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KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Kevin Ellis scored the lone goal as Sporting Kansas City beat Mexicos Cruz Azul 1-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Ellis, starting at right back with Chance Myers still recovering from a groin strain, scored in the 17th minute off a Claudio Bieler pass. The second leg of the quarterfinals series will be played March 19 in Mexico City. Sporting will advance to the semifinals with a draw, or even a one-goal loss other than 1-0. "Look, theyre not going to go down without a major fight," Kansas manager Peter Vermes said. "Were going to have to be prepared for everything. As much as our focus and our concentration and our work effort was good here, its going to have to be double there." For Cruz Azul, who opened 2014 with a nine-match unbeaten streak before falling 3-0 Saturday to Tigres UANL in the Mexican league, the challenge will be to reverse its recent run of setbacks. "Well have to attack and take some calculated risks," manager Luis Fernando Tena said through an interpreter. "Thatll likely open up the game, so I think youll see a wide-open game with more chances for both teams." Cheap Air Max 90 Sale .Boston beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Tuesday night and celebrated consecutive wins for the first time in more than a month. Air Max 90 Wholesale . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. http://www.airmax90discount.com/ . Vincent Lamar Carter is no longer the lean, athletic dynamo who dazzled Raptors fans with eye-popping dunks that posterized even the leagues best defenders. Cheap Air Max 90 Free Shipping .C. -- The Carolina Panthers announced Thursday theyve signed free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year contract, helping rebuild a depleted wide receiving corps. Air Max 90 Cheap .com) - It may just be the right place and the right opponent for the Detroit Red Wings to snap their longest losing streak of the season.TAMPA, Fla. -- Steven Stamkos will not play for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics after tests revealed Wednesday that his broken right leg is not completely healed. Tampa Bay Lightning doctors said they couldnt clear him to play after examining his most recent CT scan and will re-evaluate his condition again in two to three weeks. Lightning captain and teammate Martin St. Louis has been named as his replacement. Its a big blow for the 23-year-old, who had been optimistic earlier this week that he might be able to play by as soon as Saturday. "Today is obviously very disappointing for me," Stamkos said in a release. "I honestly believe that we did everything possible in order to have my injured leg ready in time for the Olympics, but I realize you cant force healing. I know, in the best interest of my long-term health, I cannot represent Canada in Sochi, as much as I would like to." Yzerman said Stamkos "should not be participating in game action at any time in the near future." "Although the doctor was very pleased to this point with the healing process, he explained that the callus surrounding the fracture sitee is not 100 per cent consolidated, and Steven will not be cleared to play in a game until that happens," said Yzerman.dddddddddddd "It was a pretty clear-cut decision, no grey areas at all." Sidney Crosby, the captain for Team Canada, was disappointed to hear that Stamkos would not be heading to Sochi. "Its tough to see. I think we all figured if theres anyone thats going to find a way back, it would be him," Crosby said, after scoring a goal and adding an assist in Pittsburghs 5-1 win at Buffalo Wednesday night. "That being said, its probably more difficult for him than anyone else. You feel for him, but we obviously have to move forward." Crosby declined to suggest who he might favour as a candidate to replace Stamkos. "With different guys in the mix, I think its a good problem to have," Crosby said. "But nonetheless, I dont think its an easy decision at all." NHL players are set to leave Sunday and arrive in Sochi on Monday. Canadas first game is Feb. 13. Stamkos suffered the injury Nov. 11 and hasnt played since. He underwent surgery to have a titanium rod inserted into the tibia. ' ' '