Gildenregeln » given the puck to commemorate his 100th

TORONTO - Olli Maatta skated with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday for the first time since having surgery to remove a tumour in his thyroid gland that turned out to be cancerous. Frank Gore Super Bowl Jersey . Maatta, a 20-year-old defenceman from Finland, insisted he felt normal and believes he could be back on the ice sooner rather than later. I want to come back tomorrow, Maatta said after practice. But Ive got to take it easy first. I have to make sure Im 100 per cent and can help the team when I come back. Maatta was able to continue playing hockey until his Nov. 4 surgery. The team said he would return within four weeks of the operation, which was performed by head and neck surgeon Dr. Robert Ferris at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Coach Mike Johnston said Maatta was ahead of schedule to return to game action. The way it looks right now, hell definitely be back before the four-week window, Johnston said. I would expect if he reacts positively to the skate today and the doctors take a look at him over the next day or so, he can be back any time in the next five, six days. Maatta brushed off concern about the tumour and its removal, saying there was nothing but a scar as a result. I look at it as a bump on the road, the 2012 first-round pick said. Its really good that we found it early. It hasnt really bothered me before. Its not going to bother me again. Its just another bump in the road. I got over it. I can start playing hockey again. Maatta skated on his own following the Penguins morning skate at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday. This was another step in his road back. He took part in most of the drills, hes starting to build up, Johnston said. Well see how he reacts after this skate. I know they want to be cautious just for a few days just to make sure everythings fine with him. Matt Breida Super Bowl Jersey . The 49ers announced the deal Thursday. San Francisco selected Kilgore in the fifth round of the 2011 draft out of Appalachian State. He has played in 33 regular-season games, plus all six playoff games the last two seasons. Kyle Juszczyk Super Bowl Jersey . -- Each time the Utah Jazz threatened Memphis lead, the Grizzlies responded with defensive stops. http://www.authenticsf49erspro.com/Dante-pettis-49ers-jersey/ . 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.DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche downplayed their dominance over the defending Stanley Cup champions this season. No sense giving the Chicago Blackhawks any sort of bulletin board material, just in case the two teams meet again in the post-season. Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots for his 100th NHL win, helping the Avalanche beat the Blackhawks 3-2 on Wednesday night to take four of five in the season series. "I dont want to talk about sending messages," Varlamov said. "We are focusing on what we are doing and on the playoffs." Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville wasnt reading too much into the Avalanches advantage, either. After all, the Avs only outscored Chicago 17-14. "There are going to be certain teams your record isnt going to be as good as you like," Quenneville said. "It looks like its a landslide against you, but every game has been different. Every game has been close." Thats because these two squads are almost mirror images. Theyre fast, young and have quality goaltending. Chicago has been that way for years. The Avalanche are just coming of age under first-year coach Patrick Roy. He doesnt mind the comparisons to Chicago, but thinks it might be a little premature because of "what theyve been able to accomplish. But we certainly look up to them." Brad Malone scored his first goal of the season, Matt Duchene extended his points to a career-high nine games with a goal and an assist, and Ryan OReilly scored what turned out to be the game-winner on a two-man advantage as the Avalanche jumped over the Blackhawks in the Central Division standings and into second place. "We are happy to be in second place, but thats not our goal," Duchene said. "We want to keep pushing and climb as high as we can." Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad scored for Chicago. Antti Raanta made 26 saves filling in for Corey Crawford. It was the first time Raanta has been in net since Jan. 28. Varlamov became the fourth Russian-born goaltender to record 100 wins, joining Evgeni Nabokov (347), Nikolai Khabibulin (333) and Ilya Bryzgalov (213). This also was Varlamovs 33rd win, second-most in the league behind Pittsburghs Marc-Andre Fleury (34). The Avalanche had a 5-on-3 opportunity for 1:30 midway through the third period following an interference call on Andrew Shaw and a delay of game by Marcus Kruger after he sent the puck into the seats. Jerry Rice Super Bowl Jersey. OReilly capitalized when he grabbed a rebound near the net and knocked it in for a 3-1 advantage. Chicago pulled Raanta with 2:32 remaining and scored seconds later when Saad knocked the puck past Varlamov. The Blackhawks momentarily put Raanta back on the ice, but summoned him to the bench with 1:37 left, leading to a wild finish. Saad sent a backhander just over the net with 25 seconds left and lined a shot into the chest of Varlamov with 4.9 seconds remaining. After that save, the crowd began chanting "Varly! Varly!" "Varly has been playing outstanding for us," Roy said. "He gives us a chance to win every night." Duchene staked Colorado to a 2-0 lead 19 seconds into the second period when he sent a wrist shot past Raanta. The Blackhawks sliced into the lead at 8:23 when Kane skated down the right side with defenceman Jan Hejda hanging all over him. Kane found just enough separation to lift backhanded shot over the shoulder of Varlamov for his 29th goal of the season. Colorado was without forwards P.A. Parenteau (right knee) and Paul Stastny (back). The team called up Paul Carey and Malone from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League to add depth. Carey made his NHL debut and Malone instantly contributed as he scored late in the opening period. Cruising along the left boards, Malone sent a low liner at Raanta that went right through his legs. "It was a good shot. It was a surprising shot," Raanta said. "Thats how hockey treats you. You have to let those goals go and just keep going and try to make more saves." NOTES: Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews said of Colorados recent success against his team: "We just need to stop playing into their hands." ... Varlamov had an assist on Malones goal, his third of the season. ... Varlamov was 4-0 in five games (four starts) against Chicago, with a 1.59 goals-against average. ... Varlamov was given the puck to commemorate his 100th win. "It was important that I save the puck," he said. ' ' '