3. "Nobody was happy about it," Indiana coach Fr

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Josh Harding has been perhaps the feel-good story of the NHL season, putting up numbers unmatched for a goalie after revealing that he has multiple sclerosis. The Minnesota Wild goalie was placed on injured reserve Wednesday night to give him time to make adjustments to medication, and the team is confident he will return in top form. "Over the next week, Josh will make a minor adjustment to his treatment protocol," Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said in a statement issued by the team. "Josh feels great and he looks forward to rejoining our team for our game in Winnipeg on Dec. 27." That Fletcher put an exact timeline on Hardings return is encouraging for a team that has leaned heavily on him to keep them in the playoff picture in the demanding Western Conference. Harding revealed this summer that he had been diagnosed with MS, but planned to continue playing while getting taking medication. There were plenty of skeptics. But after starting the season as the backup to Niklas Backstrom, Harding asserted himself as the Wilds unquestioned No. 1 goalie. Hes gone 18-5-3 and leads the NHL with a 1.51 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. He is fresh off making 29 saves and stopping all three shootout attempts by Vancouver in Minnesotas 3-2 victory over the Canucks on Tuesday night. Harding will have to miss at least a week while on injured reserve. That means he will be out at least three games. Backstrom, who is 2-5-2 with a 2.93 goals-against average, will carry the load while Harding is way. Johan Gustafsson has been recalled from Iowa of the AHL to take Hardings spot and could see some action if Harding winds up missing more time than initially expected. Alfredo Talavera Mexico Jersey . The 36-year-old said a few months ago he would hang up his boots at the end of the season, but has since changed his mind. "Its a pity the season is ending now, as I am in good physical shape and enjoying myself," Di Natale said. Andres Guardado Mexico Jersey . Both sides of the deal have formally announced acquisitions: TFC introduced Jozy Altidore as a designated player on Friday, while their counterparts announced a three-and-a-half-year deal with Jermain Defoe. http://www.nationalsoccermexico.com/andres-guardado-mexico-jersey/ . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? The Capitals were 5-4 winners in a shootout Oct. Rafael Marquez Jersey . There was little fanfare, though, when the Yankees captain was taken out of his final regular-season Subway Series game in the eighth inning. Jeter watched the last four outs from the bench, pulled off the field during a double switch Thursday night as the Yankees held off the Mets 1-0. Hector Herrera Mexico Jersey . - While a fast-paced offence has become more of a fixture in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs can still grind out games when needed.WASHINGTON -- The doubts raised about the Indiana Pacers were more than justified. The way they dispatched the Washington Wizards shows that perhaps the Pacers have dismissed any and all dysfunction. Roy Hibbert revived himself in Game 2. Team defence smothered the way to a win in Game 3. Paul George went off for 39 points in Game 4. And, after an ugly Game 5, David West came up big in the clincher. West scored 29 points Thursday night, the Pacers blew a 16-point second-half lead but pulled away late in a 93-80 win that ousted the Wizards in six games. "With all the adversity, we kept pulling together," West said. "Guys just showed unbelievable grit, unbelievable toughness." So, for all their mysterious slumps and chemistry curiosities, the Pacers are back where they were last season -- playing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 1 against the two-time defending NBA champions is Sunday in Indianapolis. "We just keep a bubble," said Hibbert, whose off-and-on disappearing act was one of the more baffling late-season developments. "We dont try to let our emotions show too much. Sometimes it does. But we stuck together." Indiana took Miami to seven games a year ago. If the Pacers spread the wealth the way they did against the Wizards, LeBron James and the Heat could be in for a tough series. On Thursday, it was Wests turn. He went 13 for 26 from the field -- a career playoff-high in shot attempts. His pair of jumpers, including a tough fade-away, started a game-ending 20-6 run after Bradley Beals 3-pointer gave the Wizards a one-point lead with 8 1/2 minutes to play. "When David West has that look, when hes assertive and he demands the ball, I know were in good hands," said George, who was just 4 for 11 and scored 12 points. "Hes never failed us when hes given us that look and hes told us in the huddles, Get me the ball." Marcin Gortat scored 19 points, and John Wall had 12 points and nine assists for the Wizards, who ended their best playoff run in decades. Washington won a playoff series for the first time since 2005 and a second-round game for the first time since 1982. The Wizards were ultimately undone by an inability to win at home, going just 1-4 aat the Verizon Center and 5-1 on the road in the playoffs.dddddddddddd The future looks bright, however, with youngsters Wall and Beal manning the backcourt. "Nobody expected us to be here," Wall said. "I think a lot of teams respect us now. We definitely made Indiana earn it." They appeared to have a fix on the home-court demons when Beal stole a rebound from Hibbert, then hit the 3-pointer that put the Wizards up 74-73. But that was Washingtons only lead of the second half. The Wizards went five minutes without a point, including a span of three turnovers in four possessions, and scored only two field goals the rest of the way. "We spent so much energy trying to just make that comeback," Beal said, "we just ended up being dead at the end." The Pacers were 33-7 on Jan. 20 before limping to the finish, barely holding on to the conferences No. 1 seed. Things didnt look much better when they were pushed to seven games in the first round by eighth-seeded Atlanta, or when they lost Game 1 at home to the Wizards. Then after winning three in a row, there was the embarrassing Game 5, when Indy lost by 23 and was outrebound 62-23. "Nobody was happy about it," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "And they came out and played angry." The Wizards had to reschedule a Lady Gaga concert to host the game, upsetting the singers fans and prompting an apology from team owner Ted Leonsis. Instead of Little Monsters in the arena, there were big ones -- such as a 56-40 deficit early in the third quarter. But the Wizards answered with an 11-2 run capped by Walls 1-on-3 transition layup, Washingtons first fast-break basket. Wall was particularly assertive at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Pacers defence held firm when it mattered, with nary a sign of adversity. "Weve been through it all this season," said Lance Stephenson, who added 17 points. "And I feel like everything that we went through made us stronger." Notes: Wall expressed his support for coach Randy Wittman, whose contract is expiring. ... Gortat on the Wizards home woes: "Maybe we have to be locked before the game in the hotel and have a team breakfast in the morning, have two buses from the hotel to the game." ' ' '