BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have fired executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette Scott Laughton Jersey , who launched a belated rebuilding effort in July after the team failed miserably from the start.The announcement came Wednesday night, hours after manager Buck Showalter was told by the club he would not return in 2019.Baltimore went 47-115, the worst record in Orioles’ history. Both Duquette and Showalter had contracts that expired at the end of this season.Duquette joined the Orioles in November 2011 and put together a team that ended a franchise-record run of 14 straight losing seasons by reaching the playoffs in 2012. It would be the first of five successive seasons in which Baltimore finished at least .500. The Orioles won the AL East and reached the Championship Series in 2014 before earning a wild-card berth in 2016.Following a 75-87 finish last year, Baltimore struggled from outset this season. In July, Duquette tore apart the roster by swapping Machado, Zach Britton, Jonathan Schoop and several other veterans for 15 minor league prospects and international signing bonus slot money.Duquette’s tenure in Baltimore featured the crafty signing of free agents Nelson Cruz and Mark Trumbo Womens Sean Couturier Jersey , both of whom led the majors in home runs with the Orioles. But Duquette also signed right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who went 32-42 over the length of a four-year, $50 million contract, and Baltimore is still paying the price for the seven-year, $161 million deal offered to slugger Chris Davis before the 2016 season.Davis batted .168 this season, the lowest batting average by a qualifier in major league history, and he struck out 192 times over 128 games.Duquette replaced Andy MacPhail as Baltimore’s overseer of baseball operations. Before that Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey , the 60-year-old Massachusetts native enjoyed successful tenures with the Boston Red Sox from 1994-2001 and the Montreal Expos from 1987-93. The Red Sox reached the playoffs three times under his guidance. DETROIT (AP) It was difficult to tell in the dressing room if the Detroit Red Wings were especially excited or simply relieved.Frans Nielsen scored his NHL-record 22nd shootout winner and the Red Wings edged the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 on Tuesday night to end a 10-game losing streak – their longest since 1977.”Obviously, everyone was frustrated,” goalie Jimmy Howard said. ”A lot of us have never gone through that in this dressing room. It was one of those things that just sort of snowballed.”I’m glad we were just able to find a way to get a W today.”Dylan Larkin scored twice, Luke Glendending had a goal and Evgeny Svechnikov got his first in the NHL for the Red Wings. Howard made 27 saves through overtime and stopped all three attempts he faced in the shootout.Sean Couturier, Matt Read, Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Konecny scored for the Flyers.The win didn’t come without some anxious moments for the Red Wings. They squandered 3-1 and 4-3 leads in the third period, and were forced to kill off a penalty to Danny DeKeyser that was assessed late in the third and carried into overtime.”I though the third period was exemplary of what happens when you haven’t won Andrej Sustr Jersey Womens ,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. ”You don’t have the confidence that you do when you win.”I thought our gaps got real soft, we laid back too much. Good for our guys to stay with it. I thought we had lots of chances in overtime after their power play.”Larkin gave Detroit a 1-0 lead 6:08 into the second period, whipping a wrist shot past ex-Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek on the stick side.Glendening made it 2-0 just 1:51 later when he got loose down the right wing while killing a penalty and snapped a high wrist shot over the glove-side shoulder of Mrazek.Before the power play was up, the Flyers got one back. Claude Giroux’s shot hit the post, but Couturier slammed in the rebound for his 30th of the season.The Red Wings restored their two-goal advantage at 9:57. Svechnikov corralled a loose puck and zipped it by Mrazek, who was then replaced by Alex Lyon. Mrazek stopped 16 of 19 shots before Lyon made 11 saves in relief.It was Mrazek’s first appearance in Detroit since the Feb. 19 trade that sent him to Philadelphia.”Not the way I wanted to end the game,” Mrazek said. ”I should have had that second goal.”We gave them momentum. We gave them three goals in the second period.”Read pulled the Flyers back within one when his shot found its way past Howard through traffic 7:46 into the third. Gostisbehere tied it on a Philadelphia power play at 9:40 http://www.flyersshoponline.com/authentic-nolan-patrick-jersey , wiring a wrist shot over Howard’s glove-side shoulder.Larkin’s quick shot from the slot put Detroit back in front at 14:06, but just 28 seconds later Konecny tied it when his shot crossed the goal line a split second before the net was dislodged.”The second period was God-awful for us,” Gostisbehere said. ”We were OK in the first, but we were terrible in the second.”We knew they had lost 10 in a row, so they were going to be fragile. If we could get one in the third, we had a good chance of getting a couple more, but we can’t show up in the third period and expect to win a game.”NOTES: Glendening’s goal was Detroit’s eighth short-handed this season and the 10th given up by Philadelphia. … Flyers LW Michael Raffl (lower body) missed his first game of the season. .. With three assists http://www.flyersshoponline.com/authentic-travis-konecny-jersey , Giroux moved past Eric Lindros (659 points) into fifth place on the Flyers’ career scoring list.UP NEXTPredators: Host the New York Rangers on Thursday night.Red Wings: Host the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.—

MONTREAL (AP) It was only a matter of time before the relentless Pittsburgh Penguins pulled away from the Montreal Canadiens and held them at bay.Patric Hornqvist’s second goal of the game gave the Penguins the lead in the third period Patrick Kane Jersey , and they went on to beat the Canadiens 5-3 Thursday night.Pittsburgh fell behind 2-0 early before scoring tying it late in the first period, and taking the lead in the second. The Canadiens then quickly tied it again.”It wasn’t looking good early but we stuck with it,” Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said. ”We generated some really good chances in this game. Second half of the first and the rest of the game, we played with more urgency and desperation and the result took care of itself.”Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust also scored for Pittsburgh, which remain tied with Washington in points atop the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals, however, currently hold the tiebreaker with two games in hand.Tristan Jarry made 17 saves for his 14th win of the season while starter Matt Murray remains sidelined with a concussion.Artturi Lehkonen, Paul Byron and Nicolas Deslauriers scored for Montreal, and Antti Niemi stopped 34 shots in his first regulation loss since Feb. 14.Hornqvist put Pittsburgh in front for good with 7:36 remaining in the third period by deflecting Carl Hagelin’s shot past Niemi. Rust added some insurance with an empty-netter with 1:53 left.”Give them credit. They shut us down for the latter part of the game and eventually took it over,” said Canadiens coach Claude Julien. ”They’re Stanley Cup champions for a reason. … As the game went on http://www.officialavalanche.com/authentic-adidas-alexander-kerfoot-jersey , we got worse offensively. When they get scoring chances, they score. They shot from everywhere tonight.”Montreal jumped ahead early in the first period with scores from Lehkonen and Byron.Lehkonen deflected Jeff Petry’s shot past Jarry at 3:13 for his fourth goal in four games, and Byron made it 2-0 at 6:31 as he knocked in a rebound on the power play for his 17th.The Penguins had two shots on net at that point, but the deficit seemed to act as a wake-up call.Kessel got Pittsburgh on the board at 10:05 on a 2-on-1 with Rust after a giveaway by Petry in his own zone.Hornqvist tied it 2-2 when his centering pass to Hagelin in front of goal went off Byron’s stick and trickled past his own goalie.It was all Pittsburgh in the second period as they outshot the Canadiens 18-4, but they only had one goal to show for their efforts.Malkin put the Penguins in front 3-2 at 10:30 with a one-timer from the faceoff dot while playing with the man advantage.”Line after line they come at you,” Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher said. ”You make a mistake and you spend a couple of minutes in your own zone. That wears you down as the game goes on. … We’re disappointed with the result but we were playing one of the best teams in the league. You can see why. It was a struggle for us tonight to create offense.”Montreal tied it when Deslauriers found himself all alone in the slot two minutes later. The 27-year-old beat Jarry top shelf for his eighth.NOTES: Penguins F Sidney Crosby had an assist on Malkin’s goal to move two away from 800 in his career.UP NEXTPenguins: At the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.Canadiens: At Toronto on Saturday night. CHICAGO (AP) What was left of the United Center crowd was mostly quiet while the final seconds of an era ticked off Tuesday night. There was no big rally for the Chicago Blackhawks. No final charge.It’s over.The NHL playoffs will go on without Chicago for the first time in a decade after the Blackhawks were eliminated from contention with a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Injuries, aging stars and inexperience combined to sink Chicago after a wildly successful run that included three Stanley Cup titles.”It’s been a tough, tough stretch here,” coach Joel Quenneville said.Quenneville was coaching Colorado the last time Chicago missed the playoffs. The former NHL defenseman and the Avalanche decided to part ways after the team was swept by Detroit in the second round of the 2008 postseason, and he replaced Denis Savard after the Blackhawks fired the Hall of Famer four games into the following season.What followed was the most successful decade in franchise history. Led by a core group of stars that included Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith Erik Condra Jersey Womens , Chicago won three Stanley Cups and reached the conference finals two more times while appearing in the playoffs for nine straight seasons.But it looks as if age and an annual dance with the salary cap might have finally caught up to the Blackhawks (30-35-9), who are last in the Central Division with eight games left on their schedule.”We’ve had some terrific players and some really good teams, real good depth,” Quenneville said. ”We didn’t always have good starts to the season, but had a lot of options to work with as a staff. The building was rocking and we’re good at home, and we’re successful on the road, real consistent.”This has been the one year we’ve been unpredictable in our game, and our possession game has been the one area that we’ve nailed. This year, we didn’t get to that level we needed to get to.”An injury to two-time All-Star goaltender Corey Crawford also contributed to Chicago’s rapid decline. The 33-year-old Crawford hasn’t played since Dec. 23 due to an upper-body injury, and it has been a steep drop-off to backups Anton Forsberg, Jean-Francois Berube and Jeff Glass.The Blackhawks also have been without top forward Marian Hossa all season due to severe side effects from medication to treat a progressive skin disorder. It’s unclear if he will ever play again.”You’re always going to have key injuries Carl Soderberg Jersey ,” Quenneville said. ”Always going to have significant injuries, have some things go against you. But we’ve always been able to overcome them and find ways rectify some tough situations and get back on track. This year we’ve been unable to do it.”Chicago still might have been able to make a playoff run if not for its other issues. Toews, Keith and key defenseman Brent Seabrook are showing signs of age after years of long playoff runs and international play. The Blackhawks’ young defensemen have experienced some growing pains, and Brandon Saad has struggled in his return to Chicago after an offseason trade with Columbus.But the Blackhawks just got a closer look at a possible roadmap for a return to contention.The Avalanche are in prime position to return to the playoffs after going 22-56-4 last season. Top goaltender Semyon Varlamov is healthy again after playing in just 24 games a year ago. Mikko Rantanen has developed into an offensive presence at age 21, and rookie Alexander Kerfoot scored twice against Chicago to get to 17 goals on the season.”There’s a great example in the team we played today, and in how far out you can be, and how quickly you can recapture that winning attitude and that feeling and get right back in the race,” Quenneville said after the Blackhawks’ sixth loss in seven games.”The playoff picture’s probably completely different than a lot of people anticipated. That’s how close teams are when they begin a year, and things can go right from goaltending to special teams to top players. There’s a number of ways where you can make a difference and new young players are certainly a part of that equation.”—Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap—

If the New Jersey Devils wish to again consider themselves a serious playoff contender this season Adidas Marian Hossa Jersey , there is no better test early on than to skate against the defending Stanley Cup champions.That is precisely what the Devils (1-0-0) will do Thursday night when they play their home opener at Prudential Center against the Washington Capitals (2-0-1).The Devils earned their first playoff berth in six seasons a year ago, finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference, before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. They started 2018-19 on the right foot last Saturday, skating to a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers as part of the NHL’s Global Series in Gothenburg, Sweden.Article continues below ...“I think we grew as a team, really got that brotherhood together, going all over Europe, it really brought everyone closer together,” Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid said of the team’s week-long trip to Switzerland and Sweden. “And I think it showed out there. All the hard work really added up.”Veteran forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac both scored twice in the win, while Miles Wood added a pair of assists and Kinkaid stopped 17 of 19 shots.Now Adidas Chris Wagner Jersey , after some long travel home, one practice and a couple days off, the Devils host a division rival that won hockey’s ultimate prize last spring.“You have your home opener, against the defending Stanley Cup champs, so we’re expecting our guys to be ready to go, our fans and building to be excited,” said Devils coach John Hynes.Kinkaid, who won a career-high 26 games last season while filling in for injured No. 1 goalie Cory Schneider, will start against the Capitals. Schneider remains sidelined following offseason hip surgery and is getting closer to a return to action.With Washington playing on back-to-back nights, 26-year-old backup Pheonix Copley will make his Capitals debut between the pipes Thursday. It will be only his second career NHL game — and third appearance overall.In his only other NHL start Adidas Joakim Nordstrom Jersey , Copley allowed five goals on 29 shots for the St. Louis Blues in a loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 21, 2017. Last year with Hershey in the AHL, Copley was 15-17-6 with a 2.91 GAA and .896 save percentage.“My mindset is to get better every game, give the team a chance to win every time they give me an opportunity to play,” Copley told the team’s web site.The Capitals are coming off a 5-2 home-ice victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in a Stanley Cup rematch Wednesday night. Washington already has 18 goals through the season’s first three games.Alex Ovechkin scored a pair against the Golden Knights, giving him four goals on the season. His 611 career goals move Ovechkin past Bobby Hull for 17th place on the NHL’s all-time list.Ovechkin’s teammate T.J. Oshie also netted his fourth goal; and both players have scored goals in all three games, so far.The No. 1 Caps star on Wednesday, though, was Evgeny Kuznetsov, who had four points with a goal and three assists.“He’s my favorite player to watch play in the NHL Timothy Liljegren Jersey Womens ,” Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom told NBCSN. “He’s just dancing out there.”The Devils beat the Capitals only once at the Prudential Center the past four seasons; and last year Washington won three of four games overall with New Jersey’s only win being an overtime victory on home ice. RALEIGH, N.C. — The Pittsburgh Penguins have lots going for them recently.And it might be getting even better.That’s because they tapped another source for production earlier this week.Article continues below ...This could spell more trouble for the Carolina Hurricanes, who’ve been unable to snap out of it, when the teams meet Saturday night at PNC Arena.Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust scored two goals in Thursday night’s 2-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild. That gives him five goals in a six-game stretch.It’s almost like giving the Penguins a bonus considering that Rust, a 26-year-old winger, had one goal in his first 29 games this season.“Rusty does so many things beyond the numbers,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “Certainly when he helps us offensively, it’s a boost for our team. His speed is evident. He’s confident. We’re thrilled that it’s going in the net for him.”There’s a serious tone coming from the Hurricanes, who’ve sputtered to a 2-5-2 mark across their last nine games.Thursday night’s 4-1 home loss to the Detroit Red Wings resulted in a prolonged postgame meeting.“We’re not tough enough,” Carolina captain Justin Williams said. “We dominate stretches of periods and maybe feel that we should be leading. We’re not mentally tough enough to stay Antoine Roussel Jersey Womens , ‘All right, that didn’t go our way. Let’s stick with it.’ “Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said the team’s ongoing scoring woes are draining for the team.“We got away from our game,” he said in reference to the Detroit game. “When you don’t score, you try to be too cute. … It’s all predicated on just not scoring. Guys trying to do too much. That definitely doesn’t work for us.”The Hurricanes outshot the Red Wings 39-24 but it didn’t matter.“Regardless of age or experience, everyone in here has played on good teams,” Williams said. “Everyone knows what the good feelings are when things are going well.”More than two months into the season, Brind’Amour said seeing the team waver too much from the game plan is trouble.“It doesn’t work when we get away (from the system),” he said. “To see that creep in. … No one will feel sorry for you. You have to believe that your game plan is good enough to win.”The Penguins have points in eight of their last 10 games.“We’re taking what they give us and not trying to force plays that aren’t there,” Sullivan said. “Having success the last couple of games, it’s important for our confidence.”It’s not all rosy for the Penguins. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak has been sidelined by a concussion.For Carolina Tim Schaller Jersey Womens , rookie right winger Andrei Svechnikov has a four-game points streak. He has scored a total of four goals across the past four games, giving him 10 goals for the season.“We can’t be sitting here relying on an 18-year-old to be the guy to get it done,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s not the plan, that’s for sure.”In Thursday’s loss, center Jordan Staal and left winger Micheal Ferland returned to the Hurricanes lineup, so getting them back in a groove is a priority. Staal missed the five games, while Ferland sat out seven of eight games — both dealing with concussions.This will be the first of four meetings this season between Pittsburgh and Carolina.

TAMPA Womens Jared Spurgeon Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning completed a successful opening stretch at home.Stamkos scored his first goal of the season, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 29 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Thursday night.Stamkos ended a 16-game regular-season goal drought dating to last season from the slot with 4:41 left in the second. The goal gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead.“It’s always nice to get your first of the year and get it going,” Stamkos said.Vasilevskiy, 7-0-0 against Detroit, stopped Christoffer Ehn’s shot during a 2-on-none short-handed break in the first and made a post-to-post glove save on Frans Nielsen during a second period 2-on-1.Brayden Point and Alex Killorn also scored for the Lightning, who went 4-1-0 on a season-opening homestand. Tampa Bay has won 12 in a row against the Red Wings.“You get four of five, you have to be happy Jason Zucker Jersey ,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.Detroit, winless at 0-5-2, got a goal from Luke Glendening, and Jimmy Howard stopped 28 shots. It’s the Red Wings’ worst season-opening stretch since opening the 1985-86 season with eight losses and a tie.“It’s not fun, that’s for sure” Howard said. “We’ve just to keep moving along.”The Red Wings were coming off a 7-3 drubbing at Montreal Monday.“The second period at Montreal was a joke,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “We lost our structure totally. I thought we got our structure back, for sure.Howard made a strong save on Stamkos during a 3-on-1 in the third.Killorn made it 3-1 on a late empty-netter.Point opened the scoring 7:33 into the game when Yanni Gourde’s pass went off his skate and pass Howard. Glendening tied it on a rebound at 6:30 of the second.Tampa Bay remains the lone NHL team not allowing a power-play goal Joel Eriksson Ek Jersey , running its season-opening streak to 23 after Detroit went 0 for 5.“Huge PK,” Vasilevskiy said. “I thought we played well.”Tampa Bay right wing Ryan Callahan played for the first time since offseason right shoulder surgery.The Red Wings injury-depleted defensive corps got the return of Trevor Daley, who had an assist after missing four games with a neck injury. Mike Green (virus) and Jonathan Ericsson (upper body) both practiced with the team. Danny DeKeyser (hand) is also out.NOTES: Tampa Bay has also won 12 straight at home against the Red Wings. … Stamkos has an eight-game point streak against Detroit (six goals, 11 points). … Tampa Bay acquired F Mitch Hults from Anaheim in return for future considerations and assigned him to Syracuse of the AHL. C Cory Conacher was reassigned and F Danick Martel sent for a conditional stint to Syracuse. … Red Wings Anthony Mantha is minus-11 on the season.UP NEXTRed Wings: Play Saturday at Florida.Lightning: Start a four-game trip Saturday at Minnesota. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The San Jose Sharks ended their longest homestand of the season on a high note and now look to carry that forward on the road as they seek to solidify a playoff berth.Eric Fehr scored his first goal with San Jose and the Sharks closed a six-game homestand by handing the Detroit Red Wings their seventh straight loss, 5-3 on Monday night.”We understood that if we win this game it would be a pretty successful homestand,” said captain Joe Pavelski Authentic Marcus Johansson Jersey , who had two assists. ”That’s what we did. Now we can leave with a little momentum and take this game on the road.”Joonas Donskoi, Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier also scored to help the Sharks win for the fourth time on the homestand and remain in second place in the Pacific Division with a two-point lead over Los Angeles. Chris Tierney added an empty-net goal to seal it.Martin Jones made 23 saves for the Sharks, who start a three-game Canadian road trip on Wednesday in Edmonton.”This was an important win for us,” coach Peter DeBoer said. ”Obviously we got a tough schedule coming up. We go on the road and some tough buildings. It was important we got the win tonight. We did enough to get the win. It wasn’t a textbook game, but we did a lot of good stuff.”Henrik Zetterberg, Trevor Daley and Gustav Nyquist scored for the Red Wings, who matched their longest losing streak of the season. Jimmy Howard stopped 29 shots.”We have to limit our mistakes Michael Hutchinson Jersey Womens ,” Howard said. ”If we’re going to be successful out there we can’t make the mistakes that we do because they kill us.”Fehr gave the Sharks the lead for good during a long delayed penalty in the first period. With San Jose having the extra attacker, Fehr got in front of the net, where he deflected Brenden Dillon’s point shot past Howard for his first goal in eight games with the Sharks since being acquired from Toronto last month.The Sharks made it 3-1 early in the second when Labanc poked in a rebound after Howard stopped Tierney on a breakaway.The Red Wings made it a one-goal game later in the second when Tyler Bertuzzi deflected a shot off the post and Nyquist knocked it in off the goal line.Detroit appeared to get the equalizer on the power play later in the second but Anthony Mantha’s goal was immediately waved off because he redirected it into the net with his skate.The teams then traded goals early in the third, with Meier scoring on the power play when he deflected a shot from Mikkel Boedker and Zetterberg answering for Detroit off a nice pass from Nyquist.That goal moved Zetterberg into sole possession of fifth place for the Red Wings with his 336th, breaking a tie with Ted Lindsay.”Ted means a lot to me, so passing him and doing it in this building too where I played my first NHL game is really special,” Zetterberg said.The Sharks looked flat at the start in a game that meant much more to them than the Red Wings http://www.officialdevils.com/authentic-adidas-miles-wood-jersey , who are 15 points out of playoff position. But Detroit took seven of the first eight shots on goal and led 1-0 after Daley took a pass from Zetterberg in the slot and beat Jones.The momentum shifted after San Jose killed a penalty and the Sharks took the lead with a pair in a span of less than two minutes. The first came off the rush, when Evander Kane took a cross-ice pass from Pavelski and slid it back across the crease to Donskoi, who tapped it into the open net for his 14th goal.”There was some of the talk when it happened of `Get this kill and get a little momentum going,”’ Pavelski said. ”The game wasn’t going well at that point so it was huge for us to come back.”Fehr added his goal 1:44 later for his first since Jan. 18, 2017, for Pittsburgh against Montreal.NOTES: Bertuzzi had three assists. … The Sharks allowed the first goal in five of six games on the homestand.UP NEXTRed Wings: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.Sharks: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.—

The Philadelphia Phillies (55-44) will attempt to even their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (56-44) on Tuesday in a pick'em matchup between two National League division leaders. The Dodgers won the series opener 7-6 on Monday behind solo home runs by Max Muncy Kennys Vargas Jersey , Yasmani Grandal, Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson to help them keep a 1.5-game lead in the NL West.MLB betting line: The Phillies opened as -125 favorites (wager $125 to win $100); the total is at 7.5 runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 3.6-2.6, Phillies (MLB picks on every game)Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.Why the Dodgers can pay on the MLB linesLos Angeles continues to look like the NL's best team following the acquisition of Manny Machado, who went 1-for-5 with a run scored against the Phillies after coming over in a trade from the Baltimore Orioles.Next up for the Dodgers in their rotation is Kenta Maeda (7-5, 3.12 ERA), who has pitched well in his past five outings. Maeda has given up a total of four earned runs during that stretch of 18.2 innings, including a brief relief appearance last time out in which he earned a victory after coming in for Clayton Kershaw right before the MLB All-Star break. He is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA on the road.Why the Phillies can pay on the MLB linesWhile Maeda has been solid lately, Philadelphia ace Aaron Nola (12-3, 2.30) has been even better. Despite seeing his personal six-game winning streak end in his last start, the 25-year-old first-time NL All-Star did not get run one run of support in that outing, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings of a 2-0 defeat to the Miami Marlins on July 14.Before that Bert Blyleven Jersey , Nola surrendered two runs in his previous three starts combined totaling 21.2 innings with just five walks and 27 strikeouts. He also began his recent winning streak at Los Angeles, giving up only one run and two hits in seven innings on May 31.Smart betting pickThe Phillies have alternated wins and losses in their five meetings with the Dodgers this year, according to the OddsShark MLB Database, which means they are due for a victory here, right? That trend aside, Philadelphia is positioned perfectly to bounce back with a win in this spot because the team has the superior starting pitcher on the mound. MLB betting trendsLos Angeles is 6-2 in its last eight games.Philadelphia is 12-6 in its last 18 games.The total has gone under in 16 of Philadelphia's last 23 games. All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app. ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The new manager of the Texas Rangers, whomever that may be, will have a talented group of 20-something position players who got a lot of experience during a 95-loss season.After deciding who will replace Jeff Banister, general manager Jon Daniels has to find some starting pitchers.The Rangers also go into the offseason awaiting a final decision from future Hall of Fame third baseman Adrian Beltre on if he has indeed played his last game after 21 seasons in the majors with 3,166 hits and 477 home runs. He hit a team-best .273 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs in 119 games this year. Beltre got huge ovations from fans, teammates and opposing players when taken out midway through games the past two Sundays — in the home finale Sept. 23 and then Sunday in Seattle, where he played five seasons before one year in Boston and the last eight in Texas. His wife and 12-year-old son http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-o_neill-jersey , who has his own locker next to his dad in the home clubhouse, were in the front row for the season finale.“I don’t know if this is going to be it, but I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Beltre, who turns 40 next April. He is expected to take a week or more to think things over.Shortstop Elvis Andrus, at 30 the team’s longest-tenured player with 10 seasons in Texas, also has a decision to make. He is halfway through a $120 million, eight-year contract that offers him the opportunity to opt out this offseason, or next, and become a free agent.“I’ll go into the offseason and decide what’s best. I love being here. I want to retire as a Ranger. That’s my motivation,” said Andrus, the only current Rangers player to be part of both of their World Series appearances. “Hopefully the big boy will come back. That will make it a lot easier.”As for the manager, bench coach Don Wakamatsu served in the interim role after Banister was fired with 10 games left and is considered a candidate for the job.The Rangers won the AL West in each of Banister’s first two years (2015-16). They now have consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2005-08, though Daniels said that wasn’t necessarily the manager’s fault when the focus switched to the development of younger players.Seven position players 25 or younger played at least 106 games this season.That includes Jurickson Profar Jacoby Ellsbury Jersey , the likely starting third baseman if Beltre retires. Profar, who at age 19 in 2012 homered in his first big-league at-bat before shoulder issues forced him to miss two full seasons, hit .254 with 20 homers and 77 RBIS in 146 games while playing all four infield positions. Joey Gallo, the 24-year-old slugger, had his second 40-homer season in a row.MINOR ACHIEVEMENTWhen Mike Minor signed a three-year contract last offseason, he was coming off a season as a full-time reliever after missing two years because of left shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old lefty went 12-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 28 starts. He was the only pitcher to start and finish the season in the Rangers rotation. His 157 innings more than doubled his 77 2-3 in Kansas City last season.REST OF ROTATIONLefty Cole Hamels was traded in July to the Chicago Cubs, and inconsistent lefty Martin Perez likely won’t be brought back. Bartolo Colon, the 45-year-old right hander who became the winningest pitcher born in Latin America, isn’t coming back. Yovani Gallardo was 8-8 with a 5.77 ERA in 18 starts after rejoining Texas in June, right after injured Doug Fister (1-7, 4.50) made his final start.THUMB DOWNNomar Mazara missed a month on the disabled list because a sprained right thumb that still bothered him after returning to the lineup in mid-August. The 23-year-old right-fielder didn’t homer in his last 22 games, and hit 258 overall in 128 games with 20 homers for the third year in a row. He will see hand specialist this week and could have surgery.BALLPARK FAREWELLThe Rangers’ ballpark turns 25 next year, which will be the final season there before moving in 2020 to the new stadium being built across the street. The 2019 farewell season for the current ballpark opens March 28 against the Chicago Cubs — maybe against Hamels or Yu Darvish.

WASHINGTON (AP) Nicklas Backstrom did so well on faceoffs with an injured hand he even surprised himself.”It’s the playoffs Christopher Tanev Jersey ,” Backstrom said after the Washington Capitals‘ 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night that evened the Eastern Conference final at two games apiece. ”You’ve just got to grind. It felt good on the first couple faceoffs, so I just kept taking them.”Returning from a four-game absence with a right hand injury, Backstrom won six of nine faceoffs and looked more like himself as the night wore on. With Game 5 looming Saturday night at Tampa Bay, Backstrom’s improvement is one of the keys to Washington bouncing back from consecutive home losses.”I should get back to normal,” Backstrom said after playing 18:51 night in his return. ”I feel really good. I don’t know (how normal) exactly. If I didn’t feel good, I wouldn’t play. The doctors wouldn’t let me play, either.”Team doctors cleared Backstrom to play around lunchtime, and by pregame warmups he was drawing an ovation from fans thrilled to see him back in the lineup. The crowd roared when Backstrom won the faceoff on his first shift, and he got back into a rhythm centering the third line.”It was so fun to be back out there,” Backstrom said. ”It’s where everyone wants to be. You want to be on the ice. It’s just too bad we didn’t get the win.”A hard-luck loss included two penalties by fill-in No. 2 center Lars Eller, who has five in the past two games. Coach Barry Trotz didn’t mess with his top two lines, but Backstrom could easily be promoted to skate with Jakub Vrana and T.J. Oshie in Game 5.”We’re going to need him pushing forward, especially now that he has a game under him,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. ”He’ll take on more minutes and a bigger role. You could tell as the game went on he was getting more and more comfortable, so he’s going to be a much-needed asset for us in these next few games, for sure.”Backstrom appears ready to do that. The 30-year-old Swedish center hadn’t played since taking a slap shot from Pittsburgh’s Justin Schultz on May 5, but if it were up to him, he would have been back much sooner.”Nick has been champing at the bit for a while now Authentic Daniel Sedin Jersey ,” said Trotz, lauding Backstrom’s game. ”We’ve been holding him back a little bit, but he’s ready to go.”Even on a team featuring Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals have gone how Backstrom has gone for the better part of a decade. He’s the second-longest-tenured player on the team, and this was his first career game in the conference finals.”As a hockey player, you want to play,” Backstrom said. ”It feels nice to be back.”— BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills were so dull during their lean years, comedian Nick Bakay feared his body would fuse to the couch while watching them play.”It’s an incredibly disturbing image,” Bakay said of wasting away Sundays witnessing his hometown team sleepwalk through one loss after another during a 17-season playoff drought that ended last year.”I never missed a Bills game. But I was always slumped on my couch. I was never sitting forward. I was never jumping to my feet,” said Bakay, who wrote ”Paul Blart: Mall Cop” and its sequel, and produced and appeared on the TV sitcom ”King of Queens.” ”You sit on your couch, and your couch slowly eats you.”No different for fans of Buffalo’s other pro sports franchise, the NHL’s Sabres, who finished last for the third time in five years and extended their franchise-worst playoff drought to a seventh season.In a shot-and-a-beer town where the winters are interminably long, Buffalo sports fans ride things out on the notion of renewal always being just around the corner.And there’s a new, palpable optimism for this hearty fan base Womens Derek Dorsett Jersey , thanks to a three-day stretch which showed potential to alter the trajectory of both teams.First, the Bills made a pair of splashes in the first round of the NFL draft on April 26 by trading up to select Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen and Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.Two days later, the Sabres won the NHL draft lottery – something Buffalo lost the previous two times it finished last – and the opportunity to select projected No. 1 pick, Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.During the NFL draft, CBS Evening News anchor Jeff Glor got dirty looks from his wife during a rare dinner date sneaking peeks at the Bills’ picks. He then yelped with excitement upon learning the Sabres won the lottery while attending the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington.”I had just resigned myself to never winning it,” Glor said. ”But listen, I always have hope.”In Buffalo, there’s a fine line between affection and affliction for hope.”I always try to keep it in check a little bit,” said Glor, who grew up in the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda.”Unfortunately, you get conditioned to where there are times you can be defeatist. And you try not to be. But you just don’t give up.”Fans have little choice but to persevere in a place where nickname-worthy moments are tied to losses.For the Bills, it’s ”Wide Right,” after kicker Scott Norwood missed a last-second field-goal attempt in a 20-19 loss to the New York Giants in the 1991 Super Bowl – the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses.For the Sabres, it’s ”No Goal,” following a 2-1, triple-overtime loss to Dallas in Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final. Brett Hull’s Cup-clinching goal stood even though replays showed his skate in the crease.Those were the so-called glory days.The Bills and Sabres have won five playoff games combined since 2008. By comparison, the NHL’s expansion Vegas Golden Knights have already won eight in their first year of existence.Buffalo joins Nashville, Tennessee Auston Matthews Jersey , and Charlotte, North Carolina, as the only North American markets with two or more major pro teams to not have won a title.”I think it builds character in a way. I joke with my friends that one day my kids will have to go through therapy because we are Sabres, Bills and Mets fans,” said former VH1-cable TV chief Tom Calderone, who’s from Long Island, New York, but got his broadcasting start in Buffalo and maintains a home in the city. ”It’s easy to be a Cowboys fan or a Patriots fan. But it takes true dedication to be a Bills or Sabres fan.”Calderone sees more hope reflected in signs of resurgence for the city itself.The former site of the Erie Canal has been transformed from vacant gravel lots to parkland, a water park that doubles as an ice rink in winter, and an entertainment/hockey complex built by Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula.Housing prices have tripled and a medical corridor is newly bustling along Main Street, where shuttered and boarded-up buildings have been renovated or replaced by new steel and glass structures.Buffalo still has its rust-belt blemishes as one of the nation’s poorest cities. Racial inequities, failing schools and a crumbling infrastructure remain issues.The Bills and Sabres aren’t immune to troubling headlines. Last week, the two teams’ president Russ Brandon resigned amid allegations of having inappropriate relationships with female employees.Buffalo might never regain the industrial-age prominence it held in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the city became a Great Lakes shipping hub as the gateway to the Erie Canal.Nor, however, should it become the punchline comedian Jon Stewart once delivered during a stop in Buffalo, calling the city the gateway to the Ontario border town of Fort Erie just across the Niagara River – population 30,000.Watching a documentary on former Bills running back O.J. Simpson Connor Brown Jersey , Bakay was reminded of the gloomy times in the 1970s when the steel mills began closing and legions of people left to find jobs.”It depressed me so much,” he said. ”Every shot of Buffalo looked like a moose that farted into the sky.”The decline led to Buffalo investing its psyche into its sports teams as a way of remaining part of the national conversation.”Our teams were the only way we could punch back and say, `Yeah, we’re here,”’ Bakay said.Allen and the prospect of adding Dahlin have recaptured his imagination as to what’s possible.”It’s like all of a sudden we’ve got go-big-or-go-home-talent coming our way,” Bakay said.He recalled how the Bills once pinned their hopes on quarterback Trent Edwards, who earned the nickname ”Captain Checkdown” for being overly cautious.”After years of the Trent Edwards of the world, we get a kid who has that kind of talent,” Bakay said.Maybe, he’ll finally be able to get off that couch.”I don’t think we need any kind of help of, `Can we believe?’ We can believe in a bag of doughnuts,” Bakay said. ”But that weekend was like, `Oh my god. Things are really happening. Pinch me.”’—This story has been corrected to note Tom Calderone is from Long Island, New York.

WASHINGTON (AP) The Buffalo Sabres held out forward Evander Kane from Saturday night’s matchup against the Washington Capitals.Kane acknowledged this past week he expects to be dealt before the NHL trade deadline on Monday.Kane is second on Buffalo with 20 goals behind the injured Jack Eichel and is third in points (44) behind Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly.The productive left wing has scored at least 20 goals in all three seasons with the Sabres.The Sabres are last in the Eastern Conference.”Management thought it was the best decision moving forward and the best decision for Evander Adidas Leo Komarov Jersey ,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said before the game.Kane becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.”It’s always difficult when you come to these situations when you’re taking 20 goals out of the lineup,” Housley said. ”I understand the business part of it.”— BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Brian Gionta is returning for a 16th NHL season after the Boston Bruins signed the United States Olympic team captain to a one-year $700 Adidas Valtteri Filppula Jersey ,000 contract.The Bruins announced the signing on Sunday, a few hours after they acquired veteran forward Rick Nash in a multiplayer trade with the New York Rangers.Gionta joins the Bruins after competing at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, where the U.S. was eliminated following a 3-2 shootout loss to the Czech Republic in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday. The 39-year-old held off signing with an NHL team in free agency last summer in order to pursue an opportunity to compete at the Olympics.Gionta spent the previous three seasons as captain of the Buffalo Sabres. He was also captain of the Montreal Canadiens Adidas Dylan DeMelo Jersey , and won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2003.Overall, he has 289 goals and 588 points in 1,006 NHL games.The Bruins are in Buffalo to play the Sabres on Sunday.The signing marks a homecoming of sorts for Gionta Adidas Paul Carey Jersey , who spent four seasons playing for Boston College. Gionta is from nearby Rochester, New York, and has a home in Buffalo.The Bruins also placed defenseman Paul Postma on waivers.—

ST. LOUIS (AP) — David Perron likes his new line.Perron scored his fourth career hat trick Radek Faksa Jersey , Alexander Steen had a goal and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Calgary Flames 5-3 on Thursday night.Joel Edmundson also scored and Brayden Schenn had three assists as the Blues won for the first time this season. Jake Allen made 31 saves.Before the game, Blues coach Mike Yeo moved Perron up to the second line with Schenn and Jaden Schwartz.“It’s quite different for sure,” Perron said. “Kind of what I was used from last year. It’s great. I thought (Steen’s) goal really gave us some energy, too. It was good.”James Neal, Derek Ryan and Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames. Mike Smith was pulled following the second period after allowing five goals on 24 shots.Perron gave the Blues a 2-1 lead midway through the first period. Edmundson, making his season debut after missing the first two games with a sore groin, made it 3-1 Blues with 2:38 left in the first, beating Smith high glove side.Perron’s second goal early in the second made it 4-1. Smith misplayed the puck behind the net, allowing Schenn to steal it and find Perron alone in front with an empty net.“He’s known to go play the puck and it just bounced on him,” Schenn said. “I saw the D-man over my right shoulder and I knew I couldn’t take it to the net and I saw Perron at full speed and I was just able to get it to him.”Perron, playing in his third stint with the Blues, completed the hat trick with 35 seconds left in the second. His last hat trick also came at Calgary’s expense on Oct. 22, 2016.“It feels great for sure,” Perron said. “We had a good practice week and I think that a lot of people were starting to panic (with the slow start) but I don’t think the players were.”Neal gave the Flames a 1-0 lead at 7:32 of the first. Sam Bennett set it up with a nice move in front, causing Allen to commit and leaving an opening for Neal.“I put pressure on myself to score every night and it’s nice to get my first one in a Flames jersey,” Neal said.Steen answered for the Blues just 16 seconds later. The goal gave Steen 453 career points, surpassing Al MacInnis for seventh in Blues history.Allen got help from his post on Sean Monahan’s penalty shot late in the first period. He also made several tough saves as the Blues killed off a 5-on-3 for 1:35 late in the second period.“It was big, didn’t give them any momentum Authentic Stephen Johns Jersey , which was huge,” Allen said. “So I think that was the biggest thing at the end of the day what came out of it. If they got a goal out of it that may have generated a little more positivity on their side so it was nice to shut that down.”Ryan and Backlund scored in the third for Calgary to cut the deficit to two.NOTES: David Rittich stopped eight shots in relief of Smith. … Blues rookie centers Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas each earned their first career points with assists. … Flames C Dillon Dube (lower body) had an assist, despite missing practice on Wednesday. … The Blues scratched RW Chris Thorburn, D Vince Dunn and D Jordan Schmaltz. … The Flames scratched D Dalton Prout, RW Garnet Hathaway and C Mark Jankowski.UP NEXTCalgary: Visits Colorado on Saturday night.St. Louis: Visits Chicago on Saturday night. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Nick Foligno sent the text message on Sunday to his family members , promising an enjoyable evening of experiencing and watching the NHL playoffs.”This is going to be a big night for the Folignos,” he tapped out on his smartphone.Make it a big week, actually.For the first time in the seven years they’ve been in the league together, both Foligno brothers are skating in the postseason. Marcus Foligno is getting his first taste, with the Minnesota Wild. Nick Foligno has returned for a third appearance with the Columbus Blue Jackets and his sixth overall.Their even-more-famous father, Mike Foligno, is having a blast as the unpaid consultant, proud pop and unabashed fan.”He’s got no voice. He was yelling at the TV last night,” Marcus said Monday, the day after he scored for the Wild in their win over Winnipeg in Game 3. ”With him playing, I think he still gets that energy, gets that adrenaline pumping, when he sees us play.”Mike scored 247 times over 15 seasons in the NHL Youth Tyler Pitlick Jersey , making his mark during a full decade with Buffalo when he celebrated goals with a signature two-legged leap straight up in the air from the ice . Marcus started his career there, too, in 2011 before the Sabres traded him to Minnesota last summer . Nick debuted in 2007 with the Ottawa Senators until being dealt to Columbus in 2012.”We’re trying to do something special here as a family,” Nick said after the Blue Jackets beat Washington in Game 2, ”and it’s been pretty cool.”They’re dearly missing a critical member of the clan.Janis Foligno, the mother to Nick and Marcus and their two sisters , died in 2009 of breast cancer. The boys have kept her memory alive through their performance on the ice and their philanthropy off it, with a foundation in her name created to fight the disease and support cancer victims. Nick and his wife also donated $1 million to children’s hospitals in Columbus and Boston, where their now-4-year-old daughter had a congenital heart defect repaired.So they play on for a greater purpose, with Mike keeping a keen eye on the boys.”There are always things to do better. He sees it. He watches the game. He scouted for a long time, and he coached for a long time in the league,” Marcus said. ”He just knows how we’re capable of playing, and that’s the biggest thing. He wants us to be the best players out there and be the best role players for our team.”Nick has long had the more prominent role, as a first-round draft pick and now the captain of the Blue Jackets whose profile in the community includes pizza commercials and charitable endeavors. His 33 points was his lowest total in five seasons, and he missed time with a lower-body injury, but the 30-year-old’s versatility to play center or either wing spot on any of the first three lines has been ever valuable to coach John Tortorella.Marcus has been more of a niche player. He had a career-high 13 goals and a career-most 80 games for the Sabres last season, but after arriving in Minnesota in a trade last summer his adjustment at age 26 to a deeper team and a lesser role took several months. It included some healthy scratches.”We all want to score 30 goals and be impactful,” coach Bruce Boudreau said, ”but he’s got a four-year deal so in time he’ll get into that situation.”The Wild trail the Jets 3-1 entering Game 5 on Friday Womens Tyler Seguin Jersey , but their trouble has mostly been an unproductive series by some of their skilled forwards playing more minutes. Playing on the fourth line with Daniel Winnik and Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus has found a groove down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs.”Whether it’s 10 or 12 minutes, he gets out there, he plays really hard, and he’s been very effective,” Boudreau said.Which brings us back to that Sunday prediction of a big night for the Foligno boys.Marcus became a major figure in Game 3 for the Wild with a goal and his collision at the boards with Jets defenseman Tyler Myers that knocked his former Sabres teammate out of the game with a lower-body injury.Nick and the Blue Jackets, who lead their series 2-1 entering Game 4 on Thursday, won in overtime about an hour later. Nick was sorry to have missed the goal by Marcus, but he was elated to hear his proclamation came true.The brothers communicate almost daily, providing tips for each other along with standard pick-me-ups and sibling ribbing. After Nick took a puck to the face in Game 1, Marcus teased him by reminding him that goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was the one paid to get in the way of the pucks.”You don’t realize how special it is, but I raced back after dinner to watch your brother play in the playoffs,” Nick said. ”It’s a pretty cool feeling.”—AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington and AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.—

Note: This is my first article as a contributor at Cat Scratch Reader. I’ve been an everyday reader and infrequent fan poster here for about ten years. It is an honor and pleasure for me to contribute and I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy creating it.In this segment we’ll take a look at the progress and projections of each of the Panthers 2018 draft picks. Six weeks from now we’ll revisit this report and see just how each rookie stacks up against their pace from the first third of the season. Hopefully Color Rush Devin Funchess Jersey , we see some exponential returns as the game slows down for these first year Panthers.D.J. Moore, WR—Round 1, Pick 24 (No. 24 overall)Through six gamesReceiving13 receptions (18 targets)191 yards1 touchdownRushing46 yards (4 attempts)Full season paceReceiving35 receptions (48 targets)509 receiving yards3 touchdownsRushing123 yards (11 attempts)A D.J. Moore-type player was the answer to our prayers. Weapons to keep Cam Newton from having to drop dimes that clunk off the hands of Kaelin Clay in the playoffs were everything we could have asked for. Although Moore isn’t quite ready to be a stark contributor yet, he has the tools to be an absolute superstar in this league. Teammates have spoken glowingly of Moore and what he can bring to this offense, but patience is a virtue when it comes to the development of wideouts in this league. Nevermind what four-year Saban spawn, Calvin Ridley, has done on a pass-happy Atlanta team. Ridley may have a higher floor of potential, but his ceiling is dramatically lower than that of Moore’s. I stoutly believe that D.J. will surpass his current season pace as he continues to ramp up his responsibility under Norv Turner. Considering the play of Donte Jackson, the Panthers seem to have made the right choice with their first round pick. Outlook: Ice Up, Son 2: Rivera’s RevengeDonte Jackson, CB—Round 2, Pick 23 (No. 55 overall)Through six games3 interceptions1 forced fumble28 tackles5 passes defensedFull season pace8 interceptions3 forced fumbles75 tackles13 passes defensedThis kid can be special. Really special. The Carolina revolution continued with the addition of the fastest defensive back in the draft. With 4.32 speed and unmitigated swagger, this defense immediately improved with the addition of the former LSU cornerback. The most surprising aspect of Donte’s game has been his ability to tackle in open space. He makes this defense significantly more fun to watch, although the comparisons to Josh Norman are unreasonable. Josh wasn’t this impressive in his rookie year.Outlook: Dave Gettleman won’t be able to rescind his franchise tag, so we’ve got that going for us.Rashaan Gaulden, S—Round 3, Pick 21 (No. 85 overall)Through six games7 tackles, 1 TFLFull season pace19 tackles Color Rush Taylor Moton Jersey , 3 TFLWith their third pick of the draft, the Panthers decided to double down in the secondary, taking hybrid safety Rashaan Gaulden out of Tennessee. This pick had Ron Rivera written all over it. The intention of the coaching staff is to develop Gaulden into a “big nickel” corner to specialize in shadowing the freakishly athletic tight ends that we’ve seen popping up all over the league. Gaulden hasn’t played much this season, especially after the addition of Eric Reid, but I can’t say I’ve seen him make any major mistakes either. This is still the greatest highlight we have from Gaulden, and I’m okay with that.Outlook: Someone is going to have to lock down Travis Kelce in the Superb Owl.Ian Thomas, TE—Round 4, Pick 1 (No. 101 overall)Through six gamesReceiving10 receptions (16 targets)72 yardsFull season paceReceiving27 receptions (43 targets)192 receiving yardsThis may have been the Panthers most intriguing pick. Ian Thomas, a JUCO transfer, contributed sparingly at Indiana, but showed major potential through his sheer size and athleticism. The Panthers decided to kick off the third day of the draft by taking the heir-apparent to an aging and injury-prone Greg Olsen. This pick was all about upside, and similarly to his career at Indiana, Thomas has shown flashes but has yet to fully contribute. This is to be expected. Thomas was thrusted into a starting role in Week Two after Greg Olsen went down with a broken foot for the second straight season and, at times, looked like a deer in headlights. Thomas has made a number of mistakes at crucial moments, including a dropped touchdown against Atlanta and two quit routes that led to Cam Newton interceptions against Cincinnati. The kid is a work in progress but the ceiling is high. Let’s just hope Jason Witten can rebound in the Monday Night Football booth so ESPN doesn’t have to give Greg Olsen a call this offseason. Outlook: Somewhere between Brandon “Swole Bones” Williams and Antonio Gates.Marquis Haynes, DE—Round 4, Pick 36 (No. 136 overall)1 game activeThe all-time sacks leader at Ole Miss hasn’t seen much playing time this year. Marquis Haynes has been inactive for most of the season Color Rush James Bradberry Jersey , and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. While Haynes may be solid depth at the moment, if Hurney were to pull the trigger and trade for a pass rusher to boost this defense, Marquis could be on the chopping block. Outlook: Depth third down pass rusher, but probably better off as a 3-4 outside linebacker.Jermaine Carter, LB—Round 5, Pick 24 (No. 161 overall)6 games active, 1 tackleJermaine Carter was an interesting pick here considering the abundance of talent the Panthers have at the linebacker position already. Once you get past the fourth round, all bets are off when it comes to drafting for need. A captain of the defense and numeric counterpart to DJ Moore at Maryland, Jermaine was highly respected by teammates and coaches alike. He led the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons. After a flashy preseason, Carter was able to achieve a spot on the roster and has had a substantial impact on special teams. The former Terrapin has also gotten a few snaps at outside linebacker, where he’s gotten to learn under some of the best in the business.Outlook: Solid depth at a position that could look at lot weaker after the Mayor of Charlotte chooses to get into politicsAndre Smith, LB—Round 7, Pick 16 (No. 234 overall)1 game active I’m a big Tarheel fan and, honestly, this felt like a steal in the seventh round. Andre Smith was spectacular at North Carolina before missing the final 10 games of his Junior season with a major knee injury. Making the roster was impressive, but this retention was based on potential more than anything. Especially in an absolutely stacked linebacker room. Thus far we haven’t seen much of Andre, especially since he is currently dealing with a hamstring injury. Look for him to potentially step in and make an impact on special teams sooner than later, especially considering linebacker Jared Norris was recently placed on IR. Outlook: Low risk Youth Kawann Short Jersey , high reward potential special teams aceKendrick Norton, DT—Round 7, Pick 24 (No. 242 overall)0 games active, practice squadKendrick Norton hasn’t had much impact on this Panthers team. He was delegated to the practice squad after an underwhelming training camp. However, Norton quite possibly gave us the best quote of the season after being passed over by all 32 teams in the NFL draft numerous times. Incredible. He’s got a long way to go here, but hey, it’s only his year one. Outlook: Practice body with some fire in his belly.The Panthers drafted a lot of “boom or bust” players. Guys that have extremely high ceilings, while also presenting some risk to dud. In typical Ron Rivera fashion, this roster defers to veteran players. It’s been difficult to fully evaluate what a majority of this draft class will contribute (or not contribute) to this team yet, but the potential for greatness is there. Hopefully the next time I write this segment we have a much clearer view these players’ roles unobstructed by the bubble wrap placed on them by a coaching staff that predicates themselves on crippling conservatism.Panthers TE Greg Olsen listed as questionable for season opener against Cowboys The Carolina Panthers have updated their injury report for tomorrow’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys by listing tight end Greg Olsen as questionable citing a back injury, according to Bill Voth.Before you freak out, remember that there is no longer a probable designation on the injury report. You’re either questionable, doubtful or out. In other words—questionable is the new probable. If you need more convincing than that, hopefully this will provide you some comfort:If Olsen’s injury gets worse before kickoff tomorrow and he has to sit out, the Panthers will rely on the duo of Chris Manhertz and Ian Thomas to play tight end. Manhertz spent all of training camp on the PUP list after suffering a broken foot. Having a guy recovering from a broken foot and a rookie fourth round draft pick as the only two options at tight end is playing a dangerous game, so hopefully the Panthers won’t have to take that route.To put this short and sweet—PLEASE BE OKAY GREG!We’ll keep you updated on this developing situation, so stay tuned.

AFC EAST:New England Patriots (via Pats Pulpit)Patriots bring in four offensive players for free agency workouts - Pats PulpitNew England is always updating its emergency lists.New York Jets (via Gang Green Nation)Jets Week 5 Game Ball: Isaiah Crowell - Gang Green NationThe Jets won on Sunday Miami Dolphins T-Shirt , which means it is our happy duty to award a game ball.There were plenty of standout performances which would merit game ball consideration on most weeks, including those of...Buffalo Bills (via Buffalo Rumblings)AFC playoff race: Buffalo Bills in middle of a crowded field - Buffalo RumblingsThe AFC is tight this year.AFC NORTH:Baltimore Ravens (via Baltimore Beatdown)Ravens’ John Harbaugh does not believe the run-pass balance was an issue in Week 5 - Baltimore BeatdownAfter the Ravens’ heartbreaking 12-9 overtime loss to the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium, most of the criticism has focused on Marty Mornhinweg’s pass-heavy approach. Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson...Pittsburgh Steelers (via Behind the Steel Curtain)Film Room: James Conner proves he was never the Steelers’ problem - Behind the Steel CurtainAfter having three quiet weeks, James Conner proved he was more than merely a backup against the FalconsCincinnati Bengals (via Cincy Jungle)Bengals DE Michael Johnson’s touchdown against Miami embodies Cincinnati’s persevering spirit - Cincy JungleOvercoming adversity is nothing new in Cincinnati this year, and the Bengals veteran defensive end did just that to make the play of his life.Cleveland Browns (via Dawgs By Nature)Cleveland Browns: Rashard Higgins to miss time with knee injury - Dawgs By NatureBrowns confirm wide receiver suffered sprain MCL in Sunday’s win, recovery is expected to be week-to-week.AFC SOUTH:Houston Texans (via Battle Red Blog)Incompletions: Texans-Cowboys (Be The Cowboy) - Battle Red BlogWith so much to write and talk about after every game, and not enough time for one person to write about it all, the masthead joins together and writes about the TEXAS-TEXAS-TEXAS-TEXAS Bowl.Tennessee Titans (via Music City Miracles)The Titans officially have a tight end problem - Music City MiraclesTennessee has a Delanie Walker sized hole in their offense and no good way to fill it.Jacksonville Jaguars (via Big Cat Country)Is there something wrong with the Jaguars defense? - Big Cat CountryNo.Indianapolis Colts (via Stampede Blue)Colts Film Room: How the Colts are scheming their tight ends open - Stampede BlueThe Colts’ new scheme has been fun to watch this year under first-year head coach Frank Reich. Here we show you a bit about how the Colts are scheming to get their tight ends some favorable matchupsAFC WEST:Denver Broncos (via Mile High Report)When is it time to bench Case Keenum for Chad Kelly? - Mile High ReportSilly poems aside, the MHR staff weighs in on preferences for what to do with this QB problem.Los Angeles Chargers (via Bolts from the Blue)Surge or Static: I scored. I promise I scored. I promise. - Bolts From The BlueI’m just thankful the Chargers DEFENSIVE END didn’t vulture Melvin Gordon’s RUSHING touchdown.Oakland Raiders (via Silver and Black Pride)Raiders now tied for worst record in the NFL but it may not be all bad news - Silver And Black PrideAnd, no, I am not talking about having a higher draft position.Kansas City Chiefs (via Arrowhead Pride)Patrick Mahomes Week 5 film review: something good and something bad - Arrowhead PridePart one of our weekly three-part series on Patrick Mahomes.NFC EAST:New York Giants (via Big Blue View)Giants waive OT Ereck Flowers - Big Blue ViewThe Giants couldn’t trade Flowers, waive him insteadPhiladelphia Eagles (via Bleeding Green Nation)Jay Ajayi Injury: Eagles place running back on injured reserve - Bleeding Green NationWelpadelphia.Dallas Cowboys (via Blogging the Boys)Dallas Cowboys hot topic: Was that interception on Dak or Tavon? - Blogging The BoysIt was just one play, but it may have set the tone for the loss Sunday night. So who really blew it?Washington Redskins (via Hogs Haven)Redskins Vs. Saints - Studs and Duds - Hogs HavenMark Tyler gives you his Studs and Duds of the Redskins Monday Night game against the Saints.NFC NORTH:Green Bay Packers (via Acme Packing Company)Packers cannot endure another repeat of disappointing 2015 season - Acme Packing CompanyIf this offense can’t find consistency, the scheme stays behind the modern game Miami Dolphins Hats , and Green Bay can’t rally to be NFC contenders, it’s time for even more changes.Detroit Lions (via Pride of Detroit)Detroit Lions Unsung hero of Week 5: The real catalyst behind the defensive line’s big day - Pride Of DetroitThe defensive line got lots of pressure on Aaron Rodgers, shutting down his infamous scrambles and making him look uncomfortable all afternoon. Who was the real hero behind the pressure?Chicago Bears (via Windy City Gridiron)Chicago Bears first quarter of the season breakdown - Windy City GridironIn Lester’s latest T Formation Conversation podcast, he takes stock of the first quarter of the 2018 Chicago Bears’ season.Minnesota Vikings (via Daily Norseman)The Vikings’ quarterback decision looks pretty good so far - Daily NorsemanPretty. . .pretty good.NFC SOUTH:New Orleans Saints (via Canal Street Chronicles)Brees, Saints Magnificent in Historic 43-19 Demolition of the Redskins - Canal Street ChroniclesThe Saints are 4-1 and Drew Brees is the NFL’s all-time passing leader! Life’s good.Atlanta Falcons (via The Falcoholic)The Falcons are on pace to let Matt Ryan get sacked a career-high number of times - The FalcoholicThe most concerning issue on the other side of the ball has to be the offensive line.Carolina Panthers (via Cat Scratch Reader)Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis back from 4 game suspension - Cat Scratch ReaderDavis will startTampa Bay Buccaneers (via Bucs Nation)Bucs’ Mike Smith Has A Chance To Quiet Critics Sunday - Bucs NationMike Smith has an opportunity to quiet some of his critics by doing something Sunday that he hasn’t done yet in Tampa BayNFC WEST:San Francisco 49ers (via Niners Nation)49ers-Cardinals recap: 5 looming problems from an embarrassing Week 5 loss - Niners NationWheeew, boy. Let’s break down all the problems from Sunday’s disheartening loss.Arizona Cardinals (via Revenge of the Birds)Arizona Cardinals sign Kendall Wright, release cornerback Deatrick Nichols - Revenge of the BirdsThe Arizona Cardinals are making moves at the wide receiver position.Seattle Seahawks (via Field Gulls)Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny isn’t playing and that’s a problem - Field GullsRashaad Penny was not on the inactives list for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but he might as well have been. The Seahawks’ running back, rookie, first round pick played zero snaps on offense and...Los Angeles Rams (via Turf Show Times)Rams at Seahawks: PFF game notes showcase Rams’ strength in adversity - Turf Show TimesHere’s how PFF saw the Rams’ big Week 5 road win. The Spanish league is launching a campaign hoping to show that American fans are behind its plan to host a regular-season soccer game in the United States.The league and its U.S. partners on Thursday began asking fans to sign an online petition to show their support for the planned Barcelona-Girona game near Miami in January."In an effort to showcase the public support to bring this match to the U.S., we are launching a petition campaign to encourage U.S. soccer fans to make their voices heard," the league and sports and entertainment group Relevent said in a statement. "The #BringUStheGame campaign will show the sports world that this match is good for the fans and good for the game in America, and that U.S. Soccer risks alienating millions of fans if they choose to block this game."The league's idea to play games in the U.S. to promote its brand has been met by criticism from soccer officials and some fans and clubs in Spain. The dispute has become a tug-of-war among the several stakeholders, with all sides trying to weigh-in and defend their ground.The FIFA Council recently opposed the plan after receiving a request to take a stance from CONCACAF and the federations in the United States and Spain www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com , which have a say on whether the game can be played, along with UEFA. FIFA's permission for the match is not mandatory but its opposition was a setback for the league.The league said it is prepared to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if FIFA somehow prohibits the match, and it is also ready to go to court in Spain if the local federation denies its request to play abroad. The Spanish federation already hinted it opposes the match but hasn't yet made a final ruling.Staging the game in the United States is seen as an important step for the Spanish league to continue expanding internationally and to close the gap on the powerful Premier League. The Spanish league has a 15-year deal with Relevent to promote soccer and bring games to the United States. The group operates the International Champions Cup, a tournament played around the globe during the European offseason in July and August."All of America's top sports leagues 鈥?the NBA, NFL and MLB 鈥?have played regular season games all over the world to reach international fans and have great success popularizing these sports globally," said Relevent founder Stephen Ross, owner of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. "We hope all of our partners in the soccer community recognize and support the positive impact of bringing the highest level soccer to the U.S. will have on turning more people on to the sport."The Jan. 26 game would be played at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Dolphins.The league said it will use social media to spread the new "grassroots campaign," asking fans to upload videos expressing their support and engaging their friends."We just want to give an opportunity for fans to talk about this game because we feel that so far the conversation has been very one-sided," Boris Gartner, CEO of LaLiga North America, told The Associated Press. "We want to give a voice to the fans."