during a late second period Tampa Bay power play. He scored h

LONDON - English third-tier club Oldham is prepared to face a growing backlash by going ahead with plans to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.While Oldham said it was conducting due diligence into hiring Evans, a sponsor severed ties with the northern club citing the imminent signing.Evans, a former Sheffield United and Manchester City striker, was released from jail in October after serving time for raping a 19-year-old woman in his hotel room in 2011. A plan to train with United fell through recently after protests from sponsors and celebrity fans.There are ongoing negotiations with regard to signing Ched Evans, Oldham director Barry Owen said Wednesday at the clubs Boundary Park stadium. Unfortunately, quite a lot of due diligence still needs to be completed. We are still in talks with the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) and other agencies ... and I dont anticipate that it is going to be done over the next few days.Oldham owner Simon Corney was quoted as saying that there was an 80 per cent chance of Evans joining.There might be a cost implication, but you have to stick to your principles, Corney told the website of the Jewish Chronicle newspaper. We werent surprised by the backlash.When Oldhams interest in the 26-year-old Evans emerged earlier this week, the club became the target of opposition from politicians and fans but has resisted external pressure to continue talks.Sponsor Verlin Rainwater Solutions, which makes gutters, announced that it did not want to be associated with a team featuring Evans in the squad.After receiving the news regarding the imminent signing of Ched Evans it is with great regret that Verlin Rainwater Solutions will no longer be associated with Oldham Athletic, company director Craig Verling said.We feel that Mr. Evans should be able to lead a life without further punishment after serving his sentence, although our feelings remain the same that this should not be within the public domain where his previous behaviour may influence the next generation.Another Oldham sponsor, stationery supplies firm ZenOffice, warned it would end its deal if Evans joined.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris New England Patriots Shirts . Klose has a bruised pelvic bone and abdominal muscle problems but team doctors are trying to get him fit in time for the match. Bender has a hamstring injury. Germany is already without half-dozen players, due to injury or bad form. Fake Patriots Jerseys . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . Bjoerndalen broke the record he shared with cross-country skiing great Bjoern Daehlie, also matching his fellow Norwegians record of eight gold medals. Bjoerndalen earlier won gold in Sochi in the mens sprint biathlon. Stitched Patriots Jerseys .S. - Nova Scotias Mary Fay guaranteed at least one more match and a shot at the Canadian junior curling championships final on home ice. Patriots Jerseys 2020 .The team had a meeting prior to facing Russia at the world junior hockey championship and got the effort theyve been looking for by defeating the Russians 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals.TAMPA, Fla. - The Washington Capitals put together a nice little run away from home.Braden Holtby made 33 saves, Alex Ovechkin scored twice to break out of a four-game drought, and the Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Tuesday night to complete a perfect three-game road trip.We needed to play simple, stay focused all the time, and it was a great result for us, Ovechkin said.Washington also got goals from Matt Niskanen, Brooks Laich and Troy Brouwer. Ovechkin has 37 goals and 74 points in 56 games against Tampa Bay.Our big guys showed up tonight and scored some goals for us, and I thought we got contributions right through the whole lineup, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. There wasnt any passengers.Ovechkin opened the scoring 40 seconds in when he beat Ben Bishop from in-close. He added his 436th goal, one shy of tying Pavel Bure for 66th place on the NHL career list, with an empty-netter.Steven Stamkos scored his 250th goal for the Lightning, who have lost three of four. The Tampa Bay captain became the 10th youngest NHL player to reach the milestone at 24 years, 305 days.To be honest, I havent really thought about it, Stamkos said. Five-hundred maybe, thats something different.Brian Boyle and Valtteri Filppula had the other Tampa Bay goals.Laich made it 3-2 at 4:36 of the second, and Brouwer made it a two-goal edge with 9:08 to play.Holtby stopped six shots during the first three minutes of thee third period.dddddddddddd With his 71st win, Holtby moved past Pete Peeters and Jim Carey into fourth place on the teams career list.One of the things I think Braden has taken on is that blue-collar Saskatchewan work ethic a little bit, and its showing up in the games, Trotz said.Stamkos pulled the Lightning even at 2 from the slot 47 seconds into the second.Were not playing the way we need to to be successful, said Stamkos, who was minus-3.Filppula hit the post during a late second period Tampa Bay power play. He scored his first goal in 11 games with 3 seconds remaining in the gameNiskanen put the Capitals, who entered with the NHLs top road power-play unit, up 2-1 with a man-advantage goal with 5:37 left in the firstBoyle tied it at 13:49 with his first goal and point in 15 games.Bishop made 30 saves. Victor Hedman had three assistsNOTES: Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson had two assists apiece for the Capitals. ... Washington D Mike Green (upper body) missed his eighth straight game, but could return soon. ... Lightning rookie F Jonathan Drouin was a healthy scratch for the fourth time in 12 games. ... Capitals LW Aaron Volpatti has been cleared to practice with Hershey of the AHL. ... Washington D John Carlson, playing in his 323rd consecutive game, had an assist. He broke a tie with Kelly Miller for the second longest streak in team history. Bob Carpenter is first at 422 games. ' ' '