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METROPOLITAN DIVISIONCAROLINA HURRICANESLAST SEASON: 36-35-11, 83 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing 13th in the Eastern Conference.COACH: Bill Peters, 1st season with Hurricanes; 1st overall in NHL.ADDED: C Brad Malone, D Tim Gleason.LOST: C Manny Malhotra, G Justin Peters, C Brett Sutter.PLAYER TO WATCH: Eric Staal. The captain is coming off the most disappointing season of his career, with his 21 goals his fewest in an 82-game season since he was a rookie a decade ago. With a salary of $9.25 million, hes one of the highest-paid players in the game but he managed just one power-play goal last season. He had sports hernia surgery during the off-season, and a fresh start with the detail-driven Peters could be just what Staal needs.OUTLOOK: No team in the current alignment of the Eastern Conference has a longer playoff drought than the Hurricanes, who havent made the post-season since 2009. How quickly Peters message of focus and personal accountability gets through to a largely unchanged roster will determine whether that streak finally ends this season.___COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETSLAST SEASON: 43-32-7, 93 points. Eliminated in first round of playoffs by Pittsburgh in 6 games.COACH: Todd Richards, fourth season with the Blue Jackets, 85-70-16; 5th overall in NHL.ADDED: LW Scott Hartnell, RW Jerry DAmigo, RW Brian Gibbons.LOST: LW R.J. Umberger, C Derek MacKenzie, RW Jack Skille.PLAYER TO WATCH: C Brandon Dubinsky. With two of the teams top centres unavailable (Ryan Johansen, holdout; Boone Jenner, broken hand), the fiery 28-year-olds role only grows bigger. He was already the heart and soul of a team that doesnt have an official captain, even though he would seem the likely choice. Coming off a year in which he had 16 goals and 34 assists and continually came up big late in games, hell be counted on to provide even more points and leadership.OUTLOOK: If the contract dispute between Johansen and the club isnt resolved soon, and with Jenner and Nathan Horton (bad back) out for the foreseeable future, the Blue Jackets may have to win a lot of 1-0 and 2-1 games in which G Sergei Bobrovsky stands on his head. Also, several young players (most likely Alexander Wennberg and Simon Hjalmarsson) may have to be gangbusters right from the outset to kill time until the clubs at full strength.___NEW JERSEY DEVILSLAST SEASON: 35-29-18, 88 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference.COACH: Peter DeBoer, 4th season with Devils (102-76-34); 7th overall in NHL (205-183-70).ADDED: LW Mike Cammalleri, LW Martin Havlat, C Scott Gomez, G Scott Clemmensen.LOST: G Martin Brodeur, D Anton Volchenkov, D Mark Fayne.PLAYER TO WATCH: Jaromir Jagr. Led the team in scoring with 24 goals and 43 assists in remarkable season in which he played in all 82. Can he do it again at 42-years-old. If he does, the Devils have a shot at getting back into the playoffs for the first time since reaching NHL Finals in 2011-12.OUTLOOK: After finishing with fourth fewest goals in the league, the Devils hope free-agent signees Cammalleri (26 goals) and Havlat (12 goals in 48 games) can boost the scoring, along with Adam Henrique, who scored a career-high 25-goals last season. With Broduer not re-signed, Cory Schnedier will get most of the work in goal after posting a 1.97 goals against average in 46 games last season. Defence allowed 208 goals, ninth best in the league.___NEW YORK ISLANDERSLAST SEASON: 34-37-11, 79 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing eighth in Metropolitan Division and 14th in Eastern Conference.COACH: Jack Capuano, fifth season with Islanders (118-120-39).ADDED: G Jaroslav Halak, G Chad Johnson, C Cory Conacher, RW Jack Skille, LW Harry Zolnierczyk, C Mikhail Grabovski, LW Nikolai Kulemin.LOST: G Evgeni Nabokov, D Radek Martinek.PLAYER TO WATCH: John Tavares. The 24-year-old star centre with the C on his sweater is back after missing New Yorks final 22 games last season due to a knee injury sustained while playing for Canada in the Olympics. He was second on the team with 66 points a€” including 24 goals a€” despite playing in only 59 games. The Islanders have made the playoffs only once (2013) since he was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.OUTLOOK: This will be a year of nostalgia for the Islanders as they play their final season at the Nassau Coliseum a€” their home since joining the NHL in 1972 where four straight Stanley Cup champions were built from 1980-83. They will move to Brooklyns Barclays Center next season. Since 2004, the Islanders have reached the playoffs just twice (2007 and 2013) and were eliminated in the first round both times. The task doesnt get any easier in the eight-team Metropolitan Division with perennial powerhouse Pittsburgh and the rival New York Rangers, who reached the Stanley Cup finals last season. Halak will shoulder a lot of the burden, along with Tavares, as he replaces veteran Evgeni Nabokov in goal.___NEW YORK RANGERSLAST SEASON: 45-31-6, 96 points. Finished 2nd in Metropolitan Division, 5th in Eastern Conference. Lost to Los Angeles Kings in Stanley Cup finals.COACH: Alain Vigneault, 2nd season with Rangers (45-31-6); 13th overall in NHL (467-319-102).ADDED: D Dan Boyle, D Mike Kostka, D Matt Hunwick, C Chris Mueller, LW Tanner Glass, G Cedrick Desjardins, C Matthew Lombardi, RW Lee Stempniak, LW Ryan Malone.LOST: C Brad Richards, RW Derek Dorsett, C Brian Boyle, D Anton Stralman, LW Benoit Pouliot, D Justin Falk, RW Arron Asham, LW Daniel Carcillo, D Raphael Diaz, C Darroll Powe.PLAYER TO WATCH: Rick Nash. The top forward will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing post-season in which the 2002 No. 1 draft notched only three goals and 10 points in 25 games and heard boos from the crowd. The 30-year-old left wing has come to training camp looking thinner and fitter as he heads into his third season with the Rangers. Nash has four seasons left for big money on his current contract, so there is plenty of time for him to win over the Madison Square Garden faithful.OUTLOOK: The Rangers will go as far as goalie Henrik Lundqvist, The King, will take them. The team has undergone major changes since the run to the finals, but with the strong core of returning veterans such as Nash, Martin St. Louis, and defencemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh, fortified by newcomers Dan Boyle, Lee Stempniak and Ryan Malone, New York could again be a tough out in the playoffs. A new captain is expected to be announced at the start of the season to replace the trio of alternate captains that took leadership roles after former captain Ryan Callahan was traded to Tampa Bay late last season for St. Louis.___PHILADELPHIA FLYERS:LAST SEASON: 42-30-10, 94 points. Finished 3rd in Metropolitan Division. Sixth in Eastern Conference. Lost to New York Rangers in first round of playoffs.COACH: Craig Berube, 2nd season with Flyers (42-27-10); 2nd overall in NHL.ADDED: C R.J. Umberger, LW Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, D Michael Del ZottoLOST: LW Scott Hartnell, RW Steve Downie, LW Tye McGinn, C Kris Newbury, D Erik Gustafsson, D Bruno GervaisPLAYER TO WATCH: Flyers centre Claude Giroux. Back earlier than expected from an unspecified lower-body injury, Giroux needs to be in top form if the Flyers expect to play deep into the post-season. Giroux was selected last season as a Hart Trophy finalist, the leagues MVP award. He matched a career high with 28 goals and finished third in the NHL scoring race (86 points).OUTLOOK: The Flyers need Steve Mason to play again like a true No. 1 goalie and for Giroux to play like an MVP candidate for the Flyers to have a shot at ending their Stanley Cup drought. The Flyers are 0 for the Cup since they won consecutive Cups in 1974 and 1975 and seemed poised to build a dynasty. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs (1966-67) have suffered longer than any other team that was won at least one Stanley Cup.___PITTSBURGH PENGUINSLAST SEASON: 51-24-7, 109 points. Won Metropolitan Division. Lost to New York Rangers in Eastern Conference semifinals.COACH: Mike Johnston (first season, first NHL season).ADDED: D Christian Ehrhoff, F Patric Hornqvist, C Nick Spaling, F Blake Comeau, G Thomas Greiss.LOST: F James Neal, D Brooks Orpik, D Matt Niskanen.PLAYER TO WATCH: Sidney Crosby. Sid the Kid isnt so young anymore. Its been nearly a decade since he arrived in Pittsburgh and helped rescue a floundering franchise. He rolled to his second MVP Award in 2013-14 after racking 36 goals and 68 assists for a league-leading 146 points. A wrist injury slowed him in the post-season. He scored just once in 13 playoff games.OUTLOOK: New coach, new general manager but same old expectations in Pittsburgh. Its been more than five years since they lifted the Stanley Cup, a drought that cost former coach Dan Bylsma his job. Johnston brings in a more structured philosophy. There may be growing pains early, but if Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are healthy, the Penguins will again be a threat to make a deep playoff run.___WASHINGTON CAPITALSLAST SEASON: 38-30-14, 90 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.COACH: Barry Trotz, 1st season with Capitals; 16th overall in NHL, 557-479-60-100.ADDED: Trotz, GM Brian MacLellan, D Brooks Orpik, D Matt Niskanen, G Justin Peters.LOST: Coach Adam Oates, GM George McPhee, C Mikhail Grabovski, LW Dustin Penner, G Jaroslav Halak.PLAYER TO WATCH: Alex Ovechkin, as always. The three-time league MVP led the NHL with 51 goals last season, but his plus-minus of minus-35 was third-worst in the league. Trotz plans to move Ovechkin back to left wing and also hopes to cajole more of a team game from the Russian forward.OUTLOOK: It was deflating enough for the talented Capitals to lose in the early rounds of the playoffs every year, but last season they didnt make the post-season at all, a failure that cost Oates and McPhee their jobs. Orpik and Niskanen should stabilize the blue line, but nothing is more crucial in Washington than the relationship between Ovechkin and the coach du jour. Trotz is Ovechkins first NHL head coach with prior head coaching experience elsewhere in the league, giving him the cachet to make demands of his players a€” and to expect them to be met. Cheap Rangers Jerseys Authentic . Rodgers was ruled out on Friday by Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Matt Flynn will make his second consecutive start for the Packers. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . - Carter Verhaeghe scored the winner with 41 seconds to go as the Niagara IceDogs edged the North Bay Battalion 3-2 to even their first-round series at a game apiece in Ontario Hockey League playoff action on Sunday. http://www.cheapnewyorkrangersjerseys.com/. LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. Cheap Adidas Rangers Jerseys .S. -- Carl-Antoine Delisle snapped a tie in the third period with his second goal of the game to lead the Tigres past Cape Breton 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Wednesday as Victoriaville won its eighth in a row. Cheap New York Rangers Jerseys .ca. In Sundays Blackhawks-Penguins game, Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik laid a huge hit on Chicagos Jonathan Toews. Now in my view, Orpik can be clearly seen leaving his feet while delivering a moderately high hit.BOSTON -- Jonny Gomes go-ahead shot into the centre field bleachers left him just one pinch-hit homer behind the Red Sox all-time leader. And Gomes wanted to make it clear that there was no comparison. "You can go ahead and get it out there," he said with a little grin. "Im not chasing any of Ted Williams records." Gomes two-run homer capped a four-run sixth inning that gave Boston a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. In two seasons with the Red Sox, six of his 19 homers have come as a pinch hitter. "For me, thats the opportunity I feast on," the right-handed hitting platoon outfielder said. "I hope I didnt shock anyone." He did have Royals manager Ned Yost questioning his decision to bring in lefty Scott Downs (0-3) to face lefty Jackie Bradley Jr. only to see Gomes step into the role he relishes. "I gambled and lost," Yost said. "Theyve pinch hit one time in the last three games in the seventh inning, a bunch in the eighth and ninth. I wasnt sure if they were going to do it in the sixth, so I gambled right there. Bad decision." Another two-run shot in the sixth by Xander Bogaerts off James Shields had cut the deficit to 4-3. The Red Sox maintained their momentum after winning four of their last five games before the All-Star game. They entered the break in last place in the AL East but were coming off Clay Buchholzs 11-0 complete-game win over Houston, their season high for runs. "The way that guys fought back tonight that was sort of reminiscent of last year" when the Red Sox won the World Series, Buchholz said. Buchholz (5-5) allowed four runs in six innings against Kansas City. Koji Uehara allowed Omar Infantes two-out double in the ninth, but got his 19th save in 21 chances. Eric Hosmer had three hits and two RBIs for the Royals as he extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Daniel Nava started Bostons four-run rally with a one-out single that slid out of left fielder Alex Gordons glove as he dove. Bogaerts was in a 14 for 123 (.114) slump, but hit Shields 1-1 pitch into the centre-field bleachers for his seventh homer of thee year.dddddddddddd Stephen Drew, batting .158 in 29 games since joining the Red Sox in late May, followed with a ground-rule double. After David Ross struck out, Downs came in. Gomes drove a 2-2 pitch to nearly the same spot where Bogaerts homer landed. It was Gomes sixth homer of the year and his second as a pinch hitter. "He stays prepared and anticipates the moment," Boston manager John Farrell said. The Royals had taken a 1-0 lead in the first on a double by Infante and an RBI single by Hosmer. The Red Sox tied it in the second on Brock Holts RBI single. Kansas City made it 3-1 in the fourth on run-scoring singles by Salvador Perez and Gordon then added a run in the fifth on Hosmers RBI single. David Ortiz led off the third for Boston and was out on a strange play. He hit a towering popup to the first-base side of the mound. Shields appeared uncomfortable trying to catch it so first baseman Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas raced in to help. Hosmer raised his glove, but the ball ticked off it and Moustakas cradled it for the out. "Tough sky," Hosmer said. "Moose was playing over there for the shift so we are both running after it. I kind of saw it last second, tried to put a glove on it and it hit off my glove. Lucky, Moose was right there to save me." More strange glove work occurred in the top of the fourth when Hosmer hit the ball sharply down the first-base line. A ball girl, seated beside the low fence in foul territory, fielded it cleanly then quickly dropped it. It was too late, though, and Infante, who had singled, was stopped at third while Hosmer reached second. Both ended up scoring anyway on the singles by Perez and Gordon. Yost argued that Infante should have been allowed to score but "my judgment doesnt count." Notes: Boston is 33-0 when leading after the eighth, the only team that hasnt lost with a lead going into the ninth. ... Gomes sixth pinch hit homer broke a tie with Joe Cronin for second most in team history. ... Danny Duffy (5-9) pitches for the Royals against Rubby De La Rosa (2-2) in the second game of the series Saturday night. 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