Globale News » .I was thinking about Melky Cabrera the other day

NEW YORK -- The only shot the New York Rangers put past Detroits Jimmy Howard was actually meant to be a pass. Bill Madlock Jersey . Mats Zuccarello had no complaints when the puck found its way into the net. Zuccarello broke up a scoreless duel between two Olympic goalies with 5:58 remaining, lifting the Rangers to a 1-0 victory over the Red Wings on Thursday night. "It was a pass to (Benoit) Pouliot," Zuccarello said. "It was a lucky bounce, I guess. I will take that." Zuccarello floated a puck over Howard when he drove to the net, putting New Yorks 45th shot of the night into the net. Howard recognized Zuccarellos intention, he just couldnt stop it. "Bittersweet," Howard said of his 47-save performance. "Zuccarello wasnt looking to shoot that. He was looking to pass it across. Its unfortunate." It was just enough offence for Henrik Lundqvist to earn his third shutout of the season and 48th in his NHL career. Lundqvist, who made his sixth straight start, stopped 38 shots. Gustav Nyquist slipped a shot behind him with 44.5 seconds remaining, but Lundqvist reached back and covered the puck just in time. "You kind of wait for a reaction when you hear it hits the post, but then you dont get a reaction, so you know its behind you somewhere," Lundqvist said. "You dont want to make too big of a move, so I just turned around, and it was right there. Its fun when you get some puck luck. Maybe I earned it after a few tough bounces." The Red Wings were beaten 1-0 for the second straight game. Detroit, which hasnt scored a power-play goal in six games in 2014, lost at Anaheim on Sunday. "Its frustrating right now," Howard said. "We have to score more goals. We are creating a lot of chances, we just cant bear down and get them in right now. "It was fun. It was like the playoffs. But its a lot more fun to be on the winning side." The Rangers bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday and completed a 3-1 homestand. New York is 9-3-1 in its last 13 games. "This was important for us, to come back right away with a win and a strong effort," Lundqvist said. The second period played out much like the first with Lundqvist of Sweden, and American goalie Howard staring each other down at opposite ends of the rink. "I think we both felt that the next mistake is going to be the difference. And it was," Lundqvist said. "Lately, we just believe in our system and we play a really strong team game. Its been paying off lately in big games." Howard was the busier of the two, stopping 17 shots in the second after making 18 saves in the first. Lundqvist followed up his 15-save effort of the first by turning aside 10 shots in the second. As good as Howard was, in particular with a lunging glove grab from a seated position to nab Carl Hagelins shot, he got a bit of help from Kyle Quincey. The defenceman blocked a shot from Ryan Callahan that got behind Howard, and then swept the puck out of danger as the crowd cheered and groaned with 2 1-2 minutes left in the second. Lundqvist made stellar saves against Luke Glendening and Drew Miller midway through the period. "Both Hank and Howard had their A game out there," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "They were seeing the puck and controlling the rebounds. We were just fortunate to finally be able to put one past him." Howard turned aside an in-close chance by Derek Stepan just 3:17 in, and flashed his glove to knock away Brad Richards drive 40 seconds later. Howard was then drilled in the mask by Pouliots hard shot from the left point. Howard covered up the loose puck and tucked his head down to shake off the effects. Lundqvist held his ground against Olympic teammate Henrik Zetterberg in front during the first of Detroits two power plays in the opening period and then made three rapid-fire saves as the Red Wings pushed to score in a final-minute flurry. Detroit finished a 2-3 trip. "You dont get a lot of moral victories in the NHL," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "To me, the evaluation process for our group is how hard we play and how organized we are. I was pleased with that." NOTES: Lundqvist has given up fewer than three goals in six of his last eight starts. ... Detroit was again without veteran forwards Daniel Alfredsson and Pavel Datsyuk. Alfredsson (back spasms) missed his third game, and Datsyuk (lower body) sat out his fifth. ... Both teams were 0 for 2 on the power play. Bill Madlock Cubs Jersey . So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. Kosuke Fukudome Cubs Jersey . The Miami Heat star tops the leagues global list of top-selling jerseys for the 2012-13 season, edging Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and James Heat teammate Dwyane Wade for the No. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2570t-jon-lester-jersey-cubs.html . The Toronto Argonauts (11-7) look for an opportunity to repeat as CFL champions when they host the surging Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-8) on Sunday.I was thinking about Melky Cabrera the other day and his odds of being named Comeback Player of the Year. After all, he was a disaster in his first season with the Jays in 2013. It was only after the fact we learned he needed surgery to have a tumour removed from his back, which seriously impeded his abilities last season to be the player he had been in San Francisco and Kansas City. Right now Melky is hitting .298 with 11 homers and 37 runs batted, and is playing better defence in left field than at any point last year. Hes even beginning to put the PED suspension in the review mirror. Yes, he would be a worthy pick for American League Comeback Player of the year. This really is a fascinating award. Its often said it is one no player really wants to win because it means at some point your career has gone off the rails or youve suffered a serious, possibly career-threatening injury. Only one Blue Jays player has even won the award. On May 29 of 2008, second baseman Aaron Hill suffered a concussion when he collided with teammate David Eckstein. Hill missed the remainder of the season. He came back though with a vengence in 2009, batting .286 and 37 doubles, 36 homers and 108 runs batted in. He went to the All Star Game in St. Louis in July, was named Blue Jays Player of the Year, and ultimately, American League Comeback Player of the year. Its interesting that there are actually three versions of this award. The original and the one with the most historic cache was established by the Sporting News in 1965. The Players Association created its version in 1992 followed finally by Major League Baseball in 2005. Two players won it after coming back from heart attacks, Tony Conigliaro of the Red Sox in 1969 and Scarboroughs own John Hiller - the Tigers starter turned closer. In addition to Hiller another Canadian "Hall of Famer" Fergy Jenkins won the award in 1974 with Texas. In 1976, the National League honours went to Tommy John, naturally for the year he had after undergoing the landmark elbow reconstruction surgery that still bears his name. In the American League, three men have won the award twice - Norm Cash of the Tigers, "Boog" Powell of the Orioles and Royals right hander Bret Saberhagen. In the National League, the club is even more exclusive. Former Expos first baseman Andres "The Big Cat" Galaragga won in Colorado in 1993 and Atlanta in 2000, while former Blue Jays right hander Chris Carpenter won twice with St. Louis in 2004 and again in 2009. Former pitcher and current broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe stands alone as the only player to win in both leaguees. Lee Smith Jersey. He did it in 1987 with the Cubs and 1992 with Baltimore. Talk about impressive runs, from 1977 through 1979, future Hall of Famers won in the National League three years running, with Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell and Lou Brock so honoured. But the ultimate comeback story is unfolding this season in Cincinnati. Heck this guys entire career has been one gigantic comeback story. Alfredo Simon is a 33 year old right-hander out of the Dominican Republic. He was signed back in 1999 by the Phillies as an amateur free agent. But in those days he went by the name of Carlos Cabrera. He hid his true identity so he could conceal his true age. The Phillies thought he was younger and didnt find out the truth until 2004. Simon has bounced around a lot and didnt actually crack the Majors until 2008 with Baltimore. He had brief snatches of success with the 0s saving 17 games in 2010 and starting 16 in 2011, but in 2012 he was claimed on waivers by the Reds off the Orioles. Before this season, Alfredo Simon had a career record in six years of (17-18) with 19 saves. He had been with six organizations, three of them twice. Yet the other night at 33 he become the National Leagues first 10-game winner this season. In fact he is (10-3) with a 3.05 ERA and he is convinced he can pitch 200 innings this season even though his previous high was 115 2-3 with Baltimore in 2011. A truly amazing story. All of which brings us to Ricky Romero, whos been slogging it out in Triple-A Buffalo trying to find the old Ricky who used to be the ace of the Blue Jays staff three years ago. We learned Thursday, that Ricky had to undergo surgery on his left knee and is done for the rest of this season. Ricky will be 29 years old next season and in the final guaranteed year of his contract. The Jays will be paying him another $7.5 million dollars. Maybe the knee surgery will make a difference and Ricky can author the kind of comeback story that Alfredo Simon has. One more thing on Simon. He had to battle back from Tommy John surgery as well after getting injured in just his second start for the Orioles in 2009.. This weekend marks a special anniversary at Rogers Centre. Saturday it will be 14 years since the only no-hitter in the history of the facility was pitched there. Oaklands Dave Stewart accomplishing the feat on June 21, 1990. Ironically later that same night, Fernando Valenzuela no-hit St. Louis. It was the only time in Major League history two no-nos have been thrown on the same day. Three years later Stewart won a World Series with the Jays and later became their assistant General Manager. ' ' '