"What I liked about the tying goal is it took a lot of hard wo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills could identify a new owner within three months, leading Gov. Andrew Cuomos stepping up the states efforts to secure the franchises long-term future in the region. A person familiar with the sale process told The Associated Press on Saturday there is an anticipation that the Bills could be sold by July, and the sale approved by NFL owners as early as the leagues meetings in October. The same person and another person also told the AP that at least one prospective ownership group has already toured potential new stadium locations in Buffalo. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the sale process has not been made public. The person would not identify which ownership group toured the city, what sites were viewed or who provided the tour. The Bills future in Buffalo is uncertain after team owner and founder Ralph Wilson died in March. Wilsons estate is in the process of hiring an investment banking firm that would oversee the sale of the team, which is expected to go to the highest bidder. The updated timetable has led Cuomo to speed up the states involvement in protecting its interests in preventing the Bills from relocating. The state intends to hire a consulting firm over the next week to produce a report within three months that would be issued to prospective owners. The report would identify potential stadium sites and outline public financing options that would be made available. That firm would work with sports business attorney Irwin Raij, whose contract was extended last month, to represent the state during the sale process. Raij specializes in stadium development projects and lease agreements. In 2012, he represented New York in negotiating the Bills 10-year lease that included a strict non-relocation clause that makes it difficult for the team to move before the 2020 season. The firm would produce its report ahead of the "New Stadium Working Group," a committee made up of public and private leaders, including Bills executives. The group has already met twice over the past month and is responsible for making recommendations whether a new stadium or renovations to the teams current home best fit the franchises needs to remain viable in Buffalo once the lease expires in 2023. The working group is expected to take six months or longer before making its recommendations, well after the team could be sold. Cuomo is intent on making sure a framework of a plan is in place much sooner, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy told the AP during a visit through the region Friday. "The governor wants to be prepared if there are any earlier offers to buy the team," Duffy said. "Our team is looking at sites now in Erie County, Buffalo, Niagara County. Were just being prepared because we dont know who the next owner will be. Were not sure what the goals and the objectives of the next ownership team will be." nfl jerseys wholesale . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. cheap jerseys wholesale . Patrick Sharp scored twice and Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy also connected to lead Chicago to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Monday night. http://www.cheapchinanfljerseyswholesale.com/ . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. cheap nba jerseys . Eller scored the midway through the third period after Dallas scored twice to tie it, leading Canadiens to a 6-4 win over the Stars on Thursday night. china nfl jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals scored early and late in regulation before turning toward goaltender Braden Holtby, who sealed a satisfying comeback victory. Holtby had 33 saves, then blanked the Minnesota in a shootout as Washington beat the Wild 3-2 to extend its winning streak to four games. After Holtby helped squelch a Minnesota power play that extended into overtime, Nicklas Backstrom scored the only goal in the shootout to secure the Capitals fourth straight home win. Holtby outplayed Wild goalie Josh Harding, who came in with an NHL-best 1.09 goals-against average and stopped 25 shots. "He made a couple of saves that I was like, Wow, incredible," Backstrom said of Holtby. Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal at 8:10 of the first period on Washingtons second shot of the game, and the Capitals didnt beat Harding again until Marcus Johansson forced overtime with a blast from the right circle at 16:52 of the third period. The shot came only minutes after Harding made several outstanding saves with Washington on the power play. "I thought we did a really good job killing that, but it really put us on our heels," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "After that, it seemed like we were hemmed in our end." The Wild had the extra man for the final 57 seconds of regulation and the opening 1:03 of overtime, but could not convert. After two players from each side failed to score in the shootout, Backstrom beat Harding with a wrist shot that went into the upper left corner of the net. Holtby then denied Charlie Coyle to win it. Coyle and Mikael Granlund scored in regulation for the Wild, whose three-game winning streak ended. "The result wasnt there because they got that one (goal) late," Minnesota forward Matt Cooke said. "Its frustrating. You go out and do your part and guys are blocking shots and guys are taking hits to make plays,, and the results not there.dddddddddddd At the end of the day, its about wins and losses." Granlund put Minnesota up 2-1 at 6:07 of the second period with his second goal of the season. Jason Pominville controlled a rebound on the side of the net and passed to Granlund, who sent a fluttering shot past Holtbys left shoulder. Later in the period, Washington rookie Tom Wilson broke free down the left side. Harding kept his ground and plucked the shot out of the air with his glove. The Capitals came into the game with an NHL-leading 26 goals in the second period, but in this one they went scoreless on nine shots. In the third period, however, Washington got the pivotal goal. "What I liked about the tying goal is it took a lot of hard work," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "We fought through a lot of frustration because they were giving you nothing. It was hard to get shots to the net." The Wild outshot the Capitals 12-5 in a first period that produced one power-play goal from each team. Less than 20 seconds after Minnesotas Nate Prosser was sent to the penalty box for cross checking, Ovechkin scored from the left circle off a pass from Backstrom at 8:10. It was the third power-play goal in two games for Ovechkin, who needs only four more to break Peter Bondras franchise record of 137. Coyle scored against the leagues most effective penalty-killing unit with just over two minutes left in the period. Zach Parise got an assist on the play to extend his point-scoring streak to four games. Notes: Washington improved to 4-0 in shootouts. ... Minnesota D Keith Ballard was scratched with an upper body injury, and is also expected to miss Saturdays game in Carolina. ... Capitals F Eric Fehr was a healthy scratch for a second straight game. ... This was only the second time in the Wilds seven games in Washington that they scored more than one goal. ' ' '