game. Of course its a great feeling when you score the winning goal."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Cam Newton expects to be ready for the Panthers Sept. 7 regular season opener against Tampa Bay. "Theres no doubt in my mind.," Newton said Wednesday. "Im going to worry about things that I can control and come in and get in as much treatment as possible so that my body will be 100 per cent." Carolinas fourth-year quarterback is recovering from a hairline fracture to what he described as multiple ribs, but is improving with each day. Newton was injured in Carolinas preseason game Friday night against New England and hasnt practiced since. Panthers coach Ron Rivera also said he expects Newton to be ready for the Bucs. "For sure. I do," Rivera said. "Im optimistic, but I believe in him. Im watching him progress and get better." Rivera said its all about getting the soreness to subside. Newton, who said he feels great, was well enough to travel with the team to Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon but will not play against the Steelers Thursday night in the preseason finale. In the meantime, he will receive treatment while the equipment staff works to alter his flak jacket so it better protects the ribs moving forward. Rivera called Newtons injury a bit of fluke, saying that he got hit in the one crease in his protection where the ribs werent completely protected. When asked if it was just one rib he injured, Newton replied, "Ribs, not rib." The Panthers will reevaluate Newton this weekend. They have a light walkthrough on Saturday, but essentially they wont practice again in pads until Monday. Its unclear when Newton will start throwing again. During Wednesdays practice, Newton donned a pair of shoulder pads, but took them off a few minutes later. "I wanted to do something I have done at least one time a week — and thats put my pads on," Newton said. "Its a superstition thing." Its unclear if Newton will change his style of play following the injury. He was hurt when he went headfirst — instead of sliding — and got stepped on. "I am who I am and things do happen," said Newton, who has run for 2,032 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons. "One thing playing this game, you will get hurt sooner or later. ... You know something is going to happen. Its a physical sport and needs to be played that way." When asked if he considering sliding more, Newton said, "I guess we will all just have to stay tuned and see." Rivera said hes not going to chide Newton for his instinctual decisions on the field. "Should he slide? Yeah, I would like to see him slide," Rivera said. "But at the same time I want him to play the way he plays best. ... I just tell him to be careful and be smart. I dont want to take away who he is as a football player." Rivera said Newtons injury will not affect how the Panthers game plan for the Buccaneers. He said theyll continue to use the read option, which involves Newton potentially running the football. "We are going to do what we do," Rivera said. Kemoko Turay Jersey . - The New York Rangers have momentum, a unified locker room and Henrik Lundqvist. Braden Smith Jersey . Marie rink got back in the win column at the Olympic mens curling tournament with a 7-4 win over the host Russian squad on Wednesday. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authentic-darius-leonard-colts-jersey/ . Left-handed reliever Boone Logan agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Matt Slauson Jersey . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. Eric Ebron Jersey . -- Falcons running back Steven Jackson, who has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, is expected to practice on Wednesday.NEW YORK -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cut Daniel Carcillos suspension from 10 games to six, meaning the New York Rangers enforcer could play in the Stanley Cup finals should the club elect to return him to the lineup. The commissioner made the change Tuesday after holding a hearing with Carcillo on Friday. "I respect the leagues decision and how they came to a decision," Carcillo said Tuesday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. "Im just happy I could say my piece and be a part of it, say my side of the story. I think he took it into account, and Gary was great. The league was great." Carcillo was suspended May 23 after he appeared to twice elbow linesman Scott Driscoll, who was trying to keep Carcillo away from a fight, during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. The original ban would have kept him completely out of the Cup finals, even if the series went the full seven games. Now Carcillo, who has already served three, is eligible to play in Game 4. "A bit of a dead man walking there for the last week and a half, so to hear that this morning as soon as you wake up it gives you a little boost, a little bit of energy," Carcillo said. "Just to be able to be around the guys in three games will be great. Im just really encouraged." Carcillo was originally punished under Rule 40.3 for deeliberately applying physical force to an official, which carries a suspension of at least 10 games.dddddddddddd However, Bettman decided that "Carcillos actions were more appropriately deemed a violation of Rule 40.4 for deliberately applying physical force to an official for the sole purpose of getting free of such official during or immediately following an altercation." "The National Hockey League does not and will not, under any circumstances, tolerate or condone the abuse, physical or otherwise, of our on-ice officials," Bettman said in a statement. "The strict and proper enforcement of Rule 40, therefore, plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the game by maintaining a safe and respectful working environment for our officials." The Stanley Cup finals begin Wednesday with the Rangers visiting the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Kings. If Carcillo is activated after the suspension, he will be playing in his third Stanley Cup finals in the last five years. He made it with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2009-10 season and Chicago Blackhawks last season. Carcillo was traded to the Kings in July. The Rangers acquired Carcillo from the Kings in January for a conditional draft pick. Said Carcillo: "Looks like I would have been in the Cup final anyway." 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