PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Buffalos youth movement continued on Monday when the Bills released longtime kicker Rian Lindell. Lindell, the most accurate kicker in franchise history, was let go after 10 years in Buffalo. His release means that rookie Dustin Hopkins has won the teams kicking competition. "Its always tough when you have to release a player like Rian Lindell," coach Doug Marrone said. "A true professional thats obviously been with the organization for quite some time. And I have a lot of respect for him." Lindell leaves Buffalo with a field goal percentage of 83.3. He connected on 225 of 270 field-goal attempts here. Lindells status with the Bills had been in question the past two years. Buffalo has drafted kickers in each of the past two drafts, Hopkins and John Potter. Hopkins, 22, had significantly more power on his kicks throughout training camp than Lindell, 36, who relied more on his accuracy and consistency from shorter distances. And Marrone felt that Hopkins took control of the competition as camp progressed. "I think in the past 10 days Dustin has performed better," he said, "so we made a decision to go with Dustin." Lindell was the longest-tenured Bill prior to his release. He joined the team as a free agent in 2003 after spending his first three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He had a slow start to his Bills career, converting 17 of 24 field goal attempts his first year. But he recovered, and his name is at or near the top of most Bills kicking records, as a result. He holds a franchise record for consecutive PATs (225) and is second in teams scoring with 980 points. A sixth-round pick out of Florida State, Hopkins had mixed emotions on the release. "I find myself kind of in a paradox," Hopkins said. "This is something Ive worked my whole life for ... but at the same time, its kind of the bad part of pro sports, parting with a guy that Ive got a lot of respect for and have admired watching for a long time, and has meant so much to the community." One of Lindells first actions after being released was to congratulate his competitor and former teammate. "The first guy that I heard from today before I heard anything was Rian just saying he was wishing me luck and he wanted the best for me and he was happy for me," Hopkins said. "I think thats just an accurate representation of the kind of guy he is, just not bitter or anything like that but genuinely happy for a guy that hes only known a few weeks." Hopkins has impressed with his leg strength ever since joining the Bills, but he has battled consistency issues. In the preseason, he has connected on all four field-goal attempts, and has three touchbacks on seven tries. "Ive felt a lot more comfortable here recently just with the tempo and getting used to practices and games," Hopkins said. "For the most part, my mechanics are good. Im breaking down film and making sure Im documenting why I feel like Im feeling better and being successful. And I think thats all just part of trying to be a pro." ---- NOTES: Receiver Stevie Johnson said after practice that he will return to game action this Saturday against the Washington Redskins. Johnson, battling a left hamstring injury, had extensive work on the practice field Monday. After practice, Johnson said he was anxious to test the leg against another team but cautioned that he is not yet back to 100 per cent. "Ill be out there on Saturday just to see how everything feels as far as game speed," Johnson said. "It actually is not healed yet. Its a work in progress." ... The Bills are 2-0 this preseason and have allowed just 36 points. Cheap Nike Vapormax Sale . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Nike Shox Online .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. http://www.clearancenikeshoxcheap.com/clearance-mens-nike-shox.html . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Discount Womens Nike Shox . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Nike Shox Clearance Womens . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. EDMONTON, Alberta -- Opposing players are starting to take note of what could finally be significant improvement from the Edmonton Oilers.Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist as the Oilers won their second straight game in a strong start to the season, defeating the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Thursday night.They are not the Oilers of the last few years, Ill tell you that, Blues goalie Jake Allen said. They are a good hockey club and obviously made some good additions to their team.Tyler Pitlick and off-season free-agent signing Milan Lucic scored for Edmonton, which improved to 4-1-0 on the season.Starting 4-1, we couldnt ask for a better start, McDavid said. I think were feeling pretty good about ourselves, but I think its about keeping it on an even keel.Beating one of the best teams in the league was definitely a boost, according to Lucic.Its a huge win, he said. We talked about getting off to a good start, having a good first five games to get our team rolling and build some confidence before the Heritage Classic. It was great that we were able to play a really good game against a really good team.Nail Yakupov replied for the Blues (3-1-1) in his return to Edmonton since he was traded to St. Louis earlier this month.Blues coach Ken Hitchcock felt his team let one get away.Weve really wasted some great goaltending displays by Jake. Hes been outstanding and given us a chance to win both of these last two games, said Hitchcock, who watched his team lose 2-1 in overtime to Vancouver on Tuesday.Its unfortunate with the way he has been playing to only come out with one point from these last two games.There was no scoring in the first period, with the Blues getting 10 shots on Oilers goallie Cam Talbot and Edmonton directing eight shots on Allen.dddddddddddd.The Blues got on the board 3:37 into the second as a scramble allowed Joel Edmundson to feed it in front to Yakupov. It was the second goal of the season for the former Oiler.The Oilers pulled even three minutes later as Pitlick made a nifty deflection off a shot by Andrej Sekera while being knocked flying to score his third of the season.Edmonton made it 2-1 just 36 seconds into the third period as McDavid broke out of a two-game scoring drought by threading a pass through to Lucic in front. It was the big wings second goal of the year.Both goaltenders made big saves before the Blues came close to tying it up midway through the third. Yakupov had Talbot beat on a backhand shot, but hit the post.McDavid put the game away with his fourth goal of the season into an empty net.Tonight was a huge test for us, Talbot said. Any time you can beat a powerhouse like St. Louis, it goes a long way for the confidence in this group and moving forward thats what we need to have.Game notes It was the first of three meetings between the teams this season. . Yakupov spent four seasons with the Oilers, recording 111 points in 252 games. . Blues F Jaden Schwartz played his first game of the season after recovering from a hyperextended elbow. . Talbot made his fifth start of the season one day after his wife, Kelly, gave birth to twins.UP NEXT:Blues: Conclude a three-game road trip in Calgary on Saturday.Oilers: Are off until Sunday, when they play the Jets in the Heritage Classic outdoor game in Winnipeg. ' ' '