Gloucestershire 212 for (Klinger 95*, Cockbain 69*) beat Essex 182 (Howell 3-28) 30 runsScorecard Michael Klinger hit 95 as Gloucestershire closed in on a home tie in the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals with a 30-run South Group victory over Essex at Cheltenham.The group leaders posted 212 for 1 on the small College Ground, Klinger receiving excellent support from Hamish Marshall and Ian Cockbain, whose unbeaten 65 came off just 35 balls.In reply, Essex made 182 for 9, Dan Lawrence top-scoring with 35 and Benny Howell taking 3 for 28 from his four overs.The result took Gloucestershire to 19 points from 13 games, while Essex remain on ten with work to do in their final four group fixtures to reach the knockout stage.Marshall, in his final Cheltenham Festival before leaving Gloucestershire at the end of the season, was the initial aggressor in an opening stand of 75 with Klinger that occupied 8.4 overs.Marshall had faced 28 balls, hitting seven boundaries when driving a return catch to Ravi Bopara. It was the only Essex success as Cockbain joined Klinger in an unbroken partnership of 137 in 11.2 overs, which delighted the 5,000 sell-out crowd.Klinger reached his half-century with a reverse sweep for four off Bopara, having faced 41 deliveries, but it was Cockbain, who produced the more explosive hitting.The consistent No. 3 batsman hit the first six of the game off Ashar Zaidi and went on to smash three more maximums and 6 fours, reaching his half-century off just 28 balls.Essex were unable to protect the short boundaries on both sides of the pitch as Klinger began to match his partner shot for shot. By the end of the innings the Gloucestershire captain had hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 57-ball knock.The visitors reply began badly when Matt Taylor bowled Kishen Velani for a duck in the first over and followed up by having Tom Westley caught at mid-wicket off a miscued pull shot with the total on 18 at the end of the third over.Nick Browne hit a big six over midwicket off Liam Norwell, but the Essex woes continued when Bopara was caught at short third-man off Howell and Ryan ten Doeschate was run out by Klingers throw to the wicketkeeper as Browne attempted a quick single to mid-wicket.It looked a very close call and ten Doeschate stood still for several second before angrily swishing his bat and walking off. At the end of the six-over Powerplay the visitors were 46 for 4.Browne was caught at deep mid-wicket off Howell to make it 58 for 5 in the eighth over. At the halfway stage of their innings Essex still required 131.Lawrence, dropped on 21, looked dangerous until, on 36, he lofted Graeme van Buurens left-arm spin to Cockbain at long-on. And when Zaidi was bowled by Howell aiming a big hit it was 122 for 7, with the contest as good as over. Rod Langway Jersey Large .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Cheap Custom Capitals Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. http://www.customcapitalsjersey.com/ . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Authentic Custom Capitals Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Custom Rod Langway Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. EDMONTON, Alberta -- Thursdays game between the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers will mark a few homecomings.All eyes will be on Nail Yakupov, who the Oilers traded to the Blues before the start of the season. Yakupov has been widely regarded as a draft bust; the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Russian right winger got only 50 goals in 252 games as an Oiler.In four games with the Blues, Yakupov has a goal and an assist.It is weird, Yakupov told Oilers play-by-play man Jack Michaels in a 630 CHED interview. When I was here, I didnt expect that I would stay in a hotel in this city, because I lived in this city. But, its different. But, its really good, now, we have a good team and a good group.He is fitting in, said Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo of his new teammate. Its a different environment coming in -- and new linemates. I think hes playing a pretty hard game. Hes created some really good chances. Its new systems for him ... but hes adjusting pretty well.But its another Russian who is lighting it up for St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko is tied for the league lead with four goals.And, Thursday will also mark the final time Ken Hitchcock will coach an NHL game in his hometown.Unless he has a change of heart, Hitchcock, an Edmonton native, is in his final season as a head coach. The Blues visit Rogers Place only once this season.The Blues have started Hitchcocks final season in blistering fashion. Despite losing 2-1 in overtime in Vancouver on Tuesday night, the Blues are 3-0-1. It marks only the second time in team history that the Blues have earned points in the first four games of a regular season.Meanwhile, the Oilers have won three of their first four, and scored 17 times in the process. Thhursdays game, though, is the teams fourth home game of the season already -- the Oilers have played just one road date.ddddddddddddBecause October is filled with so many home games for the Oilers, coach Todd McLellan said a good start to season isnt a want, its a need.Having home games, and needing to put some points in the bank, knowing eventually youve got to go out on the road, weve been able to do that, he said. I dont think anybody is comfortable yet, so we got some things we really need to work on. It keeps us on our edge, maybe Im being too critical of our group.The issue is that the Oilers have scored 17 (most in the Western Conference), but given up 15 (also most in the Western Conference). Each of the four games played so far this season have felt like a return to the Air Hockey Era of the 1980s.But Oilers goalie Cam Talbot turned in his best performance of the season Tuesday, stopping 31 of 33 shots after giving up six goals in a loss to Buffalo on Sunday .I need a big bounce-back game, after the game I had last. As a team, I think that sometimes we let those losses kinda snowball in the past.On Wednesday, Talbot and his wife welcomed twins to their family.Oilers defenseman Mark Fayne left Tuesdays win over Carolina with a lower-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and the Oilers called up defenseman Ben Betker from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif. The Oilers did not practice Wednesday.The Blues placed Jori Lehtera, who hurt his hip Saturday in a win over the New York Rangers, on injured reserve Wednesday, which opens up a roster spot. ' ' '