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TORONTO -- During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mikhail Grabovski often brought his best to the ice when playing the Montreal Canadiens. Andrew Quarless Packers Jersey . Montreal traded Grabovski early in his NHL career, but it was in his five seasons with Toronto that he "grew up" as a hockey player. After Grabovski was bought out by the Maple Leafs last summer, his former teammates expect him to be fired up when the Washington Capitals visit Air Canada Centre on Saturday night. "Im sure hell be wanting to put on a good show here in Toronto," centre Tyler Bozak said. "Hell want to play well, for sure. Hopefully we can hold him to a minimum out there. Hes going to be going hard." Good friend Nikolai Kulemin expects Grabovski is "going to play harder against us than any other teams." This after things went poorly in his final season in Toronto, culminating with his profanity-filled ripping of coach Randy Carlyle in an interview with TSN Radio 1050 after being bought out. Kulemin said Grabovski was a little nervous before getting married when he went off on Carlyle. Defenceman Carl Gunnarsson said Friday he thought Grabovski did all right last year in spite of some adversity. "I guess he wasnt happy with how he played or how they used him in games," Gunnarsson said. "But even though going out to the media like that might not be the right answer to it. Thats up to him. I dont think anyone would happy to be bought out like that." Grabovski said this week hes comfortable with his role on the Capitals, centring the third line between Jason Chimera and Joel Ward. Coach Adam Oates more offensive-minded system fits him better than Carlyles, so hes happy to have a fresh start. But that doesnt mean hes not at least "a little bit excited" to return to Toronto and face the Leafs. "Its motivation to play in the place where you play like a hometown," Grabovski told reporters at the Capitals practice facility Thursday. "Five years in the city. I feel like I have a lot of friends, a lot of family, I know a lot of people, so for me its like hometown. I can say I grew up in this place." Grabovski played 340 games with the Leafs, putting up 91 goals and 118 assists. He thrived under coach Ron Wilson and along the way earned a US$27.5-million, five-year contract. Carlyle used Grabovski in more defensive spots than he was used to, and the relationship soured. Even with the hard feelings, Grabovski said this week that Carlyle and his staff helped him become a better defensive and more disciplined player. Prompted Saturday with a question about Grabovski airing his grievances on the way out, Carlyle laughed it off with a profanity. "Im not here to comment on players comments," Carlyle said. "Players make comments, they have their own agenda. My agenda here is as weve stated when it happened, we thank him for his time here, wish him all the best and were moving on. Simple as that." On coaching against Grabovski, Carlyle said: "Hes another player. I dont focus on Grabovski, I focus on the Washington Capitals." Grabovski has been a big part of the Capitals success this season. With seven goals and 12 assists, Grabovski is third on the team in points, behind only top-line stars Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. After feeling "terrible" about the buyout, the 29-year-old said he feels "excellent" in Washington. Thats a welcome development for his former teammates. "Hes found a place where he fits in well," Bozak said. "We know hes a great player and a good friend of all of ours. Hes having a great year, and were happy for him." NOTES -- Leafs defenceman Mark Fraser is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past two games with a knee injury. Morgan Rielly is expected to be a healthy scratch. ... Centre Tyler Bozak will miss his 11th straight game with a hamstring injury. Carlyle said he was very surprised Bozak was not available against the Capitals because he was "fully counting" on him being ready. ... After losing 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night, the Capitals are tweaking their lineup. Martin Erat is expected to be a healthy scratch, and hell be replaced by Eric Fehr who hasnt played since Nov. 2. Demetri Goodson Packers Jersey . Fifth-seeded Cilic gained his fourth title in Zagreb and became the third Croat overall to win at least 10 career titles. Cilic also lifted his career record in Zagreb to 22-4, winning 20 of his last 21 matches at the event. Packers #21 Jersey . Ecclestone dismissed on Wednesday any clash between the series, after the top executive at Texas Motor Speedway called F1 "arrogant" for scheduling the United States Grand Prix in Austin on the same weekend that his track hosts NASCAR in Fort Worth.SEATTLE -- Sam Fuld so rarely hits home runs its difficult for the Minnesota centre fielder to tell the difference between a deep fly ball and a shot that might leave the park. Especially in a park known to be unfriendly to hitters like Safeco Field. "I really dont hit enough to know whether its going to be an F-9 or a home run," Fuld said. Fuld barely cleared the wall with his second home run of the season, Phil Hughes pitched into the eighth inning and the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday night. A night after Fuld could not pull back Michael Saunders home run, the roles were reversed. Fuld hit a 3-2 pitch from Seattle starter Chris Young (8-5) beyond the wall in right and just out of the reach of Saunders for the solo shot in the fifth inning. It was the first homer for Fuld since April 10. He finished with three hits and two stolen bases. Fuld took a hard tumble after crashing into the wall trying to snag Saunders shot on Monday night. He woke up sore, but showed up to the park early and made sure manager Ron Gardenhire knew he was fine to play. "That home run was big. Getting a run on the board here, we hadnt scored yet up in Seattle to that point," Gardenhire said. "We know coming in here this team pitches very well, that their bullpen is strong so runs are going to be a premium." Hughes rebounded from being knocked around in his previous two starts to shut down the Mariners. Hughes (9-5) gave up eight hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out eight and didnt walk a batter in silencing Seattles stagnant offence. Hughes had given up a combined 19 hits and 12 earned runs in his past two starts, losses to Texas and the Yankees. But he had a strong history pitching in Seattle, and is 5-0 with a 0.61 ERA in seven career games at Safeco Field. Hughes went to a three-ball count just once and Logan Morrisons double in the fourth was the only extra base hit he allowed. "The last couple times out I felt like I got hurt with a couple of weird plays and tonight I got some good bounces with the double play ball. Nick Perry Packers Jersey. Sometimes its just the different of a couple of things going right for you and its a different story," Hughes said. "I felt like my fastball command was good tonight and I was able to work from there." Young was nearly equal to Hughes, yet unable to get a third straight victory because Seattle provided no offensive help. Young gave up six hits and struck out six, but lost for the first time since June 11. He was lifted after giving up a walk to Eduardo Escobar and single to Fuld leading off the eighth to put runners at the corners with no outs. Brian Doziers sacrifice fly off reliever Yoervis Medina scored Escobar to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead. "I needed to keep that scoreless tonight, one at most, and give us a chance," Young said. No matter what Young did on the mound, he couldnt help Seattles bats that have gone cold. Seattle has scored six runs in the past five games and is 2 for 36 with runners in scoring position during that stretch. Three times Seattle got runners to second base but they advanced no farther. Seattle tried to rally in the eighth after one out singles by Saunders and James Jones, and Robinson Cano coming to the plate. Hughes was lifted for reliever Casey Fien, who got Cano to ground into a double play to end the threat. "Frustration was setting in more than anything ... and then I had visions in my head of Cano hitting a three-run homer. Ive seen it too many times," Hughes said. "Fortunately (Fien) got him to roll over into a big double play ball there." NOTES: Minnesota is 2-11 in its last 13 road games. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (back) threw a 33-pitch simulated game Tuesday and is expected to throw another this weekend before deciding if hes ready for a rehab assignment in the minors. ... Gardenhire has not decided on his starter for Friday in Colorado after RHP Ricky Nolasco was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday. ... Seattle 3B Kyle Seager snapped a 0-for-18 skid with a single in the sixth inning. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
