New York Islanders forward John Tavares, who suffered a partially torn MCL in his left knee during the Sochi Olympics, will not require surgery. Seattle Mariners Shirts . Speaking to members of the media on Tuesday for the first time since returning home from the Winter Games, Tavares said he will need eight to 12 weeks to fully recover. Tavares sustained the injury during Canadas quarterfinal game against Latvia when he was hit by defenceman Artus Kulda. Despite being injured in an Olympic contest, the 23-year-old said he has no regrets about playing for Canada and would make the same decision again. "I think its important for us to play," Tavares said. "I love playing for my country and if I got the call again, I would." The former first overall pick of the Islanders said he also understood general manager Garth Snows anger at the IIHF and IOC after his injury because Snow cares solely about his team. "You understand why teams are concerned about injuries. I know he cares a lot about the Islanders and so do I." Prior to the Olympic break, Tavares was third in the NHL in points, tied for the Islanders lead in goals and leading the team in assists. Mariners Jerseys China . Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes. Justus Sheffield Jersey . Directly ahead was open field, the end zone and the Seattle Seahawks place in the NFC championship game. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2805k-floyd-bannister-jersey-mariners.html . No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons returned to work on Monday, a bit more upbeat after a week off.A look at the standings also gives them a reason to be hopeful.Amazingly, the Falcons are still in the mix despite a five-game losing streak.No one in the NFC South has a winning record midway through the season. The New Orleans Saints (4-4) lead pro footballs weakest division, while the Falcons (2-6) are only two games back.As bad as weve played, running back Jacquizz Rodgers said, were still in it.The Falcons are coming off one of their most discouraging losses in Mike Smiths seven years as coach. Playing in London before the bye week, Atlanta raced to a 21-0 lead on the Lions, only to lose 22-21 when Detroit kicked a field goal on the final play.Weve all had some rough moments, including me, Smith said after Mondays practice, trying to muster a smile.Given the brutal schedule, in which the Falcons have only one true home game in a two-month stretch, Smith gave his players the rest of the week off after they returned from Britain. But the coaching staff and front office did an assessment of the many areas that need improvement over the second half of the season.Its not good, Smith said. There are a lot of things weve got to get better at.In particular, he mentioned a lack of offensive efficiency, which was especially apparent when the Falcons squandered a chance to wrap up the game against Detroit. On their final possession, they ran only 22 seconds off the clock after the 2-minute warning — even though they started with a first down and Lions had only one timeout remaining. Atlanta stopped the clock twice — with a holding penalty and a dropped pass by Julio Jones — giving Detroit more than a minute longer than it shouldve had on its final drive.Next up for the Falcons: A trip to Tampa Bay to face their division rival Buccaneers (1-7), the last team to lose to Atlanta.In Week 3, the Bucs were thoroughly humiliated in a prime-time game at the Georgia Dome, falling behind 56-0 through the first three quarters. They scored a couplle of meaningless touchdowns in the final period of the 56-14 blowout. Robinson Cano Jersey. Theyre going to come at us with their best shot, Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant said. Anytime you have a game like that, you know the opponent is going to come back with something to prove.The Falcons practiced in shorts for a little over an hour on a sunny fall day, getting a head start on their preparations for Tampa Bay. Normally, Mondays are devoted to getting treatment and looking at film from the previous days game.Defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux, who didnt play against the Lions because of a foot injury, took part in the workout though Smith described him as limited. He is expected to be at full speed when the team practices again on Wednesday, the coach said.Also, the Falcons are hopeful that receiver Drew Davis is close to returning from a broken foot after spending the first half of the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, hell take part in the next practice; that will start a 21-day countdown, after which the team must put him on the active roster or declare him out for the rest of the year.Injuries have been a huge problem for the Falcons, especially along the offensive line. That unit has lost five players to season-ending injuries, leaving undrafted rookie James Stone as the starting centre.Its crazy, Stone said. I cant sit here and tell you I expected this to happen at the beginning of the year.Even crazier, the Falcons are still a contender in the NFC South. If they can somehow find a way to turn things around the next two weeks — the Tampa Bay game will be followed by another road trip within the NFC South, against the Carolina Panthers (3-5-1) — the schedule finally takes a favourable turn. Four of the final six games are at home.This division is not winning as much as it usually does, Trufant said. So weve still got a chance. We know that. Were going to continue to prepare, continue to fight.___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 ' ' '