David Poile earned a chance to be general manager of the U. Gary Roberts .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. Deuce Lutui . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Tyrone Calico . The team said they will announce a corresponding roster move prior to their series opener on Tuesday night in Kansas City. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/charles-mann-jersey-for-sale/ . RAPTORS STRUGGLING: The bottom line is the true test in sports isnt just how you handle failure, but how you handle success.TAMPA, Fla. - Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson were too much for the Arizona Coyotes.Kucherov had his first career NHL hat trick, Johnson had four assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Coyotes 7-3 on Tuesday night.Amazing feeling, Kucherov said.Kucherov got his third goal from slot off a pass from Johnson at 8:23 of the third that made it 5-2.They were a lot of fun to watch, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said.Brian Boyle had two goals, and Valtteri Filppula and Matt Carle also scored for the Lightning. Johnson assisted on all three Kucherov goals and extended his point streak to seven games.Arizona got goals from Shane Doan, Martin Erat and B.J. Crombeen.Its frustrating, Doan said. I think this is the third game where weve given up way too many goals. As a professional hockey player, you get embarrassed. You have to be embarrassed.Arizona has allowed six or more goals three times this season.Shortly after Radko Gudas had a shot hit the post, Kucherov re-directed the defencemans next try from the blue line past Mike Smith to put Tampa Bay up 1-0 7:46 into the game.Hes a dynamic player, Johnson said of Kucherov.After Filppula scored with 7:42 left in the first, Kucherov gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead on a backhand rebound at 3:20 of the second.I think that first period set the tone for the game, said Cooper about the Lightnings 12-3 shot advantage during the opening period.Arizona has given up the initial goal in seven of eight games tthis season, and been out-scored 12-5 during the first period. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Discount. Doan cut the deficit to 3-1 at 14:07 of the second on his first goal this season and second in 24 career games against Tampa Bay. Antoine Vermette assisted on the Doans backhander that got past Ben Bishop for his 400th point.Boyle and Erat traded goals late in the second. Boyle got his second 63 seconds after Kucherovs hat trick during the third.Crombeen and Carle both added third-period goals.Smith was pulled after allowing six goals on 33 shots. Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson finished minus-four.Its the whole group, not Mike, Arizona coach Dave Tippett said. There is no excuses here. We didnt play well. Simple as that.Bishop made 22 saves.Notes: Cooper said he would be bummed out if RW Ryan Callahan didnt return this week from a lower body injury that has sidelined him four games. Callahan declined to address his improved status. ... Arizona C Martin Hanzal played after sitting out three games due a lower body injury and had an assist. ... Tampa Bay C Alex Killorn (four games) and RW J.T. Brown (one game) returned following upper body injuries. ... Lightning D Victor Hedman, who had surgery for a broken finger on his right hand last week and could miss up to six weeks, watched the morning skate from the bench in street clothes. ... F Paul Bissonnette will join Portland, Arizonas AHL team, this week after signing a professional tryout contract. ' ' '