NASHVILLE -- Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is expected to start Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his return from a hip injury that has limited him to only nine games this season. Hyun-Jin Ryu Authentic Jersey . The Predators recalled Rinne from a two-game conditioning assignment Monday and announced that he would start the Penguins game. "Its a blast to be back playing and feeling good," Rinne said. "I think thats the main thing. Absolutely, Im just super excited." Rinne, who hasnt played in an NHL game since Oct. 22, stopped 33 of 35 shots for a .946 save percentage during his two-game stint with the AHLs Milwaukee Admirals. "Its not in the same level -- the AHL and NHL -- theres a little bit of a gap between," Rinne said. "But still, that was the whole purpose of that trip, just to feel comfortable again, get some games and get that game conditioning going again." Rinne, a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, has been recovering from an E. coli infection in his surgically repaired left hip. In his last five games before the injury, Rinne went 3-1-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. The 31-year-old Rinne is returning as the Predators make a late-season bid for one of the Western Conferences eight playoff spots. The Predators are 12th in the Western Conference standings with 62 points. The Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks are tied for eighth with 66 points. "You cant just throw a guy in there and expect him to be the saviour," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "But just getting him back playing is a great boost because you know the type of player that he is, the type of person he is and what he can mean to our hockey team, not only this year but the next year and the following years." The Predators also placed goaltender Devan Dubnyk on waivers Monday. The 27-year-old Dubnyk has played 32 games for the Edmonton Oilers and two games with the Predators this season. Brian Wilson Dodgers Jersey . -- Michael Allen said it wasnt until his 15th hole that he started thinking about shooting golfs magic number of 59. Matt Kemp Dodgers Jersey . It was almost exactly like the way Babcocks Team Canada won gold at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The result was a 2-1 Red Wings victory on Swedish Olympian Gustav Nyquists rebound goal with 28 seconds left in overtime.The Toronto Blue Jays faced the New York Yankees in the second game of their four-game series Friday night without the services of All-Star slugger Jose Bautista. The 30-year-old is receiving treatment for his ankle, which he twisted in Thursdays 16-7 win over the Yankees. X-rays on Friday afternoon were negative. "Today is no worse than last night at the time of turning the ankle," said Jays manager John Farrell. "He has been walking in a walking boot, well continue to work througghout the course of today and tonights game, continue working on getting the swelling out of there. Matt Kemp Jersey. "And really its no more than that." Bautista also reached out to fans to thank them for their support Thursday afternoon. "Feeling much better today!" Bautista tweeted. "Getting treatment as I tweet!" Bautista currently leads the majors with 31 home runs and his .336 batting average and 65 runs batted in are both tops amongst Blue Jays players. wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |