NEW YORK – The transition has been tough. Chris Sabo Jersey . That much is clear. Martin St. Louis had 29 goals and 62 points in 61 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. After being traded to the New York Rangers at the March deadline, he scored just once and added seven assists in 19 games. "People were looking for me to get results and those tough times make you appreciate the good times," said St. Louis on the eve of his first playoffs in the Big Apple. "Ive failed a bunch of times, but I know Ive been successful many times too so, you know, Ive worked hard to get my game going. I feel comfortable here." It took awhile. Moving from sunny Florida where hockey players are as anonymous as mailmen to The City that Never Sleeps where the bright lights can either immortalize or stun was never going to be simple. "It is tough, I mean, Ive been somewhere for 13 seasons. In one place everyone knew me, I knew everybody, now you come to [a new] place, I think people know of me and I dont think they know me and that takes time," St. Louis explained. And the time is now. St. Louis had four assists in his last two games before the playoffs began. He had two assists in New Yorks Game 1 win on Thursday night. It seems like hes heating up at the perfect time. "This is playoff time and this is the time when you get judged and Im excited about that," he said. St. Louis did everything you can in Tampa. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHLs leading scorer twice, including in last years lockout-shortened campaign. He won the Hart Trophy as the league MVP (2003-04). He hoisted the Stanley Cup a decade ago. He has averaged more than a point per playoff game (70 in 64 career post-season contests). "At the end of the day, this is different," said St. Louis, who is well-known for his intense fitness regiment. "This is different. Its not because you had success that youre going to have success. Youve got to go earn it every day and Im going to try and do that starting with Game 1 of this series." Despite his track record in the game, St. Louis believes he still needs to prove himself to his new teammates. "Respects not just given, you earn that respect and I think I did that in Tampa and now Im trying to build that here and theres no better [time] to do that then going through a playoff experience." St. Louis has made a career of proving doubters wrong. At first, they said he was too small to make the NHL. He went undrafted and unsigned. Finally the Calgary Flames gave him a shot before ultimately buying out his contract after he was passed over in the 2000 expansion draft. Then there were the Olympic snubs in 2010 and 2014 that once again cast him in the underdog role. And now here we are again, with some speculating St. Louis made a major miscalculation leaving Tampa where he was playing well and working alongside Steven Stamkos on a team that appears to be on the rise. And despite that, St. Louis insists he hasnt let his mind wander to his legacy and how it may have been altered by what has happened in the last few months. "Right now, its so magnified, because of where we are, I dont think Ive had time to focus on big-picture stuff. I think Ive been focusing on getting in [the playoffs] and now that were in, doing good things. I think Ill focus on big-picture stuff maybe later in the summer. Im trying to stay in the moment. "These are the moments you play for. This is what keeps you going." Joey Votto Jersey . Gorges is believed to have suffered the injury while blocking a shot with a hand during Montreals win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Canadiens added to their defensive depth this week by acquiring veteran Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers. Scott Feldman Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana.SEATTLE -- Hisashi Iwakuma was impressed with his likeness on the bobblehead the Seattle Mariners handed out on Saturday night. The fans who got them were likely more impressed with the real version on the mound. Iwakuma pitched a career-high 8 2-3 innings, and Kyle Seager and Robinson Cano homered to lift the Mariners to a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. Iwakuma fanned five of the first six batters he retired en route to eight strikeouts overall. The right-hander allowed five hits and faced the minimum in all but three innings. After giving up a single to start the ninth, the right-hander retired two straight, but Brandon Moss two-run home run chased him from the game, one out shy of his first complete game. It also snapped his 20-inning scoreless streak, the longest by a Mariners pitcher this season. It was the 12th time in 63 career starts that Iwakuma pitched at least eight innings. "Just looking at the numbers today, the results today, Im very happy with that," Iwakuma said. "Having that being on the bobblehead day is special. We have a lot of fans out there, very electric out there. "The last game of the first half (for me), I wanted to finish strong. Im glad that I did finish strong." In his last three starts, Iwakuma is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA (3 earned runs in 21 2-3 innings), 25 strikeouts and no walks. Brandon Moss two-out, two-run home run off Iwakuma in the ninth. The successful stretch follows a forgetful two games in which Iwakuma allowed a combined 10 runs. "I think one of the things that probably hurt him a little bit is his game planning," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Not so much on his part, but on my part. Might have become a little bit predictable. "Hes got a nice mix, hes in and out, hes up and down, hes using all his pitches. I think that makes him pretty tough.. Cliff Pennington Jersey. " Seagers fifth-inning home run -- a two-run shot -- was his 15th of the season, and 13th at Safeco Field. His 42 RBIs in 47 home games leads the American League. Canos ninth-inning, three-run home run was his seventh of the season, and gave the Mariners a 6-0 lead. Dustin Ackley gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead in the second with a single that scored Corey Hart from second. Hart came within feet of hitting a home run, but the ball caromed off the top of the wall in left-centre field, and the Seattle designated hitter settled for a double. Oakland starter Jesse Chavez allowed three runs and a career-high 10 hits. He walked two and struck out six in 5 2-3 innings. "I felt a little bit mechanically off as far as my landing," Chavez said. "I wasnt able to get on my front side a little more, which caused a lot of balls to be inside, and then having to get back even in the count having to come back over the plate, which is usually something I dont do til I need to." As left fielder Yoenis Cespedes threw out Willie Bloomquist trying to score from second in the eighth. It was Cespedes major league-leading 11th outfield assist this year, and his 30th since 2012. NOTES: Oaklands Stephen Vogt extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the sixth. ... Oakland OF Josh Reddick (strained right knee) is scheduled to start playing rehab games in the next couple days. ... Oakland LHP Drew Pomeranz (broken right hand) allowed a run and one hit, and struck out seven in four innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (shoulder soreness) threw a three-inning simulated game and is expected to start for Single-A Everett on Thursday. ... Seattles Chris Young and Oaklands Sonny Gray will face off Sunday in the series finale. Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Mets Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Twins Jerseys Cheap Brewers Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Nationals Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys ' ' '
