TORONTO – Given his history, Joffrey Lupul had some concerns when he began to experience tightness in the lower back just days before training camp was due to begin. "But I felt great all summer," said Lupul. "I said that to the training camp staff, I havent had any issues. I was training, skating, golfing – which is hard on your back – so it hasnt been something thats been bothering me all summer. It just came one day." Sidelined with back spasms for the first six days of camp, Lupul joined his teammates at practice for the first time on Wednesday morning. As was the plan, the 29-year-old participated in the first of two practice sessions, looking and feeling like his old self. "Everythings fine," he explained after about an hour on the ice. "Obviously not the way I wanted to start the camp, but just happy everythings feeling better now." "Hes moving much better, felt much better," observed Leafs coach Randy Carlyle following the practice. "We think hes an option for us in the next couple exhibition games." Entering his fourth season with the Leafs, Lupul first sensed tightness in the back during the final week of informal workouts – working extensively with skating coach Barb Underhill – but rather than exercise caution, he decided to push through it, "which probably wasnt the right idea the week before camp" as the tightness worsened into "pretty painful" spasms. Held to just 16 games in 2013 because of injuries – broken right forearm and concussion – Lupul had his first serious bout with the back in the fall of 2009 when he required multiple surgeries while still with the Anaheim Ducks. Given that scary history – which included a debilitating infection from surgery – and the relative unimportance of exhibition play for a player of his status, he and the team opted for patience and precaution. "I obviously have some history there and some issues with the low back," he said, "but I believe since I had surgery, this would be the first time Ive ever missed time with it. These arent regular season games. I would probably be handling this different if we were playing regular season games." Lupul didnt believe the injury would linger into the regular season and expects to be ready for October 1st. "At this stage in the season," he continued, "you take things slow and make sure youre feeling good for October 1st. Thats our plan right now." Cheap Tigres Jerseys . -- After the Anaheim Ducks went on a frantic six-week sprint just to make the post-season, Teemu Selanne thinks its understandable they couldnt maintain that breakneck pace going into their playoff opener. Cheap Washington Capitals Jerseys . -- Both Alberta rinks and Quebecs mens rink remained unbeaten with victories in Draw 6 on Sunday at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian juniors curling championship. http://www.cheapjerseysfromchinashop.us.com/ . The Minot, North Dakota native has appeared in 10 games for the Flames this season, tallying one assist. wholesale jerseys . He will next meet third-seeded Juan Monaco, who beat Jeremy Chardy of France, 6-3, 7-5. Almagro was runner-up last year in Hamburg. German veteran Tommy Haas beat seventh-seeded countryman Florian Mayer 6-1, 6-4 to set up a semifinal showdown with Marin Cilic of Croatia, who defeated Albert Ramos of Spain 6-4, 7-6 (5). wholesale nfl jerseys .m. Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The San Jose Earthquakes will try to build on a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals last season when the club opens its 2011 Major League Soccer campaign against Real Salt Lake at Buck Shaw Stadium.SANTIAGO, Chile -- Rafael Nadal arrived in Chile on Friday and will test his injured left knee in competition for the first time next week after sitting out for seven months -- the longest break of his career. The 26-year-old Nadal will soon head off to the nearby coastal resort city of Vina del Mar, where he will play in his first event since being eliminated in the second round of Wimbledon in June. Nadal, who will be trying to win his eighth French Open title later this year, said the knee still bothers him and that he may have to reduce his tournament appearances. "My knee is much better, and this is the most important thing now because theres no risk of a big injury," Nadal said at the airport in Santiago. "But its still bothering me, which will keep me from playing all the time, which I would like to do. "You have to start somewhere," the Spaniard added. "I tthink this is the right moment and the right place.dddddddddddd" Nadal is one of the best clay-court players in the history of the game, but he tried to downplay what might happen in Chile, and later this month in clay-court events in Brazil and Mexico. "Its been months -- seven months -- since Ive competed," Nadal said. "This will be my first time playing in a very long time. Anything can happen. Ill try not to let it happen, but you have to be prepared for everything and be patient." Nadal has a round of appearances to make before he opens play, including a meeting with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, a big sports fan. Nadals first test will come Tuesday in a doubles match with Juan Monaco, followed by his opening match Wednesday in singles. "Im here to give the best I have right now," Nadal said, "and hope the knee holds up." Steve Weatherford Jersey ' ' '