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Atlanta mayor admits loss

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Thrashers' sale and move to Winnipeg is not yet official, but Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talked on Tuesday as if losing the team is inevitable.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Thrashers' sale and move to Winnipeg is not yet official, but Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talked on Tuesday as if losing the team is inevitable.

"I think anytime we lose a major sports franchise, it is tough," Reed said.

Atlanta lost its first NHL team in 1980 when the Flames moved to Calgary.

Reed said the city was willing to work to keep the Thrashers, but had no success in its search for a buyer to keep the team in Atlanta.

The Thrashers' owners, led by Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr., are in talks with True North Sports and Entertainment, which would relocate the team to Winnipeg.

Rafalski retiring?

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings have scheduled a news conference on Wednesday for defenseman Brian Rafalski amid speculation that he will retire.

The 37-year-old Rafalski helped New Jersey win two Stanley Cups and the Red Wings hoist one. Rafalski played for the United States in losses to Canada in the 2010 and 2002 Olympic gold-medal games.

Bruins need one more

BOSTON - Tampa Bay's Steve Downie had the puck at the edge of the crease, with nothing but an empty net to shoot at.

Tim Thomas reached back and deflected the puck with the bottom edge of his stick as the blade bounced off the goalpost, protecting a late, one-goal lead in Boston's 3-1 victory over the Lightning on Monday night.

"He made some game-saving saves," Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid said. "That's what you need from your goaltender, especially this time of year."

The win gave Boston a three-games-to-two lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals and a chance to reach the Stanley Cup Finals with a win in Game 6 in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday.

Thomas bounced back from a Game 4 collapse, stopping 33 shots after giving up another early goal - none bigger than Downie's with about 11 minutes left.

Flyers in Ontario

The Flyers announced they will make their annual preseason trek to London, Ontario, and meet the Detroit Red Wings at the John Labatt Centre on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are set to go on sale Saturday at noon exclusively through johnlabattcentre.com, by phone at 866-455-2849, or in person at the John Labatt Centre box office. Tickets are $100, $90, $80, and $65.