t at Cincinnati. The Broncos (11-3) lost this season to the

TORONTO - Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean has apologized for setting off a social media firestorm following the Montreal-Tampa Bay game. During the Canadiens 4-3 win over the Lightning, MacLean suggested a French-speaking referee should not have worked the game. The comment apparently stemmed from a complaint by Lightning coach Jon Cooper who felt his team lost because of a bad call from a ref during Sundays Game 3 defeat. MacLean suggested the NHL used a French referee to send a signal to the Florida team in the wake of Coopers complaint. Later in the CBC broadcast, MacLean said he was sorry, adding it is ”divisive any time you become about French and English in our country.” He said he certainly didnt intend to go down that path. MacLean added that while he thought Francois St. Laurent ”maybe shouldnt have been put into Game 4, Id have no problem with Game 5, 6 or 7.” MacLean explained that he wouldnt send an Alberta referee in to do an Alberta game had an Alberta official been involved in a tough Game 3. ”Its not about French Canadians, certainly not about French, and thats what I kinda triggered and its easy to step into that kind of mistake.” The Canadiens swept Tampa Bay in four games. Will Butcher Devils Jersey .com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to get another win on this homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Bradley Center. Kyle Palmieri Devils Jersey . 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. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-cory-schneider-devils-jersey/ . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. New Jersey Devils Jerseys . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central. Custom New Jersey Devils Jerseys . The 21-year-old Wickham headed Sunderland into a 26th-minute lead --to add to the double he scored at Manchester City and his strike in last weekends win at Chelsea -- and then sealed the win with a late header.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - With straight faces, the New England Patriots always find something to praise about their next opponent, no matter how bad that teams record may be.Theyve got a real good defence, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Wednesday. Were anticipating their best game.We have to play our best football to win, defensive end Chandler Jones said, and I truly believe that.Even when the opponent is the New York Jets?At least theres evidence that the Patriots (11-3) could be in a close game on the road against the Jets (3-11) on Sunday.Four of the last five matchups have been decided by three points or fewer.I know the records are what they are, but we dont look at it like that, Brady said. We lost going into the Meadowlands last year.That meeting was the only one of the past five that the Jets won. And it took a penalty on a new rule for them to accomplish that.Nick Folk missed a 56-yard field goal attempt in overtime last year, but defensive tackle Chris Jones was called for pushing a teammate into the opponents formation. Folk tried again and connected from 42 yards for a 30-27 victory.Folk had another chance to beat the Patriots this season when he lined up for a 58-yard attempt on the final play. This time, Jones blocked it and New England won 27-25.Their first meeting last year that wasnt decided until Aqib Talib intercepted Geno Smiths pass with 38 seconds remaining.Both teams struggled on offence in that game, combining for 24 first downs. And quarterbacks Brady and Smith each had a completion rate of less than 50 per cent.They always play us tough since Ive been here in 2009, defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. I know the day after I play those guys Im pretty sore.In this years game in Foxborough, the Jets rushed for 218 yards and held an advantage of more than 2-to-1 in time of possession.Since then, the Patriots are 6-1 with five of the wins by at least 22 points.dddddddddddd The Jets have lost three games by at least 20.I dont know why those scores go the way they do against other teams, Brady said. Against us, they always seem to be close. You just dont want to go down there and have a bunch of poor execution like weve done in the past.The Jets have been competitive recently, starting with a 20-13 win over Pittsburgh. Since then, they were routed by Buffalo 38-3 then played three close games, losses of 16-13 to Miami and 30-24 to Minnesota in overtime before beating Tennessee 16-11.The Patriots can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs if they win and Denver loses Monday night at Cincinnati. The Broncos (11-3) lost this season to the Patriots, the first tiebreaker.So whats a greater motivation? Staying atop the AFC or beating a division rival?I think the fact that it is the Jets, special teams captain Matthew Slater said. You dont have any problem getting up for these guys.Or, according to coach Bill Belichick, for any opponent.Our biggest rival is whoever we play that week, he said.NOTES: The Patriots signed tight end Steve Maneri to the 53-man roster and placed defensive tackle Dominique Easley on injured reserve. Maneri was an offensive lineman on the 2010 Patriots practice squad and spent part of training camp with them this season. Easley was a first-round draft pick this year from Florida. ... Quarterback Garrett Gilbert was signed to the practice squad. The St. Louis Rams drafted him in the sixth round from Southern Methodist this year and released him on Oct. 28. ... Slater is one of eight finalists for the NFLs new Sportsmanship Award. Thats very humbling for me, he said. There are a lot of great character men in this league.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '