TORONTO – The images of humiliation flashed across a screen one by one inside the Maple Leafs practice facility on Wednesday morning, images of mediocrity from two incredibly embarrassing losses. Lazy fore-checks. Lazy back-checks. Careless defensive positioning. All the little intricate details that slipped away so badly in a pair of one-sided losses to the Sabres and Predators. Obviously there was lots that we couldve chosen to go through, head coach Randy Carlyle said the next day, even managing a grin. Carlyle was hoping to highlight process over big picture with his job on the line and he got the response he was looking for on Thursday night. The Leafs left behind the embarrassment of recent days with a mostly thorough 5-2 win over the Lightning, ending a three-game losing streak while quieting the panic and weariness of a frustrated city. That, said Cody Franson, pausing to exhale, is a much better feeling than the one that weve been carrying around for the past couple days. Richard Panik, drafted and developed by the Lightning, scored to put the Leafs ahead for good moments into the middle period, Toronto ultimately holding the leagues most potent offence to just two goals and 28 shots. Their goal was to keep the latter number under 25, something theyve done all too infrequently in the past two seasons. That was our main focus, said Jonathan Bernier after a 26-save performance, to keep [them to] 25 shots or under against us, and we were pretty close to that. I thought we played a pretty solid game. His job security questioned repeatedly after a 9-2 loss to the Predators two nights earlier, Carlyle believed his team was more engaged, structured and relaxed against the Lightning. It was a far cleaner effort overall – far fewer turnovers – one that kept Steven Stamkos quiet until the final furious moments of the final frame. It was an example of what kind of team we can be when we stay disciplined to our system and manage the puck, Franson said. And that, generally speaking, was the intent of the video session just a day earlier – demonstrate, under increasing pressure from all corners of the city, that the path toward respectability wasnt so overwhelming or undoable. This isnt a mountain that were climbing or a building that we have to push over, Carlyle said. This is something that youve done all your life and all were expecting you to do is to continue to do some of the things and do them at a higher rate and do them more consistently. Consistency has been elusive for the Leafs all year. The team that beat Boston handily just over a week ago was remarkably different from the one that showed up Saturday in Buffalo. This team, the one that held the high-powered Lightning in check, was vastly changed from the one that yielded nine markers to Nashville. Carlyles message suitably after victory then was to start preparations for Detroit on Saturday. Wed love to be able to be more consistent for sure, he said. Thats a goal that weve set out. And tonight was hopefully a starting point for us. By no means do we think were over the hump. Five Points 1. Stamkos Kept Quiet Carlyle employed his top line and top defensive pairing against Stamkos and, for the better part of Thursday evening, they held him and linemates, Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan, in check. Stamkos scored late with the Lightning net empty and finished with five shots, but he was mostly quiet in defeat. Tampas captain had six goals in 10 career games previously at the ACC. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you dont cover one of the best players in the league, they have multiple ways of hurting you, said Carlyle. Additionally crucial for the head coach in limiting the leagues top goal-scorer since the 2009-10 season was his teams dominance in the faceoff circle. The Leafs won 65 per cent of the draws, led by Tyler Bozak at a remarkable 73 per cent (22-30). Toronto is now up to seventh overall in the faceoff circle, again led by Bozak, who is eighth-best in the league at 57.5 per cent 2. Point Streak Franson extended the longest point streak of his career and the longest currently of any player in the NHL against Tampa. Franson, in line for a big payday in unrestricted free agency next summer, rung up a point for the ninth straight game, totaling nine assists and 11 points in that span. The 27-year-old had never gone more than four games with a point prior to this streak. He is one game from matching Tom Kurvers franchise record for longest point streak by a defenceman. 3. Fourth Line Offence Colton Orr went 50 games last season without recording a goal or even a point. He was demoted in the fall as the Leafs – led by a revamped management team – veered toward a more conventional lineup, one that leaned more on skill and less on grit. Enter the likes of Richard Panik, who scored Thursday opposite his former team, his fourth goal of the year. Panik is now on pace for 17 goals, despite averaging only nine minutes per game, none of that coming on the power play. The 23-year-old is a good example of why the Leafs are better off using more capable players on their fourth line. He might also be deserving of some opportunity on the power play, especially given the ineffectiveness of the teams second unit – Nazem Kadri, Peter Holland and David Clarkson have just two power play goals combined. 4. No Pain No player in the league has thrown himself around more recklessly this season than Leo Komarov. And yet the 27-year-olds body is apparently no worse for wear. He claims to have no bumps or bruises, nothing to signify the nightly punishment his body endures. Ive been thinking about that, too, he said. I guess Im used to it. Komarov says he feels fatigue and the usual tightness after a game, but his body doesnt have anything bad on it as far as bruises are concerned. He isnt one for a regular dip in the ice-bath or hot tub either, but does visit a chiropractor two times a week. The Finnish winger took over the league-lead from Matt Martin in the hits department on Thursday. He threw four against the Lightning and now boasts 88 in 20 games. 5. Under the Microscope The Leafs were under siege after their hapless performance against the Predators, leading to what van Riemsdyk dubbed as a lot of over-analyzing in recent days. Starting his career with the Flyers, the 25-year-old is well-accustomed to the ranting of an engaged fan-base and media corps. Coming from a market like Philly, theres some very passionate fans there as well so you learn some lessons over the years I played there, he said. I dont really let anything faze me as far as stuff like that. Youve got the most passionate fans in the world here, a lot of coverage for our team so you know theres going to be a lot of people giving their two cents – deserved or not. So weve just got to be ready to not worry about that and worry about what were doing in there. Injury Updates David Booth is nearing his Leafs debut, but it seems a likely possibility that the 29-year-old heads to the Marlies first on a conditioning stint. Booth, who was suffering from a broken right foot, hasnt played in a game since the end of September, but has been skating with the big club for the past week. Sidelined since late October, Joffrey Lupul is also closing in on his return. Like Booth, it seems likely that the 31-year-old will be out through the weekend though. The Leafs will send Lupul for one last round of x-rays, intent on making sure his previously broken right hand is healed and in no danger of further injury. Stats Pack 6 – Goals for David Clarkson this season, besting the mark he set in 60 games last year. 11 – Points for Cody Franson during a career-high nine-game point streak, the longest of his career. 4 – Goals for Richard Panik this season. 7-0-0 – Leafs record when scoring first. 22-30 – Faceoff mark for Tyler Bozak against the Lightning. Bozak is eighth in the NHL at 57.5 per cent. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3 Season: 20.3% PK: 3-3 Season: 84.3% Quote of the Night I told them theyve got a better chance of seeing the big guy than that happening. - Randy Carlyle, responding to a players request for another optional morning skate on Saturday. They requested and were granted one on Thursday morning. Up Next The Leafs host the Red Wings on Saturday. Mike Williams Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Thursday nights Bruins-Blackhawks game had a goal by Patrice Bergeron initially waved off by the referee, but video review clarified it was a good goal. Melvin Ingram Womens Jersey . -- The court fight over NFL concussions should heat up soon as a judge in Philadelphia weighs the fairness of the proposed $765 million settlement. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Doug-Flutie-Elite-Jersey/ . HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league. LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers Jersey . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. Junior Seau Jersey . Last year, Islanders forward Colin Mcdonald released a "Do It For Colin" campaign to promote his teammate and friend John Tavares for the EA sports honour:The most popular sports voting video ever has to go to Chris Bosh who showcased his comedic abilities in his effort to get fans to vote him into the 2008 All Star Game:You can vote for TJ and other star players for the NHL 15 cover vote here.DETROIT - Outshot, the Detroit Red Wings did the most with what they got.Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist scored power-play goals Saturday and the Red Wings beat the New York Islanders 4-1.The Red Wings won for the seventh time in eight games.Backup goalie Petr Mrazek responded after giving up five goals in a loss at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Detroit overcame five penalties and was outshot by the Islanders 23-19.Mrazek once again subbed for Jimmy Howard, whos been out with a groin injury since Jan. 10.I feel great, Mrazek said. Tried to bounce back after the game in Tampa. I tried to stay positive and be focused.Tatar got his 22nd goal, making it 1-0 about 5 1/2 minutes into the game. Nyquist scored his 20th, closing the scoring with under seven minutes left.Weve got a few things we need to work on, Islanders coach Jack Capuano said of his penalty-kill unit. I didnt see the grit and determination from some guys that you need.We had three guys today that I dont even know if they played, he said.The Red Wings overcame two second-periodd penalties and took a 2-0 lead on Brendan Smiths one-timer with 47 seconds remaining in the period.ddddddddddddDetroits Jonathan Ericcson scored in the third period. Lubomir Visnovsky scored for the Islanders on a power play.The Red Wings worked around two penalties in the second period before Visnovsky beat goaltender Chad Johnson early in the third, making it 2-1 just 10 seconds into an Islanders power play.The specialty teams hurt us today, Islanders centre John Tavares said. Its kind of hurt us all season. We got a power-play goal but we didnt create much momentum off of it. They capitalized on theirs.The Islanders had won five straight games in Detroit dating to the 2002-03 season.NOTES: Detroit C Pavel Datsyuk played his 863rd career game with the Red Wings, surpassing Ted Lindsay for 12th-most in franchise history. ... Visnovsky was activated from the injured reserve list. He missed nine games with an upper-body injury. . Red Wings D Brian Lashoff, placed on waivers Friday, was assigned to Grand Rapids. ' ' '
