ESTERO, Fla. -- Former NHL defenceman Brian Rafalski has agreed to contract terms with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The team announced the news on its website Thursday. The 40-year Rafalski had 515 points in 11 NHL seasons, split between New Jersey and Detroit. He played on three Stanley Cup winners. Rafalski retired following the Red Wings exit from the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Florida is a minor league affiliate for both Tampa Bay and Carolina. . Nikolaos Kounenakis has been hired as an assistant coach, the team announced on Monday. .Tzavelas opened the scoring in the 11th and Pereyra added another in the 51st. Emmanuel Kone pulled one back in the 80th and Levadiakos missed several chances to level in the last 10 minutes.
http://www.pascherbasketnike.fr/france- ... e.html.com) - The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics both entered Wednesday nights game riding lengthy losing streaks. .Y. -- In a span of three days, Shabazz Napier and Connecticut knocked out both Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tournament. . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. SEATTLE -- On a night when starter Jered Weaver struggled at times, the Los Angeles Angels were more concerned about a reliever who only faced one batter. Weaver gave up three runs over six innings to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. It was Weavers fifth win in six starts, although the first time in eight outings he allowed more than two runs. The bigger moment of concern came when Weaver left the game. Reliever Sean Burnett, who had come off the disabled list on Friday after recovering from elbow surgery last August, left the game after getting Michael Saunders to pop out leading off the seventh inning. "He just felt something in his elbow," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We dont know exactly what, hell be going back down to Southern California (Wednesday) to be evaluated. It looks like disabled list, but well see whats going on." This was Burnetts third appearance since returning, all of them lasting just one batter. Friday marked the first time he had pitched in the major leagues since May 26, 2013. After the game Burnett managed to answer just one question before breaking down and saying he couldnt continue. "Its just a lot of frustration right now. Im trying to stay positive and well see what the doctors say tomorrow," he said. Burnetts injury marred Los Angeles second win in seven tries against the Mariners this season. C.J. Cron led the Angels with a solo home run and run-scoring double, one of four doubles Los Angeles hit in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Cron led off the seventh inning with his third homer since making his major league debut on May 3. Weaver (6-3) said he felt the day would be a struggle from the time he started warming up before the game and didnt have the command hes been used to in recent starts. "I felt all right for the most part, but I didnt feel as crisp as I had the previous starts," he said. "Its one of those games where you had to battle, and these guys put up three early runs and helped me out a little bit early, and we were able to tack on some late." After the offence gave Weaver thee three-run lead in the top of the second, Seattle answered in the bottom of the inning when Dustin Ackley doubled and scored on Nick Franklins single.ddddddddddddHowever, even as Weaver struggled, the Mariners were unable to really take advantage. "This guy is a proven winner. He knows what hes doing out there and is pretty crafty," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "We battled all night with him." The Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth but only managed one run with Grant Green scoring as Howie Kendrick grounded into a double play. The Mariners also loaded the bases for a run in the bottom of the fourth. Justin Smoak led off the inning with his seventh home run before the Mariners loaded the bases with two outs. Weavers first pitch to James Jones sailed over the head of catcher Chris Iannetta and Ackley scored from third on the wild pitch to cut Los Angeles lead to 4-3. The Angels added another run in the seventh on Mike Trouts sacrifice fly. Roenis Elias (3-4) allowed five runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. The five earned runs were the most the Mariners rookie has allowed in his 11 career starts. "I just went out and did everything I normally do and it didnt work out today," Elias said through a translator. Ernesto Frieri pitched the ninth for his seventh save, but the Mariners made it interesting. Robinson Cano hit a two-out run scoring single, and Smoak walked before Kyle Seager ended the game with a deep fly to left-centre field. NOTES: Before the game Scioscia said LHP Wade LeBlanc would start Thursdays series finale, but after the game Scioscia said Burnetts injury may change those plans. "Well evaluate some things tonight and see which way it will go," he said. ... Cano was the DH Tuesday after getting spiked on a play Monday. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton, on the DL since April 9, had an MRI on Tuesday that revealed inflammation in his left shoulder. Paxton had a rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday but will be shut down until the inflammation subsides, which the club estimated would be five to seven days. ' ' '
