NEWS » ead, Benoit will get most save opport

Jarome Iginla didnt dance around the subject. A day after signing with the Bruins, he knew hed have to explain why he rejected a trade to Boston in late March for a move to the Pittsburgh Penguins. "At the time, Pittsburgh, they were rolling," Iginla said on a conference call Saturday. "They are two great organizations and they were just on a real roll. At the time, leaving at the deadline, I believed it was a great chance to win." After the Bruins swept the Penguins in the Eastern Conference final and Iginla didnt explore going back to Pittsburgh because of that teams salary-cap squeeze, he now considers Boston a great opportunity to win a Stanley Cup. But this Bruins group is much different than the one he could have joined for the 2013 stretch run. Right-winger Nathan Horton and defenceman Andrew Ference are gone via free agency, while centres Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley were traded away. Despite the roster transformation, Iginla doesnt see much of a difference. "They have a lot of guys that have been there and played together and won together," Iginla said. "They still have a lot of guys who have played together for a long time, and the dynamic of the team, I imagine, would still be very similar with that many guys in the core and a part of it and experiencing what theyve experienced over the last five years. "I know that they lost some important guys, but they still have a very strong core and a bigger core than most teams have going year-to-year." Iginla is correct in saying that the core is intact. Captain Zdeno Chara, fellow defenceman Dennis Seidenberg and forwards Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Chris Kelly remain. The same goes for goaltender Tuukka Rask and coach Claude Julien. The Bruins acquired Jaromir Jagr at the trade deadline when they didnt get Iginla, but he is not expected to return. General manager Peter Chiarelli has no hard feelings toward Iginla and envisions a similar role for him in 2013-14 than he did before. "Jarome has played in this league and had success in this league for a long time, and hes been a leader in this league for a long time," Chiarelli said. "So I think hes going in with eyes wide open. But he knows what to expect and my expectations of him havent really changed that much either. Its a strong group, and itll be a seamless transition into the uniform based on what I know of him and how he plays and will continue to contend for a Cup." As the Bruins look to go from Stanley Cup runners-up to champions again, the dynamics could change a little based on the experience that went out the door in free agency and the Seguin-Peverley trade with the Dallas Stars that returned right-winger Loui Eriksson. "When you talk about leadership and losing people like (Ference) or (Peverley) or guys like that, it means the group also expands and the leadership expands to the younger guys," Chiarelli said. "Weve got some younger guys like (Krecji) and (Lucic) and these guys that are starting to really grow into that." At 36, Iginla brings leadership as well. He was the Calgary Flames captain before the trade to the Penguins and has the kind of personality that younger players gravitate to. Being a veteran in unfamiliar territory isnt easy -- Iginla learned that in Pittsburgh. Thats why hes not going to force anything as he slides into a new role with the Bruins. "Youre not trying to come in and create anything new. Youre just trying to come in and play hard with the guys," he said. "When you get into the playoffs and stuff, youre trying to be under control and control the emotions and all that and as far as playing. Boston has a core. Theyve been together a long time. Theyve been through so much already over the last five years and have had so much success. I look forward to coming in and learning." Trendy Wholesale Shoes . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Authentic Shoes For Cheap . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/ . 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. Authentic Shoes Wholesale . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Best Cheap Fake Shoes . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Max Scherzer is getting as good at deflecting attention from his accomplishments as he is at shutting down opposing hitters. The Detroit right-hander became the first pitcher to win 12 consecutive decisions to begin a season in 27 years on Friday night, riding a pair of home runs by Miguel Cabrera and a mammoth shot by Prince Fielder to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 and take over the major league lead in victories. "Its really nice to be 12-0," said Scherzer, who allowed three runs, four hits, walked one and struck out nine in seven innings to become the first pitcher in Tigers history to win his first 12 decisions. "Im pitching well, but the reason Im 12-0 is because of my offence," he added. "You got to see firsthand today the best player in the game hitting two home runs on three pitches and going 4 for 4. And Prince hits a bomb. Its the offence that set me up." Scherzer became the first in the majors to begin a season with at least 12 straight victories since Roger Clemens did it on the way to starting 14-0 with the Boston Red Sox in 1986. Hes 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA and 18 strikeouts in two wins over Tampa Bay this season. "Hes just good. Hes got a little of that whiffle ball look from the side, where the ball is jumping all over the place," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Then he gets the velocity when he wants it. Theres a reason why hes 12-0. Hes very good." It helps to have Cabrera in the middle of the lineup. The 2012 AL MVP went 4 for 4 and drove in three runs, boosting his major league-leading batting average to .377 with 24 homers and 81 RBIs, also tops in the big leagues. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Alex Colome (1-1) to extend his hitting streak to a season-best 13 games, then added a solo shot off the rookie for a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Cabrera also singled in the sixth, giving him three of Detroits four hits off Colome. Fielder doubled in the fourth, tagged up and hustled to third base on Victor Martinezs fly ball to right and eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0 before the Rays gradually climbed back into the game. Ben Zobrist and Wil Myers hit solo homers for Tampa Bay. Luke Scotts RBI double trimmed Scherzers lead to 4-3 in the seventh. "All I thought about is winning today. My personal record is more a reflection of the team," Scherzer said. "I dont get caught up in the win-loss record because its kind of fluky. Yesterday Doug (Fister) goes seven innings, one run and gets a no-decision. I got six and (allow) three and get a win, so thats why its a fluky stat." Cabrera doubled off Kyle Farnsworth in the eighth for his fourth hit. Fielder gave the Detroit bullpen some breathing room when he followed with his first homer since June 4, a towering two-run shot off Cesar Ramos that struck one of the catwalks that support the roof at Tropicana Field.dddddddddddd The Rays estimated Cabreras home runs travelled 388 and 432 feet. Fielders drive, which bounced off the catwalk and rolled back toward the infield, was estimated at 414 feet. Cabrera, who leads the majors in hits and RBIs and is second behind Baltimores Chris Davis in home runs, was asked how far Fielders homer might have gone if it hadnt hit something. "Miami," Cabrera said. "It was very far. It was impressive." Al Alburquerque and Drew Smyly worked a scoreless eighth for the Tigers. Joaquin Benoit finished a combined five-hitter, earning his fifth save. Scherzer, whos fanned at least six in each of his 16 starts this season, retired 11 in a row before Zobrists first-pitch drive to right with two outs in the fourth. The closest the Rays had come to getting a hit up until then was Evan Longorias second-inning grounder over the mound that Omar Infante ran down behind second base before making an off-balance throw to first for the out. Longoria was removed from the game following that inning. The Rays later announced he irritated plantar fasciitis in his right foot, which has bothered him for the past month. Maddon said Longoria, who has 17 homers and 47 RBIs, will not play Saturday and is doubtful for Sunday. "A little bit tender in the foot area. We have to wait for it to calm down (Saturday) to make a better evaluation," the Tampa Bay manager said. "Of course Im concerned, but I dont know the level yet until I get more information." Notes: Reigning AL Cy Young winner David Price will rejoin Tampa Bays rotation Tuesday night at Houston. The left-hander went on the disabled list for the first time in his career May 16 with a strained left triceps. He made two minor league rehab starts with Class A Charlotte and said he felt good after a bullpen session Friday. The Rays have gone 21-20 while hes been on the DL. ... The Tigers recalled reliever Bruce Rondon from Triple-A Toledo. To make room on the roster, reliever Evan Reed was optioned to Toledo. Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Rondon was not "brought back as a closer." Instead, Benoit will get most save opportunities. ... Rays RHP Alex Cobb, who was struck in the right ear by a ball hit by Kansas Citys Eric Hosmer on June 15, played catch during batting practice. ... Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez (right shoulder strain) will make a 60-pitch rehab start Monday, probably for Class A Lakeland . . . Leyland plans to rest RF Torii Hunter on Saturday night ... Leyland, who will manage the AL All-Star team, said he will not use any pitcher who starts a game on the preceding Sunday. ' ' '