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| Author: | khm1997 [ Sat Nov 10, 2018 9:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Desert Mountains |
TORONTO -- Just like after previous home victories, "We Cant Stop" by Miley Cyrus blared from the Toronto Maple Leafs locker-room. The victory song that became synonymous with a season of good fortune was the same, but after beating the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Tuesday night the mood was much more relief than happiness. The result snapped a streak of eight straight regulation losses to keep the Leafs slim playoff hopes alive. "It feels like a lot of weight lifted off of our team," captain Dion Phaneuf said. "We can feel good about ourselves because we won this game." The Leafs allowed themselves to feel good by picking up their first points since beating the Los Angeles Kings on March 13. They improved to 82 with five games remaining and passed the Washington Capitals (81, six games left) but still trail the Detroit Red Wings (84, seven games left) and Columbus Blue Jackets (83, seven games left) in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Catching either the Red Wings, who play the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, or the Blue Jackets, who blew a two-goal lead and lost in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche, remains a daunting task. But for Toronto (37-32-8), any victory represented a confidence boost. "Its been a long time. Its been too long," coach Randy Carlyle said. "You hope that you can build on it, but I dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves because we didnt paint a Mona Lisa here tonight." In getting goals from Jay McClement, Dave Bolland and then the game-winner from David Clarkson, the Leafs managed to prevent what wouldve been their first stretch of nine straight regulation losses since 1967, the last time this franchise won the Stanley Cup. "We were flat for a big part of that game and gave up three rush chances," said ex-Leafs forward Matt Stajan, who scored his 13th of the season for the Flames on a breakaway. "Thats how that team scores goals. You could say they got a bounce on the one. Im guessing they havent had many bounces the last month so weve just got to be better." A loss of any kind to the Flames (31-38-7) wouldve been devastating to a team that knew it would have to run the table and get some help just to give itself a chance. Step 1 was beating the Flames. "It beats losing, thats for sure," said defenceman Cody Franson, who set up McClement for the games first goal 50 seconds into the second period. Anything beats losing for the Leafs, who not too long ago were in second place in the Atlantic Division before going into this free fall that saw them lose to the Capitals, Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and then Detroit again. Calgary didnt make it nine despite goals from Stajan and defenceman Kris Russell. Goaltender Karri Ramo stopped 19 of the 22 shots he faced. "I dont think we got outplayed," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "Its just they got one goal more than us. They were opportunistic at the right time and we got our chances late and we couldnt capitalize on them but its not by a lack of effort." In the same vein, Clarkson said Torontos losing streak wasnt for a lack of effort. But in a results-oriented business, they simply werent there. They came Tuesday night because McClement drove hard to the net, Bolland banked the puck off Flames defenceman T.J. Brodie and Mason Raymond sprung Clarkson on a breakaway. Jonathan Bernier also made 22 saves for his first victory since March 10. "It wasnt pretty, but well take it," Bolland said. "I dont think we played the prettiest game or we made the prettiest moves. But in a slump like that, just to get out of that, its great to get out of it." One victory wont get the Leafs out of the hole they dug over the past few weeks, but players hope is that this is at least a start. "Hopefully its big," said Clarkson, whose goal was his first point in 17 games. "At this time of the season, you stay positive, you continue to get better and youve got to stick together. Weve got to stick together in here and back each other up." And get some help. Phaneuf was keenly aware of the Capitals 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars and the Blue Jackets 3-2 overtime loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday night. "Were definitely aware of where were at, and youre aware of the scores and what else is going on around you," he said. "You dont want to be in the position that youre scoreboard-watching, but thats the position that were in. We accept that, and any time you get help around the league, you take it." More than anything else, the Leafs have to take care of business in front of them. The remaining schedule includes home games against the Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets and then three on the road at the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators. Its possible theyll need five more in a row to make a suddenly improbable run to the playoffs. But all the talk after beating the Flames had to do with Wednesdays practice and then Thursdays game against the East-leading Bruins. "We know were going to play a Boston team, but we should feel good about ourselves because weve had a lot of things that have been negative for us, so lets enjoy the win and lets get ourselves ready tomorrow to play a real tough opponent in the Boston Bruins," Carlyle said. NOTES -- Phil Kessel played for the Leafs despite a bruised right foot. More than once he took a puck to that foot. "Its like, Here it is, hit me. He had the sign on his foot," Carlyle said jokingly. ... Paul Ranger dressed as the Leafs seventh defenceman in his first game since suffering a neck injury against Tampa Bay on March 19. Forwards Colton Orr and Jerry DAmigo were scratched. ... Bryce Van Brabant made his NHL debut for the Flames, becoming the 10th Calgary player to do that this season. . -- The Oakland Raiders expect to have starting right tackle Tony Pashos back for Sundays game against the Houston Texans. . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday. http://www.cheapraidersjerseyssale.com/.com) - Demario Richard posted four touchdowns and Kweishi Brown came up with a key late interception as No. .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. . Make that, almost always subjective. Saturday at Carrow Road, the spirit of fair play trumped the rulebook, costing Norwich City three points.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Jay Haas birdied four of the last six holes Friday for an 8-under 62 and a four-stroke lead in the Champions Tours season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.I thought much harder today than yesterday, said the 60-year-old Haas, the oldest player in field limited to the top 30 players on the money list. The wind was difficult, the greens are still very firm. I honestly said if somebody was giving me even par before I played, I would have said, OK, that sounds pretty good, Ill take that. But I played extremely well.Haas had his 38th straight round of par or better to break Loren Roberts tour record.It was a pretty error-free round, Haas said. Disappointed that I didnt birdie at least the last hole or at least get kind of an opportunity to shoot my age today, but it was a special round. Hit a lot of good shots and didnt make a lot of long putts. They were all, you know, 15 feet and in probably for birdie. So it was solid golf today. I dont know what got into me, but it was a lot of fun.Haas won two weeks ago in North Carolina to become the 18th player to win a Champions Tour event at 60 or older. He has 17 victories on the 50-and-over tour after winning nine times on the PGA Tour.Haas had a 12-under 128 total on Desert Mountains Cochise Course. He shot a 60 at the course in the seecond round of the 2012 event.ddddddddddddFirst-round leader Tom Pernice Jr. was second after a 67.I played pretty well, Pernice said. The conditions were obviously a little more difficult with a little bit more breeze blowing today, so it was a little bit trickier. I struggled a little bit on the speed of the greens, I left several putts short.Kenny Perry was third at 6 under after a 68.Fred Couples, the winner last year at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, was 5 under along with Michael Allen and Olin Browne. Couples shot 64, Allen 66, and Browne 67.I havent putted like this or made this many putts in a long time, Couples said. But I didnt hit the ball so bad on the front nine, shot even par and I got it going, and as you saw, some of these putts are crazy. Just one of those things. ... I might go dressed as a putter tonight for Halloween.Allen won the AT&T Championship last week in San Antonio for his second victory of the year.My God, its a war of attrition out here, Allen said. But overall, it was a fun day. I played well and kind of hung in there.Bernhard Langer was tied for seventh at 4 under after a 70. Langer won the Charles Schwab Cup points title last week, has a tour-high five victories — two of them majors — and also has wrapped up the season money title with $2,916,189. ' ' ' |
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