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. Womens Nike Free 5.0 V3 Running Shoes Fluorescence Green/White/Black . 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. Mens Nike Air Max 90 Knit Shoes Yellow/Green . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Chris Epperson shot a 9-under 63 on Friday on PGA Wests Nicklaus Tournament Course to take a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Web. New Balance Kids KL574(Little Kid) Pink-Orange . But when hes eligible to come off long-term injured reserve Dec.TORONTO - Speaking at an event for season ticket holders before the season began, Masai Ujiri urged Raptors fans - and by extension the team itself - to help make the Air Canada Centre a daunting place for opponents to visit. "We have to make this place a living hell for [opponents] to come play here," the Raptors general manager pleaded. So far its been anything but. "We have far more focus on the road than we do at home and that is a concern," coach Dwane Casey said after his team dropped to 4-8 at the ACC, losing another heartbreaker, 104-102 to the Bobcats in overtime Wednesday. With a record of 5-6 outside of Toronto, the Raptors are one of three Eastern Conference teams with more wins on the road than at home. Wednesdays loss to the Bobcats, a team theyve had difficulty with in the past, was an especially bitter pill for them to swallow. After coughing up a 16-point lead in the third quarter, the Raptors were able to hold it together long enough to force overtime. In the extra frame, DeMar DeRozan - seemingly exhausted after playing over 40 minutes - split a pair of free throws to tie the game up with one second remaining. A second overtime period seemed imminent. As Josh McRoberts inbounded, Kemba Walker curled off a screen set by Al Jefferson. Freed up for just a moment before Jonas Valanciunas closed out hard on the Bobcats leading scorer, Walker drained the dagger that handed the Raptors yet another unsettling loss in their own building. "It hurts," admitted Kyle Lowry, whose three-pointer sent the game into overtime. "Everyone loses a game [to] a buzzer-beater but youd rather get blown out by 50 than lose on a buzzer-beater." The building went silent as the buzzer sounded, keeping in mind the noise level rarely exceeded a dull roar on the night. Attendance was listed at a generous 15,201 Wednesday evening, shy of the teams 17,774-season average, 12th best in the association according to ESPN.com. Many of those fans - the ones still rooting for this team to win - left shaking their heads, disappointed but not in the least bit surprised. It was awfully quiet for most of the game, but its hard to blame the fans in attendance. They havent been given much to cheer about. "Weve got great fans, great crowd, warm building, hot building so theres no reason why we cant come out with that type of fire and intensity [we have on the road]," Casey said. Offensively, the teams numbers are almost identical at home as they are on the road. The drop off, at least statistically, is on the defensive end where the Rapptors are allowing 100. Mens Nike Free 5.0 V4 Running Shoes Light Grey/Dark Brown/White. 4 points per game, 4.1 more than they surrender away from the ACC. A home-court disadvantage is nothing new. Last season Toronto was one of four teams in the NBA to average more points and shoot a higher field goal percentage on the road than at home. Still, no one can seem to pinpoint whats causing it. "I have no idea, I really cant explain it," said Lowry, who had 17 points and six assists in the loss. "I think weve just got to figure out a way to turn it around." "Weve got to start to use our home court to our advantage and not feel too comfortable or think were going to be able to pull it out in late-game situations," added DeRozan after a 30-point performance. DeRozan, who is fourth in the league in minutes played per contest, appeared to be gassed by the end of the game, going 1-of-4 from the field in overtime and missing a crucial free throw down the stretch. He was quick to dismiss the suggestion of fatigue after the loss. "No I was good, I was good," he insisted. "I could have played four more overtimes if we had to." As a team, the Raptors shot just 3-of-11 in the extra period, missing their first six shots. Valanciunas, who had 10 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes, played most of overtime after sitting out the entire fourth quarter. For Casey, it was a decision made with the match-up in mind. "We were mixing it up, we had to mix it up," Casey said of the teams coverage on Jefferson, the Bobcats crafty and undersized centre. "Jonas did as much as he could with Jefferson. Jefferson is one of the most potent low-post scorers in the league but for [Valanciunas] to learn those are the guys hes going to have to guard." "I thought he fought and battled him and used his height as much as he could and I thought Jonas did a good job on the other end, taking it to him in the paint and scoring on him." Still, Casey maintains that its a give and take with Valanciunas on the floor in these scenarios. Although you have a theoretical advantage offensively with Valanciunas against the smaller Jefferson, its understood that you are giving something up on defence. Is one worth the other? Instead, Casey rotated the more experienced, more versatile trio of Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough and Patrick Patterson in the fourth. For now, the Raptors will have to put their home-court conundrum on hold as they focus on what lies ahead. On Friday theyll begin a challenging four-game road trip in Dallas before visiting Oklahoma City, San Antonio and New York. cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
