another inning before it was shooed into the Indians

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TORONTO – Dave Bolland did not hesitate when asked who would win on Friday. "Canada," Bolland said with a smile. "Is that a question?" One day earlier, though, fellow Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri wasnt so sure his home and native land could pull off the win against the United States in the semi-finals of the Olympic hockey tournament. "I want to say Canada, but to be honest with you, the U.S. looks better," Kadri, a native of London, Ont., said. "We dont know if Naz is Canadian or American," Bolland, from Mimico, Ont., said with a chuckle. "We dont know what he is or who hes cheering for. He could be cheering for the Belarusians." Roommate Turmoil The North American rivalry has many fault lines throughout the Leafs dressing room even though a vast majority of the players – 20 in total – are Canadian. The issue: two of the key players on Team USA are also two-thirds of Torontos top line: Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk. The man who centres that line in the NHL, Reginas Tyler Bozak, may be the Leaf who is most torn. After all, Bozak is close friends with Kessel and actually lives with the Leafs leading scorer. "Thats a tough question for me to answer," Bozak admitted when asked where his loyalties lie. "Ive got my two wingers on the U.S. and Im Canadian so I guess Im cheering for both. I just hope Phil and JVR play really well and maybe Canada wins. I dont know. "Its going to be an exciting game to watch, for sure. I really cant make any predictions. I dont know. The U.S. has been playing great. Canadas kind of snuck by with a few wins, but every games different and it should be a fun one to watch." Another set of roommates are also at odds over the game and are actually putting their money where their mouthes are. Defencemen Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner, from Vancouver and Minnetonka, MN respectively, have placed a friendly wager on the game. "I cant tell you what it is," Rielly said. "Hes overconfident. I think Team Canada will be fine." Most Leafs, however, were trying to take the diplomatic approach with head coach and Sudbury, Ont. native Randy Carlyle, acknowledging the semi-final showdown "was pulling your heart strings in different directions." The Diplomatic Approach "We hope and wish our players all the luck in the world as far as an organization," said Carlyle, "but I am Canadian." "I hope that Phil and JVR do well," said captain Dion Phaneuf, who hails from Edmonton and was invited to Hockey Canadas orientation camp in the summer, "so Im in the middle, thats for sure. Any time you have teammates competing, you want them to do well, but Im Canadian and I have lots of respect for Hockey Canada." What everyone can agree on is that Kessel and van Riemsdyk are having a much better Sochi experience than Nikolai Kulemin, who was the other Leaf taking part in the Winter Games. "Nobody asks questions about how youre going to feel about Nikolai Kulemin coming back and thats a tough one," said Carlyle. "Host country and the way their tournament unravelled, hes part of our hockey club and weve got to find a way to build him back up and get him going again." Mark Recchi Penguins Jersey . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. Custom Penguins Jersey . Called on from the college ranks to replace Andy Reid, Kelly implemented a whole new atmosphere in the City of Brotherly Love and now has the Eagles in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. http://www.thepenguinshockeyshop.com/Ja ... gr-Jersey/. "Im excited just for a new start, just to see where things are going, to bring some kind of tradition back to the team and guys being excited about something new," the defensive back said during a conference call Monday after agreeing to stay with the Bombers rather than go to free agency next month. Chris Kunitz Jersey . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Patric Hornqvist Jersey . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over.CLEVELAND -- The squirrel was fearless. Zach McAllister wasnt nervous, either. Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley hit two-run homers to back McAllister, powering the Cleveland Indians over the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Monday night when a trespassing squirrel ran around Progressive Field and provided some extra entertainment. Kipnis connected in the sixth inning off Jeremy Guthrie (2-1), helping the Indians overcome a 3-2 deficit. Brantley provided Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the fourth. McAllister (3-0) gave up six hits and overcame three errors -- one on his errant throw in the fifth. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen pitched a hitless inning each, and closer John Axford worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save. After the Royals scored three times, McAllister got out of the fifth with an inning-ending double play and then shook off third baseman Lonnie Chisenhalls error in the sixth and notched his third straight win. "He didnt let anything rattle him," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He worked to execute pitches. He was strong." McAllister also withstood a brief delay in the second when a squirrel ventured onto the field and eluded members of the grounds crew before finally leaving for the night. "He was right in front of me," McAllister said. Indians first baseman Nick Swisher motioned for the critter to run to him, but it darted past and into the outfield grass. "I was like, Cmon over here and sit in my glove," Swisher said. "I thought maybe hed sit on my shoulder like a parrot. I tell you what, that squirrel is eating, bro. That was a big squirrel." The squirrel was directed inside the Royals bullpen by some of the grounds staff, but the slippery rodent escaped and returned for another scamper to the delight of the crowd of 10,789. The pesky intruder hung around for another inning before it was shooed into the Indians centre-field bullpen. The squirrel perched on a ledge for several minutes before jumping the wall into the Heritage Park monument area. "That little joker was frolicking," Royals manager Ned Yost said. &quoot;They could have arrested him for trespassing because he didnt have a ticket.dddddddddddd" Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two of the Royals six hits. Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi went hitless in four at-bats in his season debut. He missed Clevelands first 18 games with a broken rib. Swisher led off the sixth with his second double, and Kipnis followed with his third homer, a drive into the seats in right-centre. Kipnis is 8 of 13 (.615) with two homers and six RBIs off Guthrie, who except for the home runs pitched effectively for 6 1-3 innings. Helped by McAllisters throwing error, the Royals scored three runs in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Mike Moustakas doubled to open the inning and scored when diving centre fielder Michael Bourn couldnt squeeze a sinking liner by Alcides Escobar. Jarrod Dyson followed with a bunt toward third that McAllister fielded cleanly before throwing wildly past first, allowing Escobar to score. One out later, Infantes RBI single put the Royals in front. Brantley connected in the fourth for his team-leading fourth homer, and second in two days. Kipnis led off with a double, and with one out, Brantley drove a 2-1 pitch from Guthrie over the wall in right. Brantley only hit 10 homers last season, and Francona believes the 26-year-old could develop into a more potent power hitter because "he gives himself a chance every at-bat." NOTES: Royals 1B coach Rusty Kuntz broke his left arm when he struck by a line drive hit by Salvador Perez during batting practice. Kuntz, who will undergo surgery on Wednesday, was replaced by Mike Jirschele. ... The Indians entered the week as one of four teams -- the Reds, Rockies and Padres are the others -- yet to play an extra-inning game. ... With Giambi available, Francona gave struggling DH/3B Carlos Santana the night off. Santana was just 2 for 38 in his past 10 games. ... Royals LHPs Tim Collins (strained hip) and Francisley Bueno (sprained finger) is to throw a simulated game Tuesday. Manager Ned Yost said both will go on a minor league rehab before being activated. China Jerseys ' ' '