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WINNIPEG -- It took two tries but the Nashville Predators finally got the power-play goal they needed. Tim Brown Raiders Jersey . Mike Fisher scored 42 seconds into the third period moments after another goal was waved off for goalie interference. Fishers goal proved to be the winner as Nashville held on for a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. "We werent sure about the call but we knew we had enough time to get another one," said Fisher. "It was a similar play, just puck to the net, rebound and we were in the right spots." Both Central Division teams are desperate for points as they head into the Olympic break well short of what they need to make the playoffs. "We know we need to go on a tear to get back in it," said Fisher. "Its not going to be easy. We know there are a lot of teams right with us. . . . Thats what makes these games exciting. It felt a little bit more like playoffs tonight." The Jets (25-25-5) started the game a point ahead of Nashville (24-23-8) and finished it a point behind. It was disappointing for a team that has been flying high since new coach Paul Maurice took over. Even with the loss they have won six of their last eight, including wins over Chicago and Anaheim in their own buildings. "We were in the box maybe a little more than wed want to be," said Jets forward Blake Wheeler, who scored his NHL career-high 22nd goal. "It would have been nice to start the third 5-on-5 . . . From there we were looking at an uphill battle." Maurice wasnt happy about the penalty Devin Setoguchi took at the end of the second period that set up the power-play goal at the start of the third, but said the issue was addressed and Setoguchi was aggressive in the remainder of the third period as the Jets tried to generate offence. "The team gets one opportunity to learn from the mistake and then you expect a response like that, an understanding, a responsibility and respect for his teammates to do everything possible to get it back." Overall, though, Maurice said the team played hard. "Its just such a hard grinding game and it was a battle all the way through . . . you could see it in their faces coming to the bench, they gave it everything they have." Seth Jones, Roman Josi and Nick Spaling also scored for Nashville. Chris Thorburn and Mark Scheifele had the other goals for the Jets. On the downside, Nashville doesnt know yet how long they might be without the services of captain Shea Weber, who left the game with what was described as an upper-body injury. But coach Barry Trotz said it was encouraging to see the way the team rallied in the third period without him. "It gives a lot of the young guys some confidence. . . Its great for the learning curve," he said. Jones got things started with a perfect wraparound at 3:48 that slipped by Ondrej Pavelec but Thorburn tipped in his first goal of the season off the faceoff for the Jets just 22 seconds later. Josi put the Predators ahead 2-1 just 42 seconds into the second period on a slick one-two-three combo from Craig Smith and David Legwand. Winnipeg struggled at times to get the puck out of their own zone in the second period. They had a couple of legitimate scoring chances but the closest they came was a post on a long hard shot from Zach Bogosian. Instead, it was Spaling who snapped one in at 17:18 to put Nashville up 3-1. But the Jets made up for their early period struggles with two goals in just 27 seconds. The first was Scheifeles shot into the crowd in front of Nashville goalie Carter Hutton that bounced in off his one of his own defencemen and it was capped with Wheelers career-high 22nd of the season at the 18:40 mark. Notes: Forward Evander Kane was out of the Jets lineup again Tuesday with an infection in the hand he injured a fight with Tampa Bays Eric Brewer on Jan. 7. Kane initially missed four games but returned Jan. 21 to score a goal and three assists in the next four games. Now he isnt expected to return until after the Olympic break. ... For the pre-game skate the Jets all wore No. 11 jerseys to mark Bell Lets Talk Day and honour Rick Rypien, who signed with the team in 2011 but committed suicide at the age of 27 before reporting and wearing the number he had been assigned. He had a long history of clinical depression. Ted Hendricks Jersey. Victoria now has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series for Canadas senior indoor lacrosse championship. Jeff Shattler had a pair of goals and four assists for the Shamrocks, while Scott Ranger, Karsen Leung and Mitch Jones chipped in as well. Howie Long Raiders Jersey . Midfielder Michael Bradley, one of the teams new designated players, will make his debut, while striker Gilberto could see his first action for TFC in the contest.ST. LOUIS -- Jon Jay did not pick up a bat while missing five successive games with a sore wrist. Once he returned on Tuesday, the St. Louis outfielder quickly made up for lost time. Jay hit an RBI single with two outs in the eighth inning to break a tie and lead the Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in a battle between the two World Series teams from last fall. "It just felt great to be back out there," Jay said. "Even better to come through." The Cardinals won their third in a row and fourth in the last five. Boston has lost three in a row. Jay blooped a hit to left off reliever Junichi Tazawa (1-3) to bring in former Red Sox A.J. Pierzynski with the winning run. All-Star reliever Pat Neshek (5-0) picked up the win by striking out the side in the eighth. St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal recorded his NL-leading 35th save in 39 chances. "Today was a big day for us," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "There were great at-bats from everybody." Especially Jay. "I didnt swing at all until today," Jay said. "But it feels good." St. Louis starter Lance Lynn gave up two runs on four hits over seven innings. Boston starter Rubby De La Rosa surrendered one run on six hits over six innings. Pierzynski started the winning rally with a two-out hit. He was signed by the Cardinals on July 26 after being released by the Red Sox on July 16. "Everyone wants me to say bad things about the Red Sox and Im not going to do that," Pierzynski said. "Im not bitter about what happened. It just didnt work. I dont have one hard feeling. The only thing is I didnt play well enough. I have nothing but respect for the organization and how they handled everything. I was proud to say I was a Red Sox." Oscar Taveras followed Pierzynskis hit with a single to set the stage for Jay.. Tarell Brown Raiders Jersey. "They did a good job of putting the bat on the ball," Boston manager John Farrell said of the Cardinals. "It seemed like Junichi had the eighth inning well in hand with two out, two strikes and nobody on. Three consecutive base hits and that was the difference." WHERE ARE THE CHAMPS? Only 13 players remain from the Red Sox 25-man roster that won the World Series last fall. Through trades and attrition, the average age of the team dropped from 31 on Opening Day, to 28 on Tuesday. KNUCKLEBALL MAN The Red Sox have recalled knuckleball specialist Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket. Wright will be making his first stint on the roster this season after four appearances last year. WACHA ON WAY BACK St. Louis RHP Michael Wacha began throwing on flat ground Tuesday in hopes of returning to the starting rotation in early September. He has not pitched since June 17 with a stress reaction in his right shoulder. TRAINERS ROOM Red Sox: Newly acquired OF Allen Craig was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore ankle. He suffered the injury Friday while running to first on a ground out. OF Corey Brown was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and in uniform for Tuesdays game. He was hitting .226 with 16 homers and 39 RBI. Shane Victorino underwent successful lumbar discectomy surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday. ON DECK St. Louis RHP Shelby Miller (8-8, 4.14) will face close friend Joe Kelly (2-2, 4.37) in the second game of the three-game series on Wednesday. Kelly, who spent two-plus seasons with the Cardinals, will be making his first start for the Red Sox since being acquired in a trade July 31. The two served as Best Man in each others weddings in the off season. "Its going to be strange," Kelly said. "There will be some emotions there." The two sent good luck text messages to each other on Tuesday. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
