an Jon Singleton crashed into first base umpire Bill Welk

David Poile earned a chance to be general manager of the U.S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey.Since last summer, he spent countless hours trying to shape a roster that would give the Americans a shot to win Olympic gold for the first time since he witnessed whats known as the "Miracle on Ice," in 1980.Poile, though, wont be at the Sochi Games to see the team he helped set up.The Nashville Predators GM and former Washington Capitals executive was hit in the face by a deflected puck during an NHL game last week, a freak accident that will force him to watch the U.S. go for gold on TV from his home in Tennessee."Serving as GM of the U.S. Olympic Team has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I am forever grateful to USA Hockey," Poile said Monday in a statement from the Predators. "However, it is not possible for me to travel at this time, but I will remain in contact with Ray Shero, Brian Burke, Jim Johansson and our coaching staff during the games."Team USA is in great hands and I will be there in spirit. I wish all the best for our players, coaches and entire group as they begin play in the 2014 Olympics and go for the gold."Poile is recovering from surgery and stitches he needed after the puck hit him while he was standing in a tunnel behind the Predators bench in Minnesota."I first want to thank everyone who has reached out to me since suffering this injury," Poile said. "The outpouring of support and comfort has been overwhelming."He led a selection committee that picked the Olympic team after months of work, and his role during the 12-day tournament would have been largely behind the scenes in a supporting role."To hear that he had been hurt and to know that hes not going to be coming over is a huge disappointment," U.S. coach Dan Bylsma said.Shero, who is general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be acting GM in Sochi."Having worked with Dave for eight years in Nashville, and knowing, as I told the team, how much passion, time and effort he has put into putting this team together, its disappointing," Shero said.Poile won the Lester Patrick award in 2001 for his contributions to hockey in the U.S., and is a three-time finalist for NHL GM of the year. He has also filled various roles with USA Hockey.He was the associate GM for the U.S. at the Olympics four years ago, when he assisted Burke after he dealt with tragedy. Burkes 21-year-old son, Brendan, died Feb. 5, 2010, in a car accident, and he skipped the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Games. Cheap Oilers Jerseys China . The Marlies surrendered two power-play goals and failed to score on six man-advantage opportunities en route to a 4-1 defeat in American Hockey League action on Saturday. Cheap Adidas Oilers Jerseys . -- Michael Phelps is 0 for 1 in his comeback to the pool. http://www.cheapedmontonoilersjerseys.com/. Its not intended to be some magical formula and doesnt apply any context, like, for example, taking injuries into account. This remedial statistical method has gone 9-5 in picks through the first three rounds. Cheap Oilers Jerseys Authentic .J. -- Omar Cummings helped the Houston Dynamo advance to the MLS Eastern Conference finals. Cheap Oilers Jerseys . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers.HOUSTON -- Monday was a day of ups and downs for Joe Mauer. Luckily for Minnesotas star first baseman the long day ended on a positive note. Mauer had two hits in his return from the disabled list, including a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning, to help the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night. Mauer was elated to rejoin his team after a 34-game stint on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right side. But his excitement was tempered when Josh Willingham, one of his best friends on the team, was traded to the Royals just before the game. "I was on a high coming in and seeing everybody and then to see one of our guys go out that was pretty tough," he said. "But then to win the ballgame was a good way to end it." A pair of walks by Josh Fields (2-5) left runners at first and second with two outs in the ninth when Mauer hit a groundball single to left field that scored Jordan Schafer. Brian Dozier also scored on the play when rookie left fielder Domingo Santana held the ball for several seconds before throwing it in. "I just panicked," Santana said. "I was just trying to throw the ball to the cutoff man, but I just panicked." Mauer, who doubled in the third inning, extended his hitting streak to 13 games in his first game since July 1. "This guy, Ive always said he can get right out of bed and hit," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. Brian Duensing (3-2) got the last two outs of the eighth inning for the win and Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his 29th save. Chris Carter and Jose Altuve both had solo homers for Houston and Jake&nnbsp;Marisnick had a career-high four hits.ddddddddddddCarter connected for his 26th homer to make it 2-2 in the fifth inning. Tommy Milone allowed eight hits and two runs in his debut with the Twins after being traded from Oakland for Sam Fuld on July 31. "Good to get the first one out of the way," Milone said. "Obviously going out there with a new team you want to pitch well and I felt like I did that." Houston starter Brad Peacock allowed seven hits and two runs in five innings. Eduardo Escobar was at third with two outs in the fourth when an error by Peacock on a pickoff attempt at first base allowed him to score and make it 2-1. First baseman Jon Singleton crashed into first base umpire Bill Welke and knocked him to the ground as he chased the ball. Welke was OK but got up slowly and kept trying to brush the dirt off his uniform for more than an inning. The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the first on Plouffes fielders choice. The Astros tied it up in the bottom of the inning on Altuves homer. TRAINERS ROOM Minnesota: RHP Ricky Nolasco (elbow) made his second rehabilitation start for Class A Cedar Rapids on Sunday and Gardenhire said that he should make his next start for the Twins. Houston: OF Alex Presley (strained right side) will begin a rehabilitation assignment with short-season Class A Tri-City on Tuesday. Presley expects to come off the DL sometime during Houstons upcoming road trip to Boston and New York. UP NEXT Houstons Collin McHugh opposes Yohan Pino when the series continues on Tuesday night. Pino is looking for his first win since July 10 and McHugh will try to snap a six-game skid. ' ' '