Nxwh's Blog (233)

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed head coach Todd Richards to a two-years contract extension through the 2016-2017 season. The Blue Jackets announced the move in a press release on Tuesday. Richards was at the helm as the Blue Jackets finished with a franchise-best 43-32-7 record this season. The Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team and were defeated in six games in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, Richards has a record of 85-70-16 with the…

BOSTON -- Ben Cherington is set to become the new general manager of the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, replacing his former boss, Theo Epstein. Cheringtons promotion from assistant general manager will be announced at an afternoon news conference, the team said Monday. It had been expected for several weeks while the Chicago Cubs were working out details for Epstein to join them. On Friday, both teams announced that Epstein had resigned from the Red Sox to become president of baseball…

(Sports Network) - The Winnipeg Jets couldnt have asked for a better start to their lengthy homestand. Theyll look to win three in a row for the first time since late December as they take on the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Catch the game live tonight regionally on TSN Jets at 8pm et/7pm ct, plus the action can also be heard live on TSN Radio 1290 and TSN.ca/Winnipeg. The Jets began a string of eight straight at home on Friday with a 4-2 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion…

PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iversons highlights played one more time on the big screen, diehard Philadelphia 76ers fans and Julius Erving all part of the crowd catching one more glimpse of No. 3 in his prime. His killer crossover in his rookie season that dusted Michael Jordan. The jumper he buried over Tyronn Lue, then the highstep over the fallen Lakers defender in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. All there. All as much part of Iversons DNA as the rants about practice, the cornrows, the…

NASHVILLE -- Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne cant wait to test himself in a game. The Predators, who announced Wednesday that they are sending Rinne to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, are cautiously waiting to see if the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist can help them chase down a playoff berth. Both Rinne and the team will have a better idea of where he is after the conditioning assignment for games Friday and likely Sunday in this latest step in his recovery from an E. coli…

When you grew up in Ottawa, back in the days before the Sens, you really had just two choices when it came to NHL teams to cheer for: the Habs and the Leafs. If I could afford a therapist, I imagine the good doctor would tell be that my affection for the Leafs was part of an ongoing and pathological need to be alone and unhappy. Though, quite simply, its more likely that its because thats what was on local TV in Ottawa. I admit I could be wrong. I dont have a PhD. Thats right. I was a…

Can anyone catch the Calgary Stampeders now? Jon Cornish and the Stamps remained No. 1 in TSN.cas CFL Power Rankings for the second straight week after their impressive win in Week 16. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made a big jump, from fifth to second, after taking their second straight from the rival Toronto Argonauts. View the full rankings at TSN.ca/CFL Ray Ban sunglasses outlet .…

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will once again be their Opening Day starter. Jays manager John Gibbons made the announcement at the teams training complex in Dunedin, Florida. Dickey, 38, was the teams Opening Day starter in 2013 after coming over from the New York Mets in a trade that offseason. The 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner finished his first season in Toronto with a record of 14-13 with a 4.21 ERA and a WHIP of 1.237 in…

The Countdown to the Super Bowl has begun. We will of course see the official poster for the game many times the next few weeks. We can only hope the NFL chooses to go with this epic masterpiece submitted to Reddit via user JBokse. Ray Ban Sunglasses Outlet .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York…

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- A Florida police department has completed its investigation into the theft of documents related to baseballs probe into whether Alex Rodriguez used performance enhancing drugs. The investigation ended April 11 with charges filed against only a tanning salon employee, who was arrested after police said his DNA was found on a car the documents were stolen out of. However, the police report said Major League Baseball was given repeated warnings that the records they…

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Germany reached the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday after Angelique Kerber won the first reverse singles to clinch the first-round series against Slovakia. Ninth-ranked Kerber defeated Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 7-6 (5) on the indoor hard court at Bratislavas National Tennis Center for the first German victory in the Fed Cup World Group since 2002. Germany will face Australia in April in its first semifinal since 1995. In the doubles,…

MADRID - Atletico Madrid has signed midfielder Raul Garcia to a contract extension that ties him to the club until 2018. Garcia has settled in at Atletico this season, scoring 14 goals in all competitions as the 27-year-old Spanish midfielder has been an effective player off the bench for Diego Simeones squad. Garcia joined Atletico in 2007 and has helped the club to Europa League and Copa del Rey trophies apart from his one season on-loan at former club Osasuna. Garcia says "now the…

MIAMI -- With the addition of third baseman Casey McGehee, the Miami Marlins have replaced half of their punchless 2013 lineup. McGehee, a five-year major league veteran who played in Japan last season, agreed to a $1.1 million, one-year contract Wednesday. Miami earlier acquired catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, first baseman Garrett Jones and second baseman Rafael Furcal to shake up an offence that ranked last in the majors in runs and batting average. "We needed to get more production…

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Thad Lewis completed one pass for a first down even as a blitzing linebacker knocked his helmet off and sent it skittering upfield. The hit drew a flag and left Lewis sprawled on the turf, but the Buffalo Bills young quarterback leaped to his feet screaming and punching the air to celebrate the gain. Lewis resilience proved infectious Sunday. The Bills blew an early 14-point lead, then rallied to kick the winning field goal with 33 seconds left and beat the Miami…

TORONTO - Allan Stanley, a Hall of Fame defenceman who won four Stanley Cup titles with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has died. He was 87. The NHL confirmed Stanleys death on its website. Stanley earned a reputation as an effective defensive defenceman over his 22-season career. The native of Timmins, Ont., started with the New York Rangers in the 1948-49 season and became team captain two years later. He was traded to Chicago during the 1954-55 season and also played in Boston before…

PHOENIX -- Finally, the Arizona Diamondbacks won a series at home. Cody Ross hit his first home run of the year, Eric Chavez went deep for the second consecutive day and the Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday for their first series win at Chase Field all season. After setting a team record for runs Saturday night in an 18-5 rout, the Diamondbacks broke a 3-all tie with Chavezs two-run shot off Dan Haren (5-2) in the fifth inning. "We kind of went in there with a…

VANCOUVER -- Corey Perry and Saku Koivu each had a goal and an assist and Frederik Andersen made 31 saves Saturday as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. The result is another serious blow to Vancouvers fading playoff hopes as the club remains five points back of the Phoenix Coyotes for the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Luca Sbisa, Matt Beleskey and Mathieu Perreault also scored for Anaheim (48-18-8), while Andrew Cogliano and Daniel Winnik added…

Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton has been suspended 15 games for punching and injuring unsuspecting Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik, which the NHL considered an "act of retribution." Thornton went after Orpik during a stoppage in play a week ago, slew-footing him to the ice and punching him twice in the head. Orpik suffered a concussion and was taken off the ice on a stretcher and transported to the hospital. Earlier, Orpik hit Boston winger Loui Eriksson, knocking him out of the game…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mallory Blackwelder won the Symetra Classic on Saturday for her first Symetra Tour title, closing with a 5-under 67 for a two-stroke victory. The 26-year-old former Kentucky player had a 10-under 206 total at Raintree Country Club. "It feels amazing," said Blackwelder, the daughter of former Kentucky coach and LPGA Tour player and Myra Blackwelder and tour caddie Worth Blackwelder. "I have been thinking about this moment for a long, long time and its really surreal.…

This is Nazem Kadris opportunity. With Tyler Bozak expected to miss at least a week because of a lower-body injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs are counting on Kadri to fill his spot as the first-line centre between James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel. If Saturday nights showing against the Pittsburgh Penguins was any indication, Kadri is well-suited for that promotion, even if its just a short-term one. Kadri scored the game-winning goal and felt comfortable with his new linemates almost…