chenyan94's blog

Almora hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning Adam Ottavino Jersey , and the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night to salvage a split of their day-night doubleheader.

Kris Bryant sparked the winning rally with a leadoff triple against Brock Stewart (0-1). After Javier Baez was walked intentionally, Almora hit a liner into right field.

In the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1, Almora popped out to first with the bases loaded with one out in the eighth. The Dodgers intentionally walked Jason Heyward before Yimi Garcia retired Almora.

”It was personal for me,” Almora said. ”I didn’t come through. I was a little aggressive.

”I learned from the first mistake and I didn’t do too much (in the second game), but I really wanted that one pretty bad. It was just a little bit of revenge from the first game.”

Rob Zastryzny (1-0), the fifth Cubs reliever, got Yasmani Grandal to fly out with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th to earn the win.

The rematch of the last two NL Championship Series was set to begin on Monday night Youth Tanner Lee Jersey , but the opener was postponed by a mixture of poor weather and a limited power outage at Wrigley Field. It’s the only scheduled visit for Los Angeles, leading to the day-night doubleheader.

”It was two really interesting games,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. ”Could have lost both, could have won both. It’s nice to walk off.”

Los Angeles began the long day with its 4-3 victory on pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer’s two-run double in the ninth. Joc Pederson led off the game with his ninth homer and Yasiel Puig drove in a run with a bloop double.

The Dodgers jumped in front in the nightcap on Austin Barnes‘ RBI single in the sixth. But the Cubs tied it on Kyle Schwarber’s 13th homer, a drive to right against Erik Goeddel in the seventh.

Los Angeles wasted an impressive return for Rich Hill, who pitched six innings of three-hit ball in his first major league start in a month. Hill was placed on the disabled list on May 20 with a blister on his left middle finger, a recurring problem for the veteran left-hander.

”The fastball command Domingo Santana Jersey , the curveball command, it was on point tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said. ”You hope to get something like that, but you never know what you’re going to get making his first start back from injury, but again, he was outstanding.”

Mike Montgomery kept Chicago in the game with six effective innings, yielding one run and five hits. The lefty has a 1.21 ERA in five starts since he was inserted into the rotation after Yu Darvish went on the disabled list on May 26 with right triceps tendinitis.

”I just want him to continue to take start after start like this Alex Rodriguez Jersey ,” Maddon said.

Bryant led off in each half of the doubleheader. The third baseman doubled twice and drove in two runs in Game 1, and went 1 for 5 in the night cap.

It was the third and fourth times this season – and in his career – that the slugger batted at the top of the order.

Bryant’s two-run double in the opener helped Chicago to a 3-1 lead. But Puig doubled in Chris Taylor in the sixth, setting the stage for the ninth-inning rally.

Farmer lined a 2-2 pitch from Justin Wilson (1-2) into the corner in left after pinch-hitter Austin Barnes walked and Justin Turner singled. Farmer is batting just .238 for the season, but is 6 for 16 with two doubles off the bench.

Edward Paredes (2-0), the fifth of six Dodgers relievers, got one out in the eighth to earn the win. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Wilson (1-2) came one pitch away from earning his first save. Maddon used the lefty because closer Brandon Morrow has a sore back that flared up on Monday.

The Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and five hits in his second start since coming off the disabled list. Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood allowed two hits and struck out six in five innings Authentic Jonathan Allen Jersey , walking five to increase his major league-leading total to 63.

MAKING MOVES

To make room for Hill on the roster, the Dodgers optioned infielder/outfielder Breyvic Valera to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Stewart was added to the roster as the 26th man prior to the second game of the doubleheader. The Cubs recalled right-hander Justin Hancock from Triple-A Iowa as their 26th man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The Cubs celebrated Hall of Famer Billy Williams’ 80th birthday during the nightcap. Led by the Wrigley organist, many in the crowd of 40,409 joined in singing ”Happy Birthday” to the six-time All-Star after the second inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (strained lower back) is scheduled make a minor league rehab start on Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. According to Roberts, Kershaw will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches. His next appearance could be with Los Angeles. … INF Chase Utley (left thumb sprain) could be activated off the DL on Wednesday.

Cubs: Maddon gave no timetable for Morrow’s return. … Darvish will throw a simulated game on Wednesday. Maddon said the Cubs will determine the next step in the right-hander’s rehab program based on his response. … INF Javier Baez, hit on the elbow by a pitch on Sunday, returned to the starting lineup at second base in the nightcap. Baez entered the first game in the seventh inning.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Ross Stripling (6-1 Wade Boggs Jersey , 1.76 ERA) squares off against Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-2, 2.28 ERA) on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale.

LOS ANGELES — A four-time All-Star who has finished in the top five of the Cy Young Award voting three times Authentic Kevin Hogan Jersey , Jon Lester looks to be getting even better in his 13th major league season.

And it leaves the Chicago Cubs with no better pitcher to stop a losing streak that was extended to five games Monday with a 2-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lester will try for his sixth consecutive victory when he faces the Dodgers on Tuesday night in the second game of the four-game series. He will square off against the Dodgers’ Ross Stripling, who had his own six-game streak come to an end last week in Chicago

The Lester-Stripling matchup is the second one in a span of six days.

Lester not only has a 1.64 ERA over his five-start win streak, he has pitched at least six innings in seven consecutive starts and has a 1.67 ERA over his last 12 outings.

“(Lester) is just slowing the game down,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Monday’s game in L.A. “He has gone to another level of maturation pitching-wise so I have really been enjoying watching him go about his business.”

Stripling is only in his third major league season Christian Vazquez Jersey , but he has shown an increased maturity level on the field as well this year. With the Dodgers in need of somebody to step up in the wake of a number of injuries to the starting staff, the right-hander made an easy transition from a bullpen role to rotation workhorse.

Stripling (6-2, 1.99) was not terrible in his outing against the Cubs last week, Lester was just better. The right-hander gave up three runs to the Cubs on eight hits with seven strikeouts over six innings. He sounded eager for a rematch.

“We’ve faced these guys in the playoffs the last two years Authentic Da'Ron Payne Jersey , and it’s a lineup we’re really familiar with, and they’re familiar with us,” Stripling said after Wednesday’s defeat, according to mlb.com. “We’re right there with this team Authentic Dalton Schultz Jersey , and we know that.”

Lester (9-2, 2.10) held the Dodgers to just five hits in his scoreless outing Wednesday as the Cubs closed out a series victory. It is the only series the Dodgers have lost since the middle of May when they were in Miami.

Not only are the Dodgers 16-5 in June, they have 48 home runs in the month after hitting two Monday and nine in their past two games. Since a May 17 victory in Miami, the Dodgers are 26-9.

As good as the Cubs have been since the start of the 2015 season Dustin Pedroia Jersey , winning at Dodger Stadium has proved difficult. They are just 2-8 in L.A. in that time, while going a baseball-best 334-226 in that same stretch. They did go 2-1 in L.A. while winning the 2016 National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez has three home runs in two games and has six in his last 13 games. He is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday against the lefty Lester. Hernandez, the Dodgers’ super-utility player, has a career .874 OPS against left-handed pitching.

Keller set the Coyotes’ rookie goal mark with an empty-net score in Arizona’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Keller’s goal was his 23rd Houston Astros Jersey , surpassing Peter Mueller’s total in the 2007-08 season. Keller also became the 22nd Coyote to reach 60 points in a season, and Arizona improved to 17-12-6 since January.

”I think we’re trying to treat every game like a playoff game and we kind of get up for that,” Keller said. ”We just want to come out and finish the year strong and hopefully bring something home for next year.”

The Coyotes got two goals from defensemen as Trevor Murphy and Jacob Chychrun each scored to help Arizona. Brendan Perlini also scored for the Coyotes A. J. Pollock Jersey , and Antti Raanta had 19 saves

Chychrun scored the winner on the power play at 17:22 of the second period as Arizona, which blew a two-goal lead on Saturday against Florida, held Tampa Bay to just 20 shots on goal.

”I was kind of hard on them in practice in the other day and they responded Dale Murphy Jersey ,” Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. ”I liked the way we played tonight.”

The Lightning played without captain Steven Stamkos, who missed the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

Nikita Kucherov scored on the power play with 5:23 left for his 38th goal. Louis Domingue made 31 saves facing the team he started the season with as Tampa Bay has lost consecutive games for the second time in 10 days.

Since scoring seven goals against the New York Islanders on Thursday, the Lightning have two goals in two games.

”We can play better in the offensive zone than we have Yovani Gallardo Jersey ,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. ”We just have to get a little bit confidence factor of guys being able to make plays the way they can and execute the way they can. I think that’s one thing we were lacking tonight, our execution was just a little off and obviously the guys were getting a little frustrated.”

Tampa Bay has been in first place in the Eastern Conference since Oct. 19 but is just two points ahead of the Boston Bruins, who have played two fewer games.

”We were definitely not as sharp offensively as we have been Cheap Jordan Akins Jersey ,” Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman said. ”A big game for us trying to fight off Boston behind us and that’s not what we wanted.”

After a scoreless first period, Murphy fired a slap shot from the outside of the left circle that hit off the inside back post at 10:45 for his first career goal. Chychrun’s goal, on an open look from the slot with Domingue prone on the ice Authentic Jonathan Allen Jersey , made it 2-0.

Arizona increased the lead to 3-0 when Perlini was in the slot for a quick one-timer off a feed from Dylan Strome. The goal was originally waived off for goaltender interference but overturned on a challenge.

NOTES: Keller extended his scoring streak to nine games. … Tampa Bay RW Adam Erne left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. … Lightning D Slater Koekkoek was in the lineup for the first time since March 8. He was a healthy scratch in 11 of the previous 12 games. . Domingue had his personal four-game winning streak end.

UP NEXT

Lightning: At Boston on Thursday night.

Coyotes: At Vegas on Wednesday night.

—

.

Nolan Arenado Cheap Brian Allen Jersey , Trevor Story and Ian Desmond homered in succession during a six-run third inning, German Marquez pitched effectively for six innings and Colorado snapped an eight-game home losing streak by beating the New York Mets 10-8 on Tuesday night.

Carlos Gonzalez also went deep for the Rockies, who won at home for the first time since May 29. Arenado finished a triple shy of the cycle with four RBIs in a game that was delayed 1 hour, 20 minutes because of heavy rain.

”I think that just kind of shows the resilience of our team,” Story said. ”We know things aren’t always going to go our way and we’re not going to win every time we score a lot of runs. That’s just how it is. But sometimes it’s kind of contagious. We’re just trying to hit the ball hard and few of them went out tonight.”

Marquez (5-7) allowed four runs on six hits in picking up his first win in nearly a month. He struck out four and walked two and helped himself with a pair of hits Authentic Kevin Hogan Jersey , scoring a run and driving in another to help build a big enough cushion to outlast the Mets. Colorado, which had lost eight of 10 coming into the game, had seen its bullpen go 0-7 collectively with two saves in seven chances this month.

”The greater majority of games over the last couple of weeks, we’re scoring enough runs,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. ”(Jacob) deGrom shut us down last night. But the offense is picking up Tyler Flowers Jersey , the averages are climbing. The situational hitting is better. We got 16 hits, a lot of contributions across the board, our pitcher included.”

Jason Vargas (2-6) allowed seven runs on nine hits in a season-low 2 1/3 innings and became the first Mets pitcher since Bartolo Colon in 2014 against the Los Angeles Angels to surrender homers to three batters in a row.

The game was tied at 2 when the Rockies went up with their big inning during which they sent 11 batters to the plate against two Mets pitchers.

Charlie Blackmon singled off Vargas to start the third and Arenado followed by homering into the left field bleachers. Story then drove a 1-0 offering from Vargas into the same general area before Desmond went the opposite way with a drive into the right field seats. It was the eighth time in franchise history that three Rockies hitters had gone deep in succession.

”They were just bad pitches and they all got hammered,” Vargas said.

After Vargas issued a one-out walk, Hansel Robles relieved and gave up run-scoring hits to Noel Cuevas and Marquez as Colorado pulled out to an 8-2 lead.

Gonzalez tacked on another run when he homered off Robles in the fourth and Arenado added an RBI single in the fifth.

”When you come to Coors Field Cheap Jason Sanders Jersey , you tell your pitchers to not worry about what happens here and you move on,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. ”Forget about it.”

The Mets got an RBI single from pinch-hitter Jose Bautista and subsequently loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, adding a second run on a two-out passed ball to pull to within 10-6. But Adam Ottavino induced an inning-ending groundout and struck out the side in the eighth to help fend off the Mets.

The Mets added a pair of runs on RBI groundouts in the ninth before Wade Davis fanned Michael Conforto for the final out.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RHP AJ Ramos will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, the team announced. Ramos had a 6.41 ERA in 28 appearances this season. … OF Jay Bruce, who missed four of the previous five games because of right hip soreness Ricky Vaughn Jersey , has been placed on the 10-day disabled list. ”He was really hurting,” manager Mickey Callaway said. ”So we made the decision to go ahead and put him on the DL so we can get him right so he can be the impactful player that he can be.” Callaway said Bruce was headed back to New York to be evaluated by team doctors and undergo an MRI. ”We’ll go from there, see what’s going on exactly.”

Rockies: RHP Scott Oberg threw a side session Tuesday for the first time since going on the 10-day DL earlier this month because of a back strain. Oberg is eligible for reinstatement Wednesday, though there’s no timetable yet for his return.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.49 ERA) has gone 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his three starts this season.

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (5-1 Anthony Rizzo Jersey , 4.65 ERA) makes his 15th start of the season and the seventh at home, where he has no decisions in six previous outings.

—

.

SALT LAKE CITY — It isn’t a cliche to say that the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers have reached a juncture where every game counts. Plenty is at stake when the two teams clash in Salt Lake City on Thursday night.

Utah (45-33) has won three straight and is a half-game up on San Antonio for fourth place in the Western Conference after the Spurs dropped an overtime decision to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Jazz need to keep winning to clinch that top four seed and earn homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The Clippers (42-36) trail New Orleans by two games for the final playoff spot. They need more wins and a little help elsewhere to keep their season going beyond next week.

For Utah Authentic Roquan Smith Jersey , the path to a top-four seed requires overcoming some recent struggles at home. The Jazz won their second straight home game Tuesday after edging the Los Angeles Lakers 117-110.

It wasn’t a simple task. The Lakers shot 48.6 percent from the field overall and made 14 3-pointers. Utah needed 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting from Ricky Rubio — his fifth career 30-point game — to outlast them.

The Jazz struggled with everything from closing out on shooters to stopping transition baskets. It left coach Quin Snyder unhappy with the effort he witnessed.

“Our focus needs to be: be better,” Snyder said. “All I’ve heard is the playoffs and we’re in the playoffs. We’re not in the playoffs. There’s no x next to our name in the standings Authentic Geron Christian Jersey , so we need to play with more urgency and more focus.”

Perimeter defense has been a major issue in recent games for the Jazz. Seven of Utah’s last 10 opponents have shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range. Four have shot better than 50 percent from long distance.

The Lakers shot 13-of-21 from 3-point range through three quarters before finally going 1-of-7 over the final 12 minutes. It let Los Angeles hang around and made the Jazz sweat out a win.

“I don’t think for us it should be hard,” Utah guard Donovan Mitchell said. “We kind of did this to ourselves a little bit. I think the biggest thing with us is being able to come out strong.”

The Clippers picked up a critical 113-110 victory over San Antonio on Tuesday night to keep their playoff hopes alive. Los Angeles rallied in the fourth quarter against the Spurs Aroldis Chapman Jersey , scoring 41 points to overcome a double-digit deficit. Lou Williams supplied 15 of his 22 points in the final quarter and Tobias Harris led the way with 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting.

It snapped a two-game losing streak for Los Angeles. One reason for it is the Clippers showed marked improvement in getting to the free throw line and making free throws. They went 34-of-43 from the line against the Spurs after making 31-of-49 free throws combined in losses to Portland and Indiana.

The Clippers also closed strong in the fourth quarter against San Antonio after falling victim to a final quarter rally against the Pacers.

Los Angeles could be a little short-handed Thursday. Danilo Gallinari sat out Tuesday with a sore right hand and it’s doubtful he will be available agaunst the Jazz. Gallinari has appeared in only 21 games this season because of injuries.

“It’s day by day,” Gallinari told the Los Angeles Times. “I will go with the team to Utah Mike Napoli Jersey , and hopefully the pain is a little better and I play next game.”

Utah has won two of the first three meetings this season. The Jazz beat the Clippers 125-113 on Jan. 20 in the most recent encounter. Utah never trailed and was powered by 23 points from Mitchell and 21 points from Joe Ingles.

Los Angeles fell short despite 31 points, seven assists and a franchise-record 10 steals from Williams. He became the first player in NBA history to have 30 points Authentic Vita Vea Jersey , 10 steals and seven assists in a game.

SCOREBOARD

Sunday Ron Santo Jersey , Jan. 21

Jacksonville at New England, 3:05 p.m. EST. New England (14-3) has reached the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season and the 12th time overall in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. The Jaguars (12-6) are playing in the conference title game for just the third time in franchise history, and first since losing to Tennessee during the 1999 season.

—

Minnesota at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m. EST. Nick Foles and the resilient Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) host Case Keenum and the surprising Minnesota Vikings (14-3) – in a matchup of teams that overcame losing their starting quarterbacks. Philadelphia is playing for the NFC title for the 11th time, but hasn’t won it since the 2004 season – when the Eagles went on to lose to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Vikings reached their 10th NFC title game and first since the 2009 season.

—

STARS

Passing

– Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers, was 37 for 58 for 469 yards with five touchdown passes and an interception in Pittsburgh’s 45-42 loss to Jacksonville. Roethlisberger is the first player in the Super Bowl era to have at least 400 passing yards and five or more passing touchdowns in a playoff game.

– Case Keenum Edwin Diaz Jersey , Vikings, was 25 for 40 for 318 yards, including a stunning 61-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs with no time remaining to give Minnesota an improbable 29-24 win over New Orleans.

– Drew Brees, Saints, was 25 for 40 for 294 yards with three second-half touchdowns and two interceptions in New Orleans’ 29-24 loss to Minnesota.

—

Rushing

– Leonard Fournette, Jaguars, had 25 carries for 109 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville’s win over Pittsburgh.

—

Receiving

– Antonio Brown Authentic Jalyn Holmes Jersey , Steelers, had seven catches for 132 yards, including touchdown catches of 23 and 43 yards in Pittsburgh’s loss to Jacksonville.

– Stefon Diggs, Vikings, had six receptions for 137 yards, including a stunning 61-yard touchdown with no time remaining, in Minnesota’s win over New Orleans.

– Vance McDonald and Le’Veon Bell Chris Beck Jersey , Steelers. McDonald had 10 catches for 112 yards and Bell had nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s loss to Jacksonville.

– Michael Thomas, Saints, had seven receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in New Orleans’ loss to Minnesota.

—

Special Teams

– Josh Lambo, Jaguars, made a 45-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining in Jacksonville’s win over Pittsburgh.

– Kai Forbath, Vikings, made three of four field goals Cheap Pittsburgh Steelers Hoodie , including a 53-yarder in Minnesota’s victory over New Orleans.

—

Defense

– Telvin Smith, Jaguars, had 16 combined tackles and returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown in Jacksonville’s win over Pittsburgh.

– Anthony Barr and Andrew Sendejo, Vikings. Each had interceptions in Minnesota’s win over New Orleans.

—

FINAL FOUR

New England has reached the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season and the 12th time overall in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. The Jaguars are playing in the conference title game for just the third time in franchise history, and first since losing to Tennessee during the 1999 season. Philadelphia is playing for the NFC title for the 11th time, but hasn’t won it since the 2004 season – when the Eagles went on to lose to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Vikings reached their 10th NFC title game and first since the 2009 season. If the Patriots win next week, the AFC will be represented by either Tom Brady Authentic Daniel Kilgore Jersey , Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger in 14 of the past 15 Super Bowls. The exception is the Ravens’ Joe Flacco in Super Bowl 47.

—

SAINTS-VIKINGS: DOWN TO THE WIRE

Case Keenum completed a last-ditch heave near the sideline on the game’s final play, and Stefon Diggs slithered away for a 61-yard touchdown to give Minnesota a 29-24 victory over New Orleans and send the Vikings to the NFC championship game, with one more win needed to become a first-time Super Bowl host. The game had four lead changes in the final three minutes and it was the first game in NFL playoff history to end on a game-winning touchdown as time expired in the fourth quarter.

—

STREAKS & STATS

The Jaguars and Steelers combined for 77 points in Jacksonville’s 45-42 win. It is the most points in a playoff game since the Colts and Chiefs combined for 89 points in the 2013 wild-card round. … The Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger had 469 yards passing against the Jaguars. He is the only player to throw for at least 300 yards against the Jaguars this season. Wide receiver Antonio Brown had 132 yards. He is the only player with at least 100 receiving yards in a game against the Jaguars this season. Both Roethlisberger and Brown both have done it twice against Jacksonville. … The Jaguars have scored eight defensive touchdowns this season, three more than any other team. It is the most defensive TDs scored in a season by one team (including playoffs) since the 2012 Bears who had nine.

—

MILESTONES

The Vikings’ 29-24 win over the Saints was the first game in NFL playoff history to end on a game-winning touchdown as time expired in the fourth quarter. … Jacksonville’s 45 points tied the most ever allowed by the Steelers in the playoffs. The Steelers lost 45-28 to Miami in the AFC title game after the 1984 season.

—

SPEAKING

”I don’t know if th.

With the exception of one trade by the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, the first round of the NHL draft went off without many surprises. Only two players and a handful of picks were traded Friday night, leaving general managers hoping for more on Day Two.

”That was kind of a boring first day or first round,” Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall said. ”It’s not typical for this day.”

The Sabres picking Dahlin at No. 1 and the Carolina Hurricanes taking Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov at No. 2 got the draft itself off to a predictable start. Montreal taking Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi third and Arizona going a bit off the board with center Barrett Hayton fifth allowed high-scoring Czech winger Filip Zadina to fall to Detroit with the sixth pick.

”I’m telling my agent if they will pass on me, I will fill their net with the puck Youth Royce Freeman Jersey ,” Zadina said. ”I want to prove them that they have done, like, bad decision.”

Not a whole lot of big decisions happened Friday night at American Airlines Center. The Sabres taking Dahlin was automatic since they won the draft lottery in April, and the 18-year-old wore a Buffalo Bills hat Friday prior to the selection. Svechnikov got to try on the Hurricanes’ draft hat before he was the No. 2 pick just as general manager Don Waddell acknowledged recently.

Dahlin is the second Swedish player to be taken No. 1 and the first since Mats Sundin in 1989. Sundin went on to a Hall of Fame career.

”It’s pretty crazy actually,” Dahlin said. ”He’s a legend in the hockey world. It’s kind of weird but amazing.”

GMs found it weird that there weren’t more trades consummated. A few teams swapped picks late in the first round Cheap Dalton Schultz Jersey , but the big shakeup came a half-hour before the draft when the Capitals traded veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik and backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick.

The trade netted Washington the 47th pick but most importantly cleared significant salary-cap space to attempt to re-sign pending free agent defensemen John Carlson and Michal Kempny. MacLellan said he was close to getting a deal done with Carlson, so he had to prepare.

”It’s hard to do, but we had to create some room to sign some players,” MacLellan said.

Grubauer was the first domino to fall in what could be a fascinating goaltending market. Ottawa’s Craig Anderson is reportedly available, and Columbus might have to make a decision on Sergei Bobrovsky if like winger Artemi Panarin the two-time Vezina winner isn’t willing to talk about a contract extension with just a year left before free agency.

The Capitals and Hurricanes discussed a trade for Grubauer that would’ve given Washington a higher second-round pick Jacoby Ellsbury Jersey , but MacLellan opted to send the 26-year-old German to the Western Conference rather than giftwrap him for a division rival, and Colorado’s Joe Sakic was willing to take on Orpik’s salary to get Grubauer.

”We knew the asking price was high and we had the cap room that we can give cap flexibility for us to not have to give up more than we did,” said Sakic, who added he’ll look to trade Orpik or buy out the 37-year-old. ”We felt it was important to get Grubauer. We just like what he can do for us.”

The Sabres love what they’re getting in Dahlin, who should spark the rebuilding process for a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons. The smooth-skating playmaker was considered the consensus first pick for more than a year.

”It’s been a long waiting Cheap Rick Leonard Jersey ,” Dahlin said. ”You can’t really plan anything. Finally today I can plan my future. I love to call my new town Buffalo.”

After co-owner Kim Pegula made some opening remarks, general manager Jason Botterill announced Dahlin as the top pick. In the corner of the arena, Sabres fans in attendance chanted, ”Dahlin! Dahlin!”

Bills draft pick Josh Allen tweeted after the pick: ”Welcome to Buffalo (at)rasmusdahlin00! Can’t wait to watch you play, wings on me later this summer.”

Dahlin will jump to the NHL right away and should help the club’s league-worst offense that contributed to its last-place finish. He had six assists in seven games at the world junior championships in Buffalo and put up 20 points in 41 games in Sweden’s top pro league this season.

—

AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon contributed to this report.

—

.