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BOISBRIAND, Que. -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. The Boisbriand, Que., native got the start in net in her hometown on Thursday night, where the Canadian womens hockey team defeated the United States 6-3 in pre-Olympic action. "Its incredible," said Labonte. "I couldnt have asked for more. To bring the Canadian team here against the Americans a I knew people would answer the call. We immediately felt their support. "I couldnt have asked for anything better. It was worthy of Boisbriand." Labonte allowed three goals on 24 shots on the night. The game was the second of six encounters between the teams before the start of the Olympic Games in Sochi in February. The Canadians took the first game -- last Saturday in Burlington, Vt. -- 3-2. The game ended in brawl when a U.S. player ran into Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados late in the third period. Veteran Hayley Wickenheiser, whos been a member of Canadas womens team since 1994 when she was only 15 years old, scored two goals on the night. Wickenheiser believed her team responded well to early pressure by the Americans. "We came out really strong and we had a great start and a lot of energy," said Wickenheiser. "They tried to take some physical liberties early on and they got away with a few things early in the game. But then we came back and we just played a pretty physical game." Wickenheiser, who is contemplating retirement at the end of the Sochi Games, is currently at the heart of a captaincy debate ahead of the Olympics. Canadas head coach Dan Church has yet to decide if Wickenheiser will don the "C" in Russia. Church is also considering Jayna Hefford or Caroline Ouellette -- who both also scored in Thursdays victory -- for the captains title. "Hayleys one of our leaders," said Church. "We decided in the first part of the season to grow our leadership within the team. Thats important. We need a team full of more leaders as we move towards Sochi. "Its all part of the master plan as we move through the next few months." Rebecca Johnston, who also scored twice on the night, opened the high-scoring affair with her first goal of this exhibition series at 8:59 of the first period. Haley Irwin started the play, patiently holding the puck for several seconds in the American zone before firing on net. Johnston jumped on the rebound. "I was at the right place at the right time," said Johnston. "It kind of popped out right at me and I just shot it quickly." Wickenheiser doubled the Canadians lead less than a minute later while playing short handed. Brianna Decker got one back for the Americans before Wickenheiser put her second of the game past a helpless Jessie Vetter on a 5-on-3 power play. Johnston scored her second of the game, the eventual game-winner, early in the second period. Johnston was behind the net when she scored, banking a pass off a defenders skate and into the net. Ouellette also scored mid-way through the second period to put the Canadians up 5-1. Jocelyne Lamoureux and Kendall Coyne scored consolation goals for the U.S., before Heffords back-handed goal quelled any attempt at a comeback at 15:47 of the third period. Vetter, who started in net for the Americans, made 10 saves in the first period. She was replaced by Molly Schaus, who stopped seven of 10 shots she faced. U.S.A. outshot Canada 24-23 overall. Canada is the three-time defending Olympic champion. Two of those victories, in 2002 and 2010, came against the Americans. Canada and the U.S. face off again in pre-Olympic action on Dec. 12 in Calgary. Maurice Richard Jersey .com) - Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 51 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the struggling Bucks 114-101 on Tuesday. 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Lind, 31, has been a productive power hitter, slugging more than 20 home runs four times in his career, but is coming off a season in which he was hitting for doubles power, hitting just six home runs in 96 games, yet hitting a career-high .321, with an .860 OPS that was his highest since 2009. Hes a crusher against right-handed pitching, hitting .293 with an .860 OPS for his career, but not nearly as capable when facing southpaws (.212 average, .588 OPS). That split does suggest that Lind is best suited as a platoon player, but the Brewers had Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay at first base last year and neither is under contract for 2015, so there is room for Lind in the Milwaukee lineup. That Lind is a subpar fielder is all the more reason for the Brewers to have another option available to support Lind at first. Linds contract has team options for $7.5-million in 2015 and $8-million for 2016, entirely reasonable for a productive offensive player, even if hes not ideally suited to a full-time role. Platooning against right-handers is still good for about three-quarters of the at-bats. The Blue Jays Get: RHP Marco Estrada. Estrada is a 31-year-old who surrendered a major-league leading 29 home runs last season, leaving him with a 4.88 ERA despite a 1.20 WHIP in 150 2/3 innings. He finished the year in the bullpen, and was lights-out in that role in September, not allowing a run and only six base-runners in 16 1/3 innings. That small--sample bullpen success might indicate a role in which Estrada can be effective for the Blue Jays, but his career numbers as a starter (4.dddddddddddd20 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 71 starts) are better than his career relief stats (4.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP in 83 relief appearances), which probably leaves Estrada as something of a swingman for the Toronto pitching staff. Maybe sixth or seventh on the starter depth chart, capable of making spot starts if necessary, but likely not the ideal solution to any teams starting pitching woes. Estrada has lost some velocity and his average fastball is clocked at 89.0 MPH (per Fan Graphs), which poses problems -- thats the pitch that gets hit. He has increased the use of his change-up, which has been very effective the past couple seasons, but hell have to get his fastball back if hes going to be a contributor. Estrada earned $3,325,000 in 2014 and is arbitration eligible, so that price will likely go up but its likely to present a cost savings to the Blue Jays after they shed Linds salary. The Blue Jays will need to fill Linds at-bats, mostly at designated hitter, but that could allow 1B Edwin Encarnacion to get more rest and there is likely some hope that Toronto might be able to salvage value out of their recent waiver addition, 1B Justin Smoak, a 27-year-old switch-hitter who hasnt lived up to advance billing, hitting .224 with a .689 OPS in 566 career games. Verdict: Hard to imagine that Estrada, a homer-prone pitcher going to a hitter-friendly park, will provide more value for Toronto than Lind will in Milwaukee, but maybe added salary flexibility can come into play for Toronto in other offseason deals. Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca ' ' '