SOCHI – If its not Canada, it could be the inspired bunch from the host-country. Nicolas Batum Jersey . If its not the Russians, it could be the Swedes, Finns, Czechs or Americans. The gold-medal winner likely will come from this group in Sochi, but forecasting the Olympic champion in the mens hockey tournament has never been easy. Since the participation of NHL players in 1998 there have been three different winners in the Czech Republic, Canada, Sweden and Canada again in four Winter Games. Its a short-term event and things can go wrong in a hurry for the top teams. A hot goaltender can steal a game in the medal round and all of a sudden a favourite is sitting on the sidelines. Just ask Hockey Canada. Were the Canadian teams that won gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 or in Vancouver in 2010 any better than the 1998 group that was stoned time and time again by Dominik Hasek in Nagano? Just ask Sweden about 2002, when goalie Tommy Salo surrendered that fluky late-game winning goal off his bean from 70 feet out off the stick of Belarus defenceman Vladimir Kopat. Who would have thought Switzerland could have pulled off its surprise run to the final at the world championship last spring? Like the sophisticated watches the Swiss are known for, the hockey teams timing was impeccable. It peaked at the perfect moment for wins over the Czech Republic and United States in the quarterfinal and semi-final, respectively, only to lose to Sweden in the finale. So, with all that in mind, what country will give Canada the biggest challenge in its gold-medal defence at the 2014 Winter Games? Here are the odds as of Monday night from bodog.ca. • Canada 19-10 (about 2-1)• Russia 12-5• Sweden 9-2• USA 6-1• Finland 11-1• Czech Republic 12-1 And, if you like to play the long odds: • Switzerland 25-1• Slovakia 33-1• Norway 200-1• Latvia 400-1\• Austria 750-1• Slovenia 1,000-1 Al Jefferson Jersey . - The Clippers have signed guard Dahntay Jones to a second 10-day contract. Hornets Jerseys 2020 . The trade deadline is Monday, Mar. 2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. TRADES COMPLETED SINCE OCT. 1, 2014: Feb. 15, 2015 Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: F Olli Jokinen, F Brendan Leipsic, 1st Round Pick (2015) Nashville Predators acquire: D Cody Franson, F Mike Santorelli Feb. https://www.cheaphornets.com/785l-caleb-martin-jersey-hornets.html .J. -- The Houston Astros had the No.NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter seems to be trying to will the New York Yankees into the playoffs against the mighty odds. Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. They serenaded him with chants of his name throughout the ninth inning. And in between they burst into ovations when the 40-year-old continued his late-season renaissance with a two-run double and a run-scoring grounder for his first three-RBI game in two years. Jeters offence backed a one-hitter from Michael Pineda and three relievers in a 5-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles that gave New York a tiny bit more belief. "You continue to play, and you continue to fight until youre out of games. Thats all you can do," Jeter said. "Im well aware of the situation that were in." Likely to miss consecutive postseasons for the first time since 1992 and 93, New York closed within four games of the second AL wild card but must overtake three teams to reach the playoffs. The Yankees have just six games left -- three more at home against Baltimore and three at Boston. "We have to pretty much win out," manager Joe Girardi said. "But you never know. Strange things happen in sports. Weve seen it. Weve seen people that were 10 games back come back in a months time and find a way to get in the playoffs on the last day. Crazy things happen." About 200 fans were on hand when Jeter walked out of the dugout for the first hitting group at about 4:15 p.m. The crowd of 35,614 stood each time late public address announcer Bob Sheppards recording introduced the Yankees last player to wear a single-digit uniform number, and fans remained on their feet throughout each at-bat taking photographs and video. "Its been awesome. Its what Ill remember most from this season," Jeter said. "Its whats made this homestand extremely fun, was getting an opportunity to play in front of these fans and the way that theyve reacted." Jeter went 1 for 3 with a walk, hitting a deep flyout, a run-scoring groundout that made it 2-0 in the third and a double down the left-field line on the eighth pitch of his at-bat against Wei-Yin Chen (16-5) in the fifth. Jeter is 9 for 20 with three doubles, a home run and six RBIs on this final homestand, raising his batting average seven points to .256. "Careers only last so long, especially athletic careers. Im well awaare of that," Jeter said. Robert Franks Jersey. "Ive come to grips with this is the last season." Jose Pirela was a vibrant counterpoint, displaying the exuberance of a debutante when he became New Yorks first player in 33 years to triple in his first big league at-bat. The Yankees team-record 57th player this season, Pirela went 2 for 3 with the go-ahead RBI. "Its fun to see guys so excited when they get their career first hit," Jeter said. Pineda (4-5) retired his first 13 batters before J.J. Hardy singled sharply to left field. The right-hander struck out eight and walked one in 7 1-3 innings, lowering his ERA to 1.93. Pineda got some rare offensive support from the Yankees, who had scored 19 runs in his previous 15 big league starts, and was given defensive help by second baseman Stephen Drew, who made a diving stop on Alejandro De Azas first-inning grounder. Shawn Kelley, Rich Hill and David Phelps finished as Baltimore was held to one hit for the third time this season. Pirela, a 24-year-old who spent 731 games in the minors over seven seasons, made his major league debut in the third as a designated hitter. He worked the count to 1-1 and drove a changeup on one hop to the wall in left-centre. Pirela ran so hard he stumbled after rounding both first base and second, then slid headfirst into third. He pounded the ground with his right arm, popped up and clapped five times. The previous Yankees player to triple in his first at-bat was Steve Balboni against Detroit on April 22, 1981. "When I saw the lineup I felt so excited," a beaming Pirela said. Ichiro Suzuki, who had reached on third baseman Ryan Flahertys throwing error, scored from first. Pirela hit an opposite-field single to right in the fifth and advanced on Brett Gardners walk ahead of Jeters double. Chase Headley added a solo homer into Monument Park in the eighth off Ryan Webb. When it was done, Jeter didnt want to think about what it would take this week to reach the playoffs. "We need to win tomorrow," he said. "Cant look that far in advance." TRAINERS ROOM Yankees: 1B Mark Teixeira had a third cortisone shot in his surgically repaired right wrist on Sunday and hopes to play Tuesday. ... LHP CC Sabathia played catch at the ballpark for the first time since season-ending knee surgery July 23. UP NEXT New York RHP Brandon McCarthy (7-4) starts Tuesday against Baltimore RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9). ' ' '