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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Cam Newton is not worried about when hell return to the football field — he said hes just happy to be alive.The Panthers quarterback returned to the teams facility Thursday, two days after a two-car accident left him with two fractures in his lower back. He did not practice and his playing status will be reevaluated next week.As far as when Im coming back, who cares? Im just thankful to have breath in my lungs, Newton said as he stood behind a podium during a seven-minute press conference.Newton wont play Sunday against Tampa Bay, Derek Anderson will start at quarterback.Thats fine with Newton, who feels blessed to not have been injured worse — or killed.Im on somebodys fantasy (football) league and I think its the man upstairs, Newton said.Newton arrived at the stadium Thursday morning and attended some team meetings, watched film and began rehabilitation with the training staff. He said his back remains a little stiff, but otherwise feels great.Newton said he doesnt think the other driver saw him as he pulled out into traffic onto the one-way street where the quarterback was driving, about a block from the teams stadium.Newton said the other car clipped the side of his slightly elevated 1998 Dodge truck, causing him to spin and the truck to overturn. Newton said he was conscious for the entire accident, but isnt sure how many times his vehicle flipped.He said the air bags did deploy in his truck.The one thing I remember is that I couldnt talk afterward because I was in such shock, Newton said. In my book one plus one always equals two. And Im looking at this truck and this accident and like, dude, one plus one doesnt equal two. Im like, hey, somebody is supposed to be dead.Newton said he didnt feel any immediate pain, but as his adrenaline started to wear off his lower back began to tighten.Newton said hes not sure how long he will be out of action.He made the decision to come to the stadium to put other peoples minds at ease and doesnt want to be a distraction.My presence not only helped others but it helped me, Newton said.Teammates said they were thrilled to see Newton.Anderson said he gave Newton a light hug when he saw him in the training room.I think it was an eye-opener for him, Anderson said of the experience.Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the best-case scenario is Newton could return to action Dec. 21 against Cleveland, but added it will largely be up to the former No. 1 overall picks pain threshold.Well take it one week at a time, Rivera said.The Panthers are half-game out of first place in the NFC South despite a 4-8-1 record after a 41-10 victory over New Orleans last Sunday. They could take over control of the division if they beat the Bucs (2-11) and the Saints and Falcons lose.Anderson, who is 19-25 as an NFL starter, said hes excited for the opportunity to play in such a big game.Obviously the circumstances arent ideal but Ive had a good two days to try get on the same page with everybody, Anderson said.Anderson said the injury could bring the Panthers closer together as a team as the season winds down. He said its one of the tightest locker rooms hes been around in during his 10 seasons in the league and the show of love and support for Newton was noticeable.Guys genuinely care about his well-being first and foremost, Anderson said. And those things kind of bring guys together.Tight end Greg Olsen said Newton was in good spirits as he passed through the locker room.I think its good for him to get back around the guys and get in a normal routine, Olsen said. Its good to see guys him get back because it means things are getting back to normal.NOTES: Rivera said DeAngelo Williams will miss his second straight game with a broken hand. Jonathan Stewart, who ran for 155 yards last Sunday against New Orleans, will get the start.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Jose Fernandez Jersey . -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday. Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlins-Andre-Dawson-Kids-Jersey/ .Y. -- Florida Panthers captain Ed Jovanovski finally has something to show for all the pain he went through in overcoming a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the past two years. Jeff Locke Jersey .com) - Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall left Saturdays game against the Senators in the second period with a left knee injury. Miguel Rojas Jersey . The club announced Friday that Mauro Biello will be kept on as an assistant to coach Jesse Marsch when the Impact join the MLS in 2012. CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks lost No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford to a lower-body injury three weeks ago, forcing the Stanley Cup champions to hand the net over to an untested rookie from Finland. The Blackhawks had no idea what they had in Antti Raanta. They hoped for the best, and they got it. Raanta made 26 saves in his first NHL shutout, Brandon Saad scored in the first period, and Chicago beat Los Angeles 1-0 on Monday night, sending the Kings to their first three-game losing streak in nearly a year. "There was only one goal for us, so I knew if we wanted to win the game, I had to stop all the pucks," Raanta said. "I thought about it maybe the last two or three minutes." With Crawford nearing a return, Raanta improved to 10-1-3 while bouncing back from one of his worst performances. He allowed two late goals in Chicagos 6-5 shootout loss at St. Louis on Saturday. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was non-committal when asked about the teams goalies after Crawford returns. But it is hard to imagine Raanta returning to the minors after the impressive start to this NHL career. "Its a nice situation," Quenneville said. "He really, really helped solidify something that looked a little bit concerning at that time." Saad scored his sixth goal in his last 11 games. Chicago, which leads the NHL with 158 goals, played its lowest-scoring game since a 2-1 shootout win at Dallas on Nov. 29. Los Angeles Martin Jones made 29 saves in his second straight loss after beginning his career with eight consecutive wins, tying the NHL record. The Kings, who have yielded a league-low 80 goals, played a tough, physical game after losses to Dallas and Nashville. But they are on their first three-game slide since dropping the opening three games of last season in January. "We had our chances. They had some chances," Kings centre Mike Richards said. "We just didnt capitalize on our looks at the net." Chicago forward Patrick Kane had a career-best point streak snapped at 14 games. He had eight goals and 17 assists in the surge. Last seasons Western Conference finalists faced off for the second time this season.dddddddddddd The Blackhawks scored three first-period goals, and Raanta made 21 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Kings on Dec. 15. Raanta lost his shutout chance in that one when Kings defenceman Alec Martinez scored with 3:54 remaining. This time, he finished the job. Raanta faced his biggest test in the second period when Dustin Brown made a strong charge to the net. The 24-year-old Finn turned away the rush by the Kings captain, and then stopped him again when he was awarded a penalty shot. "Its nice to have a great 60 minutes," Raanta said. "Last game in St. Louis, it wasnt so great the last three minutes, so its nice to bounce back like this." Anze Kopitar also had a chance in front of Chicagos net with 2 minutes to go, but Raanta was there when the centre tried to stuff the puck into the net. The Kings had a couple of chances to stop the Blackhawks scoring chance that produced the only goal. Bryan Bickells pass to Saad went off the stick of Los Angeles defenceman Matt Greene, and Richards had an opportunity to knock away the puck before Saad flipped it in at 7:05 for his 14th goal. "It was just a broken play, and their guy was able to pick up the loose puck," Jones said. "I mean thats the difference in the hockey game right there, a broken play like that. The little things make a big difference." The Blackhawks appeared to have a second goal in the third, but Andrew Shaws tip-in was waved off because his stick was above his shoulders. NOTES: Browns penalty shot was Los Angeles first this season and the sixth against the Blackhawks. ... Crawford participated in the morning skate, but didnt play. He has missed 10 games. ... Kane is the only NHL player with multiple point streaks of at least 10 games. ... The Kings scratched Martinez and forwards Daniel Carcillo and Matt Frattin. ... The Blackhawks also scratched defencemen Michael Kostka and Sheldon Brookbank. ... The teams will meet once more on Feb. 3 in Los Angeles. ' ' '