OTTAWA - Will he stay or will he go? Curtis Lazar will finally get an answer this week.The Ottawa rookie is expected to play his ninth game Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, forcing the Senators to make a decision on the young centres future.The options are clear. The 19-year-old Lazar can either remain in the NHL or return to the Western Hockey Leagues Edmonton Oil Kings.After eight games, Lazar has made a strong case for himself to remain in the NHL. He has just two assists, but he hasnt looked out of place and on many nights has been one of Ottawas better players.Over the course of the eight games Lazar has played at wing and centre and killed penalties. Hes even been out on the ice in the dying minutes of a close game.Lazar is aware of the significance of Tuesdays game, but is trying not to overthink it.I approach it like another game and I know a decisions going to have to be made and its sort of my last chance of an audition, Lazar said. If I think about that then its not going to be beneficial to myself. I just have to go out and play and whatever happens, happens.Lazar knew coming in he would be facing this situation, but as the deadline approaches he would rather know his fate sooner rather than later.I kind of want to get it out of the way, he said. I kind of want the decision done where I can get a feel of where Im going to be this season for the most part and get comfortable because I still have that in the back of my mind. I could be going back to junior or I could be staying here. I dont know its up in the air. It sort of weighs on your mind a little bit, but nothing I can control so I just go out there and play my game and wait for the decision.The Senators are currently carrying two extra forwards. Most nights Erik Condra and Colin Greening have found themselves the odd man out.With four games this week head coach Paul MacLean said its likely everyone will get an opportunity to play, but that some decisions will have to be made to solidify the roster.Were getting to the point where we have to play our best team and decide what our best team is, MacLean said. Condra and Greening obviously have to be in that consideration with our group and those are the discussions that were continuing to have… but also it comes to the point that the tenth game you have to play your best team too so thats the decisions were in discussion in today.MacLean has been reserved in his evaluation of Lazars play to this point.Hes been very consistent and he hasnt done anything for us not to keep him, but we have to make the decision whats based best not only for our team, but also for him, MacLean said. Hes still a young man and we have to make sure hes in the proper environment to grown into the player that we all see him potentially being.With games against Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg and Toronto this week the Senators (5-3-2) will face their first significant test.Overall the organization seems satisfied with the teams performance after ten games, but there is definitely room for improvement as evidenced in a 4-2 loss in Boston on Saturday.I think weve been good, said captain Erik Karlsson. I think the record we have, were happy with it, were happy where we are. We had a letdown game in Boston, but thats the way its going to be sometimes. Luckily we play (Tuesday) and I dont think thats going to affect us any way. Win or loss, we just look ahead and to the next game.Karlsson doesnt believe the team has played its best hockey yet, but also said were not supposed to do that yet either.Consistency remains elusive for this group, much as it did last season at times.Putting up a 60-minute effort would be nice, Karlsson said. I think as of right now we have our ups and downs and I think weve been managing them well, but going forward here we maybe need to put a little bit more focus in the whole game and not try and have a few letdowns where we let in a few goals and we have to chase all the time.Individually Karlsson knows he needs to be better. He was minus-4 against Boston, but he doesnt allow himself to dwell on a poor performance.Im just going to turn the page and move forward, Karlsson said. I dont really care what happened last game. We lost, thats the end of the story for me. Last season the Senators often struggled on home ice, but so far theyve gone 2-0-2 at Canadian Tire Centre and would like to see that improve with a strong performance this week.Weve built some momentum at home with the start to our season and we need to come out Tuesday and have a game, MacLean said. We have a good opponent so we should be fired up to play them.Notes: G Craig Anderson will get the start against Detroit Tuesday. D Mark Borowiecki remains day-to-day with an upper body injury. He isnt expected to play Tuesday, but could be back in the lineup by the end of the week. D Marc Methot continues to make progress, but isnt expected to start skating with the team this week. Methot continues to be sidelined by his back. RW Alex Chiasson was on the ice and then left practice, but he isnt expected to miss any time. Erik Karlsson says he remains in close contact with Daniel Alfredsson and said Alfredsson has not made a decision on his future despite the fact that he has been unable to join the Red Wings due to a recurring back issue. CLEVELAND -- With seven games still left this month, Jason Kipnis has already surpassed his statistics from last April. That wasnt hard to do. "I set the bar so low," he said. Kipnis drove in Nick Swisher from first base with a two-out double in the seventh inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. Kipnis, who batted just .200 with one homer and four RBIs in the seasons first month in 2013, ripped his double off Kelvin Herrera (0-1) into the gap in right-centre, deep enough to easily score Swisher, who reached on a two-out single. "That was a real big hit," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Sometimes you need a big hit at a big time and we got it tonight." Kipnis has become big time. After shaking off his horribly slow start last season, he made his first All-Star team, batted .284 and developed into one of the ALs top all-around players. So, when he came up in another clutch situation, it wasnt surprising to any of the Indians that Kipnis came through. Kipnis signed a six-year, $52.5 million contract on opening day and hes wasted no time in living up to the deal. "I think he has less far to climb this year," Francona said. "He really dug himself a hole last year. Hes always a threat, whether its against a left-hander or right-hander. He can hit the ball all over the field or out of the ballpark. He can beat you with his legs. "I dont really look up and see what Kips batting average is, we want him hitting all the time." The Indians tacked on an important insurance run in the eighth on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhalls bloop RBI single. Bryan Shaw (1-0) finished the seventh and got one out in the eighth. Cody Allen retired two, and John Axford worked the ninth for his AL-leading eighth save. Michael Bourn had three hits and two RBIs for the Indians. Bourn, Nick Swisher and Kipnis, Clevelands 1-2-3 hitters, combined for six hits and three RBIs. Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back homers in the second for Kansas City. Indians starter Justin Masterson remained winless through five starts. The staffs ace, who turned down a contract extension during spring training, allowed two earned runs and eight hits in 6 11-3 innings.dddddddddddd "Ill take as many no-decisions as come as long as were winning," he said. Down 3-2, the Indians tied it in the sixth off lefty starter Jason Vargas when Michael Brantley scored from first on two Kansas City errors. Brantley singled with one out, and broke for second with two down and Yan Gomes batting. As Brantley slid safely into second, the throw from catcher Perez skipped into centre field. Brantley hustled toward third and centre fielder Jarrod Dyson took his eye off the ball, overrunning it and letting the tying run score. "I came in too hard," Dyson said. "I should have come in and played it off the hop because I probably didnt have a shot at him anyway. I have to remind myself to slow the body down. I came in crashing like that. When you have two outs and your pitcher up there doing his thing you kind of have to settle down and not make that mistake." Moustakas gave the Royals a 3-2 lead in the sixth, when an error by second baseman Kipnis helped set up Kansas Citys unearned go-ahead run. Eric Hosmer singled and was safe at second after Kipnis dropped shortstop Asdrubal Cabreras low throw. Hosmer moved to third on a fielders choice and Moustakas delivered his two-out RBI single. Bourn atoned for a baserunning blunder with a two-run triple in the second to tie it 2-2. Perez and Moustakas connected in the second off Masterson. With one out, Perez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a drive over the centre-field wall for his first homer. Four pitches later, Moustakas made it 2-0 with a liner into the Royals bullpen, the same place he hit a three-run shot on Tuesday in Kansas Citys 8-2 win. NOTES: Sloppy play has been one of Clevelands main problems. The Indians came in tied for the AL lead with 20 errors. "As a team, we have not played very good defence yet," Francona said. "I think we will be better. We need to be better. Were that type of team where when we play clean baseball, we generally give ourselves a chance to win. When you give a team extra outs or extra opportunities, it certainly makes it tougher." ... Indians 3B/DH Carlos Santana is in a 2-for-46 (.043) slide. ... Cleveland relievers have stranded a major league-best 91 per cent (32 of 35) of runners inherited.Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike Basketball Jerseys Hockey Jerseys China Supply Baseball JerseysFootball Jerseys Sale Authentic College Jerseys MLB Jerseys China Stitched Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Nike Jerseys ' ' '
OTTAWA - Will he stay or will he go? Curtis Lazar will finally get an answer this week.The Ottawa rookie is expected to play his ninth game Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, forcing the Senators to make a decision on the young centres future.The options are clear. The 19-year-old Lazar can either remain in the NHL or return to the Western Hockey Leagues Edmonton Oil Kings.After eight games, Lazar has made a strong case for himself to remain in the NHL. He has just two assists, but he hasnt looked out of place and on many nights has been one of Ottawas better players.Over the course of the eight games Lazar has played at wing and centre and killed penalties. Hes even been out on the ice in the dying minutes of a close game.Lazar is aware of the significance of Tuesdays game, but is trying not to overthink it.I approach it like another game and I know a decisions going to have to be made and its sort of my last chance of an audition, Lazar said. If I think about that then its not going to be beneficial to myself. I just have to go out and play and whatever happens, happens.Lazar knew coming in he would be facing this situation, but as the deadline approaches he would rather know his fate sooner rather than later.I kind of want to get it out of the way, he said. I kind of want the decision done where I can get a feel of where Im going to be this season for the most part and get comfortable because I still have that in the back of my mind. I could be going back to junior or I could be staying here. I dont know its up in the air. It sort of weighs on your mind a little bit, but nothing I can control so I just go out there and play my game and wait for the decision.The Senators are currently carrying two extra forwards. Most nights Erik Condra and Colin Greening have found themselves the odd man out.With four games this week head coach Paul MacLean said its likely everyone will get an opportunity to play, but that some decisions will have to be made to solidify the roster.Were getting to the point where we have to play our best team and decide what our best team is, MacLean said. Condra and Greening obviously have to be in that consideration with our group and those are the discussions that were continuing to have… but also it comes to the point that the tenth game you have to play your best team too so thats the decisions were in discussion in today.MacLean has been reserved in his evaluation of Lazars play to this point.Hes been very consistent and he hasnt done anything for us not to keep him, but we have to make the decision whats based best not only for our team, but also for him, MacLean said. Hes still a young man and we have to make sure hes in the proper environment to grown into the player that we all see him potentially being.With games against Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg and Toronto this week the Senators (5-3-2) will face their first significant test.Overall the organization seems satisfied with the teams performance after ten games, but there is definitely room for improvement as evidenced in a 4-2 loss in Boston on Saturday.I think weve been good, said captain Erik Karlsson. I think the record we have, were happy with it, were happy where we are. We had a letdown game in Boston, but thats the way its going to be sometimes. Luckily we play (Tuesday) and I dont think thats going to affect us any way. Win or loss, we just look ahead and to the next game.Karlsson doesnt believe the team has played its best hockey yet, but also said were not supposed to do that yet either.Consistency remains elusive for this group, much as it did last season at times.Putting up a 60-minute effort would be nice, Karlsson said. I think as of right now we have our ups and downs and I think weve been managing them well, but going forward here we maybe need to put a little bit more focus in the whole game and not try and have a few letdowns where we let in a few goals and we have to chase all the time.Individually Karlsson knows he needs to be better. He was minus-4 against Boston, but he doesnt allow himself to dwell on a poor performance.Im just going to turn the page and move forward, Karlsson said. I dont really care what happened last game. We lost, thats the end of the story for me. Last season the Senators often struggled on home ice, but so far theyve gone 2-0-2 at Canadian Tire Centre and would like to see that improve with a strong performance this week.Weve built some momentum at home with the start to our season and we need to come out Tuesday and have a game, MacLean said. We have a good opponent so we should be fired up to play them.Notes: G Craig Anderson will get the start against Detroit Tuesday. D Mark Borowiecki remains day-to-day with an upper body injury. He isnt expected to play Tuesday, but could be back in the lineup by the end of the week. D Marc Methot continues to make progress, but isnt expected to start skating with the team this week. Methot continues to be sidelined by his back. RW Alex Chiasson was on the ice and then left practice, but he isnt expected to miss any time. Erik Karlsson says he remains in close contact with Daniel Alfredsson and said Alfredsson has not made a decision on his future despite the fact that he has been unable to join the Red Wings due to a recurring back issue. CLEVELAND -- With seven games still left this month, Jason Kipnis has already surpassed his statistics from last April. That wasnt hard to do. "I set the bar so low," he said. Kipnis drove in Nick Swisher from first base with a two-out double in the seventh inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. Kipnis, who batted just .200 with one homer and four RBIs in the seasons first month in 2013, ripped his double off Kelvin Herrera (0-1) into the gap in right-centre, deep enough to easily score Swisher, who reached on a two-out single. "That was a real big hit," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Sometimes you need a big hit at a big time and we got it tonight." Kipnis has become big time. After shaking off his horribly slow start last season, he made his first All-Star team, batted .284 and developed into one of the ALs top all-around players. So, when he came up in another clutch situation, it wasnt surprising to any of the Indians that Kipnis came through. Kipnis signed a six-year, $52.5 million contract on opening day and hes wasted no time in living up to the deal. "I think he has less far to climb this year," Francona said. "He really dug himself a hole last year. Hes always a threat, whether its against a left-hander or right-hander. He can hit the ball all over the field or out of the ballpark. He can beat you with his legs. "I dont really look up and see what Kips batting average is, we want him hitting all the time." The Indians tacked on an important insurance run in the eighth on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhalls bloop RBI single. Bryan Shaw (1-0) finished the seventh and got one out in the eighth. Cody Allen retired two, and John Axford worked the ninth for his AL-leading eighth save. Michael Bourn had three hits and two RBIs for the Indians. Bourn, Nick Swisher and Kipnis, Clevelands 1-2-3 hitters, combined for six hits and three RBIs. Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back homers in the second for Kansas City. Indians starter Justin Masterson remained winless through five starts. The staffs ace, who turned down a contract extension during spring training, allowed two earned runs and eight hits in 6 11-3 innings.dddddddddddd "Ill take as many no-decisions as come as long as were winning," he said. Down 3-2, the Indians tied it in the sixth off lefty starter Jason Vargas when Michael Brantley scored from first on two Kansas City errors. Brantley singled with one out, and broke for second with two down and Yan Gomes batting. As Brantley slid safely into second, the throw from catcher Perez skipped into centre field. Brantley hustled toward third and centre fielder Jarrod Dyson took his eye off the ball, overrunning it and letting the tying run score. "I came in too hard," Dyson said. "I should have come in and played it off the hop because I probably didnt have a shot at him anyway. I have to remind myself to slow the body down. I came in crashing like that. When you have two outs and your pitcher up there doing his thing you kind of have to settle down and not make that mistake." Moustakas gave the Royals a 3-2 lead in the sixth, when an error by second baseman Kipnis helped set up Kansas Citys unearned go-ahead run. Eric Hosmer singled and was safe at second after Kipnis dropped shortstop Asdrubal Cabreras low throw. Hosmer moved to third on a fielders choice and Moustakas delivered his two-out RBI single. Bourn atoned for a baserunning blunder with a two-run triple in the second to tie it 2-2. Perez and Moustakas connected in the second off Masterson. With one out, Perez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a drive over the centre-field wall for his first homer. Four pitches later, Moustakas made it 2-0 with a liner into the Royals bullpen, the same place he hit a three-run shot on Tuesday in Kansas Citys 8-2 win. NOTES: Sloppy play has been one of Clevelands main problems. The Indians came in tied for the AL lead with 20 errors. "As a team, we have not played very good defence yet," Francona said. "I think we will be better. We need to be better. Were that type of team where when we play clean baseball, we generally give ourselves a chance to win. When you give a team extra outs or extra opportunities, it certainly makes it tougher." ... Indians 3B/DH Carlos Santana is in a 2-for-46 (.043) slide. ... Cleveland relievers have stranded a major league-best 91 per cent (32 of 35) of runners inherited.Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike Basketball Jerseys Hockey Jerseys China Supply Baseball JerseysFootball Jerseys Sale Authentic College Jerseys MLB Jerseys China Stitched Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Nike Jerseys ' ' '
