escape the second inning either time. ... 3B Nick Castellanos (brok

CHICAGO -- For all the difficulties they endured along the way, the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings are still standing. They might want to buckle up, though. The ride could get even wilder. The Blackhawks and Kings are poised for what could be a tight and lengthy Western Conference final, with Game 1 at the United Center on Saturday (TSN and TSN Moblie TV at 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt). The Kings already have more playoff losses than they did a year ago when they went on a 16-4 run through the post-season to capture the Stanley Cup as an eighth seed. "I cited critical moments last year," Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said. "There were several of them this year where they were severely tested. They keep finding a way to fight through, as theyve done at times during the playoffs. " The Blackhawks? All they did was rally from a 3-1 deficit to beat Detroit in the conference semifinals, taking Game 7 by 2-1 on Brent Seabrooks overtime goal to remain in the hunt for their second title in four years. "You dont draw it up, you dont plan to win a seven-game series coming back from 3-1," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "Looking back, I think it is a good thing for our team to have gone through what we just went through, to kind of be pushed to the end, for a moment (to) feel like that was it. You have certain negative thoughts that kind of creep in. You try not to think about them, that youre up against a tough team and the odds are against you. "But we stayed positive. We stuck with it. We just had that attitude that you take it one shift at the same time, you win one game at a time, anything can happen." The next challenge is a big one, too. No goalie is more on his game at the moment than the Kings Jonathan Quick. All the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has done is allow just 20 goals in 13 post-season games while carrying Los Angeles to its second straight conference final. He leads the playoffs in goals-against average (1.50), save percentage (.948) and shutouts (three), and the Kings have needed it with their offence generating little. Theyre averaging just two goals per game in the post-season, and they realize they need to rediscover their scoring touch. That wasnt an issue during the regular season, when they were 10th in the NHL and boasted the Western Conferences top goal scorer in Jeff Carter. Getting centre Jarret Stoll back would help. He suffered an apparent concussion on an illegal hit to the head in the series opener against San Jose and has been sidelined since. He skated with the team this week, but coach Darryl Sutter had no update Friday. "Hes been our best faceoff guy all year, so thats one of our strengths, and on the (penalty kill), even on the (power play) if he does play," centre Anze Kopitar said. "It gives us a right-handed faceoff man that we didnt have." Despite their difficulties putting the puck in the net, the Kings have gotten by. They dropped the first two games at St. Louis and needed seven to take out San Jose in the semifinals, with all four wins coming at home. It was a physical series that probably didnt earn many style points. And to that, the Kings basically say so what. "Well, I dont really care what you think, if that has anything to do with it," Sutter said. "Is that what theyre saying in Boston, too?" Dustin Brown added: "We could bore you all to death. If we keep on winning, I could care less what people think of our game. We found something thats successful for us as a group, and sometimes people dont think its exciting. It depends on your opinion." Now, its the Blackhawks with the home-ice advantage and games on back-to-back days in their arena. Clearly, they see an opportunity there. But they also had their difficulties with a physical Detroit team, and here come the hard-hitting Kings. "Yeah. Theyre big, and they do a good job protecting the net," Patrick Sharp said. "Theyre physical, as well, so weve got to be aware of that. Hopefully we can use our speed and our skill to kind of neutralize that, but this is all just talk. Well see what happens this series." Noah Syndergaard Mets Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Pete Alonso Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/juan-lagares-mets-jersey/ . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. David Wright Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Amed Rosario Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera isnt a big fan of social media in September.Shortly after his seventh-inning homer broke a tie and led his Detroit Tigers to a crucial 9-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins, Cabrera talked about keeping negative energy out of the clubhouse.This is dangerous, he said, holding up his cell phone.Even with a $200 million payroll, the Tigers have had an inconsistent season and are in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight year. They trail the Blue Jays by one game for the second AL wild card, with the Yankees and Mariners only one game back.We hear a lot of bad things about how were not going to make it, Cabrera said. Ive been here a lot of years and Ive been through this, but weve got a lot of new guys who think about it and read stuff. I tell them not to worry.This is fun. Weve got a chance to make the playoffs. Thats what you play for.The Tigers trailed 5-2 in the fourth inning, but put together the offensive performance theyve been missing while losing five of seven. Ian Kinsler had four hits, finishing a homer short of the cycle, and drove in three runs while scoring two.We had a tough loss last night, so we knew we had to come back and win this one, Cabrera said. We did it, and now we have to do it tomorrow.Brian Dozier and Kurt Suzuki homered for the Twins.Both starting pitchers made early exits. Minnesotas Tyler Duffey allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings, while Anibal Sanchez gave up six in four-plus.Shane Greene (5-4) got the win, while Ryan Pressly (6-7) took the loss after surrendering Cabreras homer.Bruce Rondon pitched the eighth for Detroit, while Francisco Rodriguez put up a perfect ninth for his 42nd save.After Sanchez struck out the side in the first, Kinsler and Cameron Maybin gave the Tigers the lead with back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the inning. Kinslers RBI single in the second doubled the lead.Sanchez retired the first nine batters in order, but Dozier launched his first pitch of the fourth into the left-field stands for his 41st homer. The next three batters singled, with Kennys Vargas driving home Jorge Polanco to tie the game.Suzuki then made it 5-2 with a homer down the left-field line, but the Tigers came back in the bottom of the inning.Justin Upton walked and scored on Andrew Romines RBI single before Kinsler and Maybin hit back-to-back triples to tie the game.We scored enough runs in the top of the fourth to win the game, and I gave it right back, Duffey said. When you are facing that offense, when you miss, they dont. They got rolling, and I couldnt stop it.Twins manager Paul Molitor knew his team was in trouble after the walk to Upton. The Tigers leftfielder only has a .296 onn-base percentage this year, with 40 walks against 165 strikeouts.ddddddddddddWhen you get a big inning and get a lead, you want your pitcher to go out there and shut them down, Molitor said. That walk was a bad sign, but he still had two outs and could have gotten off the field if he gets Kinsler or Maybin.J.T. Chargois replaced Duffey and allowed a tiebreaking single to Cabrera, but Sanchez couldnt hold the lead. He walked Byron Buxton to start the fifth and Dozier followed with a double to make it 6-6.Alex Wilson got out of the inning without further damage, and the two bullpens were able to settle the game down until Cabreras homer off Pressly with one out in the seventh.The Tigers added two more runs in the eighth on Kinslers second RBI single and a wild pitch.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 3B Miguel Sano missed his second straight game with back stiffness. Hes expected back for Minnesotas weekend series against the Mets. . Suzuki left the game in the eighth injury with a lacerated chin after being hit in the mask by a foul tip. Molitor said hes day-to-day, but might see action at DH while the injury heals.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann threw an 80-pitch simulated game Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to fix his mechanics and get back into the rotation. Due to assorted injuries, Zimmermann has only started twice since June and didnt escape the second inning either time. ... 3B Nick Castellanos (broken hand) batted once against Zimmermann before taking himself out of the lineup. He hopes to be back before the end of the regular season.ODD DEFENSIVE LINEUPZimmermann, who mostly faced September call-ups in his simulated game, didnt get a lot of help from his defense. Instead of one of baseballs best double-play combinations in Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias, Zimmermann had his fellow pitchers backing him up. Rookie of the Year favorite Michael Fulmer made a nice running catch on a pop up into shallow right, but Mike Pelfrey, Mark Lowe and Justin Verlander werent impressive as infielders.OLYMPIC WEEK CONTINUESFor the third straight day, an Olympic medalist from Rio threw out the first pitch. On Wednesday, it was New Zealands Nick Willis, who won the bronze medal in the 1,500-meter run. Willis spent his college career at the University of Michigan, and still lives in Ann Arbor.UP NEXTThe teams conclude their four-game series with the Tigers Mike Pelfrey (4-9, 4.76) facing the Twins Hector Santiago (11-8, 4.75). Pelfrey hasnt pitched in a big-league game since July 30 due to a back injury, and is expected to be on a 60-pitch limit. ' ' '