NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The NBA is refuting a Globe and Mail report that suggested the league offered to drop a tampering fine issued to the Toronto Raptors if the team removed Drakes title of global brand ambassador. The league recently fined the team after Drake, a popular Toronto rapper, let Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant know he was wanted in Canada during a concert that the Thunder star attended earlier this month. During the performance, Drake shouted to his hometown crowd to show the leagues MVP what it would be like if he came to play for the Raptors, causing a loud ovation. "As the Raptors global ambassador, Drake must follow our anti-tampering rules," Tim Frank, the leagues senior vice-president of basketball communications, said in an email to The Canadian Press on Wednesday. "At no point did we suggest his title be removed but we were clear that as long as he acted as a representative of the team, he is subject to the leagues rules." On stage at a concert in Toronto, Drake addressed Durant and encouraged the fans to applaud the Oklahoma City Thunder star to show him what crowd reaction could be like in the city. "You know, my brother Kevin Durant was kind enough to come to the show tonight and watch us," said Drake from the stage at Torontos Molson Amphitheatre. "I just want him to see what would happen if he came to play in Toronto. Let him know what would happen." Durant can become a free agent after the 2015-16 season. He has spent his entire career with the Thunder franchise. The Raptors declined comment Wednesday. Drake, who grew up a Raptors fan and calls some of the leagues biggest stars his close friends, was formally introduced as the global brand ambassador of Canadas lone NBA team last September. At the time, he said he travels the world preaching the "gospel that is Toronto," grew up following the Raptors, and called the Vince Carter era the source of his best basketball memories. Drake reportedly does not receive a salary from the Toronto Raptors for his position with the team. Serge Savard Canadiens Jersey . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first. Pierre Turgeon Canadiens Jersey . MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-m...nadiens-jersey/. "[People] keep asking that question and its not a legit question because we dont have that right, we havent arrived yet," Casey responded. "Weve got to take each game at a time, each possession at a time and look at it that way. Dickie Moore Jersey . The Raptors have been outscored 88-66 in the opening quarter over a three-game span to begin the month of February. Their most recent loss, 109-101 in Sacramento on Wednesday, was eerily similar to Saturdays defeat at the hands of the Trail Blazers. Jean Beliveau Jersey . Ryan Callahan trade talks caught a lot of people off guard. Details are now emerging about why the Rangers would consider such a move. Darren Dreger: He wants a lot of money. Its been widely reported that Callahan is looking for a seven-year term around $6 million per year. That is not accurate. Im told that it is more than $6.NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey Devils coach Pete DeBoer stuck with goalie Cory Schneider, and the decision paid off with a much-needed win.Schneider made 23 saves in his 16th straight start as the Devils beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Tuesday night to end a four-game losing streak. He is the only NHL goalie to start every game this season.DeBoer called Schneiders performance average in a 4-2 loss at Boston on Monday. That fueled speculation that rookie backup Keith Kinkaid might get the start Tuesday.I thought he was excellent, DeBoer said of Schneider. We needed that. Obviously, we were down after last night. It was a tough back-to-back against a rested Minnesota team. We needed that kind of bounce back from him.Tuomo Ruutu and Mike Cammalleri scored second-period goals and Travis Zajac sealed the victory with a power-play score into an empty net in the closing seconds. Jaromir Jagr had two assists.It was up to Schneider to make those goals stand up. He made several big saves, perhaps none more important than a sprawling stop to deny Erik Haula on a 2-on-0 break with Thomas Vanek late in the third period.Vanek has a great shot and I had to respect him, but then he makes the pass across to Haula and I was able to stick my toe out and got my toenail on it. It was a big save, Schneider said.Ryan Carter scored against his former team and Darcy Kuemper stopped 20 shots for the Wild, who lost their fourth straight.Ruutu broke a scoreless tie at 5:42 of the second period, deflecting home a shot from the left point by Seth Helgeson, who was making his NHL debut.The tempo, tentative at best to that point, quickened following the first goal.Minnesota came very close to countering as Mikael Granlund fired a hard shot off the post that landed in the slot. Schneider deftly reached behind him with his stick to swat the puck out of danger.The near miss proved costly when New Jersey added a second goal about a minute later. Cammalleri knocked in the rebound of Jagrs shot at 9:53, giving the Devils a 2-0 lead.Schneider preserved the shutout late in the period with a brilliant stop on Nate Prosser. Already down on the ice, Schneider shifted left to glove Prossers drive frrom the right circle.ddddddddddddA miscue by Schneider put Minnesota on the board with a short-handed goal at 5:24 of the third.Carter picked off Schneiders weak clearing pass and fired a soft shot from the left boards that slipped into the net to trim New Jerseys lead to 2-1.That was a key point when the Devils, and Schneider, could have crumbled.I felt really responsible, Schneider said. That was on me. I backed up a little too far, and just lost the net. It was a bad mistake.It turned out to be his only one.It was hugely important for me to bounce back after Monday night, Schneider said. I was very disappointed in myself. I knew I needed to be better and had to play better. I knew we needed a better effort from me.There were few scoring chances for either team at even strength in the first period. Minnesota did have an excellent opportunity on each of its two power plays.Jason Pominville hit Schneider in the chest at the right post on the first one. Schneider again came up big on the second penalty kill, denying Mikko Koivu in close.The missed chances and close calls sent the Wild to another defeat.We had so many good looks and we played pretty well, Pominville said. But at the end of the day, we need to find a way to put it in the back of the net and we didnt. If we scored one early, maybe it might have been a different game. We just have to keep battling, keep fighting, until we can get some of our injured guys back.NOTES: Devils captain Bryce Salvador missed the game with a lower-body injury. New Jersey called up Helgeson from Albany (AHL) to replace him. ... Salvador joined the Devils rapidly expanding injury list, which also includes C Adam Henrique (lower body), LW Ryan Clowe (hit to the head) and D Jon Merrill (arm). One bit of good news for the Devils on that front: LW Martin Havlat returned after missing nine games with a lower-body injury. ... The Wild also have injury woes. Leading scorer and former Devils star Zach Parise remains sidelined with a concussion. D Jared Spurgeon (upper body) and LW Matt Cooke (lower body) were also out. ... Linesman Steve Miller was ill according to the NHL, leaving three on-ice officials. ' ' '