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ATLANTA - John Smoltz completed a unique path to baseballs Hall of Fame.The right-hander, who flourished as a starter and closer for the Atlanta Braves, was elected in his first appearance on the ballot Tuesday. Smoltz joins former teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who were inducted in the Hall last summer along with their Atlanta manager, Bobby Cox.Smoltz spent 12 seasons as a starter, winning the 1996 NL Cy Young Award, before 3 1/2 years as the Braves closer. He returned to the rotation, becoming the only pitcher with 200 or more wins and 150 saves, finishing 213-155 with 154 saves.It was a potentially difficult career for Hall of Fame voters to judge.I would argue theres nobody like me to compare, Smoltz said.He was picked on 455 ballots (82.9 per cent). He will be joined at the July 26 induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, by Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Craig Biggio.Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine led Atlanta to 14 straight post-season appearances from 1991-2005, but only one World Series title in 1995.I was given an opportunity to go 14 straight years, Smoltz said. I dont think anyone else will have the opportunity to do that. Yeah, there was a little part of me that sits there and goes My gosh, we could have won a few more and Why couldnt we get it done?But when I look back, and I started out with three consecutive 100-loss seasons, it was the greatest run in sports. I know the end result is what we get known for ... winning rings, but at least we got one. No doubt we should have had a few more.Maddux is eighth on the career list with 355 wins and Glavine 21st with 305.The three of us share such a unique bond that I dont think anyone feels any different than the other person, Smoltz said. Though I can tell you, Im not in their class when you talk about the numbers they put up. Im probably not in anyones class because of the strangeness of my career and the uniqueness of what I did. It kind of sets me apart a little bit.Smoltz attended last years ceremony and said he resisted the temptation to ask Glavine and Maddux about the process.I didnt want to say anything until this day came, and it has come, he said.Smoltz thrived in the post-season, posting a 15-4 record and 2.67 ERA. He missed the 2000 season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, one of five arm operations, and suggested the shift to the bullpen in 2001. He had 11 saves that year before adding 55 in 2002.In kind of a cruel way, one year of 55 saves kind of undid 14 pretty good years of starting, he said. People started saying, Well, this is what hes always meant to be. This is great. This is going to get him in the Hall of Fame. I was quite perplexed, to say: How can 14 years disappear in one year?Smoltz moved back to the rotation in 2005 for his first of three straight seasons with at least 14 wins. He was 24-8 with a 2.94 ERA in his Cy Young season but said his return to a starting role set the stage for probably my most gratifying years.During a pair of news conferences, he struggled to grasp his accomplishment.I cant even at this point put myself in anyones category, let alone the Hall of Fame, Smoltz said. I think itll hit me when I get there. Im not comfortable with titles, but Im relishing this one and I will for the rest of my life.___Follow Charles Odum on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CharlesOdum Fake Nike Air Max Replica . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. 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Lack replaced an injured Roberto Luongo late in the first period then watched defenceman Chris Tanev score the winning goal midway through the third as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Jets 2-1 in a tight NHL game.BOSTON -- While Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos injury was on everyones minds, the Boston Bruins were able to get back to playing hockey a lot quicker after it happened. Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Stamkos was hurt with 7:11 to play in the second period. He entered the day tied with Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby as the NHLs leading scorer. Stamkos got tied up with Boston defenceman Dougie Hamilton and crashed into the right post. His left skate appeared to hit the post first before his right leg crashed into it around the shin area. He tried to get up twice before going down to the ice in pain, grabbing his leg just above the ankle. When he left the ice on a stretcher, players on both teams tapped their sticks on ice as the fans applauded in tribute. The Lightning confirmed on the teams Twitter account that Stamkos suffered a broken right tibia. No further information was available. "A player like that, I dont know how serious it is, but it looks pretty serious to me," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "You dont want to see that." Its bad news for the Lightning and for Canadas Olympic team. Stamkos was considered a lock to represent Canada at the 2014 Sochi Games. Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots for his 18th career shutout and second this season. Jarome Iginla added an empty-net goal with 59 seconds left. Anders Lindback, playing just his fifth game of the season, made 23 saves for Tampa Bay, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. "Injuries happen. Hes gone a long time in his career without being seriously hurt," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "Theres no sugarcoating it. Hes a huge part of our team. You can make an argument here that if you were going to hand out the MVP in our league now, you can give it to him. Is that a hole in our team? Yes, it is." The Bruins jumped ahead with just under three minutes left in the period when Bergeron scored off the rebound of Torey Krugs shot that caromed off the skate of Loui Eriksson. They made it 2-0 when Paille broke in down the right wing, shifted to his backhand and slipped a shot past Lindback iinside the right post.dddddddddddd During the play, Tampa Bay defenceman Sami Salo also appeared to hurt his right leg and had trouble making it to the bench. He was briefly assisted by one of the referees on the ice and didnt return in the third period. "Well, I mean that is a big blow for them. Nobody wants to see that happen to anybody," Iginla said. "He was obviously in a lot of pain and I didnt hear for sure what happened to him, but I imagine its got to be, for him not to get up, hes a tough player and plays hard and stuff. So he must have been in some serious pain." Tampa Bay veteran Martin St. Louis didnt know how bad the injury was, but felt his team still played tough. "I thought we played hard. We just couldnt get the puck in the net," he said. "We really cant think about (Stamkos injury) now. Weve got a game to play (Tuesday). Were going to be playing a lot of hockey. I dont know how bad it is. Its tough to comment. "We lost him tonight for a period and a half. I think its a big part of our team. I thought we battled." It was Tampa Bays second loss in nine games. The Lightning came into the day leading the NHLs Atlantic Division, but the loss of Stamkos will be a major blow. "Now weve got to pick ourselves up and see what were made of," Cooper said. "Its a tough one for the game. You want to see guys that have It and Steven Stamkos has It. Now well see what were made of. You talk about a test, this is a test." Boston won its third straight. NOTES: Stamkos streak of scoring a goal was stopped at six games. ... Boston won its seventh straight against Tampa Bay. ... The Bruins Krug, Dennis Seidenberg, David Krejci, Johnny Boychuk and Matt Bartkowski each bought $2,500 of tickets that were given to military members and their families, who had a chance to meet the players after the game. ... It was the 80th meeting between the franchises. Boston has won 51. ... The Bruins wore military-style camouflage jerseys during warm-ups. ... It was the Lightnings second of a three-game road trip. They play at Montreal on Tuesday night. ... Boston is off until hosting Columbus on Thursday. ... The game was the opener of an NHL-NBA doubleheader. The Celtics were slated to face Orlando at night. ' ' '