Injured Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos said hes feeling better after taking a day off from practice on Monday because his leg didnt feel right. Adidas Superstar 2 Prezzo . Stamkos took to the ice at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday morning - where the Lightning prepared to face the Toronto Maple Leafs - wearing a regular blue jersey and skated for about 20 minutes. "It felt a lot better today," Stamkos said after the skate. "Just pain in certain areas. The bone is really strong, the x-rays look good - its more soft tissue issues." Stamkos added that he still hopes to get games under his belt before the Olympic break and also discussed the possibility of playing in Sochi even if he doesnt play an NHL game first. "The objective is to play a game (in the NHL), that would be something I would really love to do," he explained to the large scrum of reporters. "But if thats not the case, theres going to be another discussion about whether or not Im still going to be on that team if I cant play a game. Weve had brief discussions about that, its more or less been Well cross that bridge when (if) we need to." Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman just happens to be his NHL general manager in Tampa and Stamkos is prepared to have a discussion with him on all of his options. "If we have to sit down a couple of days before we have to leave for the Olympics, we can be honest with each other," Stamkos said of his eventual chat with Yzerman. "If I say that Im at the level I think I need to be at to compete at the Olympics, I think hes going to have the trust in me that I can go over there and play at that level. But at the end of the day, I have to be honest with him. If I say Im not ready, obviously Im not going to go." When asked about Stamkos comments that going to Sochi without playing an NHL game was a possibility, Yzerman confirmed its among the different options, again very much depending on where he is physically. "Were not going to rule anything out," Yzerman told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun over on the phone Tuesday. "We dont really have to jump to any conclusions yet. Its one step at a time. A week ago he had the X-Ray at the 10-week mark and the doctors advised him to increase the intensity of his workouts on and off the ice and see how he responds to that. So thats what hes done for the last week. Hes still hopeful to play at some point next week but we dont know yet if thats realistic or not. "Once he gets home from the trip hell meet again with the doctors and see what they come up with at that point. But until hes cleared for a game, whether its prior to leaving or not, theres not much really to say, but were going to keep all the options open and make the appropriate decisions when the time comes." Stamkos fractured the tibia in his right leg in a Nov. 11 game against the Boston Bruins and underwent surgery the following day. He had 14 goals and 23 points in 17 games before the injury. The Lightnings final game before the Olympic break is Saturday, Feb. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings. Nike Free Run 3 Uomo . Fresh from helping the Czech Republic beat Argentina in the Davis Cup semifinals, Berdych beat Yen-hsun Lu of Taiwan 7-6 (7), 6-4 to maintain his record of never losing before the semifinals in Thailand. Nike Roshe Run Uomo . -- A year ago, Flavia Pennetta was close to retiring from tennis.PORTLAND, Ore. -- Andre Hainault and Danny Cruz scored goals and the Houston Dynamo took a big step toward the MLS playoffs with a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Friday night. The Dynamo (11-9-13) have 46 points, putting them in good position to take one of the leagues 10 playoff berth. Houston assured itself of no worse than a tie for 10th after Saturdays games. The win vaulted the Dynamo into second place in the Eastern Conference, ahead of New York (43 points), Columbus (44) and Sporting Kansas City (45), all of whom play Saturday. The Dynamo can guarantee a fifth trip to the playoffs in six seasons by beating league-leading Los Angeles in their final regular-season match Oct. 23. The Timbers (11-14-7) have 40 points and are virtually eliminated from the playoffs. Their last two matches are on the road, where they are 1-4-2 in their last seven games. Portland lost at home for the first time in seven matches. "We never came out and started with the zest and enthusiasm and mobility that I expected," Timbers coach John Spencer said. Nike Free 3.0 v4 Uomo. Hainault scored in the 36th minute off a free kick from Brad Davis. Cruz powered a left-footed kick into the left corner in the 59th minute. Already home to one of the most boisterous crowds in the league, Jeld-Wen Field had a playoff atmosphere, with dozens of flags waving, smoke from the pregame fireworks wafting and a light rain falling. Spencer was an assistant for five years under Houstons Dominic Kinnear before leaving to organize the expansion Timbers. Earlier in the season, Portland sent forward Adam Moffat to Houston for defencemen Lovel Palmer and Mike Chabala, a deal that has worked out well for both sides. The Dynamo defeated Portland 2-1 on Aug. 14 in their first meeting. "Houstons a good team," Chabala said. "They have a lot of experience in these types of games and it shows." Houston is unbeaten in its past five matches and had not played since a 1-all draw with Chicago on Oct. 1. The Timbers last game was a 1-0 win at Vancouver on Oct. 2. cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
