against the Royals, went 0 for 12 in the series and was n

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine will forever be linked as the top two selections in last springs NHL draft, and the rivalry between the two -- whether they like it or not -- officially starts Wednesday night at the MTS Centre.Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Winnipeg Jets for their first battle of the season. There is no question Matthews, an Arizona-born center, made the bigger splash thus far, albeit over a two-game body of work.The 19-year-old scored a quartet of goals in his first NHL game, a 5-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators, becoming the first player in league history to accomplish such a feat. Laine followed up the next evening with a goal and an assist in a 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.The duo cooled off since, with Matthews being held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 victory over Boston on Saturday while Laine posted a pair of goose eggs in losses to both the Minnesota Wild (4-3) and the Bruins (4-1).They dont award the Calder Trophy in October -- despite what many observers in Toronto seem to think -- so hockey fans can look forward to another six months of comparisons and dueling highlights. There are also a large number of other first-year players throughout the NHL who may have something to say about the end-of-year rookie hardware.Matthews, for one, isnt buying into the hype.Were on our own teams now, he told the Toronto Sun following practice Tuesday. Its not any comparison, not one against the other. Its just another game. We have 80 more of them. Its the Toronto Maple Leafs against Winnipeg Jets.Laine concurred, telling a media scrum on Tuesday that they will each follow their own careers.I dont need any rivalry between us. I just focus on my own job, the 18-year-old Finland native said.Whatever you say, fellas.Jets coach Paul Maurice and Leafs bench boss Paul Maurice are also quick to downplay the comparisons, noting Matthews is a center while Laine plays on the right wing.The dynamic duo will be far from the only rookies in this game. Laine is joined by forwards Kyle Connor and Brandon Tanev and defenseman Josh Morrissey, while Matthews has right winger Connor Brown and center Mitch Marner as teammates.Fans of the WHA Jets will also get their fix on Wednesday evening as the famed Hot Line of Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg will be inducted into the Jets newly minted Hall of Fame.Hull wont able to attend for personal reasons, but the two Swedish superstars arrived in Winnipeg late Tuesday evening.Graying stars of yesteryear from the Jets and Oilers started to trickle into town a few days prior to the Heritage Classics alumni game Saturday, but it will turn into a geyser over the next couple of days as the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jari Kurri from the Oilers and Teemu Selanne and Dale Hawerchuk from the Jets touch down. Lamar Jackson Ravens Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Ben Powers Youth Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/Youth-ben-powers-ravens-jersey/ .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Miles Boykin Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Lamar Jackson Womens Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Danny Duffy keeps winning and so do the Kansas City Royals.Duffy won his 10th straight decision, Eric Hosmer doubled in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday for their eighth consecutive win.The Royals swept a four-game series from the Twins for the first time since 1999 and have their longest winning streak since an eight-game run Aug. 3-11, 2014. The Royals have won 13 of 15 since the Rally Mantis showed up in the dugout.We all know as a team we can go on some crazy runs, Hosmer said.Duffy (11-1), unbeaten since June 6, improved to 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in August. His 2.66 ERA ranks second in the American League, while his .917 winning percent tops the majors.Duffy left after 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run and a season-high eight hits while walking two and striking out four.There was a lot of traffic out there, Duffy said. I made some pitches when I had to. When you dont have your best stuff, you just battle. Thats kind of how I felt today, just get through as many outs as I can and let your defense play behind you. And goodness, didnt they, the defense killed it out there today. Im very happy with the way it went.He outpitched Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (6-10), who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 10 and walking one over seven innings.They way hes been pitching the last few games, hes lights out, Santana said of Duffy. Hes doing his job. Hes doing what hes supposed to do. He just keeps everybody off balance. He just locates his fastball and his changeup. So, thats what makes him better today.Duffy worked out a no-out, bases loaded jam in the second inning with the help of a couple of fielding gems. After Eddie Rosario struck out, Alex Gordon made a sliding catch of Kurt Suzukis fly to shallow left . Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert snagged Danny Santanas hard hit grounder and threw out Eduardo Escobar at second base.I thought it could have been his best start in this run, Royals manager Ned Yost said. For the simple reason he was really struggling with command of his fastball. When good pitchers dont have their best stuff, they still find ways to compete at a high level and thats exactly what Danny did with the help of some great defense.ddddddddddddHosmers two-out double in the sixth over the head of center fielder Rosario scored Lorenzo Cain, who had an infield single.Hosmer singled in the second, moved to third on Kendrys Morales double and scored on Alcides Escobars ground out for the first Kansas City run.Santana has a 1.91 ERA in his past 11 starts after beginning the season 1-7 with a 5.10 ERA.Its terrible, man, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier said to be swept by the Royals. Were playing good, it seems like. These past four games weve always make that one mistake and against good teams like Kansas City, its not getting people in, bases loaded, nobody out, thats the ballgame.Robbie Grossman and Trevor Plouffe doubled in the third to produce the only run off Duffy.Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect ninth to log his seventh save in nine chances.MOLITORS BIRTHDAYTwins manager Paul Molitor turns 60 Monday. Theres some plans being made for me, Molitor said. Ill be a willing participant. Itll be nice to have an off day and do some things with the family. But not celebrate, Im past that point.NO MAUER1B Joe Mauer, who is a career .326 hitter with 14 home runs and 111 RBI against the Royals, went 0 for 12 in the series and was not in the lineup Sunday. He grounded out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.SEEING THE LIGHTThe Twins recalled RHP Pat Light, who was acquired from Boston on Aug. 1, from Triple-A Rochester, where he had a 2.57 ERA in six outings. He appeared in two games for the Red Sox this season, giving up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Kris Medlen (rotator cuff inflammation) made a Saturday rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, allowing three runs and two hits, including a home run, and a walk in 1 2/3 innings against Nashville. He threw 22 strikes in 34 pitches.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson starts the series opener against Detroit on Tuesday. Gibson threw a complete-game Wednesday at Atlanta.Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura starts the series opener at Miami on Tuesday. Ventura is 0-2 in two interleague starts, yielding 11 runs over eight innings. ' ' '