COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Denmarks sports confederation says yachtsman Paul Elvstrom, who won four straight Olympic gold medals between 1948 and 1960, 13 world championships and seven European championships, has died.The confederation says Elvstrom -- elected Denmarks sportsman of the century in 1996 -- died Wednesday. He was 88.When Elvstrom stopped competition after the 1988 Olympics in South Korea, he put an end to a 40-year career that took him to eight Olympic Games.He grabbed his first gold medal in 1948 in the one-man Firefly class, and made the top of the Olympic podium again in the Finn class in 1952, 1956 and 1960.Born in northern Copenhagen in 1928, he trained as a mason, an architect and a real estate agent. In his later years, he struggled with Parkinsons disease. Morten Andersen Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/ .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Willie Roaf Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Bobby Hebert Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have been playing their best hockey of the season during the past week and theyre likely to need more of that when they take on the NHLs top team.The Montreal Canadiens visit PNC Arena on Friday night.It doesnt change for us, Carolina coach Bill Peters said. Its about what we do.Yet while the Hurricanes have been on a brief uptick to move out of the Eastern Conference basement, the Canadiens have encountered their first sustained glitches of the season.Montreal has failed to win its last two games, marking the first time this year it has gone that long without a victory. The Canadiens are coming off Tuesday nights 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Florida Panthers.We need to win battles for the puck and protect the pick, said Canadiens coach Michel Therrien, whose Montreal team has a league-best 13-2-2 record.With back-to-back wins against Washington and San Jose, the Hurricanes have been particularly successful on defense. Theyve given up one goal across the last two games, including posting their first shutout of the season by blanking San Jose 1-0.Its starting to come together, Peters said. We want chemistry and we want continuity. We have an identity were trying to get to. I like the direction were headed.Peters said the Hurricanes (5-6-4) have shown good discipline and that has allowed the team to flourish in several areas.Its a combination of a lot of different things that have been working for the lines, Peters said. The execution has been very high. ... Weve got to geet seconds and thirds (attempts on goal).dddddddddddd.The Hurricanes, who are 15-for-15 on penalty kills across the last seven games, have dominated at times with faceoffs, giving them extra possessions.Faceoff execution, not only winning it but doing something with it, Peters said.Fridays game will mark the fourth in a five-game homestand for Carolina.We need to get some points in the bank, Peters said. This is a big homestand for us and we have two left.The Canadiens are playing their only road game during a five-game stretch.Montreal forward Alexander Radulov will miss the Carolina game because of illness, meaning hell skip his second game in a row.The goalie matchup is listed as Montreals Al Montoya and Carolinas Cam Ward.He has made the big saves at the big moments, Peters said of Ward. Were better in front and hes better.Ward credited teammates for tying up sticks and limiting rebounds.You just try to keep a quiet mind, Ward said. Youve got to build some momentum. These last two games have been our best two games of the year. We did it in real good fashion. ... Its not going to get any easier.The Hurricanes will need to keep watch on Montreal center Alex Galchenyuk, who holds a six-game points streak. To Therrien, that kind of production seems just about right.Hes working hard and hes getting his reward for that, Therrien said. His positioning (has been good). ... Thats a process. ' ' '