WASHINGTON D.
http://www.theworldsoccersshop.com/Club-America-Aguilas-Jonathan-Sanchez-Jersey.html .C. – The hole was three goals deep after just eight minutes and 44 seconds. And
it would ultimately prove too daunting for the Maple Leafs to overcome in the
U.S. capital. Doomed by the drudge of a sleepy start they fell in regulation
Sunday afternoon for just the fifth time in the past 23 games (15-5-4), their
comeback attempts sullied a 4-2 loss to the feisty Washington Capitals. Coming
off a successful swing through the California triangle – they won twice –
Toronto mustered just two shots in a stunted opening 20 minutes back east, down
3-0 before the frame was even halfway over. Washington scored twice on its first
two power-play attempts, adding another from Jason Chimera at even-strength. “It
looked like we were still in for our afternoon nap,” mused head coach Randy
Carlyle of the period with some frustration afterward. “We werent good enough in
the first 10 minutes,” added James Reimer, appearing in his third straight game.
“You cant spot a team three goals. We just werent sharp, myself included, and it
cost us. I thought we dominated the second and the third was anyones game, we
just couldnt quite climb out of the three-goal hole.” The Leafs did dominate the
middle period with the same emphasis as the Capitals did the first. They outshot
the home-side 10-1 in the opening 11 minutes and 20-6 overall. But with three
power-play opportunities and a slew of chances to score they could only get one
by Jaroslav Halak, the eighth this season from Dion Phaneuf. David Clarkson had
maybe the best opportunity to even the proceedings at three. Stuck with just one
goal in the past 21 games and only four this season, the 29-year-old thought hed
beaten Halak only to see the puck trickle off the goaltender and out. “Thats
been the story this year,” Clarkson said. “I think even if I didnt celebrate it
was still laying there for me to poke in.” Never coming closer he and the Leafs
fell for the second time on a season-long road trip that wraps up Tuesday in
Detroit against the hurting Red Wings. The momentum of emphatic wins in Anaheim
and L.A. failed to carry over on the road back east. Knowing that first place in
the Atlantic division is lost – Boston is up 15 points – Toronto has set its
sights now on securing second spot and home-ice advantage in the first round.
With 13 games to go they have 80 points, one up on Tampa and Montreal, who each
carry games in hand. “If we wouldve won this one we wouldve been in a great
spot,” said Carl Gunnarsson of the road trip at large. “Weve got a big one
coming up here in Detroit to make it a good one.” Five Points 1. First Periods A
nemesis on Sunday afternoon and all season for that matter, first periods have
been a regular sore spot for the Leafs. Washington scored three unanswered in
the opening frame on this day. Troy Bodie added a late goal to cut the deficit
to two, just the second of two shots in the period for Toronto. Utterly
displeased with his teams performance, Carlyle gathered the entire team for a
chat during the second TV timeout. “It was more or less just get going,” Bodie
said of Carlyles message. “We didnt have our feet going. We werent ready to
play.” The Leafs boast a minus-15 goal differential in first periods this
season, by far the worst of the three stanzas. Scoring their second of the night
while out-shooting the Capitals 20-6, they improved to plus-13 in second
periods. “I think finally we got our legs under us,” said Clarkson. “We started
going and we kind of put them back on their heels a little bit.” 2. PK Stumbles
The rising Leafs penalty kill entered the day with an 88 per cent success rate
in the previous 14 games, turning the corner from an awful first half. “We knew
we couldnt give up on it,” Jay McClement told the Leaf Report before the game.
“We just had to keep working and wed get better because virtually its the same
group of us from last year. I dont know what the reason was [for our struggles],
but now it seems like weve got the confidence back.” That is until they faced
the second best power-play unit in the league at the Verizon Center. Shadowing
Alex Ovechkin, who leads the league with 19 power-play goals, the Leafs gave up
a pair on Washingtons first two opportunities with the man advantage, once from
an open Troy Brouwer in the slot, a second from Joel Ward on the back-door. “We
missed assignments on our coverage,” said Carlyle. “You cant let Troy Brouwer
shoot the puck from 10 feet in front of your goaltender. Theres obviously a
missed assignment and missed coverage in that situation.” 3. Man Advantage
Yields Little Boasting just two goals now in the past 11 games – 7 per cent in
that span – the Toronto power-play meanwhile continued its dry spell. The Leafs
grappled with three consecutive power-plays in the middle period, but failed to
score even once. “We believe in our power-play,” said Joffrey Lupul prior to the
game. “And theres going to be stretches when you dont get those goals, but as
long as we keep doing things right with some of the scorers we have on the team
eventually the power-play opportunities are going to turn into goals.”
Punch-less on many recent nights, the Leafs did have their opportunities against
the Capitals, mustering eight shots. Sneaking in from the right point
Cody Franson had maybe the best opportunity to beat Halak, but was ultimately
turned aside. The unit currently sits in a four-way tie for third overall at
20.7 per cent. 4. Goalies James Reimer made his third straight appearance
Sunday, starting in place of the injured Jonathan Bernier. Fighting the puck
early, Reimer yielded three goals on the first five shots, but settled as the
night wore on. He made key stops in the final frame, including one on
Jason Chimera breaking in partially alone.Citing the now 26-year-olds rebound
trouble in that opening frame, Carlyle said he considered pulling Reimer in
favour of Drew MacIntyre after the third Washington goal. “We did think about
that,” said Carlyle. “But I didnt want to throw Drew into that type of situation
without giving him a heads up …Weve got Reims here and weve got to show the
confidence for him to fight through some of those situations. We know that Reims
is going to start the next game in all probability.” Carlyle had little to offer
as far as an update on Bernier, who remained with the team in Washington Sunday
ahead of the trip to Detroit. Its clear the 25-year-old will miss his second
straight game against the Red Wings Tuesday, the clarity of lower-body injury
yet to be fully revealed. 5. Kadris Evolution Nazem Kadri said recently that “I
want to become a complete player that this team can trust” and among coaches and
teammates that desire for evolution has been seen on the ice. “I think hes
maturing as a player,” said Carlyle of the 23-year-old, who established a new
career-high for points in Los Angeles this past Thursday night. “I still think
theres some room for Nazzie to grow. But I still think youve got to give the kid
credit. Hes under a microscope. Hes under a lot of pressure to come in as a
young player and play those minutes. We have all kinds of confidence [in him].
[But] maybe not as much confidence as he has if you know what I mean.” “Hes
better in his defensive zone for sure,” added Lupul. “Just positioning and using
his body and his stick down low. I think everyone probably saw the offensive
talents [which] have always been there, but now – Ive been playing on his line
for a while now – hes pretty reliable defensively. And as a winger he gets in a
spot where youre able to find him, get him the puck.” For Lupul, thats the
indicator for when Kadri is at his best. “I think thats one thing for me that
when hes playing really well thats what I notice about being on his line is hes
putting himself in a spot where hes basically demanding the puck and that he
gets it. That shows his confidence and thats how you can kind of tell when hes
on the top of his game.” Kadri finished with two shots in 20 minutes against the
Capitals. Stats-Pack 35-40 – Toronto penalty kill over 14 games preceding Sunday
in Washington. 54 – Consecutive games missed by Dave Bolland, who is still
recovering from a left ankle injury, his return status as yet unknown. 15-5-3 –
Leafs record in the past 23 games. 2-28 – Toronto power-play over the past 11
games. 29 – Points this season for Dion Phaneuf, eclipsing the mark he set in 48
games last season. Fighting the flu, Phaneuf had a goal and an assist in defeat
against the Capitals. 42-57 – Goal differential for the Leafs in first periods
this season, favouring the opposition. 8-15-4 – Leafs record this season when
trailing after the first period. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3Season: 20.7%
(T-3rd) PK: 2-4Season: 78.4% (28th) Quote of the Night “It looked like we were
still in for our afternoon nap.” -Randy Carlyle, on his teams performance in the
opening period Sunday. Up Next The Leafs conclude their five-game road trip with
a division battle against the Red Wings on Tuesday.
http://www.theworldsoccersshop.com/Brazil-Lucas-Lima-Jersey.html . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. Getting
Creative The Pittsburgh Penguins will try their best to acquire Ryan Kesler from
the Vancouver Canucks before the Trade Deadline.
http://www.theworldsoccersshop.com/Croatia-Mario-Mandzukic-Jersey.html . On Thursday, they signed former Browns linebacker DQwell Jackson. Terms of the
deal were not immediately available.MIAMI -- David Beckham will take part in a
news conference Wednesday to discuss his progress in trying to bring a Major
League Soccer expansion team to Miami. MLS Commissioner Don Garber and
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was
announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams
in Miami and Atlanta. Expansion in Miami is contingent on securing a financing
plan and location for a new stadium. Beckham has scouted possible sites and is
seeking investors to assisst with startup costs such as stadium construction and
player acquisitions.
http://www.theworldsoccersshop.com/Brazil-Felipe-Anderson-Jersey.html. Among those who might become involved is Beckhams friend LeBron James, who has
had recent conversations with the retired soccer star about bringing a team to
Miami. "Its looking very promising," James said Monday. "Hopefully they can go
in the right direction as we all planned. Its a great place for soccer." MLSs
Miami Fusion played in Fort Lauderdale from 1998-01 before folding because of
poor attendance.
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