: "Obviously youve got to be very careful w

With time ticking down on the pre-season, the Montreal Canadiens trimmed their roster by sending eight players down to Hamilton Thursday afternoon. Michael Blunden, Martin St-Pierre, Christian Thomas, Nick Tarnasky, Patrick Holland, Magnus Nygren, Darren Dietz and Greg Pateryn were those who were cut. The Canadiens training camp roster is now made up of 15 forwards, 10 defencemen and two goaltenders. Michel Therrien will use his final game of the pre-season to prepare his veterans for opening night. Among the veterans in the lineup that Therrien will ice on Thursday, there will be two rookies that will get another opportunity to prove themselves; one being Michael Bournival, who has been the most impressive young forward at camp this year. The 21-year-old centerman was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Ryan OByrne back in 2011. So far he has shown he isnt too far away from being ready to play in the NHL. The other rookie in the lineup is defenceman Nathan Beaulieu, who has been sidelined for most of camp with a shoulder injury. Beaulieu played his first game of the pre-season Wednesday night in Ottawa and management would like to get another look at their 2011 first round pick. As expected, Brian Gionta returns to the lineup for the first time since injuring his bicep back in May. Douglas Murray was able to practice with his team for the first time in a week. Murray is dealing with a lower-body injury and is still not confirmed if hell be able to play on October 1. Players at Thursdays morning skate: Gionta, Bouillon, Briere, Subban, Bourque, Gorges, Pacioretty, Parros, Markov, Plekanec, Desharnais, Dumont, Murray, Price and Budaj. Those that played last night in Ottawa were given the morning off. Players in the lineup tonight vs. the Ottawa Senators: Gallagher, Plekanec, Bourque, Gionta, Gorges, Galchenyuk, Moen, Beaulieu, Briere, Bournival, Desharnais, White, Bouillon, Diaz, Pacioretty, Subban, Markov, Eller, Price and Budaj. Christian Miller Jersey . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Cam Newton Panthers Jersey . Wiggins, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward who plays his first exhibition game on Wednesday against Pitt State, was the top prospect in the class of 2013. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-brian-burns-blue-jersey/ . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. Greg Olsen Youth Jersey . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. He hoped to defy his doctors and race in the home Grand Tour he won in 2008 and 2012, but he says there have been complications in his recovery. Ryan Kalil Youth Jersey . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit .VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson has seen his fair share of strange injuries over the years, and Nigel Reo-Cokers bizarre mishap is just another one to add to the list. Reo-Coker is expected to miss the Major League Soccer clubs game this weekend against the Houston Dynamo with a concussion after he tripped over a bike rack and banged his head in Vancouver on Sunday. The 29-year-old midfielder missed Tuesdays training session and was absent again on Wednesday, with Robinson revealing that Reo-Coker will likely sit out against the Dynamo. "Hes a little bit bruised and cut," said Robinson. "Hes not here with us today but we hope he makes a speedy recovery and hopefully (is) back very soon." A former Welsh international during his playing days, Robinson said Reo-Cokers tumble ranks among some of the more odd injuries hes come across. "Ive seen a few and heard a few in my time, picking up a remote control and pulling your hamstring and things like that. Its one of them that fits into that category," said Robinson. "Its quite a serious injury for him but its one that makes you chuckle when you hear about it and the story. Its a strange one." The injury occurred after Reo-Coker had returned with his teammates to Vancouver following the Whitecaps 0-0 road ddraw against the New England Revolution on Saturday afternoon.dddddddddddd "He just fell and tripped. I dont think he was looking where he was going, which is never a good sign for a midfield player," Robinson deadpanned, before adding: "Obviously youve got to be very careful with head injuries these days. "Hes done the concussion test and there was a slight issue so it was a little bit worrisome but hes fine. I spoke to him for half an hour today in the office. Its normal Nige back." Reo-Coker has started all three games for Vancouver (1-0-2) so far this season, but was subbed off after 70 minutes on Saturday in favour of Gershon Koffie, who seems like the most obvious candidate to take the Englishmans place in the lineup against Houston (2-0-0) this Saturday. A box-to-box central midfielder, Reo-Coker joined the Whitecaps in February 2013 after stops with Wimbledon, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United in his home country. He started 31 MLS games for Vancouver last season, collecting one goal and four assists. Reo-Coker has one assist in 220 minutes of action so far in 2014. "Youre always due for one or two strange injuries a season," said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit. "You feel for Nigel. Hell have to answer you to how it all happened." ' ' '