NASHVILLE -- Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has been cleared by doctors to increase his physical activity, and now Nashville has to decide whats next for the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist. The Predators announced that Rinne had been cleared for the next step of his recovery after meeting with doctors earlier Monday. Coach Barry Trotz said a meeting was planned for later Monday to set a weekly plan for Rinne. "Our destination is to get Pekka back in the net at some point," Trotz said. "Whenever that happens, that happens. It feels a lot better than it was a month ago or six weeks ago." The goalie has been sidelined since arthroscopic surgery on his left hip Oct. 24 as a result of a bacterial infection. The infection developed in the same hip surgically repaired May 9 after last season. Rinne started practicing Feb. 19 and has worked a bit more each day. Rinne is 4-4-1 in the nine games he has played this season with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He practiced again Monday said he feels really optimistic. "The next step is playing games, and hopefully that is really soon here," Rinne said. The Predators, who return from the Olympic break hosting Tampa Bay on Thursday, could have Rinne play some games soon in Milwaukee with their American Hockey League affiliate. Nashville is four points out of the Western Conferences final playoff spot with 23 games remaining. General manager David Poile said last week the Predators best move at the trade deadline could be getting Rinne back on the ice. . The three Calgary natives will compete after the sport was skipped by the Vancouver Games in 2010 but later included on the program for Sochi, Russia. The fight to include womens ski jumping prior to Vancouver went to the courts only to have the Supreme Court of Canada rule against the athletes appeal in 2009. . FLIP SAUNDERS (Timberwolves): Im not the least bit surprised that he appointed himself as head coach after his search concluded.
http://www.danmarkairmax.com/.One day after winning her record 63rd World Cup race, Vonn posted to her Facebook account Tuesday that she was happy Woods surprised her by coming to the race, and that she felt terrible that his tooth got knocked out. .C. Now hes squarely in the U.S. capital and helping the Washington Wizards playoff drive. John Wall scored 33 points, Gooden got 11 of his 21 in the final quarter and the Wizards overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 101-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. . "You hate when they score," he said with some distaste at the thought. "You take pride in it.MONTREAL -- Australian Open semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard will lead Canadas team at a Fed Cup womens tennis tie against Serbia next month. The native of Westmount, Que., who made headlines in Canada last week after unexpectedly making the final four in Melbourne, will be joined by Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa, Sharon Fichman of Toronto and Aleksandra Wozniak, Blainville, Que. The World Group II first-round series will be played indoors Feb. 8-9 at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. "The team that will defend Canadas colours consists of experienced players on the international scene," said Canadian captain Sylvain Bruneau. "The girls are ready to take on the tough challenge that awaits them against Serbia and move one step closer to the World Group." The best-of-five series will mark Bouchards return home after her stellar Australian Open performance, which moved her up to No. 19 in the world rankings. The 19-year-old made her Fed Cup debut in 20011 and has a record 7-2.dddddddddddd Last year in Kyiv, Bouchard won two matches despite playing with an injured ankle, including the decisive doubles with Fichman to give Canada a place in World Group II for the first time since 2010. Dabrowski, the countrys top doubles player at No. 61 on the WTA rankings, reached her first two WTA doubles finals in 2013 at Brussels and Linz in addition to winning two doubles titles of the ITF Challenger Circuit. Shes 3-0 in Fed Cup play. Fichman enjoyed the best season of her career in 2013, making the worlds top 100 for the first time (95th). In her first tournament of 2014 at Auckland, Fichman collected her first WTA doubles title. In Fed Cup, Fichman is 22-7 since making her debut in 2005 at the age of 14. Wozniak has struggled with injuries and will be playing her first Fed Cup tie since 2011. A member of the Canadian squad since 2004, she holds a 37-9 record on the circuit. Canada lost 3-2 to Serbia in 2011. ' ' '