, their penalty killers are on a roll. Theyve survived 29 consecutive shorthanded situations, including four against the Flyers.Philadelphia leads the league in power-play goals.Its just time, its th

HOUSTON -- Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said Sunday that he isnt certain when hell return from his recent back surgery.I cant put a solid start date on when I can play, Watt, who has never missed a regular-season game in his first five seasons with the Texans, said. I dont plan on missing my first game, but I cant promise it. Im doing everything I can to protect my body, but the older I get, the more I realize you have to be smart.Watt had surgery on July 20 to repair a herniated disk in his back. His comments at Sundays first day of training camp were his first since the procedure, which sources have said could sideline him for six to 10 weeks and potentially jeopardize his availability for the early part of Houstons 2016 schedule.Last season I had a herniated disk in my back, Watt said. But it wasnt a terrible herniation, so obviously I could keep playing. And then throughout the offseason, there would be slight flare-ups here and there, but wed always get it under control. So it was nothing really bad.Right before training camp, we wanted to do a checkup and just to make sure and see where I was at, he added. Once the MRI came back, thats when we realized it was worse than we thought. Thats when we knew, and thats why it happened so close to training camp.Its not because its 90 degrees and I just didnt feel like being out there, Watt quipped.Watt, the APs Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015 with a combined 38 sacks, said the surgery was a success.We took a whole bunch of junk out of my back, so now I feel good, Watt said of the procedure, which removed the herniated disk. For the first two weeks, [the doctor] told me to just walk and lay down. Thats my rehab. Thats all Ive been doing. But they said as soon as the two weeks are up, I can ramp up quickly.Watt, who said he couldnt recall the specific name of the surgery, said initially hearing the recommendation was difficult.It was tough. Its one of those phone calls you dont want to get. But its going to be the best for me in the long run. Its one of those things where Im glad we found it, because if we didnt, it couldve been a whole lot worse, he said.The fact that were getting it taken care of now and Im going to be healthy for the season -- thats what matters most.Watt missed most of Houstons training camp in 2012, his second season with the Texans, and said he would draw on that experience during his recovery.In 2012 I missed all of training camp and didnt have a problem there, so I dont see this being a problem, Watt said.?Watt appeared to be feeling well at Sundays first day of training camp. While he remains on the physically unable to perform list, coach Bill OBrien said Watt is progressing well and remains right on track with his projected recovery.The 4,660 fans at NRG Park didnt expect to see Watt, who jogged to the field about midway through the teams practice. Naturally, the unexpected good news earned him a lengthy ovation. Watt watched most of the remainder of practice from the sideline, where he sat with an 8-year-old boy awaiting a heart transplant. The boy was attending Houstons camp as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.I jogged today a little bit, Watt said with a smile, referring to his entrance. They probably werent terribly happy to see me do that. But I feel good. Thats whats crazy. I feel good, my body feels good. Its just a matter of now listening to [the doctors].Ill do whatever they tell me to do, just so that Im healthy for the first game.With stitches from the surgery still in his back, Watt said the doctors are advising him not to stand for long periods of time or sweat. Because of that, he might not be on the sidelines on Monday or Tuesday. But with Wednesday representing the two-week mark after his surgery, the stitches are expected to be removed, which will allow Watt to begin heavier activities.As soon as the doctors tell me its safe for me to be on the field, Im going to be out there, Watt said. Theres nothing that hurts me more than watching practice and not being out there.In addition to the herniated disk, Watt also played with a broken hand and a torn groin during the 2015 season. He had surgery to fix the groin issue earlier this offseason.It was the roughest year of my career; theres no question, Watt said Sunday. But thats something that comes along with playing in the NFL. Youre going to put your body through the wringer. Youre going to go out there and play hurt. Thats just the way it goes in the league.Im doing everything I can to protect my body, and the older I get, the more I realize that you have to be smart in the way you do things and you have to be conscious of your body, Watt said.However, Watt noted that he did understand the difference between his other medical issues and the severity of back surgery.The back is a little bit different than any other injury, Watt said. Ive got to listen to the doctors a little bit more on this one. You cant just feel it out, because its your spine. Youve got be smart, which Im doing.Because of that, Watt isnt ready to give a confirmed timetable on his return.Im five years into this now, Watt said of his career. Ive learned that if you end up missing a game or two in the short-term to save yourself for the long term, thats smart.But thats not to say Im going to miss a game or two, he added. Im out here with the mindset to play Week 1. If it comes Week 1 and they say Im not ready, then Im not ready. But my mindset is to work to play Game 1.For now, Watt says his focus is on helping his teammates in whatever small way that he can.As soon as Im healthy enough to come out here and stand up, I will, Watt said. Im going to be out here helping however I can. I think its great for the young guys to get reps because I think we have a great defensive line and a great line coach.We have a really good team full of great players, Watt added. We have a lot of guys who truly enjoy being around each other. Theres just a good chemistry and a good vibe around our building. I think we have a good squad and Im not worried. I think theyre going to do a great job. Rangers Jerseys China . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Custom Rangers T-shirts . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. http://www.custommlbrangersjersey.com/ . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Custom Rangers Jersey China . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Cheap Custom Rangers Jersey . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. OTTAWA -- Ever since a Nov. 8 loss in Nashville, the Ottawa Senators have left very little on the table.In the following four games, theyve grabbed seven of a possible eight points while improving their record to 10-5-1. Their season high undefeated in regulation time streak will be put on the line Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre when the Predators arrive for a rematch.We didnt have a good game in Nashville the last time we played them, so weve got to be prepared, and we all know it, captain Erik Karlsson said after scoring the winner in a 3-2 shootout against the Flyers Tuesday. Its coming along.The Predators (6-6-3) had a streak of their own stopped Tuesday night when they visited the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first of a three game road trip. The 6-2 setback halted their run of victories at three games and was the first time seven the Predators failed to grab a least a point.Nashville suffered a power shortage in Toronto after a 5-0 victory over Vancouver its previous game.I felt like we had some good offensive time but every time we make a mistake it kind of found its way in the back of the net, said winger James Neal, who has five goals and one assist in his last four games. We had a good home stretch and were playing good hockey. It was a tough one (against the Leafs) but well regroup.The Predators are hoping to welcome back No. 1 goalie Pekka Rinne, who missedd the Toronto game with a lower-body injury.dddddddddddd In Ottawa on Wednesday, Rinne said he was good to go but was still waiting for clearance.While the Senators have struggled mightily with a power play that ranks 30th in the league, their penalty killers are on a roll. Theyve survived 29 consecutive shorthanded situations, including four against the Flyers.Philadelphia leads the league in power-play goals.Its just time, its the same players getting use to each other, said coach Guy Boucher. Thats what weve got right now. The guys are working extremely hard. Theyre paying a price.The game will mark the return to the area of Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, who spent six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens before the offseason trade that sent him to the Predators for defenseman Shea Weber.A number of Canadiens fans are expected to make the two hour drive from Montreal to watch popular former Norris Trophy winner.For his part, Subban said hes still the same guy who loved living and playing in Montreal.I dont change who I am or where I go, he said. The difference in Nashville is in the grocery store people know who you are, but theyll tell you great game and thats it. There are no photo shoots or people asking for photos every five seconds. ' ' '