Neues » The Blues were without captain David

NEW YORK -- Masahiro Tanaka took a very small step toward returning to the New York Yankees rotation, playing a pain-free game of catch. Cheap Jeff Bagwell Jersey . Tanaka made 25 throws from 60 feet Monday, his first action since being sidelined in early July with a small tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The rookie sensation from Japan was 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA before landing on the disabled list. He is trying to avoid Tommy John surgery, which would sideline the 25-year-old All-Star for at least a year. "I think it all went well," Tanaka said through a translator. "I think I get to the next step, so Im very relieved about that." Manager Joe Girardi cautions that this is slow start in a long process, but was encouraged the throwing in the outfield went well. Tanaka will play catch again Tuesday and will increase the intensity as he goes along. Girardi said the real test will come when Tanaka gets on a mound and faces competition. "Its way too early to see," Girardi said. "Its positive that he didnt feel anything today, but its really light catch." Michael Pineda, another sidelined Yankees starter, appears much closer to a return from a right shoulder muscle injury. The right-hander threw 58 pitches in 3 1-3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. A day later, he was happy with how his shoulder felt. Girardi said the Yankees would like for Pineda to make two more rehabilitation starts and increase his endurance to 90-100 pitches. But New York might have a heightened need for the big righty, who was hurt in a simulated game as he prepared to return from a suspension for being caught using pine tar to help his grip in late April. Fill-in starter David Phelps was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday before New York played the Detroit Tigers because of right elbow inflammation. The Yankees recalled Matt Daley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill Phelps spot on the roster. Phelps will not pick up a baseball for two weeks so he cannot be counted on for much of August. Girardi, however, said a second MRI on Phelps elbow showed only tendinitis. Cheap Nolan Ryan Jersey . Her return engagement begins tonight as TSN presents Day 1 coverage of the 2015 event from Melbourne. Watch Eugenie Bouchards opening round match at the Australian Open live tonight on TSN5 at 3am et/Midnight pt. Cheap Astros Jerseys . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday. http://www.cheapastrosjerseys.com/ . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs have trade offers on the table for the 26-year-old, but none have been deemed acceptable by the team.CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane had his shot all along. Same for his dazzling puck-handling skills and the vision that sees the plays before they happen. What Kane got back on Wednesday night was his legs, and the result was a familiar one. Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 to even their first-round playoff series at two games. "Special player. Patience, play recognition, delays, just at a different level you dont see often," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. Kane missed the final 12 games of the regular season after he hurt his left leg during a 4-0 victory over St. Louis on March 19. He scored in his first game back in the series opener against the Blues, but Game 4 was by far his best performance since the injury. "Every game feels like Ive gotten a little bit better," he said. "Whether its timing or getting used to playing in the playoffs again, whatever it may be, just try to keep getting better and better and use these games to my advantage." Kane carried the puck down the left side in OT as teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad rushed toward the net, and beat Ryan Miller with a well-placed wrist shot for his 32nd career post-season goal. Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, also had a shot go off the crossbar earlier in overtime. "Hes a dangerous player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Hes dangerous off the rush. The most dangerous player in the league." Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago, which blew a 2-0 second-period lead. Jonathan Toews had two assists and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for the Blues, and Miller finished with 30 stops. Maxim Lapierre also scored his first goal of the series. "We knew it was going to be a tough battle and I think were right where we want to be," Lapierre said. "We won our two games at home. We came were and played good hockey. Now weve got to focus, regroup and play good hockey in St. Louis again." Tarasenkos fourth goal of the playoffs made it 3-2 at 12:26 of the third, but Bickell tipped Michal Rozsivals slap shot past Miller to tie it witth 3:52 left in regulation. Cheap Mike Scott Jersey. . The Blues were without captain David Backes again after he was scratched for the second straight game with an upper-body injury. Backes hasnt played since he absorbed a big hit from Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook in the third period of St. Louis 4-3 overtime victory Saturday. Seabrook served the second of his three-game suspension, giving Sheldon Brookbank his second straight start with top defenceman Duncan Keith. Blues forward Brenden Morrow also was scratched after Hitchcock said earlier in the day that he would miss the rest of the series. Morrow missed the final three games of the regular season with a foot injury. He played in Games 1 and 3 against the Blackhawks. Playing in front of another loud sellout crowd, the Blackhawks used their maligned power play to grab the lead in the second. St. Louis defenceman Alex Pietrangelo had his stick knocked away by Toews, who fired a shot that went off Shaws right skate and popped up in the air. Shaw then swiped it in with a backhand for his first goal of the post-season at 8:40. It was the Blackhawks second power-play goal in 17 opportunities for the series. Kane got an assist on Shaws score, and then scored one of his own to make it 2-0 at 16:09.