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(SportsNetwork. Luis Sardinas Jersey .com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to pick up where they left off before the Olympic break when they visit the John Tavares-less New York Islanders in Thursdays clash at Nassau Coliseum.Toronto was one of several NHL teams that had hot streaks interrupted by the NHLs Olympic break. The Maple Leafs had won five of six right before the hiatus and the club is 11-2-1 over its last 14 games.With 70 points, the Maple Leafs are currently holding on to the seventh of eight playoff spots in the East. Toronto also is just one point in back of both Tampa Bay and Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division. The top three teams in each division get an automatic bid to the postseason.Toronto is aiming to qualify for the postseason for the second straight spring. Last season the Leafs halted the longest playoff drought in franchise history by making the postseason for the first time since 2004.The Maple Leafs emerge from the break with a road-heavy schedule ahead of them over the next few weeks. Toronto, which is just 11-12-5 as the away club this season, will play two straight and eight of its next 10 on the road.The Islanders, meanwhile, get to continue a five-game homestand on Thursday, but theyll do so without the services of captain and star centerman Tavares.Tavares helped Team Canada win the Olympic tournament, although he missed the semifinals and gold medal game after suffering a partial tear in the MCL of his left knee. Although the injury was originally feared to be worse, it will still keep Tavares sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. However, he will not need surgery as was originally believed.The culmination of the regular season could mark the end of the 2013-14 campaign for the Islanders, who are already 14 points out of the Easts final playoff berth.Tavares, who expects to miss 8-to-12 weeks while recovering, is New Yorks leading scorer with 66 points and is tied for the team lead with 24 goals. He is also third in the NHL in points.The Islanders lost seven of eight games before the break in a stretch that did serious damage to the clubs postseason chances. Without Tavares, the club expects to have a difficult time getting back into the thick of the playoff race.New York and the Leafs have split two meetings so far in 2013-14, but the Isles are 4-1-1 over the last six encounters between the clubs. Toronto, however, has won three straight and four of the past five games at the Coliseum.The Isles are 8-14-8 as the host team this season. The club is playing the third test of its five-game homestand tonight and will complete the stay on Long Island after welcoming New Jersey and Florida on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Matt Harrison Jersey . His agent told TSN that the deal is "virtually done" and will be official in the next day or two. The news comes with Torontos season opener set for this Saturday on the road against the Seattle Sounders (TSN, 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt). Prince Fielder Texas Rangers Jersey . Lowry led the Raptors to a 3-1 week, averaging 25.0 points per game, 8.0 assists and 2.3 steals. DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers are keeping manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski under contract beyond this year. The team announced Monday that Dombrowski has agreed to a four-year extension and Leyland is being retained through the 2012 season. Both were in the last year of their deals. "Dave has built a solid foundation for this organization and assembled competitive teams that give us a chance to win year in and year out. We have a lot of confidence in his continued leadership of the Detroit Tigers," owner Mike Ilitch said. "I know Jim shares our desire to deliver a winner. Were pleased to have him continue leading the Detroit Tigers on the field." The announcement came on an off-day for the Tigers as they prepare for probably their biggest series of the season so far. Detroit begins a three-game set at Cleveland on Tuesday night. The Tigers lead the second-place Indians by four games in the AL Central. Detroit hasnt won a division title since 1987 and hasnt made the post-season since 2006, when the Tigers went to the World Series as a wild card in Leylands first year. "I want to thank Mr. Ilitch and Dave Dombrowski for the support and confidence they have shown in me and I look forward to managing the Detroit Tigers in 2012," LLeyland said. Derek Holland Jersey. "Also, my many thanks go out to generations of Tigers fans who have supported the Tigers through the good times as well as the tough times." Dombrowski is also the team president and CEO. He was hired by the Tigers shortly after the 2001 season. "I am grateful for the continued opportunity Mr. Ilitch has given me to run this franchise, and I am equally appreciative of the unwavering support he has demonstrated the past 10 seasons in our efforts to bring a world championship back to Detroit," Dombrowski said. After Detroit went 81-81 in 2010, Dombrowski added designated hitter Victor Martinez, pitcher Brad Penny and reliever Joaquin Benoit during the off-season. Martinez leads the team with a .323 average. More recently, Dombrowski acquired third baseman Wilson Betemit, starter Doug Fister and reliever David Pauley before the trade deadline in an attempt to shore up the roster for the stretch drive. The Tigers also extended the contracts of assistant general manager Al Avila, vice-president for amateur scouting David Chadd, vice-president for player personnel Scott Reid and baseball legal counsel John Westhoff. Duane McLean was promoted to executive vice-president for business operations. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
