CHICAGO -- Even without Patrick Kane -- and despite a run of sloppy plays and penalties -- the Chicago Blackhawks found a way to buckle down and beat the
Carolina Hurricanes.
Custom Dallas Mavericks Jersey . Jonathan Toews short-handed breakaway goal early in the third period snapped a
tie, and lifted the Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory on Friday night. Patrick Sharp
scored his team-leading 30th goal and Kris Versteeg ended an eight-game drought
to help the Blackhawks pull out a win without Kane, the teams leading scorer who
was placed on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury in
Chicagos victory over St. Louis on Wednesday. The Blackhawks were also without
injured forwards Brandon Saad and Bryan Bickell, and defenceman Michal Rozsival.
"Thats one of those things, we have to learn how to play without our best
players," Toews said. "Weve done it without Hoss (Marian Hossa), and now Sadder
and Kaner. "It doesnt matter. If someones nursing something, we have to find a
way to fill that void." Sharp has scored at least 30 goals four times in his
career. He has reached the mark in the past three full NHL seasons.
Corey Crawford made 26 saves as defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago tightened
up defensively and overcame mistakes late in the second period and early in the
third that helped the Hurricanes fight back from a two goal deficit. "Thats a
game we can look back on during the playoffs as being able to shut a team down
in the last five minutes," Crawford said. "I dont think they got a shot in the
last five minutes. Thats the way you want to play." Carolinas Alexander Semin
scored his 20th and 21st goals 3:36 apart, but the Hurricanes lost to Chicago
for the second time this season. The Blackhawks beat Carolina in a road shootout
on Oct. 15 in their only other meeting this season. Semin tied it off a faceoff
during a 5-on-3 power play at 2:58 of the third. Eric Staal won the draw and fed
Semin, who fired in a screened shot from the top of the left circle. Semin had
cut Chicagos lead to 2-1 with 37.7 seconds left in the second. He was open in
the right circle, took Staals pass from the left boards and fired a quick shot
past Crawfords glove. "We gave them some excitement to their game at the end of
the second," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "We took six penalties in a
row, a stretch of six penalties that got them right back in the game. "Then
Johnny scored a huge goal for us, which was very timely." Toews third
short-handed goal at 3:29 of the third put Chicago ahead for good. A shot by
Staal rimmed all the way around the boards in the Chicago zone and came out to
centre ice. Toews got the puck, skated in alone, and beat Anton Khudobin with a
high backhander. "Obviously I missed the shot down the wing," Staal said. "I
wanted to go high glove, and they got a good bounce and good player going the
other way on a breakaway." Once Toews put Chicago in front, the Blackhawks
sparkled defensively in the third period and held on to extend their point
streak to four games (3-0-1). Khudobin stopped 22 shots after a career-best 46
saves in Carolinas win at Columbus on Tuesday. Kane, who could miss the rest of
the regular season, was injured in a collision with St. Louis Brenden Morrow. He
left the ice under his own power, favouring his left leg. Earlier Friday,
Chicago recalled top prospect Teuvo Teravainen and forward Jeremy Morin from
Rockford of the AHL. The 19-year-old Teravainen, Chicagos first-round selection
in the 2012 draft, didnt play against Carolina. The Blackhawks came out flying
in the scoreless first and outshot Carolina 11-4. The Hurricanes didnt record
their first shot until Nathan Gerbe forced Crawford to make a glove save 11:21
in. Sharp opened the scoring on a breakaway at 3:09 of the second. He took a
stretch pass up the middle from Andrew Shaw and accelerated past defencemen
Justin Faulk and Ron Hainsey. He beat Khudobin with a high backhander on the
stick side. Versteeg made it 2-0 with 3:34 left in the second during 4-on-4
play. Defenceman Nick Leddy carried the puck down to the left corner, then
centred a pass to Versteeg, who beat Khudobin on the glove side. NOTES: Kane
must sit out a minimum of 10 games and 24 days. Blackhawks general manager Stan
Bowman said there is "no reason to think he wont" be ready for the playoffs. ...
Morin has one goal and four assists in 15 games with Chicago this season. ... D
David Rundblad played in his second game with the Blackhawks since being
acquired from Phoenix. ... Carolina D John-Michael Liles returned after missing
six games with a concussion, C Jiri Tlusty came back after sitting out two with
a lower-body injury, and C Elias Lindholm and D Justin Faulk played after
missing the previous game because of illnesses.
Swingman Dirk Nowitzki Jersey . -- Kevin Durant insists he and Russell Westbrook arent turning their first-round
series into a two-man show, even if the NBA scoring champ says they may be
shooting too much.
Devin Harris Jersey . Toronto coach Scott Milanovich was the first in the CFL to avail himself of the chance to challenge
the officials failure to rule pass interference on a play and subject it to
video review. His challenge stood and it helped set up Steve Slatons second
touchdown of the game to put Toronto ahead 24-16.ATLANTA -- The Braves added a
needed veteran for their rotation Monday when they agreed to a $4 million,
one-year contract with right-hander Gavin Floyd. Now the question is when Floyd
will be ready to pitch. Floyd, 30, is recovering from surgery in May to repair
the ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his right elbow. That
ended his seventh season with the White Sox. He passed a physical in Atlanta on
Monday before completing the deal, which also includes roster and performance
bonuses. Floyd said his arm "feels tremendous." "Its nice to start over, create
the right mechanics ... all the simple things to become more natural," he said.
Atlanta also avoided arbitration with pitcher Brandon Beachy, agreeing to a
$1.45 million, one-year deal. He would earn a $25,000 bonus for 30 starts.
Floyd, who spoke at Turner Field on Monday, said he already has recovered his
arm speed and is just working on endurance. He said he has been cleared to throw
from 55 feet. Braves general manager Frank Wren said he hopes Floyd can be ready
in May. Despite his optimistic update on his recovery, Floyd said "I have no
idea" when hell be ready to pitch. Floyd said he liked the Braves, who won the
NL East in 2013, for their consistent success. "It just seemed like all the
arrows were pointing to Atlanta," he said. Wren said he expects Floyd to bbe a
"solid, middle of the rotation starter.
Dallas Mavericks Jersey. " The Braves needed more experience in the rotation after losing Tim Hudson, who signed with the Giants, and free agent Paul Maholm. The
rotation returns Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Alex
Wood. Medlen, 28, has the most experience of the group. Beachy, 27, missed most
of the 2013 season recovering from elbow ligament-replacement surgery. David
Hale, who was 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts this year, could compete for a
spot. Wood pitched in relief in 20 of his 31 appearances last season. Even
before Hudson signed with the Giants, Wren said adding a veteran starting
pitcher was a top off-season priority. Wren said Floyd will help the younger
starters. "Hes a solid starter thats been around and knows what needs to be
done," Wren said. Before the elbow injury, Floyd consistently logged 180 or more
innings with the White Sox. He won 10 or more games in five straight seasons
from 2008-12. He was 0-4 with a 5.18 ERA in five games this year. Floyds best
season in Chicago came in 2008, when he was 17-8. He has a 70-70 career record
with the White Sox and Phillies. Floyd can earn $675,000 in roster bonuses:
$175,000 for 15 days and $250,000 each for 30 and 60 days. He also can earn
$250,000 each for each start from 21-28 and $500,000 apiece for each start from
30-33.
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