after a 3-1 loss Saturday night at Buffalo.For Carolina, the style has been pleasing to Brind’Amour.“If we just keep that mindset and how we want to approach the game, we’ll take it,” Brind’Amour said.The Hurricanes haven’t done much on power plays, but the Rangers gave up two power-play goals in their loss to the Sabres.The Rangers didn’t have much to show for 44 shots on goal in Buffalo, but they’ll have a chance to improve on that when they’re back on the ice less than 24 hours after that outing.“I don’t want our hunger determined by the other team’s hunger Authentic Adrian Peterson Jersey ,” Rangers coach David Quinn said.With the set of back-to-back games, Quinn said he would split the goaltending duties this weekend. That means Alexandar Georgiev is slated to face the Hurricanes after Henrik Lundqvist got the call for Saturday night in Buffalo.The Rangers are looking for consistent production from forward Jimmy Vessey, who had a strong opening night.“I just felt really confident,” Vessey said. “I think for me taking that confidence going forward is going to be huge.”The Hurricanes are without expected No. 1 goalie Scott Darling for a couple of weeks at the start of the season because of an injury. But the goaltending hasn’t been an issue in the small early sample size.“Our goaltending has been fabulous,” Brind’Amour said.Part of that is the addition of Curtis McElhinney, who joined the team off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs just a few days before the start of the season.It has been a challenging time for the veteran goaltender, who posted the victory Friday night in Columbus.“I’m always grateful for an opportunity to play any time in the league,” he said. “It was nice to come out here and make a good first impression. … It has been a tough week. It has been hard for me. You step on the ice and everything seems to be normal again.”The Hurricanes scored their only goal in the opener in the final two minutes. Then in the next game, they notched a goal less than two minutes into the game.Carolina rookie forward Andrei Svechnikov has been active in the preseason and the first two games. He picked up his first NHL point Friday night with an assist in Columbus, becoming the third youngest player in franchise history with a point.“He’s up there in the NHL and he doesn’t look out of place,” Brind’Amour said. DETROIT (AP) Henrik Zetterberg stood on the bench to acknowledge a loud ovation Adrian Peterson Jersey Elite , a round of cheers for a milestone goal.Zetterberg scored the go-ahead goal in the second period to tie Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay on Detroit’s career list and the Red Wings went on to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 on Saturday night.His ninth goal this season was the 335th of his career. In the franchise’s record books, Zetterberg trails just four greats: Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Alex Delvecchio and Sergei Fedorov.”It’s a pretty cool list,” Zetterberg said.To move up a spot in the record books, Zetterberg stood in front of the net and redirected a puck past Carolina goaltender Scott Darling.”He’s an elite player because of his hockey sense,” Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. ”He knows where the puck is and where it needs to go, and he knows where he needs to be. That’s how he’s been making plays like that for his entire career.”Danny DeKeyser gave Detroit a 1-0 lead late in the first period and Trevor Daley scored to provide a two-goal cushion late in the second period.Jimmy Howard had 28 saves for the Red Wings. They had lost three straight.”We need to get on a roll,” Howard said. ”We’ve been searching for that all season.”With a slim shot to make the playoffs for the second straight year, the franchise is trying to trade players for draft picks. Detroit defenseman Mike Green, a top candidate to be dealt in part because his contract is expiring http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/adrian-peterson-jersey , missed his fifth straight game with an upper-body injury.”This time of the year, this is the free agent rental market for the most part,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. ”We’re going to entertain anything that we think that will help us be better in the future.”The Hurricanes have lost a season-high five straight. The slump has hurt Carolina’s chances of earning a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2009, which was the only year the franchise has played beyond the regular season since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.Carolina’s Noah Hanifin scored midway through the second period to make it 1-all. Darling, who was beaten on his glove side twice, 19 shots for the Hurricanes.Carolina started strong, outshooting Detroit 7-0, and Justin Faulk had a goal waved off because he appeared to score with his skate.”We’ve got to find a way to score more goals,” Faulk said. ”Our first power play created some traffic and rebounds, but mine didn’t count and we didn’t get anything in after that. The power play wasn’t good after that, and it hasn’t been for a while.”The Red Wings rallied to score first and Zetterberg’s goal seemed to give the struggling team an emotional lift.The Hurricanes pulled Darling to add an extra skater late in the game Authentic D.J. Swearinger SR Jersey , but had to put him back in net because Derek Ryan was penalized for tripping.”We had a good start, but having that puck go in off Justin’s skate was a big point in the game, and the second big one was getting the penalty right after we tied the game,” Peters said. ”They got the game-winning goal on that power play, and we didn’t do much after that.”NOTES: Carolina’s Jordan Staal missed a second straight game because of a family concern. … Howe scored a franchise-record 786 goals and is followed by Yzerman (692), Delvecchio (456) and Fedorov (400). … Zetterberg has scored two times in a four-game stretch for the first time since opening the season with four goals in seven games. … Hurricanes equipment manager Skip Cunningham was hit by a broken stick blade in the second period and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his upper lip. … Carolina put D Lucas Wallmark in the lineup a day after calling him up from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.UP NEXTHurricanes: Stay on the road to face Boston on Tuesday night and Philadelphia on Thursday night.Red Wings: Travel to play the New York Rangers on Sunday night.—

RALEIGH Jake Guentzel Jersey Kids , N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes terminated the contract of demoted general manager and Hall of Fame player Ron Francis on Monday.The Hurricanes announced the move in a three-sentence statement nearly two months after Francis was reassigned to another front-office position – president of hockey operations – while the team began a search for a new GM that will report directly to new owner Tom Dundon.Francis, 55, is a four-time All-Star who won the Stanley Cup twice with Pittsburgh in the 1990s and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He took over as Carolina’s general manager in 2014 after being groomed for the position by former GM Jim Rutherford – who now is trying to win the Cup for a third straight year with the Penguins.The Hurricanes http://www.officialpenguinsproshop.com/authentic-adidas-justin-schultz-jersey , meanwhile, have not made the playoffs since 2009. Their nine-year postseason drought is one of the longest in NHL history.Francis stockpiled draft picks during the three-plus seasons he spent rebuilding the Hurricanes, but he was criticized for not making enough moves to help the current club and failing to orchestrate a consequential player-for-player trade during that time.One of his biggest offseason acquisitions was a bust Kris Letang Jersey , with goalie Scott Darling coming in from Chicago and finishing with an NHL-worst save percentage of .888 in the first year of his four-year, $16.6 million contract.The Hurricanes have several key vacancies in their management roster. They’re also searching for a coach after Bill Peters opted out of the final year of his contract earlier this month and subsequently was hired by the Calgary Flames.Carolina was a winner at the draft lottery over the weekend. It holds the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft.The Hurricanes also announced that Joe Nieuwendyk resigned as a pro scout and adviser for the team. Nieuwendyk, a Hall of Fame center who played for two decades Mario Lemieux Jersey , previously spent four years as the Dallas Stars‘ GM.— PITTSBURGH (AP) — General manager Jim Rutherford is sticking with the Pittsburgh Penguins.The team announced Wednesday it has extended Rutherford’s contract through the 2021-22 season. His old deal was set to expire at the end of this season.The 69-year-old Rutherford is the only general manager to win Stanley Cups with multiple teams since the league expanded in 1967. He put together the Carolina Hurricanes group that won the franchise’s only Cup in 2006 and helped the Penguins become the first team in nearly 20 years to win consecutive championships when Pittsburgh won it all in 2016 and 2017.Penguins co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle called Rutherford “one of the best general managers in all of sports.”The Penguins have won 234 regular-season and playoff games since Rutherford arrived in the summer of 2014. Only the Washington Capitals (249) and Tampa Bay Lightning (240) have more wins over that period.

CHICAGO (AP) — Johnny Gaudreau had a blast during Calgary’s short stay in Chicago.Gaudreau scored two more goals Michael Frolik Jersey , David Rittich made 32 saves and the Flames beat the Blackhawks 4-3 on Monday.The 25-year-old Gaudreau extended his goal-scoring streak to five games one night after the New Jersey native watched his beloved Philadelphia Eagles beat the Chicago Bears 16-15 in the first round of the NFL playoffs.“It was a good 24 hours, to watch the Eagles win and then get a big win here in Chicago, too,” he said. “It was a nice 24 hours.”Sean Monahan had a goal and an assist as Western Conference-leading Calgary closed out a 3-1 trip with its second straight win. Garnet Hathaway scored an empty-net goal with 50 seconds left, and Elias Lindholm finished with two assists.It was the 15th road win for the Flames, matching Tampa Bay for most in the NHL.“Just a resilient group,” Calgary coach Bill Peters said.Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks in the opener of a three-game homestand. Alex DeBrincat and Brandon Saad also scored, and Collin Delia made 39 stops.“They took it to us in the third period,” Kane said. “We were in a good spot after two, tied up. We should be confident in that position. It was unfortunate they got an early goal and we got away from our game plan after that.”Kane picked up right where he left off after he collected three assists in Sunday night’s 5-3 victory at Pittsburgh. The dynamic forward scored his 24th goal in the first period on a backhand from an impossible angle on the right side of the net, and then set up DeBrincat’s 20th goal with a well-placed pass in the second.But Chicago (16-22-7) was unable to hold off high-scoring Calgary. The Flames (27-13-4) are the first team since the 1995-96 Penguins to have four players collect 50-plus points within the first 45 games of a season.Monahan tied it at 2 with a power-play goal with 1:18 left in the second Authentic Mikael Backlund Jersey , finishing a pretty passing sequence. The Flames then caught the Blackhawks in a bad line change early in the third, and Gaudreau squeezed one between Delia’s pads for his 26th of the season.“I was trying to get a quick shot through the five-hole there and it kind of squeaked in there,” Gaudreau said. “Guys gave me a hard time on the bench when I got back there saying “about time.”But it was a big goal.”Gaudreau, who also scored in the first, has 14 goals and 11 assists in his last 13 games.After Hathaway made it 4-2 with his fifth of the season, Saad got one back for Chicago with 29 seconds remaining. But Calgary held on from there.“If we play close to three periods like the way we play the second, then we win the game,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “And we didn’t do it.”NOTES: D Henri Jokiharju rejoined the Blackhawks after helping Finland win its fifth world junior hockey title. “You feel it more right now, a couple days after. It’s a huge thing for Finland,” he said. The 19-year-old Jokiharju got the night off against the Flames. … It was career goal No. 161 for Monahan, matching Jim Peplinski for 11th on the franchise list. … Former Blackhawks F Dennis Hull joined the starters on the ice for the national anthems. The 74-year-old Hull Mike Smith Jersey , who had 298 goals and 342 assists in 13 seasons with Chicago, was honored as part of the team’s “One More Shift” program.UP NEXTFlames: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night for the opener of a five-game homestand.Blackhawks: Host the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night. BOSTON (AP) Sean Kuraly isn’t so good at waiting.The Boston Bruins forward is usually going full-speed on the ice, whether it’s chasing the puck on the forecheck or sizing up an opponent for a hit. So when he saw David Pastrnak’s shot hit off the post and flutter into the air, it was tough for Kuraly to be patient.”A play like that doesn’t come around very often. When it does, it’s kind of a waiting game,” he said on Thursday night after bunting the puck into the net to help the Bruins beat Toronto 5-1 in the opener of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.”It’s not really my style,” said Kuraly, who had to resist hitting the puck before it fell below the level of the crossbar to avoid being called for a high stick. ”To go from 100 mph and hitting everything that moves and (wait) in front of the net, it can be a challenge.”Brad Marchand, David Backes and David Krejci each scored a power-play goal, and Tuukka Rask stopped 26 shots for Boston. Pastrnak scored to make it 3-1 with 38 seconds left in the second period Artemi Panarin Jersey , then moved in on goalie Frederik Andersen seven minutes into the third before backhanding the puck off the post.Kuraly waited, and then two-handed the puck off the shaft of his stick like a bunt as he fell over the sprawling goalie.”I’m a terrible baseball player,” he said. ”It has nothing to do with baseball.”Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is back at the TD Garden on Saturday night.”We’ve got a day to solve our problems,” Toronto coach Mike Babcock said. ”We could feel sorry for ourselves if we want tonight, but that’s a waste of time and energy.”Boston already scored two power-play goals when Toronto’s Nazem Kadri was thrown out of the game and given a five-minute major for an elbow to Tommy Wingels‘ head. Three-minutes later, Krejci bounced it in off Andersen from behind to make it 5-1.”I thought it was the appropriate call,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. ”Where it goes from here is out of my hands.”Zach Hyman scored Toronto’s only goal, and Andersen made 35 saves.”They cranked it up, and we didn’t answer,” defenseman Ron Hainsey said.The matchup is the first in the postseason for the teams since Toronto’s Game 7 collapse in the first round in 2013, when Boston rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the third period Shane Doan Jersey , scoring twice in the last 82 seconds of regulation to send it into overtime. The Bruins went on to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.The Maple Leafs never had a lead to blow in this one.And the Boston power play was the reason.”Obviously, our penalty kill wasn’t good enough,” Babcock said. ”We took too many penalties in the third, and the third was no contest.”With James Van Riemsdyk off for hooking, Marchand scored on a backhander to give the Bruins the lead 5:28 into the game. Hyman tied it for the Leafs with about three minutes before the break but Backes put Boston back in front early in the second on a pass from Krejci.Pastrnak converted a pass from Marchand with 38 seconds left in the period to make it 3-1, and then set up the next goal when he moved in on Andersen and bounced it off the post. As the puck fluttered in the air over the sprawled goalie, Kuraly came in trailing the play and knocked it into the net.NOTESPastrnak and Torey Krug had two assists apiece. … Toronto was 0-for-3 on the power play. Boston was 3-for-6. … The teams came into the game 34-34-1 in their first 69 playoff matchups, but the Maple Leafs hold an 8-6 series edge. … The Bruins pledged the profits of their 50/50 raffle – at least $50,000 – to support the victims of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team bus crash.—

CALGARY Authentic Jaccob Slavin Jersey , Alberta (AP) — The Flames are alone in first place heading into the new year thanks to a big game from their best players.Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk each scored twice and added two assists, propelling Calgary to an 8-5 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.Sean Monahan had five assists for the Flames, a career high for points in one game. Gaudreau and Tkachuk tied their career bests.“I was happy with the way our team played,” Gaudreau said. “It was going back and forth and back and forth for a little, but found a way to take it over in the third and get a big team win.”Calgary never trailed and finished 2018 atop the Pacific Division, two points up on Vegas and three ahead of the Sharks.Mikael Backlund had two early goals and Elias Lindholm and James Neal also scored for the Flames, who improved to 8-1-3 in their last 12 home games. Lindholm set a career high with his 18th goal and added two assists.“Our first line is contributing and driving the bus, but a lot of guys chipped in today and that was big for the team, too,” Backlund said.Joonas Donskoi had two goals to lead San Jose. Lukas Radil, Brent Burns and Joe Thornton also scored, but the Sharks lost in regulation for just the second time in 11 games (7-2-2).“Every time we scored, they answered,” captain Joe Pavelski said. “It was one of those weird nights where everything that was directed at the net found the way in.”Lindholm gave Calgary a 5-3 lead with 27 seconds left in the second period on a pretty goal. Gaudreau raced down the right wing before stopping sharply, then sending a pass across the slot to Lindholm, who one-timed it past goalie Aaron Dell.Donskoi’s second of the night, 48 seconds into the third, drew the Sharks back within a goal Jeff Skinner Jersey , but Calgary restored its two-goal cushion on the first goal in 25 games for Neal.His fourth of the season and first since Nov. 1 was a lucky one. Sam Bennett patiently circled the Sharks end with the puck before firing it across the slot and banking it in off Neal’s skate.“Great play by Benny and it felt good to see it go in,” said Neal, who hit a post in the second period. “As of late, when you’re getting shots and you’re getting back into your groove, I think it’s visible, as a player and spectators watching, I think you can see my game start to get going a little bit more. It was a nice break.”Three minutes later, goals 41 seconds apart from Gaudreau — his 20th and 21st of the season — made it 8-4 and put the game away.It was a feisty game throughout and tempers flared in the final minute. With 41 seconds left, all 10 skaters on the ice got involved in a melee in the Flames end. Then, with 23 seconds to go, a hit from Bennett on Radim Simek crumpled the Sharks defenseman, and Barclay Goodrow jumped in to fight Bennett, who was assessed a match penalty.“Predatory,” was how Sharks coach Peter DeBoer responded when asked about Bennett’s hit.After the play, players from both benches yelled angrily at each other.“They got the lead in a game that got out of hand and it was kind of gutless at the end,” Pavelski said.David Rittich, making his seventh start in the last eight games, finished with 28 stops to get the win. He improved to 13-4-3.Dell went the distance for San Jose. The eight goals allowed came on 27 shots as he fell to 5-5-3.“That might have been the most bad luck I’ve seen in one game. Even their harmless shots ended up going off stuff and right in the net. Crazy http://www.officialhurricanes.com/authentic-adidas-jordan-staal-jersey , all-around game,” Dell said.NOTES: Calgary RW Michael Frolik returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous game and got his first two assists of the season. The first was the 200th of his career. … Thornton played career game No. 1,525, moving him ahead of Brendan Shanahan into 17th all-time. … Dion Phaneuf was the previous Flames player to have five assists in a game on Dec. 13, 2007.UP NEXTSharks: Play at Colorado on Wednesday night.Flames: Play at Detroit on Wednesday night. A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or 877-836-9477. For reruns, call the Service Desk 800-838-4616 or your local AP bureau.As with all our operations, we welcome and want your feedback. If you have thoughts or questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.All times are Eastern.——SATURDAY, March 31GLF–MASTERS-CHINESE FIRIt is the only hole at Augusta National that doesn’t have a bunker. No other hole on the back nine is shorter. Rory McIlroy watched the Masters every year when he was younger and didn’t see what was so difficult about the 440-yard 14th hole until he had to try it himself. ”There’s a 3-yard square you have to hit it,” he said. Sitting between the dynamic par 5s on the back nine, the hole called ”Chinese Fir” has played a key role over the years. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 a.m.With:GLF–MASTERS-ANNIVERSARIES. By Doug Ferguson. A capsule look at key moments over the years at the Masters. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 3 a.m.GLF–MASTERS-GOOD BEHAVIORPALM HARBOR, Fla. – Golf is getting younger, and the PGA Tour is going after its slice of the new generation to build a fan base. That has brought more energy Womens Justin Faulk Jersey , more volume and raucous behavior that has led to some high-profile players asking that fans be removed. Rory McIlroy suggested limiting alcohol sales. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan says it’s a good problem to have. But it won’t be a problem at the Masters, where fans know they best mind their manners. By Mark Long. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 p.m.—MONDAY, April 2HKN–ONE FOR 1,000Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin are the latest of only about 60 NHL players to reach 1,000 games with a single franchise. But that number will grow significantly in the coming years as stars and core players choose to re-sign with their current teams long term because of the collective bargaining agreement and hockey’s lean toward security over movement. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 a.m.—FRIDAY, April 6HKN–DEEP PREDATORSNASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Predators are having their best season yet through a combination of savvy drafting, surprising trades and a handful of salary cap-friendly contract extensions. General manager David Poile’s crafty moves have the defending Western Conference champs on the verge of what could be a dominant run in the NHL. By Teresa M. Walker. UPCOMING: 725 words, photos. Video.Again, if you have questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.Thanks,AP Sports

Note: This is my first article as a contributor at Cat Scratch Reader. I’ve been an everyday reader and infrequent fan poster here for about ten years. It is an honor and pleasure for me to contribute and I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy creating it.In this segment we’ll take a look at the progress and projections of each of the Panthers 2018 draft picks. Six weeks from now we’ll revisit this report and see just how each rookie stacks up against their pace from the first third of the season. Hopefully Mario Addison Jersey , we see some exponential returns as the game slows down for these first year Panthers.D.J. Moore, WR—Round 1, Pick 24 (No. 24 overall)Through six gamesReceiving13 receptions (18 targets)191 yards1 touchdownRushing46 yards (4 attempts)Full season paceReceiving35 receptions (48 targets)509 receiving yards3 touchdownsRushing123 yards (11 attempts)A D.J. Moore-type player was the answer to our prayers. Weapons to keep Cam Newton from having to drop dimes that clunk off the hands of Kaelin Clay in the playoffs were everything we could have asked for. Although Moore isn’t quite ready to be a stark contributor yet, he has the tools to be an absolute superstar in this league. Teammates have spoken glowingly of Moore and what he can bring to this offense, but patience is a virtue when it comes to the development of wideouts in this league. Nevermind what four-year Saban spawn, Calvin Ridley, has done on a pass-happy Atlanta team. Ridley may have a higher floor of potential, but his ceiling is dramatically lower than that of Moore’s. I stoutly believe that D.J. will surpass his current season pace as he continues to ramp up his responsibility under Norv Turner. Considering the play of Donte Jackson, the Panthers seem to have made the right choice with their first round pick. Outlook: Ice Up, Son 2: Rivera’s RevengeDonte Jackson, CB—Round 2, Pick 23 (No. 55 overall)Through six games3 interceptions1 forced fumble28 tackles5 passes defensedFull season pace8 interceptions3 forced fumbles75 tackles13 passes defensedThis kid can be special. Really special. The Carolina revolution continued with the addition of the fastest defensive back in the draft. With 4.32 speed and unmitigated swagger, this defense immediately improved with the addition of the former LSU cornerback. The most surprising aspect of Donte’s game has been his ability to tackle in open space. He makes this defense significantly more fun to watch, although the comparisons to Josh Norman are unreasonable. Josh wasn’t this impressive in his rookie year.Outlook: Dave Gettleman won’t be able to rescind his franchise tag, so we’ve got that going for us.Rashaan Gaulden, S—Round 3, Pick 21 (No. 85 overall)Through six games7 tackles, 1 TFLFull season pace19 tackles, 3 TFLWith their third pick of the draft, the Panthers decided to double down in the secondary, taking hybrid safety Rashaan Gaulden out of Tennessee. This pick had Ron Rivera written all over it. The intention of the coaching staff is to develop Gaulden into a “big nickel” corner to specialize in shadowing the freakishly athletic tight ends that we’ve seen popping up all over the league. Gaulden hasn’t played much this season, especially after the addition of Eric Reid, but I can’t say I’ve seen him make any major mistakes either. This is still the greatest highlight we have from Gaulden, and I’m okay with that.Outlook: Someone is going to have to lock down Travis Kelce in the Superb Owl.Ian Thomas, TE—Round 4, Pick 1 (No. 101 overall)Through six gamesReceiving10 receptions (16 targets)72 yardsFull season paceReceiving27 receptions (43 targets)192 receiving yardsThis may have been the Panthers most intriguing pick. Ian Thomas, a JUCO transfer, contributed sparingly at Indiana, but showed major potential through his sheer size and athleticism. The Panthers decided to kick off the third day of the draft by taking the heir-apparent to an aging and injury-prone Greg Olsen. This pick was all about upside, and similarly to his career at Indiana Cheap Taylor Moton Jersey , Thomas has shown flashes but has yet to fully contribute. This is to be expected. Thomas was thrusted into a starting role in Week Two after Greg Olsen went down with a broken foot for the second straight season and, at times, looked like a deer in headlights. Thomas has made a number of mistakes at crucial moments, including a dropped touchdown against Atlanta and two quit routes that led to Cam Newton interceptions against Cincinnati. The kid is a work in progress but the ceiling is high. Let’s just hope Jason Witten can rebound in the Monday Night Football booth so ESPN doesn’t have to give Greg Olsen a call this offseason. Outlook: Somewhere between Brandon “Swole Bones” Williams and Antonio Gates.Marquis Haynes, DE—Round 4, Pick 36 (No. 136 overall)1 game activeThe all-time sacks leader at Ole Miss hasn’t seen much playing time this year. Marquis Haynes has been inactive for most of the season, and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. While Haynes may be solid depth at the moment, if Hurney were to pull the trigger and trade for a pass rusher to boost this defense, Marquis could be on the chopping block. Outlook: Depth third down pass rusher, but probably better off as a 3-4 outside linebacker.Jermaine Carter, LB—Round 5, Pick 24 (No. 161 overall)6 games active, 1 tackleJermaine Carter was an interesting pick here considering the abundance of talent the Panthers have at the linebacker position already. Once you get past the fourth round, all bets are off when it comes to drafting for need. A captain of the defense and numeric counterpart to DJ Moore at Maryland, Jermaine was highly respected by teammates and coaches alike. He led the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons. After a flashy preseason, Carter was able to achieve a spot on the roster and has had a substantial impact on special teams. The former Terrapin has also gotten a few snaps at outside linebacker, where he’s gotten to learn under some of the best in the business.Outlook: Solid depth at a position that could look at lot weaker after the Mayor of Charlotte chooses to get into politicsAndre Smith, LB—Round 7, Pick 16 (No. 234 overall)1 game active I’m a big Tarheel fan and, honestly, this felt like a steal in the seventh round. Andre Smith was spectacular at North Carolina before missing the final 10 games of his Junior season with a major knee injury. Making the roster was impressive, but this retention was based on potential more than anything. Especially in an absolutely stacked linebacker room. Thus far we haven’t seen much of Andre, especially since he is currently dealing with a hamstring injury. Look for him to potentially step in and make an impact on special teams sooner than later, especially considering linebacker Jared Norris was recently placed on IR. Outlook: Low risk, high reward potential special teams aceKendrick Norton, DT—Round 7, Pick 24 (No. 242 overall)0 games active, practice squadKendrick Norton hasn’t had much impact on this Panthers team. He was delegated to the practice squad after an underwhelming training camp. However, Norton quite possibly gave us the best quote of the season after being passed over by all 32 teams in the NFL draft numerous times. Incredible. He’s got a long way to go here, but hey http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-david-mayo-jersey , it’s only his year one. Outlook: Practice body with some fire in his belly.The Panthers drafted a lot of “boom or bust” players. Guys that have extremely high ceilings, while also presenting some risk to dud. In typical Ron Rivera fashion, this roster defers to veteran players. It’s been difficult to fully evaluate what a majority of this draft class will contribute (or not contribute) to this team yet, but the potential for greatness is there. Hopefully the next time I write this segment we have a much clearer view these players’ roles unobstructed by the bubble wrap placed on them by a coaching staff that predicates themselves on crippling conservatism. Panthers coach Ron Rivera may have figured out the only way to avoid injuries to key players in training camp."Not practice," Rivera said after Wednesday's practice.The Panthers are less than a week into training camp but have already lost two key players to potential season-ending injuries.Right tackle Daryl Williams, a second-team All-Pro last season, dislocated his patella and tore his medial collateral ligament during blocking drills on Saturday. Two days later, cornerback Ross Cockrell broke two bones in his leg while trying to break up a pass in the end zone during 11-on-11 team drills.The Panthers aren't the only team hurting.The Green Bay Packers have lost inside linebacker Jake Ryan and safety Kentrell Brice to severe leg injuries, while Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett also went down. Other teams have lost important players to injuries, too.It's nothing new, of course.Injuries happen every year in training camp, a reminder of the fine line coaches must walk between preparing their team for the physicality of the regular season and avoiding injuries to key players that can derail a season."If you look at what happened (with our injuries) the truth of the matter is there is nothing you can do about it," Rivera said. "That was a freak injury for Ross where the receiver was falling to the ground and he happened to step into it and got rolled up. Daryl was kick-sliding and turned his ankle and came down on it."Rivera said injuries are the "unfortunate nature of this game."Still, as a coach he is always looking for ways to prevent them, constantly telling players to "be smart" on the field.He did that prior to Wednesday morning's practice on a slick field at Wofford College following overnight rain."I told the defensive backs and the linebackers, 'Hey, let's be smart about the receivers crossing because we don't want to catch anybody in a bad spot," Rivera said.Some injuries can be prevented.That's why Rivera and his assistants were unhappy with rookie safety Rashaan Gaulden earlier this week he knocked wide receiver Jarius Wright to the ground in the back of the end zone with a vicious blow to the upper body — one that might have collected a fine from the league had it happened in a game situation. Wright remained on the ground for almost a minute before getting up.He returned to practice a short while later.Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess immediately yelled at Gaulden after the play, saying "that's what we talked about — you have to know better."Coaches later called Gaulden aside to reprimand him."Hey, that's going to be very suspect because it falls right into the ram, butt and spear idea of using the helmet," Rivera said. "So we've got to make sure these young people understand it."Overall, Panthers left Matt Kalil said that "sometimes you just can't control" injuries."You want to play aggressive out here and you want to go full speed and get a game-time simulation," Kalil said. "We want to be smart. I think what we can do as veterans, and as players, is we have a guy who is about to fall we want to keep him up and keep him off the ground. But it's hard because there are a lot of guys flying around out here."Panthers cornerback James Bradberry said there is a contact on every play."It's very tough because one of the key components of making a Super Bowl run is having everybody healthy. And when you have prominent guys go down, it's tough," Bradberry said. "You've just got to have that next-man-up mentality. And that's what we have here."

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh provided injury updates on DeShon Elliott and Greg Senat The Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-10 in their fourth preseason contest to extend their winning streak to 12. However Youth Alex Lewis Jersey , this meaningless preseason win may have come at a cost as DeShon Elliott and Greg Senat both left the game early due to injuries. Head coach John Harbaugh spoke to the media following Tuesday’s practice, and he gave an injury update regarding both players.“[Greg Senat] has turf-toe. He’ll be out for a while, so we’ll just have to play that one by ear. Ozzie [Newsome] will have to decide how he wants to handle it going into the 53-man roster,” Harbaugh stated. Senat’s roster chances were not high heading into training camp, but after putting together a solid preseason http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-brent-urban-jersey , his roster stock improved. He could have served as a backup swing tackle for the Ravens. One of the biggest weaknesses on their roster is their lack of quality depth along the offensive line. “It’s going to be a long time. What is a fracture of a forearm, it’s a long time. It’s not really a whole year, but at what point in time could a guy come back? For the playoffs? We’ll have to see how that goes,” Harbaugh said regarding Elliott’s injury.Baltimore’s secondary is expected to be one of the best in the league this season, and Elliott would have likely had a role defensively C.J. Mosley Jersey , while also contributing on special teams. He flashed throughout training camp due to his physicality and great instincts. However, the Ravens have the depth to replace Elliott on the backend of the defense.Harbaugh did not indicate where these two rookies would end up, but they could both land on injured reserve. Given the NFL’s new rule changes, Baltimore could use the injured reserve-return designation for either of these players. The one caveat is they will only be eligible for this designation if they are placed on injured reserve after 4:00 pm ET on September 2nd.Joe Flacco’s 2018 performance compared to previous seasons The Ravens are 2-1 and Joe Flacco has lead his squad to two victories over the past three weeks. In those games, he’s thrown six touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s come through and completed big-time throws to his three new wide receivers and also the tight end unit. These three games feel refreshing as the offense continues to score time and time again Authentic Hayden Hurst Jersey , therefore I felt obligated to compare his impressive 2018 start to the seasons’ prior, dating back to 2012.Joe Flacco season comparisonYear2018201720162015201420132012Year2018201720162015201420132012Looking over the numbers you realize Flacco’s playing some of his best football since 2012.Joe’s completion percentage is middle-of-the-pack for the seven seasons being compared but that’s fine when you’re throwing for more yards. The only three-game start with more yards is his 2012 season, which is only 24 yards greater than 2018. Keep in mind, Flacco didn’t finish the first game in 2018 as the Ravens blew out the Buffalo Bills 47-3, keeping Joe from more yardage.This is also the most touchdowns Flacco’s thrown for in a three-game opening stretch since 2012. Notice Youth Tony Jefferson Jersey , he’s tied his lowest interception total for this measurement, with two. His average over the six prior years sits around 2.8 interceptions.The worrisome stat coincides with the sacks; only the 2013 season featured more, which shows this offensive line isn’t always keeping Flacco upright and protected. Hopefully, the offensive line will tighten it up as they develop over the season.