coring double and solo home run in the seventh. "Its a dream come true," sai

OTTAWA -- It might be a lot to ask, but the Ottawa Senators are hopeful Jason Spezza will be just what they need to get back into their playoff series with Pittsburgh. Spezza, who hasnt played since January 27 after undergoing back surgery for a herniated disc, will draw into Ottawas lineup Sunday for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series that the Penguins lead 2-0. "Im excited to have a chance to play again," said Spezza. "I feel ready to play." The 29-year-old will immediately add depth to a struggling offence and power play. "Were excited about the skill that he brings back to our team and were looking forward to it," said Senators coach Paul MacLean. "We certainly feel that hes going to give us some help on the power play for sure. He can help us quite a bit there." The Senators power play has gone 1-for-7 through the first two games and its clear they would benefit from Spezzas abilities. Spezzas minutes will be monitored and MacLean eluded to the fact the amount could be higher or lower depending on the amount of power play time the Senators have. Spezza is expected to line up with Milan Michalek and possibly Colin Greening. Having Spezza back in the lineup gives the Senators offensive support, but almost more important is the emotional leverage it gives the team. "Hes such a skilled playmaker that if youre on the ice with him you know to keep your stick on the ice because he finds a way to get the puck to you," said Zack Smith. "When youre playing with guys like that youre just more prone to go to the net and go to those areas and be more confident." While hes ready emotionally and physically Spezza acknowledges that nothing hes done can truly compare to the speed and physicality of a playoff game. However, hes confident the work hes put in has prepared him for his return, and that what he may lack in being game-ready will be made up by excitement and anticipation. "Im going to try to use my excitement and try to make it a positive and not be worried about the negative." Spezza acknowledged timing could be the biggest adjustment when he hits the ice, but is hopeful it comes back pretty quick. "Basically Im just going to go out and work hard and be smart," said Spezza. "I expect to play well. "I wouldnt play unless I felt I could help the team and contribute." Spezza had two goals and three assists in just five games during the regular season. Strangely enough Sunday marks the 10 year anniversary of Spezzas playoff debut where he had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win for the Senators over the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins know Spezza makes Ottawa a better team and while his return wont alter their game plan they will be aware of his presence. "Its going to be important to be in his face right away and make sure he doesnt have time and space," said Pittsburghs Kris Letang. "Hes got good hands so he can make you look really bad so if youre in his face and have a good gap you have a better chance of having success against him." The Senators are undefeated at Scotiabank Place in the playoffs this year and are hopeful to take advantage of home ice and a supportive crowd. "We play well at home so our expectation is to play well," said MacLean. "Our expectation is to give ourselves a chance to win. Its up to us to make this a playoff series and we need to win a game to make it a series." In the first two games the Penguins have easily been the better team in the early part of the game and the Senators would love nothing more than to be able to come out hard and steal the momentum with a strong start of their own. "We need to play to our identity," said MacLean. "We have to try and establish our game first. What hurt us in the first two games is not getting off to a (good) start and were down in the first three minutes of both games and catch up hockey is losing hockey." With the return of Spezza and the home crowd behind them the Penguins know the Senators will be at their best. "Theyre going to be desperate and we know this is going to be the toughest test yet," said Sidney Crosby. "We need to start well, but just a play a complete game and give ourselves a chance." Despite being pulled after allowing three goals in Fridays game Craig Anderson will get the start for Sundays game. Senorise Perry Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Robert Foster Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-star-lotulelei-jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Ray-Ray McCloud III Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Cody Ford Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins have rediscovered the grit they generally lacked while losing a combined 195 games in 2011 and 2012. Scott Diamond pitched six shutout innings and Josh Willingham hit one of Minnesotas four home runs as the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 10-0 Sunday, their seventh victory in nine games since dropping 10 straight in mid-May. In the last of those losses, the Twins were one-hit by Anibal Sanchez in a 6-0 loss at Detroit. Only Joe Mauers one-out single in the ninth saved the Twins from being no-hit in that May 24 loss, the kind that could have crushed a rebuilding teams spirit. "Everybody was like, Weve got to do something, something to stop the bleeding," said infielder Brian Dozier, who went 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs Sunday as the Twins won a three-game series. Though still four games under .500 and fourth in the American League Central, the Twins at least have shown some resilience and given fans a reason to keep paying attention. And now they head into a six-game road trip through Kansas City and Washington believing they could return with a winning record. "We could come back above .500, but our goal is well above that," Dozier said. "Weve got a good team." Dozier, Willingham, Chris Herrmann and Ryan Doumit each homered for the Twins, who also hit four homers in an 8-6 victory over Milwaukee last Thursday. Jeremy Bonderman (0-1) gave up three of them, hit hard in his first major league start since Oct. 1, 2010, with Detroit. Diamond (4-4) won his first decision since throwing seven scoreless innings May 7 at Boston, a string of four starts. He gave up three first-inning hits but was nearly flawless afterward, allowing only two base runners -- a single and a walk -- and facing one batter over the minimum. He struck out three. Bonderman struck out leadoff hitter Eduardo Escobar as part of a 1-2-3 first inning. From there it was all downhill, starting with Ryan Doumits opposite-field homer to left to start the second. Bonderman was ppulled after Chris Herrmanns sharp two-out single in the fifth, an inning that started with a walk to Joe Mauer and home run by Josh Willingham that put the Twins up 7-0.dddddddddddd "It was a lot of fun to walk out there and get back on the field," Bonderman said. "Its fun to be out there, but you got to pitch better than that." Bonderman was charged with seven earned runs on nine hits, three of them home runs, and a walk in 4 2-3 innings. He threw 87 pitches, 53 for strikes. Sidelined by shoulder (2011) and elbow (2012) injuries before signing a minor league deal with Seattle on Jan. 9, he had made 11 starts at Triple-A Tacoma, going 2-4 with a 4.52 ERA before Sunday. It was the seventh time this season Seattle has allowed an opponent to score in double digits. Herrmann, a rookie catcher called up from Triple-A Rochester on May 27, went 2 for 3 with an RBI and run scored and his first major league home run. Dozier was 3 for 4 with a run-scoring double and solo home run in the seventh. "Its a dream come true," said Herrmann, who already had the home run ball in his locker. "Everybody dreams of hitting a major league home run." NOTES: The Mariners made a pair of roster moves to clear space on the 40-man roster for Bonderman, placing Justin Smoak (right oblique) on the 15-day disabled list and designating minor leaguer Vinnie Catricala, who was at Double-A Jackson, for assignment. ... The Twins optioned infielder Chris Colabello to Triple-A Rochester after the game. The team will make a corresponding roster move before Tuesday nights game at Kansas City. ... Twins 1B Justin Morneau missed his second straight game because of the stomach flu. ... Seattle OF/IF Michael Morse missed his fourth straight game since leaving in the fifth inning May 29 at San Diego with a right quad strain. ..."I m hoping to get him out at first base early to midweek," manager Eric Wedge said. "Start out there first, then go back to the outfield."