NEW YORK — A loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night dropped the Tampa Bay Lightning out of first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time in more than five months and immediately left the Lightning focused on a rematch with the Bruins next week.

But the best way for the Lighting to ensure that game remains pivotal is to begin snapping out of their week-long funk Friday night Jake Dotchin Jersey , when it visits the New York Rangers in the Rangers’ home finale at Madison Square Garden.

The Lightning and Rangers enter Friday mired in losing streaks. Tampa Bay fell for the third straight game Thursday, when it lost 4-2 to the host Bruins. Visiting New York suffered a second consecutive loss Wednesday, when it was beaten by the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime.

The three-game skid has come at an inopportune time for the Lightning (51-22-4), who fell out of first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time since Oct. 19. The Bruins, who took a one-point lead in the race for the Atlantic crown and the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/devin-hester-jersey , visit Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

The Lightning have been outscored 10-4 during the losing streak but took some solace in climbing back into Thursday’s game after falling behind 2-0 in the first period. The Bruins did not close out the victory until Brad Marchand scored an empty-netter in the final minute of the third period.

“We know we play them again,” said Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, who scored a goal. “We were more focused on our game and how we played. I think we have two good periods, not three. We need to be better in the first, so we don’t dig ourselves a two-goal hole. Those last two periods were something to build on. We get right back into it tomorrow.”

The Rangers (33-35-9) have been in “something to build on” mode since beginning a rebuilding project before the February trade deadline Womens Andrew Luck Jersey , though they weren’t eliminated from playoff contention until Tuesday.

The game against the Capitals on Wednesday marked the first time the Rangers took the ice officially out of playoff contention since the final days of the 2003-04 season. New York made the playoffs in 11 of the subsequent 12 seasons and missed out on the postseason in 2009-10 via a shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on the final day of the regular season.

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who has been a mainstay in net for New York since the 2005-06 season, said he’s trying not to think too much about what he’ll be missing out on when the playoffs begin next month or what lies ahead for a rebuilt roster.

“For me, right now, I just want to focus on these last games Authentic Josh Manson Jersey ,” Lundqvist told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game. “Compete, and feel as good as you can, personally, and as a group. And then it’s time for what’s ahead. But right now, you’ve got to focus on the game. Otherwise Tramon Williams Jersey , you’re not going to make the most of this. We still have a job to do here.”

Cleveland Indians left-hander Andrew Miller won’t throw off a mound for 10 days and the team says there’s no timetable for when its ace reliever will return while he continues to deal with a sore right knee.

Miller has been on the 10-day disabled list since May 26. Manager Terry Francona said Saturday that Miller will play catch and work on strengthening his knee. Miller was on the DL twice last season with patella tendinitis.

The Indians said Miller has rejoined the team after attending to a personal matter for a few days. He will resume throwing off flat ground on Monday.

Miller pitched 10 scoreless innings this season before being put on the DL in late April with a strained left hamstring. He missed two weeks and struggled after returning. Miller is 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 17 appearances.

The AL Central leaders have counted on Miller since acquiring him during the 2016 season. He helped the Indians reach the World Series that year, working in a variety of roles out of the bullpen.

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Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel says he’s making a football comeback.

Manziel announced Wednesday that he’ll participate in the developmental Spring League in Austin Braden Smith Jersey , Texas, which will play from March 28 to April 15. The league is designed for players hoping to impress NFL scouts. The league confirmed Manziel will participate.

Manziel won the Heisman as a freshman with Texas A&M in 2012 and left school after his sophomore season for the NFL. He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns, but was cut in 2016 and hasn’t played since.

In a recent interview with ”Good Morning America”, Manziel said he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has stopped drinking alcohol. In 2016, a domestic assault charge against Manziel in Dallas was dismissed after Manziel took an anger management course and participated in the NFL’s substance-abuse program. He was also suspended four games for a substance-abuse violation even though he wasn’t under contract.

”Can’t wait to get back on the field and show NFL scouts what I can do!” Manziel tweeted Wednesday.

Manziel played nine games with the Browns in two seasons, passing for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

”Football has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Sometimes you take for granted how much you value something until it’s gone. My goal is to make it back to the NFL and I realize I have to earn that privilege,” Manziel said in a statement provided by the Spring League.

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This version has been updated to correct that Manziel was cut by the Browns in 2016.

The Indiana Pacers kept insisting this team was different.

Anyone who doubted them coming into the playoffs understands now.

On Friday, the one-year anniversary of a historic playoff collapse against Cleveland Womens Eric Berry Jersey , Indiana flipped the script by rallying from a 17-point halftime deficit and held on for a 92-90 victory over the Cavaliers to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. They can take command of the series by winning Sunday on their home court.

”Last year’s team, I don’t know if we would have gone down 17, I don’t know if we would have overcome it,” forward Thaddeus Young said. ”But this team, we’ve been resilient all year. We’ve overcome adversity.”

And on Friday they did it against a Cavaliers team that was 39-0 in the regular season when leading after three quarters.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 of his playoff career-high 30 points in the second half, finishing 7 of 9 on 3-pointers. Victor Oladipo added 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Bogdanovic also spent most of the game defending LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds Tom Waddle Jersey , eight assists and six turnovers. He joined Michael Jordan as the only players in league history with 100 double-doubles in the postseason. Jordan had 109.

James almost single-handedly rallied his team twice from seven-point deficits in the final 3 1/2 minutes.

The three-time defending Eastern Conference champs were outscored 52-33 over the final 24 minutes.

”We were more aggressive in the first half. We had tempo, they didn’t,” James said. ”Then they were more aggressive in the second half, they had tempo, and we didn’t.”

Young is one of the few players still around from the record-breaking, 26-point collapse last year, which is one reason coach Nate McMillan has continually opted not to discuss it.

After the Pacers cut the 57-40 halftime deficit to 69-63 at the end of three, the Pacers continued to apply pressure and eventually Bogdanovic finally broke through with a four-point play that gave Indiana an 81-77 lead with 6:10 left. It was Indiana’s first lead since midway through the first quarter.

He was far from finished.

Bogdanovic knocked down another 3 to make it a seven-point game.

Then, after James countered with seven straight to tie the score Darius Leonard Jersey , Bogdanovic scored on a layup and hit his final 3 before Young’s layup made it 91-84 with 53 seconds to go.

James and Kevin Love made back-to-back 3s to make it 91-90, and Cleveland got one more chance after Darren Collison missed the second free throw with 5 seconds left.

But J.R. Smith’s 38-foot heave came up short.

”It’s great to be on the other end,” Myles Turner said. ”You never want to get down that far and have to try and come back. To be down in that position is not ideal. The resiliency of this team, it’s unbelievable.”

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Have lost five of seven to the Pacers and are 0-3 in Indianapolis this season. … Cleveland is 37-7 in the playoffs against Eastern Conference teams since James returned in 2015. … Love finished with 19 points and six rebounds despite playing with an injured left thumb. … George Hill scored nine points in the first quarter and finished with 13. … James has 12 straight double-doubles against the Pacers. He also played in his 221st career playoff game to move past Kobe Bryant for No. 6 on the career list.

Pacers: Have won only two of their last seven playoff games against the Cavs. … Indiana is now 12-3 in games decided by three or fewer points this season. … The Pacers have rallied from deficits of 15 or more points nine times. … Bogdanovic tied the Pacers’ playoff record for 3s made, which was done four other times.

TEMPERS FLARE

Indiana’s fans booed the refs loudly throughout the first half. Then they really got upset after watching Oladipo crash hard to the floor on the final play of the half.

No foul was called and Oladipo slapped the floor before getting up and complaining.

If that wasn’t enough to upset the crowd, Larry Nance Jr. walked over and started yelling at Oladipo. That’s when Young stepped in and tried to peacemaker.

Nobody was called for a technical foul.

HOW BAD WAS IT?

Whether the verbal jabs provided any fuel at halftime, the Cavs certainly weren’t the same in the second half, when they were 13 of 28 from the field, 5 of 22 on 3s and had 10 turnovers.

James scored 15 points over the final two quarters Randy White Jersey , while his teammates accounted for 18. Following the game, James was asked about getting more support from his teammates.

”What are you guys looking for? You think I’m going to throw my teammates under the bus?” James said before the reporter explained that’s not what he meant. ”I’m not about that. Guys have got to play better – including myself. I had six turnovers tonight. I was horrible in the third quarter. I couldn’t make a shot. If I make some better plays in the third quarter (it’s a different game).”

THEY SAID IT

Cavaliers: ”I’m confident,” coach Tyronn Lue said. ”I think if we play the way we did in the first half, we can definitely win. We’ve got to win come Sunday.”

Pacers: ”A lot of teams have been close with LeBron but he ends up winning,” McMillan said. ”So we’re not in this thing to be close.”

UP NEXT

Game 4 is Sunday at Indianapolis.

—

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The NFL is not known as a league that makes very many trades. General Managers and Coaches must constantly balance team needs against the amount of money that they are able to pay individual players. Oftentimes GMs are motivated to trade for players to fill specific roles on the team Ryan Suter Jersey , but other times, GMs are looking to dump specific players for either performance, personal conduct, or monetary reasons. Most of the action takes place on the draft floor as you will notice in our list; many of the referenced trades include picks moving from team to team.

Players get traded for all kinds of different reasons but they do have to make sure that they get the most bang for their buck. In an ideal world, all trades would be perfectly equal Brett Favre Jersey , and both teams would immediately notice improvement due to their new acquisition, but unfortunately, in most cases, both a clear trade winner and trade loser emerge over time. In the NFL, being on the receiving end of a bad trade can put your team back years Da'Ron Payne Jersey , or even decades.

We鈥檝e listed the trades every NFL team has made that they would like to have back. Some trades occurred many years ago and caused multiple years of pain to the franchises, while others have occurred recently and we can see the immediate impact on the teams. A good trade can make a GM look like a genius but as soon as a bad trade is made, it could cost them their job and maybe even their career.

Airports can be hectic, busy, stressful places. (I’m sitting in one as I type this.) People can be loud and rude Ray Lewis Jersey , caught in a universe that extends from their faces to their phone screens with no regard or sensitivity to anything else that is happening.

That’s what makes the recent news of random acts of airport kindness from Packers running back Aaron Jones and Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham even more worthy of praise. They both had turned off the obvlious-to-the-world force field in which so many of us reside when traveling, and they performed simple gestures that meant little to them but much to the people who benefited from their good deeds.

It’s something we all should try to emulate, especially when in a hectic, busy, stressful place like an airport. And it’s something that should be celebrated whenever it happens.

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Police responded to several nonviolent disputes at the home where Buffalo Bills star LeSean McCoy was attempting to evict his former girlfriend before an unidentified man bloodied the 34-year-old woman in a home invasion http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/jimmy-graham-jersey , according to reports released Thursday.

Police responded early Tuesday to the home in Milton, just outside Atlanta, after McCoy’s ex-girlfriend Delicia Cordon called 911. The reports from Milton police show that officers had previously been called to the home in July 2017 and in April and June of this year, but no violence was reported during any of those incidents.

In a recording released Thursday of Cordon’s 911 call she can be heard describing her alleged attacker to a dispatcher and saying she believed the attack was connected with her ex-boyfriend.

”My face is demolished right now,” Cordon said during the call.

A man entered the home around 3 a.m. Tuesday and demanded specific pieces of jewelry that McCoy had given to Cordon and that he had asked her to give back many times, Cordon’s lawyer Tanya Mitchell Graham said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

McCoy had often suggested to Cordon that she ”could be robbed because the jewelry was expensive,” the statement said.

The man tried to take bracelets from her wrist, leaving bruises, and hit her in the face multiple times with a gun Womens Henrik Zetterberg Jersey , the lawyer said. Cordon’s cousin was also hurt when she was hit in the back of the head.

”He just kept asking for jewelry. I think it’s got something to do with my ex-boyfriend because my ex-boyfriend and I are,” Cordon said before being cut off by the dispatcher asking if she needed medical help.

McCoy, who turned 30 on Thursday, is preparing to enter his fourth season with the Bills. He spent his first six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he led the NFL in yards rushing in 2013 before being traded to Buffalo in 2015.

He took to social media Tuesday to deny a wide range of allegations posted earlier in the day by a woman who appeared to be friends with Cordon, accusing him of hurting his former girlfriend. McCoy has since hired prominent Atlanta criminal defense attorney Don Samuel.

Fulton County Magistrate Court records show that McCoy initiated eviction proceedings against Cordon on July 3, 2017, saying that the pair were no longer in a relationship. Court records show two attempts to serve Cordon with the document but no other action.

That evening, police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at the home http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/erik-swoope-jersey , according to a police report. Cordon wasn’t there when officers got there, but they spoke to McCoy, who told them he and Cordon had broken up and had been having issues.

Cordon had had been accusing him of cheating on her and had posted on social media about that and their breakup, McCoy told police. He also said Cordon had failed to return jewelry lent to them by jewelers for events despite multiple requests.

He told police he had started eviction proceedings against Cordon and was trying ”to be very careful about being around her given the climate of domestic abuse in his profession.” He told police he would bring Cordon’s things, which were piled on the driveway, back inside.

Cordon came home while police were there and also told officers the relationship was over. She said she had nowhere else to go and would be staying at the home.

Shortly before midnight April 11, police again responded to a domestic dispute at the home. Dispatchers reported that ”the callers had everything worked out, but it sounded a little heated over the phone,” a police report says.

McCoy and Cordon separately told an officer they had worked everything out and the argument hadn’t been physical. Cordon told the officer she had called because McCoy was moving some furniture out of the house that she wanted to keep.

Cordon called police from Virginia on June 1 to say she saw people removing things from the home through security cameras that she could monitor on her cellphone Dustin Brown Jersey , a police report says. McCoy was also out of town.

When police arrived, they spoke to McCoy’s mother who said her son was moving out and had asked her to get his stuff so he wouldn’t have to deal with Cordon, the report says. She said McCoy had said Cordon could stay in the house until it sold since she had two small children, but that he wanted his things.

Police said any disputes over belongings would have to be resolved in court, and movers left with just McCoy’s clothing and shoes, the report says.

McCoy’s friend, Tamarcus Porter, filed eviction proceedings against Cordon on McCoy’s behalf on June 6. In a court filing challenging the eviction proceedings, Cordon’s attorney said Cordon and McCoy had discussed marriage over Memorial Day weekend and that McCoy gave Cordon ”a substantial gift” on May 29.

A hearing on the eviction proceedings is planned for a later date.

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Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is returning to the team after missing all of training camp and the start of the preseason.

Gordon Kevin Shattenkirk Jersey , the highly productive receiver with a long history of substance-abuse issues, said on Twitter today that he’s now ready to return.

“I took the time needed to ensure my overall mental and physical health,” Gordon wrote on Twitter. “This has by no means been an easy road and I’m extremely grateful. . . . I realize in order for me to reach my full potential my primary focus must remain on my sobriety and mental well-being.”

Browns General Manager John Dorsey released a statement commending Gordon for working hard and focusing on getting better. Dorsey added that Gordon “will initially participate in meetings and conditioning and will gradually resume all football activities as deemed appropriate.”

There’s no word on when Gordon will be able to participate fully in football activities, but a return this weekend indicates he should be ready to play Week One.

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Police and prosecutors in Georgia say they’re reviewing the arrest of a former football player whose lawyers say officers used excessive force.

Video circulated online last week of the Dec. 2 arrest of Desmond Marrow in a shopping center parking lot in McDonough Robbie Gould Jersey , just south of Atlanta. Marrow is a former college football player who tried to catch on with two NFL teams.

Officers can be seen forcefully taking a handcuffed Marrow to the ground as he yells, ”I’m not even fighting back.” When he’s on the ground, an officer puts his hand on Marrow’s throat for several seconds and Marrow says, ”I can’t breathe Johnny Gaudreau Jersey Kids ,” while another officer tells him to settle down.

Henry County police said Friday that an officer is on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation. The district attorney is also looking into the arrest and criminal charges against Marrow.

HOUSTON TEXANS (4-12)

New faces: S Tyrann Mathieu, G Senio Kelemete, G Zach Fulton, OT Seantrel Henderson Patrik Laine Jersey , CB Aaron Colvin, QB Brandon Weeden, TE Jordan Akins.

Key losses: LB Brian Cushing, OT Jeff Allen Laken Tomlinson Jersey , OL Xavier Su’a-Filo.

Strengths: QB Deshaun Watson is healthy after season-ending knee surgery last year and should lead potent offense that also features WR DeAndre Hopkins and RB Lamar Miller. Defensive line expected to be another strength with three-time Defensive Player of Year J.J. Watt returning after missing most of last two seasons with injuries. He will team with 2014 top overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who is coming off best season.

Weaknesses: Offensive line that allowed second-most sacks in NFL last season has several new faces but it’s unclear if changes will lead to better protection for Watson. Team added Mathieu and Colvin in free agency to upgrade secondary that struggled at times last season, but group will need to be much better to keep pace with outstanding defensive front.

Fantasy Players To Watch: Hopkins. Sixth-year receiver has become one of best players in game despite dealing with ineffective and inconsistent quarterback play for entire career. Hopkins was fourth in NFL with 1,378 yards receiving and caught career-high and NFL-best 13 touchdown passes last season while playing with four quarterbacks. With Watson healthy and on field he could put up even better numbers in 2018.

Vegas Says: Super Bowl 22-1. Over/under wins 8 1/2.

Expectations: If Watson is healthy and can build on limited work as rookie Anthony Mantha Jersey , Houston’s offense will be much better. Defensive front will get boost if Watt can stay on field to play with Clowney. With Watson and Watt leading team, Texans should shake off last season’s struggles to contend for third AFC South title in four years.

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Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton doesn't believe he could have scripted a better visit to Buffalo on Sunday.

The donation he made to Buffalo's Roswell Park Cancer Institute to open the day was special. The two standing ovations he received from Bills fans before the preseason game were chilling.

And Dalton was able to keep his emotions in check on the first snap from scrimmage to hit John Ross for a 57-yard touchdown pass in leading the Bengals to a 26-13 victory.

"It was a good day. I think the way it started was the best part DeForest Buckner Jersey ," Dalton said. "The game went well, too."

The Bills could not say the same about their offense, and a three-way quarterback competition that remains unsettled.

Rookie Josh Allen struggled in his first preseason start , while getting little protection from an offensive line that allowed five sacks in the first half alone. He finished 6 of 12 and was sacked for more yards (39) than he had passing (34).

"I didn't do a good enough job getting the ball out on time," the first-round pick said. "I've got to do a better job, but there's a lot to learn from."

Dalton eased whatever concerns the starters raised with their sputters in last week's 21-13 win at Dallas by producing three scoring drives 鈥?two touchdowns and a field goal 鈥?over five series against the Bills.

Dalton finished 11 of 16 for 180 yards and two touchdowns 鈥?including a 14-yarder to A.J. Green 鈥?to celebrate the warm reception he received in Buffalo nine months after playing a key role in the Bills making the playoffs and ending a 17-year playoff drought.

It happened in the final minute of the season finale against Baltimore on New Year's Eve. Dalton's 49-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to Tyler Boyd sent the Bengals to a 31-27 win, and eliminated the Ravens from playoff contention.

Bills fans responded immediately by making over $450,000 to Dalton's charitable foundation.

"It's a crazy story, and it's been fun to be on this side of it," Dalton said. "The best part is all the money that was raised."

Buffalo's offense continues to raise concerns two weeks before opening the regular season at Baltimore.

Allen generated just three first downs before being forced out of the game in the final minute of the first half. He was escorted off the field to be evaluated for a possible concussion after being tackled by Carlos Dunlap in the end zone.

Though Allen was cleared to return Taylor Gabriel Jersey , he stayed on the sideline while Nathan Peterman finished the game.

This was a week after the starters went three-and-out in four series and starter AJ McCarron was sacked once and hit several other times before being sidelined with an injury to his right throwing shoulder in a 19-17 win at Cleveland.

"It's disappointing," Bills coach Sean McDermott said. "We're going to make sure we're helping him with protection and catching the football and not beating ourselves with penalties. Let's just start there."

SACK ATTACK

Linebacker Carl Lawson had 2 1/2 of the Bengals five sacks in the first half, and nearly had an interception. He was in position to pick off Allen's underthrown pass up the right sideline only to have tight end Charles Clay break it up.

PETERMAN TIME

The Bengals led 23-0 before the Bills mounted a comeback with two scores late in the third quarter.

Peterman hit Jason Croom for a 17-yard touchdown, and then Travaris Cadet scored on a 1-yard run on a drive set up by Rafael Bush intercepting Bengals backup Matt Barkley's pass. Peterman finished 16 of 21 for 200 yards, and upped his preseason total to 33 of 41 for 432 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

WELCOME BACK

Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert had one catch for 11 yards while targeted three times in making his preseason debut. The Bengals' 2013 first-round draft pick is coming off back surgery and was limited to playing just two games last year.

INJURIES

Bengals: Left tackle Cordy Glenn stood on the sideline, but did not return after hurting his right shoulder in the first quarter. Coach Marvin Lewis said Glenn was fine. Guard Christian Westerman (back) and running back Jarveon Williams (left knee) did not return.

Bills: Backup linebacker Julian Stanford did not return after hurting his nose in the first half. RB LeSean McCoy (hip/groin) and left tackle Dion Dawkins (hip) did not play after being injured in practice this week.

ANTHEM UPDATE

The Bengals stood together along the sideline except for Dunlap, who stood on the field at the 45 with his hand on his chest. No member of the Bills appeared to protest.

UP NEXT

Bengals: Host Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night.

Bills: At Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

Philipp Grubauer made 36 saves and the Washington Capitals celebrated star Alex Ovechkin’s 1,000th career regular season game by clinching their third straight division title with a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night.

Ovechkin was held without a point but it hardly mattered. T.J. Oshie, Dmitry Orlov and Tom Wilson scored for Washington while Grubauer kept the NHL’s best power play in check as the Capitals assured themselves home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the postseason.

The Penguins have the top power play in the league but went 0 for 5 with the man advantage. Patric Hornqvist picked up his 27th of the season late in the third period to avoid a shutout. Matt Murray stopped 31 shots but couldn’t quite match Grubauer.

A night after earning a playoff berth for a franchise-record 12th straight year, Pittsburgh lost at home in regulation for just the second time since Jan. 4.

Ovechkin downplayed his milestone game beforehand Reuben Foster Jersey , half-jokingly saying it didn’t matter much. The 32-year-old knows his career has been equally defined by his 603 goals and his team’s inability to make a deep playoff run.

The Capitals have won 10 of 12 to create some breathing space in the cramped and crowded Metropolitan

DEVILS 2, CANADIENS 1

MONTREAL (AP) – Taylor Hall scored a short-handed goal late in the third period to lift New Jersey.

Nico Hischier tied the score early in the third and Keith Kinkaid stopped 25 shots in his sixth consecutive start for the Devils. New Jersey increased its lead to seven points on Florida for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Devils, vying for their first trip to the postseason since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, have three games remaining – two fewer than the Panthers.

Daniel Carr scored for the Canadiens, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Carey Price finished with 30 saves while playing his 556th game with Montreal, pulling into a tie with Jacques Plante for most games by a goaltender in franchise history.

PREDATORS 4, LIGHTNING 1

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Filip Forsbeg had two goals and an assist to lead the Nashville pastTampa Bay.

Forsberg returned to the Predators‘ lineup after being held out of Saturday’s loss to Buffalo for maintenance. Craig Smith and Ryan Johansen also scored to help Nashville move closer to clinching the Presidents’ Trophy with the league’s best record. Juuse Saros finished with 29 saves.

Tampa Bay, which went 0 for 5 on the power play, played the final two periods without captain Steven Stamkos Bo Horvat Jersey , who left the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury.

Ondrej Palat scored for the Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 21 saves while lost his third consecutive game.

The Lightning fell to 5-6-0 in the past 11 games and sit two points behind Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

FLYERS 4, BRUINS 3, OT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Claude Giroux scored his second goal with 1:21 left in overtime and Philadelphia Flyers recovered from blowing a late lead to inch closer to returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

Travis Konecny added a dazzling goal and an assist, Nolan Patrick also scored and Petr Mrazek made 36 saves for the Flyers. Philadelphia who opened an eight-point lead over idle Florida, the last team that can overtake it for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference – the Flyers have three games left and the Panthers five.

Patrice Bergeron tied it with 3.8 seconds left in regulation for the Bruins. With the goaltender pulled, Bergeron got his 30th goal on feed from Brad Marchand after the Flyers twice failed to clear the puck.

Noel Acciari and David Pasrnak scored and Anton Khudobin stopped 20 shots for the Bruins, who lost Brandon Carlo and Riley Nash to injuries a day earlier.

DUCKS 4, AVALANCHE 3, OT

ANAHEIM http://www.officialcanadiensprostore.com/authentic-adidas-karl-alzner-jersey , Calif. (AP) – Ondrej Kase scored 1:34 into overtime to cap Anaheim’s comeback from a two-goal deficit.

Andrew Cogliano had a goal and an assist, and Adam Henrique and Ryan Kesler also scored for the Ducks, who moved into third place in the Pacific Division. Anaheim is one point ahead of Los Angeles with three games remaining for both teams.

Kase was looking to shoot all the way on a 2-on-1 break and won it by going to the short side over Jonathan Bernier’s right shoulder.

Ryan Miller made 19 saves after replacing John Gibson at the start of the second period, helping the Ducks to their fifth straight home win. Gibson, who made 10 saves before departing, appeared to be shaken up late in the first when Gabriel Landeskog was cross-checked by Kesler into the goalie, who was being evaluated for an undisclosed injury.

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nning’s starting streak with end.The two-time Super Bowl MVP has been benched by the Giants. He had started 210 consecutive games Brock McGinn Jersey Kids , a run that began all the way back in 2004.Instead, the last-place Giants announced they will start New York Jets castoff Geno Smith at Oakland.The biggest games Sunday involve NFC South teams Brendan Leipsic Jersey Kids , especially when the New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers. Both enter the day atop the division with 8-3 records.The third-place club, the reigning conference champion Atlanta Falcons C. J. Beathard Jersey , are 7-4 going into their game against NFC North leader Minnesota. The New York Yankees won’t have All-Star catcher Gary Sanchez for at least a few weeks.

Sanchez was put on the 10-day disabled list Monday because of a strained right groin. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before New York’s game at Philadelphia that Sanchez is expected to miss up to four weeks with a Grade 1 strain.

Austine Romine replaced Sanchez in the starting lineup.

The Yankees also optioned outfielder Clint Frazier to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and recalled catcher Kyle Higashioka and right-hander Giovanny Gallegos from the minors.

Sanchez was hurt Sunday while running out a double-play grounder at Tampa Bay.

”Gary Sanchez out of your lineup, that’s a big deal Youth Matt Nieto Jersey ,” Boone said. ”But we’ll take the positive out of it. Ro has done a great job obviously this year for us. It’s an opportunity for Higashioka to get up here and hopefully everyone can pick up the slack a little bit in his absence, but we feel like will be OK offensively.”

The 25-year-old Sanchez is hitting .190 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs Preston Smith Jersey , a season after he made the AL All-Star team while batting .278 with 33 homers and 90 RBIs.

Frazier hit .350 in eight games after recently being promoted from the minors. The Yankees have the best record in the majors at 50-25.

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Now that Jerry Richardson no longer owns the Panthers Kenny Moore Jersey , it appears Brenton Bersin’s scholarship there has expired.

But he has continued to look for work, away from his patron. According to Doug Kyed of NESN, Bersin worked out for the Patriots last week.

The wide receiver who grew up in Richardson’s neighborhood in Charlotte, and who perhaps coincidentally has spent parts of each of the last six seasons with the Panthers Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey , no longer works there. (It had to be particularly sad for him not going to training camp at Wofford College this year, since he and Richardson shared an alma mater as well.)

Bersin caught 32 passes in the four years he made the active roster in Carolina. He originally went to camp as an undrafted rookie in 2012. They dragged him back last November when injuries hit there, and he ended up starting.

The Patriots have been looking for reinforcements at the position after letting oft-injured Malcolm Mitchell go, and knowing that Julian Edelman will be suspended the first four games of the year. They signed veteran Eric Decker.

The Los Angeles Chargers have retained defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

The Chargers announced the return of head coach Anthony Lynn’s top two assistants Tuesday.

Continuity on the coaching staff was a major offseason goal for Lynn and general manager Tom Telesco after the Chargers (9-7) barely missed the playoffs in their relocation season. Los Angeles won nine of its final 12 games Marshall Newhouse Jersey , including five straight at StubHub Center.

Bradley was a hot commodity in the offseason coaching market after putting together one of the NFL’s top defenses in his first season with the Chargers. Their 17 points allowed per game was third-best in the league, and they ranked among the leaders with 43 sacks and 18 interceptions.

The former Jacksonville head coach joined Los Angeles on a one-year contract last winter.

Whisenhunt’s powerful offense ranked fourth in the NFL with 376.6 yards per game, with quarterback Philip Rivers enjoying a resurgent 4,515-yard season alongside 1 http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/jaire-alexander-jersey ,393-yard receiver Keenan Allen and 1,105-yard rusher Melvin Gordon.

Whisenhunt, the former Arizona and Tennessee head coach, rejoined the Chargers in 2016 Geronimo Allison Jersey , one year before Lynn became their head coach.

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Former defenseman Mike Weber is all too familiar with the Sabres‘ lean years while spending a majority of his eight NHL seasons in Buffalo.

There were high-priced free agents who failed to pan out and one draft-pick bust after another. Weber made the playoffs just twice John Hayden Jersey , with Buffalo eliminated in the first round both times.

And then there was the so-called ”tank season” in 2014-15, when Sabres fans openly rooted for the team to finish last for the right to draft either now-Oilers captain, Connor McDavid, or Buffalo’s eventual pick, Jack Eichel.

As it happens, Weber also enjoyed a glimpse into what could well be the Sabres’ more promising future following an eight-week stint with Frolunda, Sweden, last fall. Weber had an opportunity to play alongside defenseman Rasmus Dahlin , the highly touted 18-year-old projected to be selected by Buffalo with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.

Perhaps, Weber said, things might finally be looking up in Buffalo.

”I really, truly believe you guys are going to be getting a once-in-a-lifetime kind of talent http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/kevin-king-jersey ,” said Weber, now an assistant coach with Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League.

”This first overall pick puts a stamp on it, put whatever happened in the past in the past,” he added. ”Hopefully, it’s something you guys can look back on at the suffering and rebuilding and tanking and all of this stuff where you can sit there and kind of laugh about it.”

Though ”suffering” might be overly dramatic, it resonates in Buffalo because that’s the word former general manager Darcy Regier repeated numerous times during an end-of-season news conference in April 2013 where he braced fans for a top-to-bottom roster overhaul.

Five years, two GMs, four coaches and three last-place finishes later, the Sabres remain stagnant while in the midst of a franchise-worst seven-year playoff drought.

The team has not topped 35 wins in each of the past five years. And forward Ryan O’Reilly closed last season by suggesting a losing culture has crept into the locker room.

Dahlin has the potential of injecting hope in Buffalo with his exceptional skating and play-making abilities. Weber compares Dahlin’s speed to that of Senators captain Erik Karlsson, and shiftiness to former Red Wings star forward Pavel Datsyuk.

”I still bleed blue and gold,” Weber said, referring to Sabres colors. ”And the possibility of him being a cornerstone going forward and helping the organization and the city win a championship is pretty special.”

Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman Corey Linsley Jersey , who maintains a home in suburban Buffalo, can sense the buzz Dahlin has generated.

”Buffalo needs a boost, and the fans have been waiting a long time for it,” Bowman said. ”People I know that have had tickets for a long time are excited.”

The Sabres have been in freefall since losing Game 7 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals to eventual champion Carolina. Some of Buffalo’s bleakest moments:

BLACK SUNDAY

That’s what Sabres fans refer to July 1, 2007, when Buffalo lost co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere in free agency. Days later, rather than losing yet another star, the Sabres matched the Oilers’ qualifying offer to Thomas Vanek by re-signing the forward to a seven-year, $50 million contract. Buffalo has not won a playoff series since.

MONEY FOR NOTHING

In 2011, the Sabres made splashes by acquiring defenseman Robyn Regehr in a trade with Calgary, and signing defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to a 10-year, $40 million contract and forward Ville Leino to a six-year Xavier Woods Jersey , $27 million deal. Regehr played just 105 games in Buffalo before being traded to Los Angeles. Leino and Ehrhoff played three seasons before the Sabres bought out their contacts.

TRADE WINDS

Former GM Tim Murray’s most significant trade in his rebuilding plan came on Feb. 11, 2015. He dealt defenseman Tyler Myers, forwards Drew Stafford, Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux and a first-round pick to Winnipeg to acquire forward Evander Kane, defenseman Zach Bogosian and prospect goalie Jason Kasdorf. Kane is now in San Jose. Kasdorf played just one game in Buffalo. Bogosian has combined to miss 108 games due to an assortment of injuries over the past three seasons.

POOR DRAFTS

Of the 15 players selected by Buffalo in the 2010 and `11 drafts, only four made the NHL and combined to play 144 career games for Buffalo. Of the 23 players Buffalo drafted from 2005-’07, only nine played in the NHL and none topped 400 games.

BAD BREAKS

Aside from losing the NHL draft lottery after finishing last in both 2014 and `15, the Sabres lost out to Toronto in the Mike Babcock coaching sweepstakes in May 2015. The Sabres thought they were closing in on a deal before Babcock announced he was going to take an extra day to reconsider. Babcock signed with Toronto and the Sabres hired Dan Bylsma, who was fired after two seasons.

FRANCHISE LOWS

In finishing last in 2013-14, Buffalo scored 150 goals, the fewest in the NHL’s post-expansion era. The following season, the Sabres scored 153 goals and were shut out a franchise-worst 14 times. This past year http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/rob-kelley-jersey , the Sabres won 11 home games, matching their fewest in any season.

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AP Hockey Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.

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More NHL hockey:

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers have acquired defenseman Adam McQuaid from the Boston Bruins for defenseman Steven Kampfer and two draft picks.

The teams announced the trade Tuesday before the Bruins flew to China for two exhibition games. Boston gets a 2019 fourth-round pick and a conditional seventh-rounder in a move that clears space for younger players on the blue line.

New York adds size and experience with the addition of the 6-foot-4, 212-pound McQuaid, who has played 462 regular-season NHL games. McQuaid, who turns 32 in October, has 66 points in his career and one year left on his contract at a salary-cap hit of $2.75 million.

Kampfer, who turns 30 in late September, returns to the Bruins after being drafted in 2007 and making his NHL debut with them in 2010.

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The Alliance of American Football has announced the eight cities in which the league will commence play in fewer than eight months. St. Louis apparently had a chance to be one of those cities.

According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Womens Terrell Suggs Jersey , the Dome at America’s Center (f/k/a the Edward Jones Dome) would have been the site of the AAF games played in St. Louis, but the venue has a scheduling conflict on weekends in February 2019. The discussions happened as recently as last weekend, with efforts to find an alternative location for early-season games in St. Louis unsuccessful.

So how close was it to happening? Close enough that Oscar Klefbom Jersey , according to Thomas, former Rams receiver Isaac Bruce might have become the head coach of the team. The AAF and Bruce had conversations about the Bruce serving in that capacity.

Bruce would have been an intriguing and unconventional choice, given that the other AAF coaches have coached at the NFL or major-college level. Bruce has no significant coaching experience (he has coached receivers at his former high school in Florida).

The XFL and another possible football league also have contact St. Louis about putting a team there. The AAF could still add an expansion franchise to St. Louis in the future Gabriel Landeskog Jersey Kids , if the operation thrives.

The Denver Broncos held linebacker Shane Ray out of workouts Monday due to a sore wrist.

Ray broke his left wrist in July and underwent three surgeries that caused him to miss the opening six games in 2017. He had one sack over the next eight contests before going back on injured reserve.

Denver coach Vance Joseph said Ray's wrist was irritated and the team is "taking it slow. Just being smart with guys. It's the spring."

Absent from the optional workouts were players such as pass rusher Von Miller, along with receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Joseph wasn't concerned with their absence, saying Dave Robinson Jersey , "they've been here all year. We're good. We coached the guys who were here today."

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All the chatter is that underdog Cleveland could be completely deflated from the way it flopped in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Determined and as motivated as ever might be more appropriate and fitting whenever LeBron James is in the mix.

”It’s one of the toughest losses I’ve had in my career Colton Parayko Jersey ,” James acknowledged Saturday, ”because of everything that kind of went on with the game and the way we played. Obviously, we all know what happened in the game.”

There were miscues aplenty, most notably J.R. Smith’s offensive rebound in the final seconds of regulation that he dribbled back toward half-court in a tie game rather than shooting for a chance to win it – later insisting he knew the score, though that remains a huge mystery. The decision baffled a frustrated and stunned LeBron, who signaled at his teammate with arms pointed toward the basket.

”The game’s over. There’s nothing we can do about it,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. ”We’ve got to move on, move forward.”

James has done so all postseason with an edge, intensity and ability to all-out carry the Cavs – will them to win after win, if you wish.

Yes, with King James on the other side in this familiar June rivalry, Golden State knows much better than to fall into such a trap that the Cavs might be down and out, even if the defending champions have some momentum going into Game 2 on Sunday night back home at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors learned that lasting lesson two years ago Marcus Foligno Jersey , when James led the Cavaliers back from the brink – a daunting 3-1 series deficit – to capture a title in Game 7 on the Warriors’ home floor.

”I know it’s not the exact same team, but we had them down 3-1 a couple years ago. They might have been deflated, and they came back and won, so we’re expecting another great effort from them,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ”We’ve been through this too many times. We beat Houston on the road in Game 1 and the narrative was, you know, series is over. It seems to always be that way. There is just overreaction after a game.”

Draymond Green didn’t sugarcoat it: Golden State got a little lucky to win Game 1 on a night James scored 51 points and the defending champions caught some big breaks.

The Warriors hope to be far better with a chance to take a 2-0 series lead before the series shifts to Northwest Ohio.

”Sometimes you need a little luck. It’s good to be lucky sometimes,” Green said. ”I’ll take it.”

Kevin Durant wants the Warriors to remove the luck factor going forward. He even nit-picked that offensive board that Smith secured as something he should have done.

”As you try to lock in on the details as much as possible, that luck factor – good luck, bad luck – you don’t have it creep in if you figure out the detail parts,” Durant said. ”To be good at those parts of the game, then you don’t let the luck creep in.”

Golden State gave up 19 offensive boards in all while getting only four.

The Warriors know James is going to score his share of points. They just want to make it harder for him to get good looks, something that is a top priority going into Sunday. James http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/corey-bojorquez-jersey , in his eighth straight NBA Finals and ninth overall, shot 19 for 32 to go with eight assists and eight rebounds in the opener.

”We’ve got to make them work harder in general,” Kerr said. ”I thought our defense was subpar the other night.”

James said he is taking antibiotics and using eye drops after getting poked in the eye by Green in the first half. The outer area of James’ eye was still red Saturday.

Klay Thompson expects to play though is listed as questionable with what he called a sprained left ankle while Andre Iguodala remained doubtful as he works back from a bone bruise in his left knee suffered in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against Houston and has cost him the last five games.

Cleveland’s J.R. Smith slid into Thompson’s left leg in the first quarter of the series opener Thursday night. Thompson was dealing with stiffness, swelling and more pain Saturday.

”It is a Finals game, and I’m going to do everything I possibly can to play,” Thompson said. ”It’s something you definitely don’t want to have in the NBA championship.”

Nor does James want blood in his eye to affect his vision or alter his view of the basket.

So, did he go off for 51 with only one good eye?

”No, I had some points before that already,” a good-natured James said, chuckling.

—


WASHINGTON — In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Nashville Predators are still jockeying for playoff position, while the Washington Capitals have a division title and their postseason placement secured.

So, this showdown between two division leaders might not have as much luster as if it had been played in February Russell Bodine Jersey , but for the Predators, who are seeking the first Central Division crown in club history, it is still a critical contest.

“We’ve clinched a playoff (berth), but there’s still a lot of goals we want to achieve, and it’s good for us that we’re trying to play desperate right now,” Nashville defenseman Roman Josi told the team’s website on Wednesday. “We’re playing for something, and that’s definitely going to help going into playoffs.”

The Predators were still steaming about Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, in which the apparent game-tying goal by Filip Forsberg in the final second was overturned by a controversial goaltender interference call. Now, with Winnipeg on its tail for the division title, Nashville will have to play tough against the Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday to make some franchise history and potentially snag home-ice advantage in the Western Conference.

“You have to move on,” Forsberg told the team’s website. “You can’t do anything about it now. You just have to play the next game.”

That next game will be against the Capitals, who have surged down the stretch, going 11-2-0 to clinch their third straight Metropolitan Division title. Washington head coach Barry Trotz isn’t planning on using this matchup against Nashville to gauge how his team looks against another title contender Art Monk Jersey , however.

“I don’t think I’d use it as a measuring stick,” Trotz told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “We’ve been weighed and measured all year against teams in our own division.”

Washington is in evaluation mode at this point, mixing and matching lineups to figure out who will be in the plans once the postseason begins. To that end, the team recalled forward Travis Boyd and defenseman Madison Bowey from AHL Hershey on Wednesday.

“Coming back here, I have a lot of confidence and I’m just ready to help the guys out if needed and when I’m called upon,” Bowey said.

Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin crashed into the boards during Monday’s game at the St. Louis Blues, giving the team a slight scare. Ovechkin took a maintenance day on Wednesday and Trotz said the team would “see where he is” before a decision on his playing time.

Washington’s rotating goalie situation will also be addressed on game day. Philipp Grubauer and Braden Holtby are both coming off impressive victories against the Penguins and Blues, respectively, and with Trotz open to playing both during the playoffs, gaining valuable experience against an explosive Predators team could be key.

Nashville figures to start Pekka Rinne in net for this important contest.

“It’s a big test for us, and I think our team always shows up when there’s a big game,” Josi said.

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The hits keep coming for the Jets.

The league has announced that cornerback Rashard Robinson has been suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Robinson was arrested last year for possession of edible marijuana Tim Heed Jersey , which triggered the suspension.

The Jets traded for him last October, which coach Todd Bowles didn’t realize was happening at the time. They gave the 49ers a fifth-round pick for him, and in hindsight that looks even worse.

He only played 20 snaps for them the rest of the year, which made it unclear what kind of future he had there anyway.

He’s also the second Jet to be suspended in the last week http://www.officialblackhawksproshop.com/authentic-adidas-artem-anisimov-jersey , as wide receiver ArDarius Stewart was hit with a two-game ban for violating the policy on performance enhancing substances.

Richard Sherman officially has gone to the other side.

The four-time All-Pro cornerback signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, two days after being released by the rival Seattle Seahawks.

The deal reportedly is worth up to $39.15 million.

”Richard is one of the premier competitors Kyle and I have ever encountered,” 49ers general Manager John Lynch said, referring to coach Kyle Shanahan. ”We look forward to him sharing his wealth of experience and his passion for the game of football with our team.

”Richard has long been looked at as the prototypical corner in our scheme and the opportunity to have him mentor our players was one we needed to attack. Most importantly Juuse Saros Jersey , we are excited to have a championship-caliber corner on the field for the 49ers.”

Sherman played an integral role in the fierce NFC West rivalry between Seattle and San Francisco earlier this decade. With the Seahawks retooling their defense, he became expendable. His deflection on a potential winning touchdown pass in the 2013 NFC championship game against the 49ers led to an interception that sent the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, which they won.

Sherman then celebrated a Thanksgiving night win in a road game against the 49ers the following season by eating a turkey leg on the 50-yard line.

Now, the player who was reviled so much by 49ers fans is joining their team after the Seahawks decided he wasn’t worth his $13 million salary for 2018. San Francisco hopes he can make a big impact even as he turns 30 later this month and is coming off an Achilles tendon injury that cost him half of the 2017 season. Sherman also had a cleanup surgery on his opposite ankle during the offseason.

The 49ers had a glaring need at cornerback with 2017 third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon and slot cornerback K’Waun Williams the only players under contract with extensive experience. The Niners believe Sherman can fill that role in a defense modeled by coordinator Robert Saleh after the one that had so much success in Seattle. Saleh was a former defensive assistant with the Seahawks.

Sherman became a star in Seattle Ryan Kelly Jersey , bringing a brash attitude and willingness to speak out on any topic to go along with his stellar play. His best seasons came in 2013 and 2014, when Seattle made two Super Bowl appearances, and he has 32 career interceptions.

He still was one of the better cornerbacks the past three seasons, ranking second in the NFL by allowing just 49.2 percent of passes against him to be caught Johnny Gaudreau Jersey Kids , according to Pro Football Focus.

Sherman played his college ball in the Bay Area at Stanford under former coach Jim Harbaugh, who then went up against Sherman during his four seasons in charge of the 49ers.

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As postgame questions go Kenny Moore Jersey , it was relatively innocuous, and maybe because of that, and because it came at a news conference after the Toronto Raptors moved into the second round of the playoffs by eliminating the Washington Wizards in Game 6, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were in a playful mood.

So as Toronto’s pair of All-Star guards sat there, waiting for the other to talk, DeRozan eventually spoke up, not to respond, but to kid to his running mate: ”You want me to answer everything.” To which Lowry retorted, referring to the reporter, ”He didn’t say `Kyle.'”

DeRozan: ”He said both of us.” Lowry pointed a hand in his teammate’s direction, indicating DeRozan needed to reply, and instructed: ”That’s how this works.” And then Lowry teased: ”You don’t even remember the question.” DeRozan, with a grin, conceded: ”No, I don’t.”

As long as the DeRozan-Lowry duo works in harmony on the court – and gets plenty of help from a terrific bench unit, just as it did while No. 1 seed Toronto finished off Washington with a 102-92 road victory Friday night – the Raptors have a formula for success this postseason.

Because of those reserves, led by point guard Fred VanVleet, DeRozan and Lowry were able to spend plenty of time resting in the last game, neither playing more than 33 minutes. They won’t be spent by the time they get to the Eastern Conference’s next round Tony Jefferson Jersey , which will come against either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Indiana Pacers.

”It’s big, especially the dynamic of how we can do it,” DeRozan said. ”He can have a big night. I can have a big night. And the nights that we don’t, we have a bench that can go out there and can win the game for us, as well. Any given night, whether it’s a closeout game or a Game 1, I think we’re just capable of showing so many different elements of how to win a game that we didn’t have last year.”

Last season, the Raptors were swept in the second round by LeBron James and the Cavaliers. A season earlier, they also were knocked out by the Cavs, in six games in the East finals.

Now Toronto has to wait a bit to find out if it’ll go up against LBJ and Co. for the third year in a row. Because Indiana won 121-87 on Friday, that series will head to a Game 7 at Cleveland on Sunday.

Asked whether he preferred one possible opponent or the other, DeRozan gave a quick answer: ”No.”

He averaged a series-leading 26.7 points against the Wizards, and Lowry was second among the Raptors at 17.2, along with 8.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds.

But what has to make them rather happy moving forward is what happened when they were on the sideline in Game 6. VanVleet, the backup point guard, finally saw extended action for the first time against the Wizards, after being out for all but three minutes because of an injured right shoulder.

Finally healthy enough to play, VanVleet led the second unit capably at both ends of the floor, contributing five points Eddie Goldman Jersey , four assists and four rebounds, while playing pesky defense against All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal.

”He is kind of the engine, the toughness,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said about VanVleet.

In all, the bench outscored Washington’s reserves 21-6 and outrebounded them 15-3 in the second half, allowing the Raptors to finally win a road playoff game in which they trailed at halftime.

Their record before Friday in such situations was 0-23.

Knowing they can win on the road at all should be a confidence-builder as the playoffs continue.

The Raptors already knew they had an elite bunch of reserves.

Looking at teams that reached the playoffs, they tied for first during the regular season in bench scoring, averaging 41.8 points.

”It’s been like that all year. It’s not going to be any different in the playoffs,” VanVleet said. ”I thought our bench team had been good this series at home, and we just needed to put together a performance on the road.”

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Aaron Donald makes a joke during a break in practice, and Ndamukong Suh chuckles. Pretty soon, the entire Los Angeles Rams' defensive line is cracking up.

This new defense is no laughing matter, though. Six months after the Rams assembled a remarkable collection of veteran talent, it's finally all out on the practice field together.

Michael Brockers, the other defensive lineman in the Rams' fearsome threesome up front, thinks the rest of the NFL should be wary.

"Just backing out of the huddle and looking at all the talent we have is kind of surreal," Brockers said. "I look back and I'm like, 'Bro, we can be so crazy on this field.' But it's on paper first Morgan Rielly Jersey , so we have to go out there and prove why we're so talented, why we're so great."

Donald, Suh and Brockers have been together in practice for the first time over the past week while the Rams prepare for their opener in Oakland on Monday night. Cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are eager to get on the field after barely playing in the preseason to see if this defense can live up to its enormous potential.

The bulk of the defensive starters only got seven snaps together in the preseason. That's still more than the offense, which didn't play at all, and defensive coordinator Phillips doesn't sound overly concerned.

"I think they're going to be really good," Phillips said. "But it's (about) meshing together and playing the right way. I have a lot of confidence in them. ... We have a group that really likes football. Some teams or players I've been with, they played because they were good at it or whatever. But this group, they like football. They like playing football, and some of them even like practicing, which is a little different."

Donald is the biggest key to the Rams' aspirations, and the NFL's defensive player of the year is going full-speed in practice after being away from the team for several months in a contract holdout. He won't have any limit on his snaps in Oakland, coach Sean McVay confirmed Friday.

"We've been missing that little puzzle piece, the final piece, so it's been awesome," Brockers said. "He's been making some great jokes, and we're just happy to have him back. ... A.D. is a pro. He's been studying the playbook. He's been watching film. Literally, we plugged him in, and he knew everything he's supposed to do. We haven't had to slow down at all. We honestly picked up the tempo."

Donald missed the Rams' 2017 season opener after ending his holdout one day earlier. This year, he signed his new contract last Friday and reported to the Rams in time to get ample work before the games begin.

"You kind of know what to expect Troy Brouwer Jersey ," Donald said of his second straight late arrival. "But you've got the opportunity to come back and basically get six practices under my belt before the first game, so I think that's going to be a big help for me, as far as getting adjusted out there."

Donald's partnership with Suh has been hotly anticipated ever since the Rams outmaneuvered several suitors last March to sign Suh to a one-year deal.

"He makes my job easier, you know?" Donald said. "When you've got guys out there like him and Brock next to you, you know the other guy is going to make plays, just like you make plays. You're just a little bit more comfortable."

Any talk about the potential success of this defense comes with a giant caveat in the middle.

While the defensive line and secondary are jam-packed with proven NFL talent, the Rams' linebackers are mostly unproven at an elite level. What's more, veteran inside linebacker Mark Barron seems increasingly unlikely to begin the season healthy after missing the first two days of practice this week with a flare-up of an Achilles tendon injury that has dogged him for months.

Untested Cory Littleton is taking over for traded middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, the Rams' leading tackler in four of the past five seasons. Samson Ebukam and Matt Longacre also are penciled into starting spots, and even defensive lineman Dominique Easley has taken practice reps as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

If Barron can't play against the Raiders, Los Angeles is likely to put Ramik Wilson into the starting lineup for his Rams debut after three seasons in Kansas City.

"He's a smart player," said Phillips, who played Wilson more extensively in the preseason than other probable regular-season contributors. "He's started before in the league, and he's played well when he's been in there. He knows what to do."

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Josh McCown is one of the many quarterbacks to start for the Jets as they’ve looked for long-term success at the position John Gibson Jersey , but it doesn’t sound like he thinks the team will have to continue searching.

McCown said at minicamp in June that rookie Sam Darnold was getting better every day and he continued to drop praise on his younger teammate during an interview on Sirius XM NFL Radio this weekend.

“With Sam, we have the right guy, he’s wired the right way, he loves the game, he asks the right questions and he’s willing to work … That’s the foundation, you have to have that Morgan Rielly Jersey ,” McCown said.

Darnold is set to start training camp as the No. 3 man on the depth chart behind McCown and Teddy Bridgewater, but neither head coach Todd Bowles nor offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has been reluctant to say that could change if Darnold impresses this summer. With camp starting on July 29, it won’t be too much longer before we start to find out if McCown’s right about the rookie.

There aren鈥檛 a ton of words that can be used to describe former Maple Leaf GM Brian Burke鈥檚 time in Toronto. Damaging, disastrous, disappointing and discouraging are a few that come to mind.

When Burke took over the role of General Manager on November 29th, 2008 Ronnie Stanley Jersey , the Leafs were coming off of three consecutive years out of the playoffs after the lockout of 2004-05, and found themselves out of a playoff spot 23 games into the 08-09 campaign with just 8 wins.

With the hiring of Burke came hope. Their previous full-time GM, John Ferguson Jr. (Cliff Fletcher served as the interim briefly) made some good moves for the team, but was remembered for his blunders. Some of those included signing Jason Blake, trading a package of draft picks for Vesa Toskala, and no one could forget his 1-for-1 deal of Tuukka Rask for Andrew Raycroft. Burke had found a ton of success as the Vancouver GM from 1998-2004 Authentic Alexander Radulov Jersey , and then won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. He had the reputation of a no nonsense, take charge type of guy who would get what he wanted.

Looking back on his time in Leaf-land now, Burke made a ton of good moves. A few of those include acquiring Dion Phaneuf from Calgary, James van Riemsdyk from Philadelphia, and Jake Gardiner from Anaheim. However, the bad outweighed the good J'Mon Moore Jersey , and the results showed on the ice. His idea that his team needed to play with 鈥減roper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence鈥?/i> was more suitable for the big physical teams of the 2000s, and not for where the game was trending with speed and skill.

With that, here are Burke鈥檚 20 worst moves as GM of the Leafs.

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