#1

teams return to health.

in camera talk Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:09 am
by jinshuiqian0713 • 1.470 Posts

TORONTO -- All coach Randy Carlyle wanted his Toronto Maple Leafs to do was breathe. "Thats been our catchphrase now, because you cant do anything if you dont breathe," he said. Breathe despite seeing an eight-game losing streak all but ruin their playoff chances. Breathe despite blowing a two-goal, third-period lead to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre. The Leafs did that, then got a chance to exhale with a 4-3 overtime victory that, if nothing else, keeps their hopes alive for another couple of days. "Were alive, but theres a lot of things that have to go our way," Carlyle said. "Make sure that we dont get too far ahead of ourselves. Weve only won two games here." Nazem Kadris goal 2:51 into overtime was just one of several pieces that must fall into place for the Leafs to rebound and make the playoffs as a wild card in the Eastern Conference. They likely need to also win all four of their remaining games, as they got no help Thursday night from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who beat the Philadelphia Flyers to remain one point ahead (85 to 84). The Blue Jackets also have two more games left to play, leaving the Leafs (38-32-8) to hope for help along the way. They could also have to lean on backup goaltender James Reimer, after starter Jonathan Bernier left Thursday nights game 7:22 into the third period with what Carlyle would only say was a lower-body injury. Bernier, who missed five games with a groin injury last month, was set for an MRI, according to Carlyle. In stopping 10 of the 11 shots he faced in relief throughout the remainder of the third and overtime, Reimer picked up his first victory since March 13. "Worried for Jonathans health, obviously. But its not worrisome with James coming in," winger Troy Bodie said. "Hes a good goalie, hes proven himself. He went in there and did a great job." Reimer had to do a great job because the Bruins (52-18-7) were pushing. They had already cut the Leafs lead -- which was built on goals by Paul Ranger, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk -- to one by the time Bernier was forced to leave. The play that led to Berniers injury even included a penalty on Ranger, who pushed Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron into the goaltender. Reimer came in and got the Leafs through the penalty kill before allowing the tying goal to Bergeron at the 12:51 mark of the third. "It showed some character to be able to come back against a desperate team like Toronto," said Bruins forward Milan Lucic, who scored Bostons second goal of the night 5:03 into the third. "These are the type of the situations you can find yourselves in in the playoffs." The Leafs can still dream and hope for the playoffs because Reimer stopped the next six shots he faced, holding on long enough to allow Kadri to eventually be the hero on the power play in overtime. "I tried to hold the boys in there and keep it close," Reimer said. "I had faith in the boys. They pulled it out, and obviously it was a good feeling." Any other feeling than the thrill of victory on Thursday night wouldve almost certainly ended the Leafs chances, especially given the Blue Jackets win in Philadelphia and their extra games left. Kadri said after the teams morning skate that he and his teammates were well aware of their spot in the standings, which is much further down than they were a few weeks ago. They also knew the Bruins were atop the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division and had all but clinched home ice throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. In losing back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 26 and March 1, Boston mightve picked up a vital lesson after a month filled with so much winning. "Its adversity that were going to face in the playoffs," Bergeron said. "Weve got to make sure that we realize that." Lessons in losing are cheap for the Leafs with time running short. They have just four games left, beginning Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Thats their home finale before travelling to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators to close out the season. Asked if he thought his Leafs would have to run the table to make the playoffs, Carlyle responded simply: "I just worry about the next one." That has been the mantra dating to Torontos losing streak, which ended Tuesday with a victory over the Calgary Flames. Now the Leafs are on a winning streak, their first since March 8 and 10. "Weve won two in a row now, so thats a starting point," Bozak said. "We have huge games coming up here to end the season. But that was a tough test for our team tonight, and we were able to come out on top." Just being able to come out on top against one of the NHLs top teams gave the Leafs a boost of confidence. But listen to players within the locker-room and there was never any of that missing. "We always have the confidence in our group no matter what happens and I think we have a good core group of leadership in here and guys that are all pulling the rope in the same direction," said van Riemsdyk, who hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. "We stuck with it, even though things were tough, were going to have to continue to take it one game at a time, one shift at a time and go from there." NOTES -- Winger Joffrey Lupul was scratched with a lower-body injury and replaced in the lineup by Jerry DAmigo. Carlyle did not know for sure but called Lupul "doubtful" for Saturdays game against Winnipeg. ... First-liner Phil Kessel, who has been playing with a bruised right foot, had two assists for his first multi-point game since March 10. ... Bodie played 20:29, by far a career-high. Carlyle explained that was a product of wanting to create a checking line to open up van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Kessel for more favourable ice time. ... Former Flames captain Jarome Iginla returned to the Bruins lineup after missing the Bruins 3-2 loss to the Red Wings with what the team called a lower-body injury. ... Bruins forward Carl Soderberg returned to Boston for the birth of his child, which meant Jordan Caron played his second straight game. Balenciaga Triple s Wholesale . -- Jonas Hiller is cautiously confident he has kicked his vertigo. Nike Air Max China Wholesale Paypal . Saltalamacchia drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Henderson Alvarez won for the first time in three starts and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 3-2 on Thursday night. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/who...-china/nmd.html. -- During Kansas shootaround on Wednesday before the Jayhawks faced Oklahoma, coach Bill Self told Wayne Selden Jr. Cheap Air Jordan 1 China . The Jets have now won three straight at home and four of the last five at the MTS Centre. After a scoreless first period, Brad Marchand scored his first goal in eight games eight seconds into the second. Cheap Air Jordans From China . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central.SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs are whole for the first time in months and they performed in the same efficient style that helped them battle through the rash of injuries. Tony Parker had 22 points and seven assists in his return from a six-game absence, leading San Antonios balanced attack in a 112-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. Parker played with his usual relentlessness, finishing 10 for 15 from the field on a series of breakneck drives. He also had just one turnover in 32 minutes, and the Spurs had six players score in double figures. "I thought Parker looked great again coming off a nice little 10-day break they can afford to give him," Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "And he just comes in and looks great." Despite a series of injuries, San Antonio (43-16) remains 1 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City (45-15) for the top seed in the Western Conference. Tim Duncan scored 17 points, Kawhi Leonard added 16 and Boris Diaw had 13 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio. Manu Ginobili had 15 points and seven assists as the Spurs extended their winning streak to three games. Nowitzki scored 22 points, Vince Carter added 21 and Monta Ellis had 17 for the Mavericks, who have lost eight straight to the Spurs. Parker looked refreshed after not playing since Feb. 10 for what San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich officially listed as "rest," but unofficially was due to a series of lower body maladies. "I think it was a little bit of (a physical and mental rest)," Parker said. "Pop, I trust his judgment. I didnt want to admit it to myself. But maybe I was tired mentally. Its a lot of basketball the last three years with no break; the (French) national team and NBA. It definitely helped, I felt fresh." The French point guard made his first shot, and on the ensuing possession, drove into the heart of the paint to draw the defence and fired a pass to Leonard for an open 3-pointer that gave San Antonio a 5-2 lead. "I just try to penetrate and make stuff happen," Parker said. "Obviously, I want to score; but I want to do both. I want to create shots for my teammates. Myself and Manu (Ginobili), we can create a lot of offence, we have great shooters all around us. I cant remember the last time we had everybody." Parker punctuated his return with a left-hannded layup from the right side of the rim to avoid Dalemberts reach with 45 seconds remaining.dddddddddddd "Hes been an MVP candidate, really each of the last three, four, five years," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "Look, hes that good and he was obviously fresh tonight. He hit shots that were the shots that were there. Youve got to give him credit for that and we needed to be a little bit better on our coverages." The Spurs visibly frustrated Nowitzki, who continually yelled at officials. Popovich alternated Splitter, Diaw and Leonard defensively on Nowitzki, who shot 9 of 17. "It was just to give him a different look," Popovich said of the rotations. "Hes such a great player. Nobody stops him. At least giving him a different look makes me feel better like Im trying, like Im doing something." Nowitzki also committed two early fouls. "The first one was stupid," he said. "I saw the ball, kind of reach for it. By the time I reached for it, the ball was gone and I hit his arm. I missed my first two shots. I think I was a little anxious; I really wanted to play well. By the time I settled in in the second quarter, I was little too hyped up." Carter kept the Mavericks in the game almost single-handedly in the first half, as Dallas trailed just 48-47. Ginobili scored eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Spurs opened a 78-67 lead with a minute remaining. Ginobili, who was 2 for 5 on 3s, was energized by the teams return to health. "For Tim and Tony, its been a while, more than a month, probably without all three playing," Ginobili said. "It feels good. As I said the last two games, its very important for us to be healthy, to start feeling confident, to start playing with each other again over the last stretch of the season." NOTES: The Spurs have had 24 different lineups this season. ... San Antonio has won 12 of 14 regular-season games against Dallas. The Mavericks have not beaten the Spurs since a 106-99 victory on March 17, 2012, in Dallas. ... Popovich and Nowitzki engaged in somewhat contentious banter during the game. When Nowitzki was whistled for fouling Parker on a drive, he yelled at official Derek Richardson as he left for a substitution, "Just because (Popovichs) yelling doesnt mean theres a foul." ' ' '

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