LOS ANGELES -- Steve Stricker is likely to miss the Match Play Championship next week because his older brother is awaiting a liver transplant at home in Wisconsin. China Jerseys NFL . Stricker said his 50-year-old brother, Scott Stricker, has been in the hospital since Jan. 6 and was transferred to the intensive care unit three weeks ago. Stricker said his brother has a history of health problems, but took a sudden turn for the worse after the holidays. "Hes walking a tightrope is what theyre telling me," Stricker said Tuesday after his daily visit to the hospital. "He needs a liver. Hes holding his own, but this cant last forever. Hopefully, we get one soon." He said the family thought his brother had a liver donor over the weekend, but the timing didnt work out. Stricker said his brother caddied for him when he qualified for the Canadian Tour in 1989, and soon after had colitis that turned into Crohns disease. Scott Stricker had emergency surgery last Thursday, and Stricker said he has been stable since then. If he were to miss the Match Play Championship that would mean four of the top 12 players in the world ranking are not in the 64-man field at Dove Mountain. Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson already have said they would not play. Stricker won the Match Play in 2001 in Australia, and he reached the quarterfinals a year ago. He has not officially withdrawn -- players have until Friday to commit -- but said it was not looking good for him to play. "I was going to leave today to go to Phoenix for a few days, but thats not going to happen," he said. "Its going to be a long shot if I come and play. Im practicing every day, but in the back of my mind, I feel like Im not going to be there -- unless something happens rather quickly, and they say it can. But if one comes available, I wanted to be around for the surgery." Stricker has competed only once since the Presidents Cup last October -- he played the unofficial World Challenge the first week in December -- though he said he played a few rounds in Naples, Fla., after the holidays. Last year he began a limited schedule to be at home more often. Stricker played only 13 times last year and finished No. 3 in the FedEx Cup. Don Wells Jersey Store . Colton Sissons also scored for Milwaukee (19-12-8), which went ahead with a two-goal third period. Wade MacLeod and Greg McKegg replied for Toronto (23-12-4). Paul Martha Jersey Store . -- Steven Stamkos scored his first goal since returning from a major injury, Ryan Callahan had his first goal with Tampa Bay, and the Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 on Thursday night.CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane had his shot all along. Same for his dazzling puck-handling skills and the vision that sees the plays before they happen. What Kane got back on Wednesday night was his legs, and the result was a familiar one. Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 to even their first-round playoff series at two games. "Special player. Patience, play recognition, delays, just at a different level you dont see often," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. Kane missed the final 12 games of the regular season after he hurt his left leg during a 4-0 victory over St. Louis on March 19. He scored in his first game back in the series opener against the Blues, but Game 4 was by far his best performance since the injury. "Every game feels like Ive gotten a little bit better," he said. "Whether its timing or getting used to playing in the playoffs again, whatever it may be, just try to keep getting better and better and use these games to my advantage." Kane carried the puck down the left side in OT as teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad rushed toward the net, and beat Ryan Miller with a well-placed wrist shot for his 32nd career post-season goal. Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, also had a shot go off the crossbar earlier in overtime. "Hes a dangerous player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Hes dangerous off the rush. The most dangerous player in the league." Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago, which blew a 2-0 second-period lead. Jonathan Toews had two assists and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for the Blues, and Miller finished with 30 stops. Maxim Lapierre also scored his first goal of the series. "We knew it was going to be a tough battle and I think were right where we want to be," Lapierre said. "We won our two games at home. We came were and played good hockey. Now weve got to focus, regroup and play good hockey in St. Louis again." Tarasenkos fourth goal of the playoffs made it 3-2 at 12:26 of the third, but Bickell tipped Michal Rozsivals slap shot past Miller to tie it witth 3:52 left in regulation. Lew Reeve Jersey Store. . The Blues were without captain David Backes again after he was scratched for the second straight game with an upper-body injury. Backes hasnt played since he absorbed a big hit from Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook in the third period of St. Louis 4-3 overtime victory Saturday. Seabrook served the second of his three-game suspension, giving Sheldon Brookbank his second straight start with top defenceman Duncan Keith. Blues forward Brenden Morrow also was scratched after Hitchcock said earlier in the day that he would miss the rest of the series. Morrow missed the final three games of the regular season with a foot injury. He played in Games 1 and 3 against the Blackhawks. Playing in front of another loud sellout crowd, the Blackhawks used their maligned power play to grab the lead in the second. St. Louis defenceman Alex Pietrangelo had his stick knocked away by Toews, who fired a shot that went off Shaws right skate and popped up in the air. Shaw then swiped it in with a backhand for his first goal of the post-season at 8:40. It was the Blackhawks second power-play goal in 17 opportunities for the series. Kane got an assist on Shaws score, and then scored one of his own to make it 2-0 at 16:09. Defenceman Johnny Oduya made a beautiful cross-ice pass to a streaking Kane, who shot it over Millers glove for his second of the series. "I just try to play off instincts and have the feeling that youre going to make things happen instead of waiting around," Kane said. "Ill try to keep that going." St. Louis appeared to be in big trouble before Kane committed a delay of game penalty with 1:16 left in the second, giving the Blues an opening. Just seven seconds into the resulting power play, Tarasenko beat a screened Crawford for his third goal of the series. It was the Blues second power-play goal in 21 chances in the series. St. Louis then got another late-period goal when Lapierres shot went off the right post and then Crawfords left shoulder before going into the net with 3.1 seconds to go. Five of the Blues goals in the series have come in the final two minutes of a period. NOTES: Blues C Derek Roy returned after missing Game 3. ... Blues C Vladimir Sobotka was shaken up after a big hit from Bickell in overtime, but quickly returned to the ice. ' ' '
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