Globale News » e road. NOTES: The Ducks rested c

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins were given an unexpected day off because of the weather. They sure needed the extra time to warm back up from the night before. The Blue Jays-Twins game Wednesday was postponed more than seven hours before it was scheduled to begin, due to the unseasonable cold causing a spring storm to produce blowing snow all afternoon with some accumulation predicted at night. Since this week is Torontos only trip to Minnesota, the teams will play a day-night doubleheader Thursday. The forecast was calling for a high temperature of about 42 degrees Thursday but clear and dry conditions. The Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-3 Tuesday without precipitation problems, but the first-pitch temperature was 35 degrees. "Weve got a roof up there in Toronto, so we dont get exposed to it that much. Youve just got to be mentally tough," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after the game. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had trouble gripping the ball and didnt finish the fourth inning. He escaped with only two runs allowed. "I didnt feel helpless. I was still trying on every pitch. But nothing was working," Morrow said. Third baseman Brett Lawrie didnt let the cold stop him from hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning, but he still felt it. "It just kind of hits you. It takes a little bit of getting used to," Lawrie said, adding: "Get your cold gear on and man up." One potential casualty of the cold was designated hitter Adam Linds back. He left the game Tuesday with tightness and has a history of back trouble. The Blue Jays held out centre fielder Colby Rasmus Tuesday because of hamstring tightness that forced him out Sunday at Baltimore. The cold could also work against R.A. Dickeys knuckleball, which thrives in humid, hot conditions. The Blue Jays switched their rotation to start Dickey in the matinee Thursday and use Dustin McGowan for the rescheduled game, which will start six hours after the first one. The Twins kept Kyle Gibson as their starter for the afternoon game, meaning Mike Pelfrey will take the mound Thursday night after having this turn bumped back. Pelfrey will try to bounce back from two rough appearances to start the season. Another pitcher in need of a rebound is reliever Jared Burton, the primary setup man. After posting a 2.18 ERA in 64 appearances in 2012, Burton had his ERA rise to 3.82 in 71 appearances last year. He was charged with nine losses. This season, he has allowed six hits, eight runs and three walks in five innings, including Lawries grand slam Tuesday. "I dont know whats going on with him right now. Hes not pitching with a lot of confidence," manager Ron Gardenhire said, adding: "Hes got good stuff. Hes got a track record. So weve just got to figure out a way to get him right." Burton said hes having trouble controlling his pitches, another byproduct of the April cold. "I think pitchers and hitters will both tell you that its tough at the beginning of the year with the weather and everything. Ive just got to do a better job of getting ahead of guys. Im behind everybody, and its a lot easier to hit when youre ahead in the count," he said. Burton expressed confidence hell bounce back. "I feel fine. Im healthy. Im just human. Were under a little bit of a microscope and when we struggle it shows. Ill figure it out. We all go through these phases. Its just a matter of stopping a slump and starting a streak," he said. NOTES: Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins have had nine weather-induced postponements, plus one game suspended by rain and finished the following day. Three of them came last April. ... Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen and shortstop Jose Reyes both played for Class A Dunedin on rehab assignments Tuesday. Reyes could rejoin the Blue Jays Friday at Cleveland, but Janssen is a little behind him. Jack Ham Steelers Jersey . Nick Holden scored two goals and had an assist and the Avalanche held off the Nashville Predators 5-4 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Alejandro Villanueva Steelers Jersey . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steel...e-Shell-Jersey/. -- Jim Furyk was 10 shots worse and right where he wanted to be Saturday in the BMW Championship. Benny Snell Jr. Youth Jersey .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Terry Bradshaw Womens Jersey . The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat.ANAHEIM, Calif. - Teemu Selanne and Jean-Sebastien Giguere skated to centre ice under a spotlight on the darkened rink, their clasped hands held aloft. Before Selannes Ducks and Gigueres Colorado Avalanche head to the playoffs in a few days, these two beloved Ducks savored one last chance to feel Anaheims mighty love for them. Nick Bonino scored 1:33 into overtime, and the Ducks finished the best regular season in franchise history with a 3-2 victory over Colorado on Sunday night. But with their playoff position secure, the Ducks used the game to honour Selanne, who plans to retire after the season. Wearing the captains "C," the 43-year-old Finnish Flash got standing ovations on every shift in the third period in Anaheim, his home for 15 of his 21 NHL seasons. "It was more emotion than I ever imagined," said Selanne, the 15th-leading scorer in NHL history with 1,457 points. "Over all the years, these fans have treated me so great. I never expected that, though. It was overwhelming." The largest Ducks crowd of the season serenaded Selanne with applause all night, peaking in wild cheers whenever he touched the puck in Colorados end — even if he narrowly missed several chances to add to his 684 career goals, 11th in NHL history. Selanne took a few laps around the rink after he was awarded all three postgame stars, waving at fans and pounding his heart. When he shook hands with every player on both teams, he seized the chance to share the spotlight with Giguere, who also is leaning toward retirement. "For him to do that, its something thats very special for me, and something Ill never forget," said Giguere, who had two arena suites filled with family and friends. "Hes such a class act. I got the game puck for him. He deserves such an ovation for everything hes done for Orange County and the Ducks." During a first-period timeout, the crowd also stood to cheer Giguere, who stopped 33 shots. "Jiggy" will always be adored in Anaheim after backstopping the once-Mighty Ducks to two Stanley Cup finals, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in defeat in 2003 and hoisting the Cup in 2007. "It was the best time in my career," Giguere said of the championship season. "Theres no doubt about it, and Im sure it was Teemus, too. I cant think of a better guy to have won the Cup with." Selanne hit the outside of Gigueres post with a shot in the second, and the Flash had several fruitless chances on the power play.ddddddddddddHe got another golden opportunity with 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation, but Giguere robbed him. Selanne and Giguere were the stars of a no-stakes meeting of the Western Conferences two division champions. Anaheim clinched the Wests top spot Saturday, while Colorado won the Central earlier Sunday when St. Louis lost. The Ducks will face Dallas in the first round starting Wednesday, while the Avalanche open against Minnesota on Thursday. "I was so happy for him to play," Colorado coach Patrick Roy said of Giguere. "He wanted to play that game for a while, and we were planning to give it to him. "But obviously the plans changed for a while because we had a chance to finish first in our division. And as soon as Detroit beat St. Louis today, the first thing I did was call Jiggy and said Youre in. Enjoy the night." Patrick Maroon and Saku Koivu scored 3:13 apart to tie it early in the third period for the Ducks, who won seven of nine to close the season. John Gibson made 29 saves to remain unbeaten in his third career start. The Ducks won it when Devante Smith-Pelly controlled the puck in the slot and passed to Bonino, who scored his 22nd goal. Anaheim set club records for victories (54), points (116), goals (263) and comeback victories (26) with this big finish. "Thats going to be the more forgotten-about overtime goal in the history of the Ducks," Bonino said with a laugh. "It was Ts night, and were all happy for him." Brad Malone and Stefan Elliott scored for the Avalanche, who lost for just the third time in 11 games. The Wests most surprising team lost when leading after two periods for just the third time in 38 games this season, but still finished with a club record-tying 52 wins — a record 26 on the road. NOTES: The Ducks rested captain Ryan Getzlaf, who still finished second in the NHL scoring race with 87 points, and Corey Perry, who came in second in the Richard Trophy race with 43 goals. .. These teams opened the season in Denver. The Avalanches 6-1 victory included a shouting match between coaches Bruce Boudreau and Roy. ... Longtime Ducks star Paul Kariya made a rare return to Honda Center for the tribute game, his good friend and longtime teammate. Selanne spent the 2003-04 season with Colorado, teaming with Kariya in a fruitless attempt to win a quick Stanley Cup. Selanne returned to Anaheim after the NHL lockout. ' ' '