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ST. James Starks Packers Jersey . JOHNS, N.L. -- Brandon Pirri, Mike Hoffman and Joe Whitney combined for 8 points, carrying much of the offensive punch for the American Hockey League All-Stars in a 7-2 rout over visiting Farjestad BK in Wednesday nights AHL All-Star game. Hoffman said their line found instant chemistry due to the players having a similar playing style. "Were all offensive-minded players so when you throw us guys together we can usually (play well) together quickly," he said. "Its nice to play in an all-star game." Pirri scored twice and added an assist, while Hoffman added a goal and two assists, Ryan Strome scored two goals, and Ben Street and Travis Morin also scored for the All-Stars. Pirri won the games MVP honour. Pirri, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, credited the atmosphere of the game and his linemates for his MVP performance. "It was a lot of fun tonight," Pirri said. "My linemates played a big part in it. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. It was about fun today and keeping up with good habits. We had a lot of speed there and it worked out well, we found chemistry early." The All-Stars carried a 4-goal lead after the first period. "You never know when youre going to get into situations like that," Hoffman said. "We wanted to come out hard and we had a good, strong start." Magnum Nygren and Rickard Wallin replied for Farjestad BK. The AHL All-Stars opened the scoring at the 8:43 mark of the first period, as Joe Whitney made a backhand pass across the crease to Hoffman, who tapped the puck into a wide-open net. Strome capitalized on a turnover in the slot and scored on a quick wristshot, catching Farjestad BK goalie Frederik Pettersson-Wentzel unprepared at the 10:08 mark of the first period. That made it 2-0 for the All-Stars. The All-Stars added another when Jason Jaffray found Street wide-open with a pass from behind the net. Street one-timed a wrister high blocker at the 12:00 mark of the first period. With 1:23 left in the first, Morin tipped home a Cody Goloubef slapshot from the point for the All-Stars to make it 4-0. Both teams switched goalies at the 11:32 mark of the second period. The All-Stars put in Dustin Tokarski, while Farjestad BK put in Pekka Tuokkola. Pirri added to the lead, scoring on a quick move on a breakaway before burying a shot blocker side 8:51 into the second period. Twenty-five seconds into the period, Nygren fired a point shot through heavy traffic to get Farjestad BK on the board. Pirri added another goal, finishing off a Hoffman backhand pass across the crease 3:20 into the third period. Farjestad BK made it a 6-2 game when Wallin tipped a point shot into the net at the 8:45 mark of the third. Strome drove to the net, made a toe-drag and scored with a quick wrist shot with 1:53 left in the game. Jake Allen made 14 saves for the All-Stars, while Tokarski saved 20. Pettersson-Wentzel stopped 13, and Tuokkola saved 10. Packers #63 Jersey . -- Hamiltons new stadium isnt quite half finished with just seven months before its scheduled to open, but Pan Am Games CEO Ian Troop and Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina vow it will be done on time and on budget. Packers #52 Jersey .J. McCarron, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger to finally hear their names called.KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Drew Smyly picked up where fellow Tigers starter Rick Porcello left off, tossing seven shutout innings and leading Detroit to a 9-2 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. Porcello and the Tigers bullpen retired the final 18 hitters in an 8-2 victory the previous night, and Smyly (2-1) retired the first four he faced. After a issuing a walk to Alex Gordon, the former reliever then retired the next six in a dominant performance. Smyly wound up allowing two hits and two walks before giving way to Joba Chamberlain, who threw a perfect eighth. Phil Coke allowed two runs in the ninth to lose the shutout. Nick Castellanos drove in three runs the Tigers, the first off spot starter Danny Duffy (1-2) and two more off the Royals bullpen. That was it until the ninth, when Detroit tacked on six more runs, the highlight a three-run shot by Torii Hunter. The win was the Tigers fifth straight over Kansas City. Duffy moved from the bullpen back to the rotation in place of Bruce Chen, who went on the disabled list this week with a bulging disc in his back. Duffy was on a pitch count and wound up lasting just four innings, allowing two hits and walking four while throwing 75 pitches. Kansas City played without catcher Salvador Perez, who was given the night off after fouling a pitch off his shin in the series opener. Royals manager Ned Yost said he expects the All-Star to be back in the lineup Sunday — though they sure could have used his bat in this one. Thhe only hits the Royals could muster off Smyly came on Eric Hosmers double in the fourth and a single in the fifth by Danny Valencia, who was thrown out trying to reach second. Datone Jones Packers Jersey. Meanwhile, the Tigers took advantage of Duffys erratic ways. The left-hander walked the bases loaded in the fourth inning, and Castellanos followed with a liner to left that Alex Gordon caught on the run. But rather than throw home immediately, the Gold Glove winner hesitated, and that gave Miguel Cabrera time to score. In the sixth, reliever Louis Coleman allowed a double to Cabrera and intentionally walked Victor Martinez, who has been hot all series. Herrera came in and Castellanos ripped a double to right, driving in both runs while ending a 0-for-15 slump. That was plenty of support for Smyly, who made 63 appearances out of the bullpen last season and two this season, but who may be firmly establishing himself as the fifth starter. The victory was Smylys first as a starter since beating the Royals on July 6, 2012. NOTES: Royals RHP Aaron Brooks made his big league debut, giving up all six runs in the ninth. ... Tigers RHP Robbie Ray is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Toledo to start Tuesday against Houston in his big league debut. ... Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez (cut middle finger) had no problems throwing Friday, manager Brad Ausmus said. Sanchez went on the DL on April 27. ... LHP Jason Vargas starts Sunday for Kansas City. RHP Justin Verlander starts for Detroit. ' ' ' |
