NEW YORK — A loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night dropped the Tampa Bay Lightning out of first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time in
more than five months and immediately left the Lightning focused on a rematch
with the Bruins next week.But the best way for the Lighting to ensure that game remains pivotal is to begin snapping out of their week-long funk Friday night
Cheap Kendall Wright Jersey , when it visits the New York Rangers in the Rangers’ home finale at Madison Square Garden.The Lightning and Rangers enter Friday mired in losing streaks. Tampa Bay fell for the third straight game Thursday, when it lost 4-2 to the host Bruins.
Visiting New York suffered a second consecutive loss Wednesday, when it was
beaten by the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime.The three-game skid has come at an inopportune time for the Lightning (51-22-4), who fell out of first place in the Atlantic Division for the first
time since Oct. 19. The Bruins, who took a one-point lead in the race for the
Atlantic crown and the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference, visit Tampa
Bay on Tuesday.The Lightning have been outscored 10-4 during the losing streak but took some solace in climbing back into Thursday’s game after falling behind 2-0 in the
first period. The Bruins did not close out the victory until Brad Marchand
scored an empty-netter in the final minute of the third period.“We know we play them again,” said Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, who scored a goal. “We were more focused on our game and how we played. I think we
have two good periods
http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-donte-jackson-jersey , not three. We need to be better in the first, so we don’t dig ourselves a
two-goal hole. Those last two periods were something to build on. We get right
back into it tomorrow.”The Rangers (33-35-9) have been in “something to build on” mode since beginning a rebuilding project before the February trade deadline, though they
weren’t eliminated from playoff contention until Tuesday.The game against the Capitals on Wednesday marked the first time the Rangers took the ice officially out of playoff contention since the final days of the
2003-04 season. New York made the playoffs in 11 of the subsequent 12 seasons
and missed out on the postseason in 2009-10 via a shootout loss to the
Philadelphia Flyers on the final day of the regular season.Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who has been a mainstay in net for New York since the 2005-06 season, said he’s trying not to think too much about what
he’ll be missing out on when the playoffs begin next month or what lies ahead
for a rebuilt roster.“For me, right now, I just want to focus on these last games,” Lundqvist told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game. “Compete
Customized Washington Redskins Jerseys , and feel as good as you can, personally, and as a group. And then it’s time for what’s ahead. But right now,
you’ve got to focus on the game. Otherwise, you’re not going to make the most of
this. We still have a job to do here.”??Interim general manager Marty Hurney insists the Carolina Panthers handled the medical treatment of quarterback Cam
Newton “the right way” during Sunday’s 31-26 playoff loss to the New Orleans
Saints.The NFL and NFL Players Association announced Monday they plan to conduct
a joint review to determine if the Panthers followed the correct concussion
protocol after Newton took a hard shot from Saints defensive tackle David
Onyemata midway through the fourth quarter. If the concussion protocol was not
properly followed the team is subject to discipline, including a $150,000
fine.Newton spent time on the ground after the hit. Then, as he was walking
toward the sideline
Cheap DJ Chark Jersey , appeared to stumble to one knee. He briefly pointed toward his right eye.He sat out one play, but returned on the next offensive
series and finished the game.“He took a hit. But when he walked off and he told
the trainers he got poked in the eye, then they did take him into the tent and
checked him for a concussion, which he did not have,” Hurney said. “And it was
really getting poked in the eye.”Hurney said Newton intentionally took a knee
because he was told to by the team’s training staff so Carolina could get an
official timeout, thus allowing backup quarterback Derek Anderson a chance to
warm up. Anderson came in for one third down play and was nearly
intercepted.However, the question could become whether or not Newton should have
been taken to the locker room for evaluations.The league and the players union
changed its concussion protocol last month after Houston Texans quarterback Tom
Savage returned to the field after having a concussion that left the
quarterback’s hands shaking after a hit.The changes to the protocol include the
requirement of a locker room concussion evaluation for all players
“demonstrating gross or sustained vertical instability (e.g., stumbling or
falling to the ground when trying to stand.)”Newton did not visit the locker
room.Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he is very confident that the protocol was
followed correctly.“Based on what the young man (Newton) said to me
http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-deadrin-senat-jersey , that is what I believe happened,” Rivera said. “And again, from that point on I
don’t think anything else needs to be said about it.”Newton said after the game
Sunday that “precautionary concussion protocol things” happened, but “it wasn’t
my head. It was my eye. My helmet had come down low enough over my eyelid and it
got pressed by the player’s stomach.”The Panthers were investigated once before
in the 2016 season opener at Denver when Newton took a blow to the head but
remained in the game.It was later determined the Panthers handled that situation
correctly and no fines were handed out.The Seattle Seahawks were fined $100,000
in Week 10 after the league and union determined they failed to apply the
concussion protocol properly after quarterback Russell Wilson took a blow to the
head against the Arizona Cardinals..
