Broken Wings » assists in 43 career games with the Sabres. He has a

MONACO -- As Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel struggles to get into gear, Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardos is gliding through the curves. Ricciardo is in fifth place overall, six points behind fourth-place Vettel, and secured his first career podium two weeks ago when he finished third at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Australian driver has beaten Vettel in qualifying in three of the five races, and has twice featured on the front row -- qualifying second in Australia and in China. Vettel was so dominant last year, winning the last nine races and 13 overall, that it seemed highly improbable Ricciardo would challenge him in his first season since moving from Toro Rosso. "Some people didnt expect this from me, but I knew deep down that I could do well," Ricciardo said at the Monaco GP on Friday. "If I am able to push a four-time world champion then I know that I am doing something right." Rule changes to engine size and lowered fuel loads have blighted Red Bull, which is unable to generate the same speed, and is lagging way behind Mercedes, as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg run away with the championship. "Seb had a car at the end of last year he was very comfortable with, so it might have taken him a little by surprise to have a more complex car this year," Ricciardo said. "Maybe I have adapted to the new conditions a bit quicker." Vettel had a frosty relationship with former teammate Mark Webber, who retired after last years championship. Although there are no signs of tension between him and Ricciardo, it appears Vettels team role has somewhat lessened this season. "Particularly in preseason, Seb was doing a lot of the talking within the team and a lot of the feedback, because he knew everyone and they trusted him," Ricciardo said. "But now that I have some results and Ive got to know the team a lot better, they are now leaning on both of us for feedback." Ricciardo would be ahead of Vettel had he not been disqualified in front of his home fans at the season-opening Australian GP, where he was stripped of his second-place finish, and the 18 points that go with it, for breaching F1s new rules on fuel usage. "It did so much for my confidence seeing all those people cheering and shouting my name," Ricciardo said. "It actually made me even hungrier with how it went because it got taken away from me." Jason Spezza Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Daniel Alfredsson Jersey . McCutchen was cut before the series opener against Seattle on Monday night, when Lewis was set for his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Texas selected Lewis contract from Triple-A Round Rock. http://www.senatorssale.com/authentic-mark-stone-senators-jersey/ . The Detroit Tigers slugger fell short in his bid to become the first player to win the Triple Crown in successive seasons. Custom Ottawa Senators Jerseys . Raymond, 31, started 15 regular-season games for the Stamps in 2013, racking up 51 tackles. He also returned two kickoffs for 79 yards including a 61-yarder. Matt Duchene Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont.The Buffalo Sabres have provided a huge boost to Russias World Junior team. The Sabres formally announced on Thursday that forward Mikhail Grigorenko and defenceman Nikita Zadorov will join Russias team at the upcoming 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden. The pair are expected to leave on Sunday to join the Russian selection camp. Grigorenko, 19, was selected 12th overall at the 2012 NHL Draft and has scored three goals and five assists in 43 career games with the Sabres. He has appeared in 18 games with the Sabres this season. Zadorov, 18, was taken 16th overall at the 2013 NHL Draft this past June and has appeared in seven games with the Sabres this season, registering one goal. The six-foot-one, 220-pounder should provide a physical boostt to the Russian team.dddddddddddd Joining them on the Russian selection camp roster is incumbent starting goaltender and 2012 Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder Andrei Vasilevski. There are also some prospects from Canadian NHL clubs to look out for on the selection camp roster as Calgary Flames draftee Rushan Rafikov is among the defencemen. The Edmonton Oilers have a pair of prospects up front in Anton Slepyshev and Bogdan Yakimov. Russia won a bronze medal at the 2013 World Juniors, defeating Canada in the bronze medal game in Ufa. Grigorenko was a member of that team scoring two goals and four assists in seven games. See the related links for the full selection camp rosters for all 10 competing nations at the 2014 World Junior Championship. ' ' '