. a Joensuu is one game away from 100 for his career. | Forum

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles wont be closing a deal for All-Star closer Grant Balfour. Antti Raanta Rangers Jersey . Days after reaching a preliminary agreement with the free agent pending a physical, the Orioles said Friday that they werent satisfied with the results of Balfours exam. "This is a deal thats not going to come together," Orioles executive vice-president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said on a conference call. Duquette declined to say what specifically concerned him about Balfour, who turns 36 later this month. Balfour had shoulder and elbow surgeries that kept him out of the majors in 2005 and 2006. "The Orioles were disappointed we couldnt complete a contract with Grant Balfour," Duquette said. Baltimore and Balfour agreed Tuesday to a $15 million, two-year contract that included $1 million in deferred payments, a deal dependent on the physical. Duquette said the team would not seek to restructure the agreement. "Were going to turn our attention elsewhere for now," Duquette said. The Orioles were hoping Balfour, who had 62 saves over the last two years for Oakland, would replace Jim Johnson. Baltimore traded Johnson, who had 101 saves in 2012 and 2013 to the Athletics on Dec. 2. "Grant is completely healthy and that was told to us today by Dr. Koco Eaton, a well-respected club physician," said Seth Levinson, one of Balfours agents. Levinson said Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek "reviewed the Orioles medical report and advised that he is remarkably impressed that there has been little change in Grants arm for almost 10 years." "The only reasonable conclusion is that Grant is healthy and the Orioles at the last moment changed their minds," Levinson said. Baltimore could trade for a closer, sign another free agent or use an existing player. Duquette pointed out that Johnson did not come through the minors as a closer. "The good news is we have other options to look at," Duquette said. Besides Balfour, there are two other prominent free agent closers still available, Chris Perez and Fernando Rodney. Perez saved 123 games over the last four seasons for Cleveland, and Rodney saved 85 in the last two years for Tampa Bay. The Orioles have lost right-handed pitcher Scott Feldman, second baseman Brian Roberts and outfielder Nate McLouth in free agency during the off-season. Duquette said the team still hopes to make some moves. "Were not done yet," he said. Baltimore signed lefty-hitting outfielder Xavier Paul to a minor league deal. He was not offered a contract by Cincinnati earlier this month. Paul batted .244 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs in 97 games with the Reds in 2013. Brian Leetch Jersey . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Eddie Giacomin Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. http://www.therangersfanshop.com/Phil-Esposito-Jersey/ . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked.VANCOUVER -- It took a while, but Dallas Eakins has posted two consecutive wins, which he has rarely done in his first season as coach of the Edmonton Oilers. David Perron helped his coachs cause by scoring three goals as the Oilers doubled the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Monday night. "It was a real good road game," said Eakins, enjoying a rare occasion to offer praise to his forwards, defence and goaltender alike. The Oilers (17-32-6) earned consecutive wins after six straight losses while the Canucks (27-18-9) suffered their second loss in the past three games. This is only the fourth time this season, and the first time since December, that the Oilers have won two games in a row. Edmonton also posted its first win in four tries against Vancouver this season. Eakins was especially grateful for the tight win after the Oilers were blanked 4-0 in their last visit to Vancouver in December. "Were slowly getting stronger and its good for the group," said Eakins. Jesse Joensuus goal at 2:20 of the third period secured the win before Perron completed his hat trick with an empty netter with just over a minute left. "You dont want to give David Perron two much room out there," said Eakins. "He can hurt you quickly. Hes a deadly shooter and he was able to get freed up a couple times tonight." Perron now has 22 goals on the season, offering a beacon of hope to an Oilers squad that has often played in a fog like the one that engulfed parts of Vancouver earlier Monday. But with the Oilers destined to miss the playoffs, he hoped the win would serve as a catalyst for success in the more distant future. "We have to be able to look them straight in the eyes and tell (the Canucks) to go away in not always the nicest way," he said. "We need to be able to play with these guys in other years, and it starts right now. We need to set it up for next year. "The last four or five games are the way we need to play and we are going to get a lot of points if we do that." The loss spoiled a strong effort from Jordan Schroeder, who had the two goals for Vancouver. They were his first since March 21, 2013. With just over four minutes remaining in the game, Edmonton goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov denied Schroeder a hat trick, stopping his shot from the slot. The Edmonton goaltender then lay back on the loose puck and prevented Daniel Sedin from jamming it in as players from both teams crowded the crease. Schroeder excelled in his first game since he was sidelined Oct. 19 with a fractured ankle. Before hurting his ankle, Schroeder sustained a broken foot in the pre-season and spent the off-season rehabilitating from shoulder surgery. "Some hockey gods repaid me tonight," said Schroeder. "It was fun to get to play again and gettiing some minutes on the top line there, that was fun. Tanner Glass Rangers Jersey. . It felt good. Its disappointing we didnt get the win, but we made some mental mistakes, a few turnovers and (they) cost us the game." Acting Vancouver head coach Mike Sullivan called, "Schroeder an infusion of energy," but lamented his top players inability to do likewise -- and fail to keep pace with the Los Angeles Kings as they also won Monday. One night after scoring five goals in a win over Phoenix, the Canucks continued their offensive struggles. Daniel Sedin, clearly missing his injured brother Henrik, has now gone 13 games without a goal. Alex Burrows remains scoreless in the 22 games that he has played in an injury-riddled season. "Its hard to win unless your best players are your best players," said Sullivan. Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo lived up to his reputation as one of the Canucks best players as both teams were playing the second games of back-to-back contests against different teams. Although its customary for the starting goaltender to rest the second night, Luongo played his second game in two nights while Bryzgalov replaced Ben Scrivens following his first win as an Oiler. Luongo finished with 16 saves while Bryzgalov posted 25. The Canucks were blanked on two power plays while the Oilers failed to score on three. Perron put the Oilers ahead 2-1 at 17:34 of the first as he jammed in a loose puck from in front after Vancouver defenceman Dan Hamhuis knocked it away from a driving Nail Yakupov. The goal came after yet another Canucks giveaway. Schroeder drew the Canucks even at 2:39 of the second period as he put the puck in off Edmonton defenceman Corey Potters skate. Joenssu gave the Oilers a 3-2 lead in the third period as he put in Ryan Smyths pass from behind the net before Perrons empty netter gave Eakins a rare chance to celebrate consecutive wins -- without getting too excited. "We know we have a very long way to go," said Eakins. Notes: Winger Dale Weise, who has two points in his last three games, was scratched as a result of Schroeders return. a Edmonton captain Andrew Ference was sidelined with a head injury suffered Sunday against Nashville. Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin remained sidelined with an upper-body problem. a The Canucks wore dark green camouflage jerseys in the warm-up in tribute to Canadas Armed Forces. Winger David Booth also wore a similar green camouflage baseball cap bearing a 1980s-era Canucks logo. Booth returned to the lineup after sitting out Sundays win over Phoenix as a healthy scratch. a Joensuu is one game away from 100 for his career. a Canucks coach John Tortorella missed the fourth game of his 15-day suspension for storming the Calgary Flames dressing room area Jan. 25. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys' ' '