TORONTO — If Sidney Crosby is not at the top of anyone’s list of the best players in the game Minnesota Wild Hats Authentic , he is only a notch or two below it.When the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night, however, Crosby will still be looking for his first goal of the season.Meanwhile, Toronto’s rising star and quickly becoming one of hockey’s elite players, Auston Matthews, has been scoring at will this season.Article continues below ...The center has 10 goals already, despite not scoring Monday night in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, after notching at least one goal in each of Toronto’s first six games.Matthews did have two assists, which gives him at least two points in each of his first seven games, the fifth player in NHL history to do so to open a season.“He’s a real player, he’s just growing, he’s just a kid and he’s going to get better Custom Minnesota Wild Jerseys ,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s dangerous when he’s on the ice and that line is a good line right now. We’re fortunate that we appear to have quite a bit of depth, we’re still kind of evolving, trying to figure out how we’re going to play everybody, but I think we’re going in the right direction.”Crosby was held off the score sheet Tuesday in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks and has four assists in the Penguins’ first five games.Penguins coach Mike Sullivan believes that Crosby’s scoring problems are part of a general problem affecting the team.“Just like our team, I think one of the things we’re trying to encourage Sid to do is shoot the puck a little bit more, simplify his game,” Sullivan told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I just think he’s too good of a player not to break out of this. We just have to stick with it. Just keep working through it and not get discouraged.”Crosby has taken seven shots on goal in the past four games.“I think for the most part, as far as scoring chances go, we’ve had enough to win games,” Crosby said. “(Tuesday’s loss was) another example. I felt like we generated some good ones, but we’re going to play some games that are tight, and you’ve got to capitalize on the ones you get.”Sullivan said www.officialcanadiensprostore.com , “He had some Grade-A chances. He had a couple of real high-quality chances. He seemed to have a few in the last couple of games. The puck just won’t seem to go in the net for him right now. He’s too good of a player to keep off the score sheet.”With Toronto’s William Nylander not playing because of a stalled contract negotiation, Kasperi Kapanen is taking advantage of his chance to play with Matthews, who has six assists. Kapanen scored twice Monday and has four goals this season.“It’s not just Auston, obviously he’s had a tremendous start to the season, but it’s also Patty (Marleau),” Kapanen said. “Playing with those two, it’s amazing, it feels easy and it’s just clicking right now. I’m just enjoying it and trying to get better day by day. I know we have a couple of notches still left.”The Penguins could have their No. 1 goaltender, Matt Murray, starting Thursday. Murray missed one game after being diagnosed with a concussion. He has been out since Oct. 8. He was backup to Casey DeSmith for two games, including Tuesday.Murray allowed 11 goals in his first two games and Sullivan thought the goaltender would benefit from watching a couple of games from the bench before making his first start since the concussion.The Maple Leafs will likely be without their No. 1 goalie, Frederik Andersen Montreal Canadiens T-Shirts Authentic , because of a sore knee, which developed during the 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals Saturday.“I felt it, but it didn’t flare up too much,” Andersen said. “And then (Sunday), it was swelling just a little bit more. So that’s where we are. Nothing too serious but preventing me to be in some positions.”Garret Sparks took his place Monday and stopped 33 of 34 shots. He could get the start again Thursday if Andersen is not ready. VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Most of the faces have changed but it will still be tough to get a ticket when the Boston Bruins (4-2-1) visit the Vancouver Canucks (4-3-0) on Saturday night.Wounds over Vancouver’s loss to the Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup finals have lingered in recent days on the city’s airwaves and elsewhere, so the contest is expected to be a sellout. Never mind that most players from the 2010-11 versions of the Bruins and Canucks — along with their coaches — are long gone.Canucks coach Travis Green wants his young charges to prove that they can be a difficult team to beat, and the Bruins will provide plenty of motivation.Article continues below ...“I want our team to be hard to play against, I do. Winning teams are hard to play against and by hard to play against, that means many things,” Green told reporters recently. “That means playing fast. That means making good puck decisions, winning puck battles. For me Montreal Canadiens Hoodies Authentic , hard to play against is a burning desire to win that comes from your group and I want our group to stick up for each other and stick together. And that’s what winning cultures have, and I want that in our group.”The rebuilding Canucks demonstrated an ability to compete by beating Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida and Pittsburgh during a recent six-game road trip on which they won four and lost two.“We learned a lot about ourselves,” center Brandon Sutter told reporters. “When we’re doing the right things, we can play with anyone. We kind of showed that.”Green earned praise for telling his troops not to seek retribution after Florida defenseman Mike Matheson sidelined star rookie Elias Pettersson with a concussion that will keep him out Saturday. Matheson earned a two-game suspension for his actions.But the Canucks’ tempers will be tested as Bruins forward Brad Marchand pays a visit. Marchand, known for questionable antics, has been persona non grata in Vancouver for his actions in the 2011 championship series, and fans are likely to show their displeasure with him from the get-go. Time will tell whether the fans’ emotions rub off on the players.Meanwhile, the Bruins will attempt to get back on the winning track after suffering two straight losses, the latest being a 3-2 overtime setback in Edmonton on Thursday. Boston’s defense could be revised Saturday after veteran rearguard Kevan Miller suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury against the Oilers.Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy faces a decision on Miller’s possible replacement. Regardless of who is selected, Miller’s absence could result in more ice time for captain Zdeno Chara Montreal Canadiens Hats Authentic , 41, who played his 900th game for the Bruins against the Oilers.“It’s a huge honor — it’s a privilege,” Chara said of his long tenure with Boston. “I’ve been really proud of being part of this organization and very thankful to have owners like we have, and they make it very convenient for me and my family to stay in this organization in Boston for as long as we have.”Chara is one of the few Bruin holdovers from the 2011 finals. Selected by the Islanders in the third round (56th overall) of the 1996 NHL entry draft, he played for the Islanders and Ottawa before signing as a free agent with the Bruins in 2005.“You appreciate what he does more and more every time you see him, especially at his age,” Cassidy told reporters.

WASHINGTON (AP) Jon Cooper walked into the locker room and didn’t get the sense Lightning players were down in the dumps about losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference final.”It was more kind of like an anger of like we want to get back – like let’s get Game 3 going here Brendan Leipsic Jersey Kids ,” Tampa Bay’s coach said.Game 3 on Tuesday night in Washington can’t come soon enough for the Lightning, who are in a historically difficult spot after losing twice at home to open the series.Of the 41 previous times a team lost the first two games in the conference finals, 39 went on to lose the series – including every team that lost its first two at home.”For us, it’s all about resetting everything,” defenseman Victor Hedman said Monday. ”There’s no panic. We’re obviously not happy with losing two games on home ice, but that is not something that goes into our locker room.”We’ve got the experience. We’ve got the guys that are in the playoffs for the first time, guys have been through this, and we’re capable of handling that.”The Lightning under Cooper haven’t lost the first two games of a series since 2014, when they were swept in the first round by Montreal. That was a learning experience players could point to when they went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, but right now it’s just an ugly deficit.It is the same deficit the Lightning erased against the Capitals in 2003.”If you just look where you stand in the series, I feel like it’s a big mountain to climb,” said former Lightning captain Martin St. Louis http://www.officialcanucks.com/authentic-adidas-brock-boeser-jersey , who was on that team. ”They got to focus on just winning the next game. And I truly believe if they do that, it’s going to be a long series.”After not allowing Boston to score an even-strength goal in the final three games during the second round, Tampa Bay has been outscored 7-1 by Washington at even strength and 10-4 overall.Asked what the Lightning needed to do better, three-time Cup-winning defenseman Ken Daneyko responded, ”Where do we begin?””They were so responsible defensively, making good puck decisions and through the first two rounds they didn’t give up a whole lot,” said Daneyko, now an NHL Network analyst.”Just mental breakdowns, mental mistakes by Tampa Bay. You never know why it turns so drastically like that when they were so sound against the Bruins. That can’t happen.”Mistakes are happening in abundance, most notably passing up shots that lead to opportunities the other way. And ill-timed penalties late in periods have led directly to Capitals power-play goals, which definitely can’t continue happening if the Lightning want to make this a series.”We need to do a better job of not getting in that situation, not letting two games in a row Christopher Tanev Jersey , 7, 8 seconds left on the power play and they get one,” defenseman Dan Girardi said. ”That’s something we can definitely control ourselves.”As clinically as Tampa Bay eliminated New Jersey and Boston in five games apiece, Washington is rolling behind the scoring of Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov and the goaltending of Braden Holtby, who has stopped 52 of 56 shots through two games.The Capitals are feeling confident right now, but after falling behind 0-2 on home ice in the first round and roaring back to beat Columbus, they understand how fast things can swing.”We’re off to a heck of a start, but we’ve got to take care of business at home,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. ”If they win one or two here, boy, the momentum switches big time.”For the Lightning to win one or two games, they’ll need to get better production out of captain Steven Stamkos and winger Nikita Kucherov and better play out of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy Authentic Daniel Sedin Jersey , who hasn’t been at his best.”He’s going to have to be great,” said Keith Jones, a former NHL forward and current NBC Sports analyst. ”He’s being challenged to look through traffic and stay up. … Vasilevskiy’s going to have to play unbelievably well unless the Capitals take a step back.”If the Lightning can’t figure out how to fix many of their problems from the net out, it’ll be a short series. Cooper sounded confident of a turnaround.”There’s a really good group of guys there,” Cooper said. ”They’ve got a ton of experience and when their backs have been against the wall, they’ve shown a propensity to fight back. This is a tough one. We lost two at home and it’s definitely not an ideal situation. But we’re not done. It’s not over.”NOTES: Capitals coach Barry Trotz said C Nicklas Backstrom, who has missed three consecutive games with a right hand injury, remains day-to-day. … Washington D Michal Kempny was fined $2,419 – the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement – for cross-checking Lightning F Cedric Paquette during Game 2.— WASHINGTON (AP) — Remembering recent failures when it comes to extending winning streaks and fearing the defending Stanley Cup champions turned out to be a perfect recipe for the Dallas Stars.Dallas started fast with two goals 10 seconds apart and finished strong in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, giving the Stars their first three-game winning streak of the season. Jason Dickinson scored 3:17 into overtime to keep Dallas rolling under first-year coach Jim Montgomery.“There’s a lot of belief right now,” Montgomery said. “I don’t see any complacency in our group. I just see a determination and a focus that I haven’t seen before. That’s the exciting part.”The excitement is building for the Stars, who are starting to develop some consistency. Jason Spezza scored on a breakaway and Tyler Pitlick forced a turnover for an unassisted goal 10 seconds later as Dallas jumped out to a 2-0 lead that showed players they could hang with the Capitals.“When you come in here Womens Derek Dorsett Jersey , there’s a little bit of fear of knowing that they can run you out of the rink if you’re not ready to go off the hop,” Spezza said. “You can’t take these guys lightly, and I thought we learned a lesson from some of the other games we played on the road.”In the process, the Stars also learned about rebounding from mistakes and moving forward after blowing a lead. Goaltender Ben Bishop allowed soft goals from sharp angles to Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dallas’ defensive structure was lacking and yet it was able to get to overtime.Playing 3-on-3 in OT, Dallas outshot Washington 6-1. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby stopped Tyler Seguin on a penalty shot 59 seconds in, but Dickinson beat him on a deflection for his third of the season.“We’ll take it,” said Bishop, who stopped 29 shots. “They’re not always going to be Picassos. Sometimes you’re going to have to grind. Last game we had to hold on at the end. This one we had to find a way to come back and get that one in overtime. Finding different ways to win, that’s the big thing. It doesn’t matter how, just as long as you get it.”It also was a struggle for the Capitals, who turned the puck over on all three Stars goals in regulation and still had a chance after Kuznetsov tied it on the power play with 12:03 remaining in the third period. Brett Connolly also scored for Washington http://www.officialcanucks.com/authentic-adidas-henrik-sedin-jersey , but ill-timed turnovers in the wrong places led to a second consecutive defeat.“Every team comes fast like that,” said Holtby, who gave the puck away to Pitlick for his goal. “It’s not a surprise. You just have to be prepared for it and have a plan and execute. A couple plays, we didn’t do that.”While the Capitals continue to search for the kind of 60-minute effort that defined their playoff run last spring, the Stars are feeling good in the middle of a long Eastern Conference road trip. Montgomery set the goal of three wins in six games, and his team is already there with two left before returning home.“Everyone’s contributing,” Montgomery said. “You’re together and it’s a good feeling and everyone is enjoying being around each other.”NOTES: Holtby finished with 32 saves plus his stop on Seguin on the penalty shot in overtime. … Captain Jamie Benn also scored for Dallas, his sixth goal of the season. … Capitals D Brooks Orpik missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury. He did not practice all week. … Stars D Marc Methot and F Alexander Radulov were out with lower-body injuries. Montgomery said Radulov returned to Dallas for treatment and will miss the final two games of the trip. … Montgomery said D Connor Carrick (foot) should be able to get back into skates soon.UP NEXTStars: At Boston on Monday in the fifth stop on their six-game trip.Capitals: Continue a five-game homestand against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

VANCOUVER Jeff Skinner Jersey , British Columbia (AP) The San Jose Sharks were able to pull out a win despite struggling to shake the Vancouver Canucks.Timo Meier’s second goal of the game snapped a third-period tie and the Sharks won 5-3 on Saturday night for their fourth consecutive victory.Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc each had a goal and an assist, and Tomas Hertl scored into an empty net with 25 seconds remaining for the Sharks, who are 7-2-0 in their last nine games.”We weren’t at our best,” said Couture, who also had an assist. ”They’re a team in a position where they are rebuilding, but they played hard. They gave us a challenge. It was tough, but we gutted out the win.”Nikolay Goldobin, Alex Edler and Bo Horvat scored power-play goals and Sam Gagner had two assists for the Canucks, who lost their sixth consecutive game – their longest losing streak of the season.”Our battle level was good,” Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said. ”The power play stepped up when it needed to. You score three on the power play and you should win in this league. It’s tough to lose again in the third. That’s the difference between teams that are in the playoffs and teams that are outside.”Goldobin’s goal at 10:48 of the first period snapped a scoreless streak of 222 minutes, 57 minutes for the Canucks, who had been shut out in three consecutive losses.The Sharks had allowed just two power-play goals in their previous 17 games, but gave up three against Vancouver. The only other time San Jose allowed three power-play goals in a game was in an opening-night loss to Philadelphia.”Our kill wasn’t very good,” Couture said. ”We were running around. Our sticks weren’t good. We were getting outbattled and then they got a few lucky breaks. The kill needs to be better going forward.”Aaron Dell, making his first start since Feb. 22, made 28 saves for the Sharks.”It was a huge, gutsy performance,” San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. ”We let them back in the game and still found a way to rebound. It’s a tough time of year to win, no matter whose building you are going into. To have a trip like that http://www.officialhurricanes.com/authentic-adidas-jordan-staal-jersey , at this time of year, is critical.”Vancouver’s Jacob Markstrom stopped 25 shots.”I was awful today,” Markstrom said. ”I have to be better.”Meier put the Sharks ahead at 6:07 of the third with a shot from the faceoff circle that went under Markstrom’s blocker. The Canucks came close with just over six minutes left, but Hertl scooped a loose puck off the goal line.Vancouver scored twice with the man-advantage in the second period to tie the game at 3.The Sharks took a 3-1 lead just 1:47 into the period when Meier tipped in Brenden Dillion’s shot from the point.Horvat started Vancouver’s comeback, scoring just 6 seconds into a power play. Dell stopped Gagner’s slap shot but Horvat jammed home the rebound. Edler tied it with a blast from the point at 11:48. It was his first power-play goal in 88 games dating to Feb. 17, 2017.The Sharks scored 1:10 apart in the first period to erase a 1-0 deficit.Goldobin opened the scoring when he took a pass from defenseman Derrick Pouilot and snapped a shot from the face-off circle that sailed over Dell’s shoulder. The San Jose goalie was screened by Jake Virtanen.Labanc tied it on a power play at 14:48. Joe Pavelski’s shot was stopped by Markstrom, but he managed to get his own rebound and passed it to Labanc at the side of the net.The Sharks went ahead on Couture’s 29th of the season at 16:08. He took a feed from Hertl, fought off a check by Virtanen and chipped the puck past Markstrom.NOTES: Defenseman Chris Tanev returned to Vancouver lineup for his first game since breaking his leg Feb. 8 against Tampa Bay. … San Jose center Melker Karlsson went to the dressing favoring his right leg early in the first period after blocking a shot. … San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic left in the second period after being hit in the chest by a puck. … The Canucks’ franchise record for a scoring drought is 234 minutes, 52 seconds, set March 16-24, 2016. … The longest goal drought by a team in the expansion era is 262 minutes, 3 seconds, set by the Minnesota North Stars from Jan. 28-Feb. 6, 1988.UP NEXTSharks: vs. New Jersey on Tuesday night.Canucks: at Vegas on Tuesday night. WASHINGTON (AP) — Devante Smith-Pelly got up from his seat.The Washington Capitals forward had heard the unmistakably racist taunts from fans from inside the penalty box. As a black hockey player, he knew exactly what they meant by yelling, “Basketball, basketball, basketball!”“It’s just ignorant people being ignorant,” Smith-Pelly said.That scene unfolded in Chicago in February Womens Justin Faulk Jersey , 60 years after Willie O’Ree broke the NHL’s color barrier and paved the way for more minorities to play the sport and reach its highest level. O’Ree is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday for his pioneering career, and yet incidents like the one Smith-Pelly went through show how much more progress needs to be made, in a league that’s 97 percent white and beyond.“It’s come a long way, but there’s still a lot of things that still need to change,” Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse said. “That just comes through minorities as a group working together to try to eliminate those things from this game.”Those things just keep happening.In 2011, Philadelphia forward Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him during a preseason game in London, Ontario.In 2012, then-Washington forward Joel Ward was the subject of racist social media posts after he scored a game-winning playoff goal.In 2014, then-Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban was the subject of racist social media posts after he scored a game-winning playoff goal.In April, Detroit prospect Givani Smith was subjected to threats and racial taunts and messages after a junior game in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. His team had a police escort the next time they went to the rink.“(O’Ree) had to go through a lot, and the same thing has been happening now, which obviously means there’s still a long way to go,” Smith-Pelly said. “If you had pulled a quote from him back then and us now, they’re saying the same thing, so obviously there’s still a long way to go in hockey and in the world if we’re being serious.”Through his work as an NHL diversity ambassador over the past 20 years, O’Ree has tried to work toward more inclusion and better minority representation. He is eager to tell kids at YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs and schools that hockey is another sport they can play.USA Hockey and Hockey Canada don’t keep participation statistics by race, though there are fewer than two dozen black players currently on NHL rosters. The NHL celebrates “Hockey is for Everyone” month each season and quickly condemns racist behavior.“A lot of it’s basically on your parents and how people raise their kids Justin Williams Jersey ,” said San Jose forward Evander Kane, who acknowledged being the subject of racist taunting as the only black player on his minor league teams in Vancouver. “You can have all the awareness that you want, but at the end of the day, it’s really up to the individual and how they act and how they want to treat other people.”O’Ree, 83, still remembers how he was treated in the ’50s as hockey’s Jackie Robinson. He did his best to drown out the noise by listening to his brother Richard.“I heard the jeers and some of the racial remarks, but it kind of went in one ear and out the other,” O’Ree said. “He told me, ‘Willie, names will never hurt you unless you let them.’ He said, ‘If they can’t accept you for the individual that you are, just forget about it and just go out and do what you do best and don’t worry about anything else.'”Nurse said black players still have to worry about racist jeers and remarks.“I had a lot growing up and my brother had the big one too last year,” said Dallas forward Gemel Smith, Givani’s brother. “How we were raised, nothing really bothers me. That stuff doesn’t really get to me and things like that. My dad always taught us just to try to close it out, block it out.”Like Smith-Pelly, Simmonds is quick to say racism isn’t an issue unique to hockey or sports in general. His solution is a zero tolerance policy, which is what happened to the four fans in Chicago who were thrown out and banned from all home games by the Blackhawks.“I think what could be done to keep these types of incidents from happening would probably be to ban those people who are doing those lewd acts,” Simmonds said. “I think if you set a strong example right from the start Custom Florida Panthers Jerseys , you won’t have too many people acting like clowns.”Commissioner Gary Bettman, who is going into the Hall of Fame with O’Ree as part of the class of 2018, considers it important to make clear to fans and players what’s expected and what’s not tolerated and said: “Even if it’s only one incident, it’s one too many.” Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said creating and cultivating an inclusive environment and building diversity are significant league priorities.There has been incremental progress. In the aftermath of Smith-Pelly’s incident, fans in Chicago raised $23,000 to donate to the Fort Dupont Ice Rink in Washington, helping hundreds of children.“When you see the reaction and the way that people rally around moments like that and try to make a positive out of it, I think that’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Nurse said.For some players like Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, hockey has been a safe place. The Blue Jackets defenseman said he has so far never been on the receiving end of race-based taunts or messages and said, “I was just like everybody else playing hockey, which is what everyone wants.”Most black players haven’t been that fortunate. And while Jones is optimistic that people can change, Smith-Pelly wasn’t sure exactly how that will happen.“It’s tough,” he said. “I don’t really know a plan to stop it. That’s how people are.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is out indefinitely with a concussion.Coach Mike Sullivan said Murray suffered the concussion during practice Monday and reported potential symptoms to the training staff immediately afterward. Sullivan did not offer specifics on the nature of the contact that led to the injury.This is the third time in his NHL career the 24-year-old Murray has been diagnosed with a concussion. He suffered one in practice last February and missed nearly a month. He also suffered a concussion late in the 2015-16 season when he collided with Philadelphia’s Brayden Schenn.Sullivan said the team is focusing on Murray’s health and not the number of concussions he has suffered.“It’s really hard to make any sort of Youth Kevin Labanc Jersey , to draw any conclusions with this stuff because I think everybody is different,” Sullivan said. “That’s been my experience in dealing with concussions over the years. The nature of these is different. Sometimes players bounce back extremely quick and others tend to linger and it’s hard to predict.”Murray, who won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, struggled during the opening week of the season. He allowed six goals in an overtime victory over Washington and then let in five in a loss to Montreal. Sullivan was quick to spread around the blame for Pittsburgh’s sluggish start, pointing to a group that played sloppy away from the puck.“We’ve got to be a more difficult team to play against,” Sullivan said.Casey DeSmith will get the first chance at replacing Murray. The Penguins also recalled Tristan Jarry from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. DeSmith went 6-4-1 with a 2.40 goals against average and .921 save percentage as a rookie last season.The Penguins are off until Thursday when they host the Vegas Golden Knights. History is being made again in the Stanley Cup playoffs.On the heels of the first back-to-back champions in two decades, the NHL will get a new champion in the salary-cap era that began in 2005. Among the Lightning http://www.sanjosesharksteamshop.com/authentic-logan-couture-jersey , Capitals, Jets and Golden Knights, only Tampa Bay has won the Stanley Cup, making this the first time the final four teams have combined for one title or fewer.Tampa Bay is in the Eastern Conference final for the third time in four years, and Washington has made the playoffs 10 out of the past 11 seasons. Yet after one of Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh lifted the Cup every time since 2009 Martin Jones Jersey , this crop of new blood is refreshing.”They’re all good stories,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. ”The same old story sometimes can get old. Once in a while a new chapter is written, and it’ll be good. This year there will be a new chapter.”The next chapter begins with the Capitals visiting the Lightning on Friday night, followed by the Golden Knights at Winnipeg on Saturday night. It’s a full turnover from the final four teams last year: Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Nashville and Anaheim.The Jets became the fourth and final team to reach the third round when they beat the defending Western Conference-champion Predators on the road in Game 7 on Thursday night. Winnipeg is the final hope for Canada’s first Cup celebration since Montreal in 1993 and is in the conference final for the first time in franchise history.”Having some diversity amongst the league is great, and I think it just shows the competitive balance throughout the league Womens Melker Karlsson Jersey ,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. ”Having good young players is a great place to start and you see that the teams that have good young players have gotten good fast. So I think it’s a good thing to have some fan bases have some extended postseason success. It just creates a better vibe.”The Lightning are trying to create the vibe Hockey Bay hasn’t seen since winning the Cup in 2004. They fell short in a six-game loss to the Blackhawks in the 2015 final with this core, led by Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman.Even after missing the playoffs last year when Stamkos was out long term with a knee injury, Tampa Bay has plenty of recent playoff experience from recent runs and the additions of ex-Rangers players Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi and J.T. Miller.”We’ve been here in this situation before,” Stamkos said. ”There’s no panic or nervousness. We’re excited.”Vegas hasn’t been in any situation before, building off the best inaugural season in NHL history by beating Los Angeles and San Jose to reach the West final. Among the four good stories remaining, none is as remarkable as the Golden Knights Adidas John Moore Jersey , who pieced together players from around the league to get further than anyone expected.”I haven’t been around a team like this,” general manager George McPhee said. ”This feels like more of a team than any team I’ve ever been with at the NHL level.”McPhee’s former team in Washington has the same feeling. The Capitals aren’t as deep or talented as in years past, but they’re in the East final for the first time since 1998, when McPhee was in his first season as their GM.”I’ve had some teams that have been very, very talented and they weren’t necessarily the best teams,” said Trotz, who is in the third round for the first time in 19 years as an NHL head coach. ”I think the belief in the group Tim Heed Jersey , or the chemistry in the group, is the intangible and this group has a good chemistry about it.”What excites Jets coach Paul Maurice most about the fresh teams in the conference finals is the hope it keeps alive in the remaining cities. And each one can legitimately believe its team has a chance to win it all.”That’s the great part about competition,” Maurice said. ”So that’s what’s the most exciting thing is you don’t know, right? There’s not a five-time Stanley Cup champion that’s just ran the first two series 4-0. It’s up for grabs. It’s right there.”—AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed.—

Hall of Fame Game: Ravens vs. Bears inactives The Baltimore Ravens are set to play in their first of five preseason games on Thursday night. Since it is the preseason http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/james-hurst-jersey-cheap , there will be no official inactive list, but several Ravens will not suit up. Below is the unofficial inactive list.The Ravens appear to be playing it safe during the Hall of Fame game with several notable names on the offensive side of the ball getting the night off. As expected starting quarterback Joe Flacco will not suit up on Thursday night, while Baltimore’s top three running backs will not play either: Alex Collins, Javorious Allen and Kenneth Dixon (hamstring). All three of Baltimore’s free agent receivers that they signed this offseason will receive the night off: Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead.Obviously, the four players on the PUP list will not play either: Marshal Yanda, Quincy Adeboyejo, Bam Bradley and Jaylen Hill. The offensive line will feature a mix of some starters as only Ronnie Stanley and James Hurst are not playing in the Hall of Fame Game. Rookies Greg Senat and Mark Andrews, who are both dealing with injuries, will miss Thursday night’s game as well. Defensively, several veterans will not play in Baltimore’s first preseason game: Jimmy Smith, Tony Jefferson, Brandon Carr, Kai Nacua, Brandon Carr, Eric Weddle, Tyus Bowser (undisclosed injury), Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley and Brandon Williams. Takeaways from players reportedly sitting out:With the top three receivers sitting out, Jordan Lasley, Jaleel Scott, Breshad Perriman, Tim White Youth Za'Darius Smith Jersey , Jaelon Acklin and Andre Levrone will get extended playing time. The offensive line will be something worth monitoring as Alex Lewis, Orlando Brown Jr. and Matt Skura are all expected to start. Marlon Humphrey, Maurice Canady and Tavon Young will likely only play one series, which means Anthony Averett, Darious Williams, Stanley Jean-Baptiste Bennett Jackson and Jackson Porter could see significant playing time. With both of their starting safeties sitting out, DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark could play up to a half, if not more.Bronson Kaufusi and Kamalei Correa could see extra reps at outside linebacker with Terrell Suggs and Tyus Bowser sitting out. Joe Flacco's sore right hip means Ravens coach John Harbaugh may have to wait until Sunday before deciding who to start at quarterback in a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Harbaugh's options are Flacco, an ailing 11-year veteran; Lamar Jackson, a rookie who's never made an NFL start; or Robert Griffin III, who's been inactive every game this season.Rather than fret, Harbaugh attempted to put a positive spin on the situation."It just makes it tougher for the Bengals to prepare for us," he said. "So, that's kind of a good thing."Actually, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis couldn't care less. He's got his own problems, most notably a horrific defense that set a dubious Super Bowl-era record by yielding at least 500 yards in three successive games.Lewis fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Monday and assumed the responsibility of running the defense with the aid of Hue Jackson , who was hired Tuesday after being dismissed as head coach of the Browns earlier this season.Asked to describe his wild week, Lewis said quite sarcastically: "Yeah, it's what you wish for."The Ravens (4-5) and Bengals (5-4) fully expected to be in a better place with seven games to go. After a 4-2 start, Baltimore has lost three straight. The Bengals have dropped four of five after opening 4-1.The importance of this game for both teams cannot be understated."Us and Baltimore at this point are where we need this win," Cincinnati receiver Tyler Boyd said. "It's a huge game to make or break a team."Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said: "When you come off three losses, you definitely know you definitely have to win."Some other things to know about this AFC North matchup:NO GREEN?Overlooked in the Bengals' defensive collapse in a 51-14 loss to the Saints last week was how the offense struggled without receiver A.J. Green, sidelined with a toe injury.The Bengals put together a 75-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession Womens Lamar Jackson Jersey , and the starters didn't score again. Cincinnati wound up with 284 yards. Andy Dalton was only 12 of 20 for 153 yards with four sacks and two interceptions. Green was initially ruled out for the Ravens game on Friday, but the Bengals did an about-face and held open a slight chance he'd play by listing him as doubtful.The receivers know they must do better in Baltimore."We need to make more plays on the ball," Boyd said. "When Andy puts the ball in the air, we need to fight for the ball or at least not let the opponent get the interception."COACH AND QB TANDEMSLewis has been coaching the Bengals for 16 years, and Harbaugh is in his 11th season with Baltimore.Asked to find the common thread between the two, Lewis said, "If you look around the league, the people who have been in these jobs for a long time, they're fortunate to have quarterbacks that lead the franchise and win games. I guess that, to me, is the main commonality."Flacco has been Harbaugh's starting quarterback since 2008 , and they've won a Super Bowl together. Dalton has a 68-48-2 record as a starter over an eight-year run.SCENE OF THE GRABThe Bengals return to the place where they broke the Ravens' hearts and made the Buffalo Bills giddy with one big play in the final regular-season game last season.Dalton's 49-yard touchdown pass to Boyd on a fourth-and-12 play with 49 seconds left sent the Bengals to a 31-27 win that kept Baltimore out of the playoffs and gave the Bills their first postseason appearance since 1999.Bills fans donated more than $450,000 to Dalton's foundation in gratitude, and the quarterback was warmly received at a preseason game in Buffalo last August."It was one of the coolest moments of my career, with everything that happened on the play and afterward," Dalton said.JACKSON READYIf Flacco can't go, Jackson will likely get the call. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and former Louisville star has thus far been used periodically in running situations and is second on the team with 139 yards rushing.Jackson said it would be "awesome" to start, but has no complaints about this current role."It's been pretty cool," he said. "I'm on the field. I'd rather be out there than just sitting down."GOOD BYEThe Ravens are 8-2 following a bye under Harbaugh and an NFL-best 13-3 since 2002 after getting an extra week off.Asked how he spent the week, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs cracked up the media with this quote: "As (NBA guard) Kyle Lowry would say, 'I got a chance to decompose.' It's kind of fun just to get your mind away a little bit."AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

Bull Vs. Bear Fantasy Report Youth Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , 1,200 All-Purpose Yards: Kenyan Drake I’ll save you a Google search. The bull market means up (horns go up); the bear market means down (claws go down). It’s tough in this writing business when you keep changing your mind on how you feel about something. I did a Phinsider Radio podcast 2 weeks ago and said I was “bearish” on Kenyan Drake. As of this writing, I want to have his babies. Put the shoe on the other foot, so to speak.He’s got game-breaking ability, and once he develo ps into a seasoned route runner...WOW. Yet, Frank Gore could vulture TD’s, and Kalen Ballage flashes legitimacy. This could be a true committee deeper into the season. How are the snaps divvied up? How do injuries affect the rotation over the course of the year? 锘縄’m beginning more and more to look at that 4th round as a draft pick commensurate with Drake’s potential value.I’ll set the barometer at 1,200 all-purpose yards, and you tell me are you bull or bear? Ryan Tannehill says when he calls a trick play, even his offensive linemen get excited.And why not? Razzle dazzle is a big reason the surprising Miami Dolphins are undefeated."I'm all for anytime everybody gets excited about a play call," play-caller and coach Adam Gase said with a chuckle Monday. "The worst is when the quarterback says he doesn't believe it's going to work. That's when you get a little nervous."If I feel like guys really like something White Bobby McCain Jersey , we'll get to it."They're likely cueing up something exotic for the New England Patriots, where the Dolphins play Sunday with a chance to end their streak of nine consecutive losses in Foxborough.The Dolphins used a receiver-to-receiver pass and two wideout sweeps to score three touchdowns Sunday and rally past Oakland 28-20. With the win, Miami improved to 3-0 for only the third time since the Dan Marino era and took a two-game lead over the other three teams in the AFC East, including perennial power New England.How much is left in Gase's bag of play-calling tricks?"A lot," he said.Sunday's surprises allowed the Dolphins to spring their speed 鈥?NASCAR on grass, as receiver Jakeem Grant called it. He and receiver Albert Wilson each scored on a jet sweep, and Wilson threw his first NFL pass for a 52-yard touchdown to Grant .Fun, right?"When you win," Gase said, "it's fun."The Dolphins had practiced the three plays for weeks and chose the right time to call them. The scores helped erase a 17-7 second-half deficit."The play comes into the huddle, and everyone kind of gets excited White Vincent Taylor Jersey ," Tannehill said. "Anytime there's a big-shot call or a trick play, you can feel the offensive line kind of get excited."The defensive line, too."It's a lot of fun watching guys run down the sideline untouched," defensive end Cameron Wake said.Wilson did just that, sprinting into the clear on his 74-yard jet sweep catch and run. The Raiders' reaction?"They got behind me so quick, I didn't really see their faces," Wilson said.Zing.He did see Grant, exchanging a high five with his teammate as they ran strike for stride into the end zone.The 5-foot-9 Wilson and 5-foot-7 Grant are part of the fastest receiving corps in team history. Kenny Stills can fly too, as he has showed while averaging 20.4 yards on nine catches this season, three for touchdowns. Running back Kenyan Drake is also swift, giving Miami yet another quick-strike option."Coach always tells us just go out there and run 鈥?a lot of defenders are going to be terrified by speed White Jakeem Grant Jersey , so just take off and run," Grant said.It's not really that simple. The trick plays require perfect timing, and talent.The receiver-to-receiver pass involved a fake pitch by Tannehill, a handoff to Frank Gore and a lateral to Wilson. The former high school quarterback then rolled to his right as he threw a pass right on the money, as had been the case daily in practice."I know how hard that is to be running full speed laterally and make that throw," Tannehill said. "During the week, he was consistent on making a perfect throw. It wasn't ever a question. He never stretched Jakeem out or made him adjust really. After I saw him run it the first time I thought, 'He's got this. He doesn't need any tips.'"After the game Wilson tweeted: "& he can pass !!"Grant made the catch at the 35-yard line and broke two tackles en route to the end zone, motivated by an earlier conversation with Wilson."All he told me was, 'Make sure you score. And if you get tackled by one man in the open field, you owe me $100 http://www.authenticsmiamidolphins.com/cheap-ja_wuan-james-jersey ,'" Grant recalled. "Now he owes me $100."The Dolphins know trickery will take them only so far. The early schedule has been soft, injuries are mounting, and keeping Tannehill healthy is a must. Vegas is so unimpressed by the Dolphins that they're a touchdown underdog at struggling New England.But Gase, who came to Miami in 2016 with a reputation as an offensive wiz, finally seems to have the right personnel for his playbook. That includes the versatile Wilson, acquired last offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs."We have so much stuff," Wilson said. "I'm ready for everything he calls 鈥?every run play, every pass play. Whatever he has for me, I'm ready for it."The Dolphins hope the defense won't be.Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: ://Steve_Wine

SCOREBOARDMonday Authentic Brandon Williams Jersey , Sept. 10New York Jets at Detroit, 7:10 p.m. EDT. The only first-round draft pick starting at quarterback in his team's opener will be New York's Sam Darnold. Matt Patricia, longtime defensive coordinator in New England, makes his head coaching debut for the Lions.Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders, 10:20 p.m. EDT. The return of Jon Gruden to the sideline as he coaches the Raiders against the powerfully stocked Rams. Gruden traded away his best player, linebacker Khalil Mack, who was holding out for a new contract. Los Angeles did the opposite, giving star DT Aaron Donald a long-term deal.STARSPassing鈥?Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buccaneers, highlighted a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards, and Tampa Bay stunned New Orleans 48-40.鈥?Tom Brady, Patriots, threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns to lead the defending AFC champion New England Patriots to a 27-20 victory over the Houston Texans.鈥?Drew Brees, Saints, was 37 of 45 for 439 yards and three TDs in New Orleans' 48-40 loss to Tampa Bay.鈥?Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, passed for his first four NFL scores in leading Kansas City to a 38-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.鈥?Joe Flacco, Ravens, threw three touchdown passes, one to each of the new receivers Baltimore 鈥?John Brown, Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead 鈥?before being replaced in the third quarter by rookie Lamar Jackson in a 47-3 rout of Buffalo.鈥?Philip Rivers, Chargers, was 34 of 51 for 424 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in Los Angeles' 38-28 loss to Kansas City.鈥?Aaron Rodgers, Packers, threw three touchdown passes in the second half after returning from a knee injury, helping Green Bay overcome a 20-point deficit for a 24-23 win over Chicago.Rushing鈥?James Conner, Steelers, scored two touchdowns while running for 135 yards 鈥?just 9 fewer than he gained as a rookie last season 鈥?in Pittsburgh's 21-21 tie at Cleveland.鈥?Saquon Barkley, Giants, had 18 rushes for 106 yards, including a spectacular 68-yard TD run, in the Giants' 20-15 loss to Jacksonville.鈥?Joe Mixon, Bengals, carried 17 times for 95 yards and added five catches for 54 yards in Cincinnati's 34-23 win at Indianapolis.鈥?Lamar Miller, Texans, ran 20 times for 98 yards in Houston's 27-20 loss at New England.鈥?Adrian Peterson, Redskins Youth Alex Lewis Jersey , rushed for 96 yards and a score in his debut with Washington in a 24-6 victory at Arizona.Receiving鈥?Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, Saints. Thomas set a single-game franchise record by catching 16 passes for 180 yards and a TD in New Orleans' 48-40 loss to Tampa Bay. Kamara caught nine passes for 112 yards and one touchdown to go with two TD runs.鈥?DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans, Buccaneers. Jackson caught scoring passes of 58 and 36 yards to highlight his five-catch, 146-yard day in Tampa Bay's 48-40 win at New Orleans before leaving with a concussion. Evans caught seven passes for 147 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown.鈥?Tyreek Hill, Chiefs, had 169 yards and two TDs on seven receptions in Kansas City's 38-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.鈥?Rob Gronkowski, Patriots, had seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in New England's 27-20 win over Houston.鈥?Odell Beckham Jr., Giants, caught 11 passes for 111 yards in New York's 20-15 loss to Jacksonville.鈥?Randall Cobb, Packers, had nine receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay's 24-23 victory over Chicago.Special Teams鈥?T.J. Watt, Steelers, blocked Zane Gonzalez's 43-yard field-goal attempt with 9 seconds left in OT as Pittsburgh held on for a 21-21 tie at Cleveland.鈥?Jakeem Grant, Dolphins, scored on a tiebreaking 102-yard kickoff return with 14 minutes to go and Miami overcame two weather delays to win the longest game since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, beating the Tennessee Titans 27-20.鈥?Tyreek Hill, Chiefs, had a 91-yard punt return for a score in Kansas City's 38-28 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.鈥?Darius Jennings, Titans, returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD in Tennessee's 27-20 loss at Miami.Defense鈥?T.J. Watt, Steelers, had four sacks in Pittsburgh's 21-21 tie at Cleveland.鈥?Clayton Fejedelem, Bengals, jarred the ball loose from Jack Doyle with less than 35 seconds left, scooped it up and sprinted down the sideline 83 yards for a touchdown to seal Cincinnati's 34-23 victory at Indianapolis.鈥?Von Miller, Broncos, sacked Russell Wilson three times, forced two fumbles and recovered one to help Denver hold off Seattle 27-24.鈥?Mario Addison, Panthers, had a strip-sack of Dallas' Dak Prescott with 1:23 left to seal Carolina's 16-8 victory.鈥?Denzel Ward, Browns, intercepted Ben Roethlisberger twice in his NFL debut as Cleveland tied Pittsburgh 21-21.鈥?Myles Jack, Jaguars, scored on a 32-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter and Jacksonville defeated the New York Giants 20-15.鈥?Mike Hughes, Vikings, returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown 鈥?the first by a rookie in a Minnesota season opener 鈥?in a 24-16 win over San Francisco.鈥?Khalil Mack http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-brent-urban-jersey , Bears, had a 27-yard interception return for a score, a sack and forced fumble in his debut with his new team, a 24-23 loss at Green Bay.ANTHEMDolphins teammates Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson were the only two players to kneel during the national anthem on the NFL's opening Sunday, and Colin Kaepernick offered his thanks to them via social media. "My Brothers (Stills) and (Wilson) continue to show their unwavering strength by fighting for the oppressed," Kaepernick said in his tweet. "They have not backed down, even when attacked and intimidated. ... Love is at the root of our resistance." While Stills and Wilson were kneeling during the anthem, teammate Robert Quinn raised his fist. Niners receiver Marquise Goodwin did the same at San Francisco's game at Minnesota. Before the late games, Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas and linebacker Brandon Marshall, and Seahawks linemen Duane Brown and Quinton Jefferson, retreated to their respective tunnels while the anthem played. In Los Angeles, Chargers left tackle Russell Okung raised his fist.MILESTONESTampa Bay's Ryan Fitzpatrick joined Washington's Mark Rypien (1991 vs. Atlanta) as the only QBs in NFL history to pass for at least 400 yards, four touchdowns and no INTs and rush for a touchdown in a single game. Fitzpatrick threw for 417 yards and four TDs in the Buccaneers' 48-40 win at New Orleans. ... Rob Gronkowski had seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in New England's 27-20 win over Houston for the 27th regular-season 100-yard game of his career, second-most for a tight end in NFL history. Tony Gonzalez had 31, but Gronkowski also had four in the postseason 鈥?and Gonzalez had none. ... Patriots coach Bill Belichick earned his 251st regular-season win, passing Tom Landry for third on the NFL's all-time list. ... New Orleans' Drew Brees passed for three touchdowns against Tampa Bay, giving him 37 in season-opening games to surpass the previous record of 34 held by Peyton Manning. ... Michael Thomas' career-high 16 catches for the Saints were the most by a player on opening weekend in NFL history, surpassing the previous record of 15 by the Chargers' Keenan Allen in 2015 vs. Detroit. ... Washington's Adrian Peterson has 12,372 yards rushing and 100 TD runs, becoming the seventh player in NFL history to record at least 12,000 yards rushing and 100 rushing scores. He joins Marcus Allen, Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson.STREAKS & STATSThe combined 88 points in Tampa Bay's 48-40 win at New Orleans set an NFL record for a regular-season opener, narrowly eclipsing Philadelphia's 45-42 victory over Washington in September 1947. ... Cleveland ended its 17-game losing streak Sunday with a 21-21 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who prevented the Browns from getting their first victory since 2016 when linebacker T.J. Watt blocked Zane Gonzalez's 43-yard field-goal attempt with 9 seconds left in OT. The Browns remain winless since Dec. 24, 2016, but at least they have a positive after going 0-16 last season, just the second team in league history to lose all 16 games. ... Tyrann Mathieu became the first Texans player with an interception and a fumble recovery in the same game since Tim Dobbins did it in 2012. ... DeAndre Hopkins has a reception in all 80 games of his career. ... San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered his first loss in eight games as an NFL starter, falling 24-16 at Minnesota. ... Kansas City extended its winning streak over the Chargers to nine with a 38-28 victory. ... Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald had seven catches for 76 yards in the Cardinals' 24-6 loss to Washington, giving him at least one reception in 212 consecutive games to surpass Tony Gonzalez (211) for the second-longest such streak in NFL history. Jerry Rice holds the mark with at least one catch in 274 consecutive games from 1985-2004. ... Buffalo linebacker Tremaine Edmunds became the first Bills rookie with a sack in the season opener since 2002 and first with a forced fumble since 2013.ALL TIED UPPittsburgh and Cleveland played to a 21-21 tie Sunday, the first in a Week 1 game since 1971 when Denver and Miami tied 10-10. This was the eighth tie in the NFL since 2000. Pittsburgh's last tie came in Week 10 of the 2002 season against Atlanta (34-34). Cleveland had its last tie in Week 11 of the 1989 season against Kansas City (10-10).STAYING LATEJakeem Grant scored on a tiebreaking 102-yard kickoff return with 14 minutes to go, and the Miami Dolphins overcame two weather delays to win the longest game since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, beating the Tennessee Titans 27-20. Delays for lightning lasted a total of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and the game took 7 hours, 10 minutes to play. The previous longest game since 1970 was a Bears overtime victory against the Ravens in 2013 that took 5 hours C.J. Mosley Jersey , 16 minutes.MR. DO-IT-ALLKansas City's Tyreek Hill had seven catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yard touchdown catch, and a 91-yard punt-return touchdown in the Chiefs' 38-28 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hill joined the Cowboys' Bob Hayes (1968 vs. Pittsburgh) and the Rams' Tavon Austin (2013 at Indianapolis) as the only players in NFL history to record a TD catch of 50 or more yards and have a punt return of 90 or more yards for a TD in a single game. Hill has 13 touchdowns of at least 50 yards (six receiving, four punt returns, two rushing, one kick return) in 32 games and is tied with Gale Sayers and Devin Hester for the most TDs of 50 or more in a player's first 35 games in NFL history.LUCK RETURNSAndrew Luck was 39 of 53 for 319 yards with two TD passes and an interception on his first official throw of the season 鈥?an underthrown pass to Jack Doyle inside the Bengals 5 鈥?in Indianapolis' 34-23 loss to Cincinnati. It was Luck's first regular-season start in more than 20 months after having shoulder surgery.BACK IN ACTIONRyan Tannehill, playing for the first time since a knee injury in late 2016, went 20 for 28 for 230 yards with two scores and two interceptions in Miami's 27-20 victory over Tennessee.UGLYMaking his third NFL start, Buffalo's Nathan Peterman went 5 for 18 for 24 yards and two interceptions for a quarterback rating of 0.0 in a 47-3 loss at Baltimore. After the Ravens followed two Buffalo miscues with a pair of touchdowns for a 40-0 lead, coach Sean McDermott turned to rookie Josh Allen, who went 6 for 15 for 74 yards in Buffalo's most lopsided defeat since a 56-10 loss to New England in November 2007. "Obviously, it wasn't a good showing," Peterman said. "We've got to do a lot better, starting with me."SHUT DOWNMaking its debut under defensive coordinator Don Martindale, Baltimore held Buffalo to 33 yards and no first downs in going up 26-0 at halftime of a 47-3 victory. Baltimore had six sacks and yielded 153 yards overall.INSTANT IMPACTIn his first game with the Bears, Khalil Mack had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown and a sack and forced fumble as Chicago fell to Green Bay 24-23. Mack was traded by Oakland on Sept. 1 with a 2020 second-round pick to Chicago for 2019 and 2020 first-round picks, along with future draft picks. Mack then signed a six-year deal worth $141 million, including $90 million guaranteed, to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.SIDELINEDThree-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker suffered a gruesome injury to his right leg Sunday night late in Tennessee's loss in Miami and was carted off the field. Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Walker was not in the locker room after their 27-20 loss. Walker was the third Titans starter to leave the game with an injury. Two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan left with a concussion, and quarterback Marcus Mariota was pulled with an elbow injury after a pair of interceptions in a game that lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes 鈥?the NFL's longest since the league's merger in 1970 with the AFL. ... Carolina tight end Greg Olsen ended up on the sideline on crutches wearing a walking boot on an injured foot after going to the locker room in the second quarter of the Panthers' 16-8 win over Dallas. He missed nine games last season with a Jones fracture in his foot, though coach Ron Rivera said it wasn't the same injury. ... Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette hurt his hamstring in the second quarter and never returned to the Jaguars' season-opening 20-15 win over the Giants. ... Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin was knocked out of the game against Denver with an injured right knee. He was hurt in the first quarter when a Denver player he was attempting to block rolled over his leg. He walked off under his own power and came back briefly before leaving the game. Baldwin missed all of August with a left knee injury. ... Patriots running back Jeremy Hill did not return after a knee injury with 12:09 left in the third quarter of New England's 27-20 win over Houston.SPEAKING"There is nothing to be excited about, nothing at all. We don't come to work to get ties. It's the equivalent of a loss to me." 鈥?Cleveland wide receiver Josh Gordon after the Browns ended their 17-game losing streak Sunday with a 21-21 tie against Pittsburgh but failed to get their first victory since 2016."I'm happy to announce: FitzMagic is alive and well. Quite a start, huh?" 鈥?Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter after 35-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick highlighted a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards in a 48-40 win at New Orleans.Ravens News 8/7: NFL’s best secondaries, joint practice report and more Orlando Brown Solid in Ravens Debut - Ken McKusickOverall, McKusick gave Brown’s professional debut a B- grade. Orlando will have an opportunity to work on his pass blocking against Rams outside linebackers Matt Longacre, Samson Ebukam, Justin Lawler and Ejuan Price during Thursday’s preseason contest. Brandon Carr Wants to Keep His Starting Streak Alive ‘As Long as I Can’ - Ryan MinkBrandon Carr out snapped Marlon Humphrey 1,024 to 596 last season. With Tavon Young returning to play the slot corner role after logging 832 snaps as a rookie in 2016, coordinator Martindale may continue rotating Carr, Humphrey and Jimmy Smith at outside cornerback in 2018. Jaguars, Vikings boast NFL’s best secondaries heading into 2018 - NFL.comThe Jaguars and Vikings tied for a league best 6 yards allowed per passing attempt last season. Baltimore’s 6.5 mark was close behind. Practice Report 8/6: Ravens-Rams Have Hot, Physical (Yet Cordial) First Joint Practice - Ryan Mink‘Smokey’ Brown continues to shine, he has a real chance to lead the Ravens in receiving yards this year if he can stay healthy. Gus Edwards, meanwhile, must improve his ball security. Even after an impressive showing against the Bears last week, fumbling could easily relegate him to the practice squad.