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TORONTO -- Mired in a 10-game scoring slump dating back to the regular season, Marlies forward Spencer Abbott elected to go against a popular post-season trend and shave his playoff beard Thursday morning. Patty Mills Jersey . The move paid off as Abbott scored a natural hat trick to lead the Toronto Marlies to a 4-1 win over the Texas Stars that ties the American Hockey Leagues Western Conference final at two. "It wasnt working for me personally so I decided to switch something up," said Abbott of the fresh shave. "I was kind of hearing it when I first did it there, but I guess now they cant really say a whole lot. I was in a bit of a slump there and its nice to get that off my back. Getting three is just a bonus." Added Marlies coach Steve Spott: "(He) wanted to reset and a fresh start so he definitely did that. Im going to get to the Shoppers Drug Mart, maybe get some razors. Its funny how superstition plays a part of this. Whatever works, but it definitely worked for Spencer tonight." Abbott, who had not scored in seven playoff games after missing 12 games with a shoulder injury, picked up all three goals on Marlies power plays. Defenceman T.J. Brennan assisted on all three Abbott goals while Peter Holland extended his point streak to eight games with two assists. "I think its all a credit to my line mates," said Holland of the streak. "Ive been playing with great players and Spotters been putting me in great situations in order to get the job done and when the power play is going, you can get on the score sheet. As long as were winning, the points dont really matter to me." With Marlies defenceman Andrew MacWilliam off for boarding at 14:26 of the third, the Stars pulled goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp giving Texas a two minute, two-man advantage, but the visitors were unable to capitalize. Following the penalty kill, Jerry DAmigo added an empty netter to give Toronto a four-goal cushion. However, with just 1:42 remaining, Radek Faksa spoiled Marlies goaltender Drew MacIntyres bid for his third shutout of the post-season. MacIntyre made 27 saves for his ninth win of the playoffs, while Nilstorp stopped 24 shots in the loss. "Weve done a good job this year with responding when weve dealt with adversity," said Spott. "We lost two in a row, we definitely didnt play the way that we wanted to play (Wednesday). "The first (goal) was big, but the second one, thats the one thats been a challenge for us. Weve done a pretty good job getting the first goal in this series, but we wanted to have the push back right away to try to get the second one and try to back them off." With the win, Toronto avoided losing three straight for the second time all season (Nov. 9-14). Abbott opened the scoring at 1:36 of the first period, beating Nilstorp from the point. On the Marlies second power play of the night, Abbott put home the rebound off of a Brennan point shot past a sprawling Nilstorp. Holland nearly made it 3-0 at 11:20 of the first, beating Nilstorp but hitting the post. Toronto has now out-scored opponents 16-3 in the opening frame during the Calder Cup playoffs. Abbott completed the hat trick at 7:05 of the second on a two-man advantage, beating Nilstorp who was screened well by Toronto forward Josh Leivo. "It was pretty obvious we were giving him the gears a little bit before the game, but hey, whatever you need to do," said Holland of Abbotts shave. "If hes going to score three goals and hes going to help us win, then thats fine by us, but were going to ride him a little bit longer, thats for sure." The Marlies finished 3 for 6 with the man advantage while holding the Stars scoreless on five tries. Stars forward Chris Mueller had his five-game point streak halted in the loss. Notes: Marlies defenceman Korbinian Holzer missed the game with a lower-body injury and was replaced by Dylan Yeo. Veteran centre Jerred Smithson replaced Tyler Biggs on Torontos fourth line. ... Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne DeRosario dropped the puck in a pre-game ceremonial faceoff. ... Game 5 of the series goes Saturday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum. Tony Parker Jersey .com) - Carmelo Anthony tallied 31 points to help the New York Knicks continue their improved play of late with a 100-92 victory over a short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder squad. Bruce Bowen Jersey . Andrews, Scotland - Oliver Wilson fired a final- round, 2-under 70 on Sunday and he held on to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by one shot. http://www.basketballspursshop.com/Womens-Joffrey-Lauvergne-Basketball-Jersey/ .com) - Nino Williams posted 18 points and seven rebounds, as Kansas State edged No. BALTIMORE -- Though concerned about the potential short-term loss of injured Baltimore Orioles teammate Chris Davis, Adam Jones couldnt help but marvel at the performance of Kansas City Royals rookie Yordano Ventura. Ventura scattered seven hits over eight innings and had a career-high eight strikeouts in leading the Royals to a 5-0 victory Friday night. "That kids special, to say the least," said Jones, who went 0 for 3 against the right-hander. "Hes got a 95-100 (mph fastball), and his changeup I think is the pitch that keeps people off his fastball. His curveball was filthy. I dont like to tip my cap, but the guys got some good stuff and he went out there and showed it tonight." Davis left in the fifth inning with a left oblique strain. The severity of the injury was not immediately known, but Davis looked to be in obvious discomfort as he walked toward the dugout following a third-inning flyout. "Well know more about it (Saturday)," Davis said. "Ive never had an oblique strain or whatever you want to call it, but it doesnt feel so bad right now that I cant move or anything like that. So I think right now well just take it one day at a time." Davis led the majors with 53 home runs and 138 RBIs last season. Although he has only two homers this year, Davis reached base in a career-high 20 straight games before going 0 for 2 in this one. He hopes to get back quickly and start another streak. "If we can get ahead of it right now and make it just a bump in the road as opposed to a big obstacle, Ill be better off," said Davis, who could not recall a specific play or swing that caused the injury. "Just discomfort the last few days," he said. The Orioles wont be the same if Davis must go to the 15-day disabled list. "CD is a big, big part of our lineup and part of our plan," Jones said. "Whatever it is, you just want him to take his time and not rush it because it could be longer." Ventura (2-1) walked two and hit a batter in his seventh major league start. The 22-year-old, who had never before gone longer than seven innings, stymied a club that totalled 21 runs in its previous two games. "I think thats as good as Ive seen him," manager Ned Yost said. "He had everything going tonight. I mean good fastball, his curveball -- that was probably the most consistent curveball hes had all year -- and a great changeup. He kept his pitch count downn and really never got into much trouble. Tim Duncan Jersey. He just pitched a great game." Baltimore got only one runner past second base against the hard-throwing Ventura, a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic. Royals pitcher Bruce Chen, serving as a translator for Ventura, said, "He felt like it went really well, but he wants to thank the team for supporting him, playing good defence and scoring a lot of runs. He thought we did a really good job of calling the game." Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth to finish off the Royals second shutout of the season. Kansas City is 11-0 when scoring at least four runs and 0-11 when scoring three runs or less. Ubaldo Jimenez (0-4) allowed four runs and six hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander has lost four of his five starts with the Orioles, who signed him to a $50 million, four-year contract in February. After the start of the game was delayed 55 minutes by rain, the Royals wasted no time in taking a 2-0 lead. Jimenez walked Omar Infante and gave up a single to Eric Hosmer before yielding RBI singles to Billy Butler and Alex Gordon. "In the first inning, I couldnt find the strike zone," Jimenez said. "After that, I was able to throw the fastball and breaking ball for strikes." Alcides Escobar reached third with no outs in Kansas City second, but was stranded. The Orioles got two singles in both the second and fourth innings before Ventura worked out of trouble. The Royals chased Jimenez during a two-run seventh. Escobar walked and Jarrod Dyson reached on a bunt before Nori Aoki delivered an RBI single past the drawn-in infield and Infante singled in a run on reliever T.J. McFarlands first pitch. Butler made it 5-0 in the ninth with a two-out RBI double. NOTES: Orioles 3B Manny Machado (knee) began his rehabilitation assignment with Class A Frederick. Because of a wet field, he served as DH instead of playing the field. He had two doubles and a triple in four at-bats. ... Former Oriole Jeremy Guthrie will take the mound for the Royals on Saturday night in the second game of the series. Wei-Yin Chen will pitch for Baltimore. ... Hosmer singled and walked twice against Jimenez and is 9 for 23 (.391) lifetime against him. ... Nick Markakis had two hits for Baltimore, his team-high ninth multihit game. ... After the game, the Orioles optioned McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk.