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New York Islanders forward John Tavares, who suffered a partially torn MCL in his left knee during the Sochi Olympics, will not require surgery. Jerrell Freeman Colts Jersey . Speaking to members of the media on Tuesday for the first time since returning home from the Winter Games, Tavares said he will need eight to 12 weeks to fully recover. Tavares sustained the injury during Canadas quarterfinal game against Latvia when he was hit by defenceman Artus Kulda. Despite being injured in an Olympic contest, the 23-year-old said he has no regrets about playing for Canada and would make the same decision again. "I think its important for us to play," Tavares said. "I love playing for my country and if I got the call again, I would." The former first overall pick of the Islanders said he also understood general manager Garth Snows anger at the IIHF and IOC after his injury because Snow cares solely about his team. "You understand why teams are concerned about injuries. I know he cares a lot about the Islanders and so do I." Prior to the Olympic break, Tavares was third in the NHL in points, tied for the Islanders lead in goals and leading the team in assists. Bjoern Werner Colts Jersey . Jordan signed his contract Wednesday, making him the third inside linebacker with special teams experience that the Redskins have added in free agency. Hakeem Nicks Womens Jersey. -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses.SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners had several heartbreaking losses during their eight-game losing streak. They ended it with an uplifting win in their last at-bat. Jason Bay hit a two-out RBI single in the 13th inning, lifting the Mariners to a 4-3 victory Sunday over the Texas Rangers. "It feels great. Not just for me but for everybody. That was a big sigh of relief for a lot of people," Bay said. The Mariners had been on the losing end of three walkoff victories by the Cleveland Indians in four games and were facing an extra-inning loss after A.J. Pierzynski had given the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th inning with an RBI single. But Raul Ibanez hit a solo home run off Rangers closer Joe Nathan to keep the game going and Bay came through in the 13th after he was denied a chance to win it in the 11th, when David Murphy leaped above the fence in left-centre field to catch Bays drive. Yoervis Medina (1-0) worked out of a jam in the 13th inning to keep the game tied. He earned his first major league victory. Kendrys Morales doubled and advanced to third on a groundout by Carlos Triunfel. Bay didnt miss his second opportunity as he singled to left off Rangers reliever Michael Kirkman (0-1) to score Triunfel from third and hand the Mariners a much-needed victory. The Mariners had moved within a game of .500 after taking two of three from the New York Yankees. Then three losses in the last inning in Cleveland started the eight-game skid. "Weve got a good group of guys out there. Theyre grinding. Theyre fighting. Theyre not giving into it. A lot of breaks have gone against us this week," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "Weve got guys that are working to try to get to where they need to get to help us win ballgames. Weve got a lot going on out there right now but a great win for us." Jurickson Profar hit a leadoff home run off Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma. Texas scored again in the second after hits by Nelson Cruz and Mitch Moreland put runners in scoring positions. Leonys Martin drove in Cruz on a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. The Mariners left a pair of runners stranded in both the fourth and fifth innings before finally breaking through against Nick Tepesch in the sixth. Kyle Seager doubled ddown the right field line and Morales homered to knot the game at 2. Ricky Jean-Francois Jersey. Tepesch went 5 2-3 innings for Texas, allowing just five hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out six. The Rangers fumbled an opportunity to possibly retake the lead in the seventh inning. After a leadoff double from Adrian Beltre, Cruz struck out swinging at a ball in the dirt. Beltre was caught between second and third base as the ball bounced away from Mariners catcher Jesus Sucre. Cruz tried to take first base on the play but collided with Sucre and was ruled out. Sucre then ran down Beltre and he was called out for running out of the baseline. "Any time you lose -- especially when you go to extra innings -- its difficult but they took it from us," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We had our chance. They took it back and they finally took it from us." Pierzynski delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the 11th inning off Seattle Mariners reliever Oliver Perez to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Ibanez homered off Nathan into the right field seats to even the game at 3-all in the bottom half. It was the first blown save of the year for Nathan. He had been 9 for 9 in save opportunities this season. "If you throw it into the zone, then he is pretty good at hitting it," Nathan said. "He doesnt miss it too often when you put it there." Iwakuma had another strong outing for Seattle. He allowed two runs and two hits over eight innings. He struck out eight. NOTES: Profar is the youngest player to hit a leadoff homerun (20 years, 95 days) since Lou Klimchock (18 years, 348 days) of the Kansas City Athletics homered on Sept. 28, 1958, against the Chicago White Sox. ... Nathan had his streak of 36 consecutive saves on the road snapped with Ibanezs tying home run in the 11th inning. Nathan had converted all 31 save opportunities on the road since joining the Rangers last year. ... Mariners 1B Justin Smoak is day to day after straining an oblique Saturday night. Morales started in his place. Michael Morse also is expected to see time at first base in Smoaks absence. ... Rangers manager Ron Washington said Neal Cotts will unable to pitch and Nathan and Tanner Scheppers likely wont be available for the Rangers doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
