ext days starting pitcher, right? Well,

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VANCOUVER -- Goaltender Roberto Luongo expects to return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup soon and should be back in game shape in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Luongo took part in his first workout with the team Wednesday since suffering a "lower-body" injury Dec. 22 against Winnipeg. "This is my first team practice, so Im feeling good," said Luongo after a morning skate in advance of Vancouvers game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. "Everythings progressing really well right now." Luongo indicated the problem is not overly serious, but was still not healthy enough to play against Tampa Bay. Eddie Lack drew his third straight start, and fourth appearance since Luongo got hurt, while minor-league call-up Joacim Eriksson was given the backup assignment. Speaking to reporters for the first time since he was sidelined, Luongo revealed how he got hurt, but would not disclose the extent of the injury, other than to say it was a lower-body problem. "It was an Evander Kane shot down the wing that originally got me a little bit," said Luongo. "I tried to stay in the game a few more minutes and then kept feeling it during the play and felt it again on another shot." Luongo left the game late in the first period during a TV timeout after consulting with trainer Mike Bernstein. "After one of the TV timeouts, I made him aware there was a bit of an issue there, so he knew something was going on," said Luongo. "Sometimes those things subside, and sometimes they (dont). So I tried to keep playing until the next TV timeout pretty much and I went to the bench again and spoke to Bernie." Luongo indicated he could return to Vancouvers lineup in the next few days. He added Fridays full practice with the team, as opposed to the light morning skate, will be important in determining his status. The prognosis indicates that he will be ready to play for Canadas Olympic team at Sochi in February. Meanwhile, Canucks coach John Tortorella said defenceman Dan Hamhuis should be selected to play for Canada in Sochi. Hamhuis, who attended Canadas summer orientation camp, has been one of Vancouvers best defenders this season. He logged 32:30 of ice time, while recording two assists, in a loss to Philadelphia on Monday. "(Playing in the Olympics) would be an awesome opportunity," said Hamhuis, a 31-year-old, Smithers, B.C., native. "Ive had the opportunity (to play for Canada), I think, seven times now. It never gets old. So Id love for an opportunity to do it at the Olympic level." Hamhuis has represented Canada in the junior and senior world championships, but a longed-for chance to play in the Olympics has eluded him. "Its always a great experience playing for Hockey Canada, and to do it at an Olympic level would just be that much better," he said. "To play with and against the best players in the world is every kids dream, and something I was hoping to do in 2010, but missed my opportunity. The team was very successful, and I would love to be a part of it this year." Note: Tortorella said Luongo and injured defencemen Alex Edler (undisclosed) and Andrew Alberts (upper-body), and winger Alex Burrows (jaw) are listed as day to day. Cheap Nike Sb China . -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach. Nike Air Presto Cheap Online . Goodell said in an ESPN Radio interview Monday (http://es.pn/1gkbauy ) that participants played harder and made the game very competitive. Goodell says he had fun watching the game Sunday and thinks fans did, too. http://www.cheapwholesalenikesb.com/nike-sb-dunk-outlet-sale.html . The thunderous cheers quickly changed to an appreciative chant: "Ma-son! Ma-son! Ma-son! Headed to New York with new life, Mason sure earned this curtain call. Nike Sb Clearance Sale . Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp said there was no new information on the 80-year-old Hall of Famers condition. The family has requested privacy. Cheap Authentic Nike Foamposite . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number.(SportsNetwork.com) - Momentum is only as good as the next days starting pitcher, right? Well, if thats the case, the Detroit Tigers have to relish the situation they find themselves in despite a crushing Game 2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. The Tigers now turn to Justin Verlander in Game 3 and will try to regain control of the best-of-seven set, as the series shifts to Comerica Park. "Its always nice to have Justin Verlander on the mound no matter what the situation is," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "There wont be any carry-over for our guys from that game last night. Thats over with." Detroit seemed well on its way to returning home with a two-games-to-none lead in this series, as it held a 5-1 advantage in the eighth inning on Sunday. However, the Tigers bullpen, which had been so solid in Saturdays Game 1 win, imploded and allowed a game-tying grand slam to David Ortiz in the eighth, before Jarrod Saltalamacchias RBI single in the ninth lifted the Red Sox to a 6-5 win. "Weve got a ballclub that battles," Ortiz said. "We fight. We never give up. You saw it through the whole season. We found a way to get back and try to win a ballgame. Its never over until the last out, you know?" The comeback wasted a wonderful outing from Max Scherzer, who carried a no- hitter into the sixth inning and struck out 13 over seven innings. "We came away with the split," Scherzer said. "You have to see the glass half- full. This one stinks tonight, but guess what? The sun comes up tomorrow, and were going to be playing these guys at home in front of our fans. Its up to us to choose if were going to come out and compete. I think we will. I dont think this is going to deter our effort. I believe in this clubhouse. I believe in everybody in here, all 25 guys here. I still believe in us." Detrooit starters hadnt allowed a run in 23 consecutive postseason innings and the staff as a whole broke a major league record on Sunday by striking out 32 batters in the first two games of this set.dddddddddddd "Weve got a starting rotation thats relentless, and I said that before the series started. Every guy has their unique ability to shut down a team in their own way," Verlander said. "Im just one of the four guys right now." Verlander started the streak with eight scoreless innings in Game 5 of the ALDS against Oakland and comes into Tuesdays start having not allowed a run in 15 postseason innings this season. Of course, Verlanders terrific postseason comes on the heels of an inconsistent regular season that saw him go 13-12 with a 3.46 ERA. "Just playing with JV, a Cy Young winner, an MVP ... I definitely think that just playing with him, just seeing him being competitive ... Hes working his (tail) off, trying to figure out his arm angle, his curveball, his changeup and figure out a grip," teammate Torii Hunter said. Boston, meanwhile, will turn to righty John Lackey, who is certainly no stranger to the big stage. As a 24-year-old rookie, Lackey pitched the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a win in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and has pitched in the postseason on four other occasions for the Halos. "Hes not short on pitching in unfavorable conditions, whether its in a postseason in New York, and certainly one thats going to be in Detroit," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Were talking about a guy thats pitched at the highest level on the biggest stage that the game has to offer." Lackey, though, was not sharp in his ALDS start against the Rays, but still got the win, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers were 4-3 against the Red Sox in 2013, winning three of four at Comerica Park in June. ' ' '