ht now.Crosby, who didnt score a goal in last seasons finals, will almost certainly be trying to add to his points total at the expense of Sharks goaltender

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sprinter Michael Assefa went from despair to elation in less than 24 hours at the U.S. Paralympic trials, all because of a broken blade.Assefa was in the blocks for the final of the 200 meters Thursday night when the prosthetic he wears in place of his lower left leg snapped.A dejected Assefa, from Frankfort, Ill., was left sitting next to the track as the race went off.I had my accident where I lost my leg four years ago, and I set out a goal to go to the Paralympics ever since, so to have it break right before the race was devastating to me, Assefa said. I thought all my chances were gone.Assefa, who was injured in a train accident, was unsure of what would happen next. But a team of people were standing by ready to help.Theres no real process. Theres no protocol for it, Assefa said. So a bunch of guys here -- we have a great community -- they called the manufacturers, they overnighted a blade for me, and this morning we got it in.His doctors fitted him with the blade just 45 minutes before the start of the 100-meter finals on Friday.Assefa ran the race in 13.3 seconds, crossing the finish line third in the heat. The time doesnt guarantee him a spot on the American team -- under the rules of the Paralympics, national teams are limited in size and U.S. officials have to decide who is in and out -- but it gave Assefas hopes a big boost.He walked off the track with sweat dripping down his face and a big smile. He posed for pictures with family, friends and fans while fighting back tears.Im blessed, Im excited, Im ecstatic, Assefa said. I want to go drink a beer.---Allison Gasparetti is a journalism student at Penn State. Penn State and Georgia are partnering with The Associated Press to supplement coverage of the 2016 Paralympics. Shane Doan Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Robbie Russo Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/548z-mike-gartner-jersey-coyotes.html . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Stitched Coyotes Jerseys .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Jeremy Roenick Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer is concerned that focus exhibited by his team might not always be where it should. The matchup against their next opponent should grab their attention in more ways than one.Looking to avoid their first three-game skid of the season, the Sharks meet red-hot Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final time in the regular season on Saturday night.San Jose (6-5-0) held its opponents to a total of three goals while winning three straight in a five-day span but stumbled this week with a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday before returning home and falling to the Calgary Flames by the same score on Thursday.DeBoer said the teams sustained effort for an entire contest is lacking.The desperation level of the teams were playing is very high, and ours is high for stages of the game, but not for 60 minutes, and you know, this is a league where if you dont play desperate for 60 minutes, youre really limiting your opportunities to win, and thats where were at right now, he said after the loss to Calgary. We lost because of the lack of a 60-minute commitment by everybody.If the Sharks need a boost to reaffirm that commitment, then playing with urgency and beating the Penguins would provide it. San Jose lost in six games to Pittsburgh in last seasons Stanley Cup Final -- with the clincher coming at SAP Center. In their first rematch this season, San Jose squandered a two-goal lead heading into the third period and lost 3-2 on Oct. 20 at the newly re-named PPG Paints Arena.Joe Pavelski, who leads San Jose with 12 points (four goals, eight assists), said the Sharks may be making things harder for themselves.I think our work ethic can go up a little bit, he said. There (are) moments where its good. Im not calling anyone out by any means, but its just on a nightly basis, its everybody, its a simple game that we play.... From our foundations of hard work and forechecking and certain things, we can get creative, and at times, when that hard work goes away, it makes it a little tougher, but I think we can do a little better job at times.Including postseason play, Pavelski has failed to score a goal in seven straight games against Pittsburgh while recording four assists.As for the Penguins, theyve barely skipped aa beat after winning the Stanley Cup -- and that was without having Crosby available for the first six games as he recovered from a concussion.ddddddddddddWhile its difficult to find much fault, if any, with the Penguins play this season, their recent efforts in the second period have been poor. Through the first four games of the season, theyve outscored the opposition 4-2 in the second. But through the last seven contests, starting with last months win over the Sharks, Pittsburgh (7-2-2) has been outscored 12-2 in the middle frame.Despite those recent struggles, Pittsburgh is 5-1-1 in its last seven, and could wrap up this four-game road trip with six or seven out of a possible eight points.Crosby has shown no ill effects from being concussed. In five games since returning to the ice, hes registered at least one point per contest, totaling six goals and two assists. Crosby had his second multi-goal game of the season in Pittsburghs 3-2 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.Crosby is an offensive force, but Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said the Penguins captain is not a one-dimensional player.We marvel at him sometimes with how good he is, with what he does each and every night, Sullivan told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hes a threat most every shift. He plays at both ends of the rink. We use him in a lot of situations, both offensively and defensively. Hes playing inspiring hockey right now.Crosby, who didnt score a goal in last seasons finals, will almost certainly be trying to add to his points total at the expense of Sharks goaltender Martin Jones, whos thriving at home. Jones is 5-5-0 with a 2.34 goals-against average and .909 save percentage overall, but 4-1-0 with a 1.40 GAA and .940 save percentage at SAP Center.Jones may also have his hands full trying to keep defenseman Kris Letang off the scoresheet. After sitting out five games with an upper body injury, Letang returned Wednesday with a goal and assist in a win over the Anaheim Ducks and drew helpers on both of Crosbys goals against the Kings.Letang had a team-high five points (goal, four assists) against San Jose in last seasons playoffs. ' ' '