RALEIGH, N.C. -- Its not enough that the Carolina Hurricanes are dealing with yet another slow start to the season. Now the team has to face life without All-Star defenseman Justin Faulk for what may be an extended period of time.Faulk suffered an upper-body injury earlier in the week against New Jersey and was placed on injured reserve prior to the Washington Capitals coming to PNC Arena on Saturday. Its unclear how serious the injury is to the 24-year- old two-time All-Star, but there likely was some bad news revealed Friday from an MRI taken a few days ago.The Hurricanes have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons and have started 3-6- 4 this season for 10 points -- worst in the NHL.Faulk had scored three goals and registered three assists in 11 games prior to his injury. The defenseman missed 18 games in the second half of last season with a lower body injury after he became the first player in NHL history to score his first 12 goals of a season on the power play.Faulk ended with 16 goals after scoring 15 the season before.Faulks loss further depletes an already young and inexperienced defensive corps. RyanMurphy moved into the lineup in place of Faulk in a 4-2 loss to Anaheim on Thursday night.Thats been a mystery that third pairing, Carolina coach Bill Peters said. There have been a bunch of combinations and we havent found one that has been 100 percent successful for us, so were still lking there.Peters will also lk to a variety of players to fill the vacant point position by Faulk on the power play, one of the bright spots so far this season for Carolina, which is 9 th in the NHL with the man advantage.Now we have an opportunity to play some guys on the power play who are chomping at the bit, Peters said. Weve got some guys who can step in there and away we go. Now they get their opportunity to show what they can do. Its all the scheme, just some of the personnel shifts around. Its all about confidence on the power play.The Hurricanes will get their first lk at the Capitals on Saturday night in the second game of a five-game homestand. Over the last four seasons the Hurricanes are just 6-10- 2 against Washington.The Capitals, who won 3-2 in overtime Friday night at Chicago, will be at the midway mark of a three game road swing when they play in Raleigh.The Capitals, who are in a situation with games on back-to-back nights against a team with more rest, might consider lineup alterations. Still, making changes isnt something that coach Barry Trotz is committed to.When you have a healthy back end, I think thats a unit you try to keep as stable as you can, Trotz said.The Capitals are also evaluating whats happening at the other end of the ice.Id like to see a little bit more offense from all our lines, Trotz said, especially realizing that might be necessary Saturday night given the long game a night before.The Hurricanes are trying to improve their home record.Gd starts at home are big, but we have to worry about ourselves, Peters said. Playing at home is an opportunity to get some traction. Were lking forward to the challenge.Carolina also announced the club was sending forward Phil Di Giuseppe to its AHL affiliate in Charlotte. In his second NHL season, the left wing hasnt registered a point in 11 games after notching seven goals and 10 assists in 41 games with the Hurricanes last year.This game comes just a day after the Hurricanes announced that forward Bryan Bickell has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.Bickell, 30, scored one goal in seven games in whats his first season with the Hurricanes. He was acquired in June from the Chicago Blackhawks.Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. USA Soccer Store . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. USA Soccer Pro Shop . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. USA Soccer Jerseys 2020 . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury.VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Brad Evans scored on a penalty kick in the 81st minute and the Seattle Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Sunday night in a game where both teams finished with 10 players.The Sounders (13-13-5) have won four straight and are fifth in the Western Conference in the race for six playoff spots. The Whitecaps (9-15- were eliminated from playoff contention.Evans earned the penalty when his cross struck sliding Vancouver defender Jordan Harveys arm in the Whitecaps box. Evans beat past goalkeeper David Ousted to the middle of the net.Pedro Morales scored on a penalty kick for Vancouver (9-15- in the 25th minute, and Osvaldo Alonso tied for Seattle in the 39th.Morales was ejected by referee Ricardo Salazar in the 53rd for an elbow to the head/throat area of Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan. Evans was sent off in the 84th minute for what appeared to be an attempted head-butt on Whitecaps defender David Edgar.dddddddddddd.IMPACT 1, ORLANDO CITY 0ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dominic Oduro scored in his second straight game, Evan Bush had his sixth shutout of the season and Montreal beat Orlando City to move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.Montreal (11-10-11) has won two in a row and sits a point ahead of fifth-place D.C. United. Orlando (7-11-14) was eliminated from playoff contention.Oduro scored in the 56th minute when he used the outside of his right ft to beat goalkeeper Joe Bendik on breakaway. Six minutes prior, Ignacio Piatti had a one-on-one opportunity but he had a heavy touch near the 18-yard box and Bendik came out of his area to deny it. ' ' '