WINNIPEG – James Reimer was hoping to reignite the Leafs goaltending competition with a start just outside his hometown of Morweena, Manitoba. It didnt go as planned. Reimer allowed two goals on the first four Winnipeg shots, the was pulled for the fifth time this season in an eventual overtime loss to the Jets. Afforded just his fourth start in the past 16 games, the 25-year-old was unable to snatch an opportunity toward reclaiming some part of his old no. 1 job, one that has become the tentative property of counterpart Jonathan Bernier. "Just a tough one," said a sullen Reimer after the 5-4 defeat, which concluded a four-game western road trip. "I felt my head was in the right place and sometimes things just dont go your way. And when theyre not going your way, its obviously harder mentally, but you have to find a way to stay focused and I felt that I did what I could to stay focused and ready and prepared and it just didnt happen." Trading starts with Bernier for the opening three months, Reimers season has gradually slid in the wrong direction, the unquestioned starter a year ago now the unofficial backup. Though he offered a sturdy start in Colorado earlier this week, that performance failed to translate into any semblance of momentum. Reimer gave up four goals in relief of Bernier in Dallas and was pegged for four more on just 19 shots in Winnipeg. He now owns an unflattering .870 save percentage in six appearances this month and a .911 mark on the season. "Its tough when you get in there and you dont have a good game," said Reimer. "It doesnt sit well." Seven minutes had not yet elapsed before the Jets had struck twice on the embattled netminder. Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler both snuck shots through the body of Reimer, one under the arm and another through the five-hole with the latter a partial power-play rush by the Jets winger and future US Olympian. "The first two goals were goals that I thought were scored in the middle of the net," said Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle. "Those are tough ones." It was at that point, down 2-0 on the road, that Carlyle considered pulling the seemingly nervous netminder, only to leave him in for a chance to fight back. And though Reimer managed to rebound in some respect, including a shorthanded stop on Michael Frolik, he was unable to close the door entirely, allowing two more goals in the middle frame. Bernier stepped in with 13 saves as the Leafs rallied from a 4-1 deficit, only to fall on Dustin Byfugliens overtime winner. Pocketing five of a possible eight points on the four-game swing, Toronto now sits third in the Atlantic division with 60 points. Five Points 1. Kessel in Winnipeg Winnipeg remains advantageous hunting ground for Phil Kessel. The 26-year-old knotted the score at 4-4 with less than two minutes to go in regulation, beating Ondrej Pavelec with his 27th goal of the season, an unlikely snipe from just above the goal-line. He has scored at least a goal in eight-straight games at the MTS Centre, totaling nine in that span. Kessel has 16 points in the past nine games overall and has vaulted to sixth in league scoring with 54 points in 54 games. 2. Sour Penalty Kill Yielding two more power-play goals to the Jets, the Toronto penalty kill fell deeper into whats become a year-long hole. The unit has allowed a bloated 13 goals over the past 15 games and sits as the second-worst in the NHL this season (76.8%.) "Weve found ways to leave people uncovered in that critical area," said Carlyle of the penalty kill. Wheeler scored the first of two power-play goals when he burst wide on Cody Franson, beating Reimer through the five-hole. Bryan Little added the second marker, redirecting a sneaky point pass from Tobias Enstrom. "We shouldve had coverage on that and we vacated that area," Carlyle said, noting a need to intercept the pass with a stick in the lane. 3. Potent Power-play Countering the teams struggles on the penalty kill has been a continually productive power-play, one that ranks as the third-best in the NHL. Dion Phaneuf scored his first power-play goal of the season against the Jets, giving the Leafs at least one mark on the man advantage in eight of the past 11 games. Cody Franson, second on the team with 16 power-play points, detailed the different components of the top unit, which also includes Phaneuf, Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and how theyve functioned to have success. "Obviously, [Phaneufs] got a big shot and teams are aware of that and they want to try and take that away. Phil can do so many things with the puck. Hes very deceptive. He makes guys think that hes going to pass and hell have that quick release shot. And its not a quick release where theres nothing on it – he can rip a puck. Theres that shot threat. I take pride in being able to shoot the puck, so hopefully thats something other teams are thinking about when Im out there. Youve got JVR in front. Hes one of the best at providing a screen and knocking pucks out of the air. Hes a guy that if teams are doing a good job on us, we can just throw it at the net and we know that hes going to be there whacking at rebounds or tipping pucks into goalies and making it tough on them." Franson calls Bozak the secret facilitator of the units success. "When teams are pressuring really quick, you usually need that quick out to try and get away from the pressure and make them back off and allow us to set up and Bozies probably the most important piece of that," explained Franson. "Hes the guy that controls the middle of the ice and has to make those reads in order to be in the right spot for the guys that are getting the puck in tight situations. He does a great job with that and it allows us to break away from pressure and allow us to set up and do what we want to do out there." 4. Career-High Dishing to Kessel on the game-tying goal, van Riemsdyk notched his 40th point of the season, matching a career-high he set with the Flyers in the 2010-11 season (78 games.) The 24-year-old required 51 games to meet the mark, on pace to set new career-highs in just about every offensive category. "Ever since I got here Ive been given an opportunity to play some key minutes and some key situations," said van Riemsdyk, who also screened Pavelec on the Phaneuf marker. "Ive always had the confidence in myself to be able to contribute when I knew I was getting the chance to do that." Sitting at 20 goals on the year, van Riemsdyk remains one off from matching another career-high (21.) 5. Rare Goal It had been quite awhile for Tim Gleason. Gleason scored the third Leaf goal on Saturday, his first since Dec. 18, 2011 in a string of 117 scoreless games. Not relied upon for his offence in any sense, the 30-year-old grinder has just 16 goals in 627 career games. Stats-Pack 2-1-1 – Record for the Leafs on four-game road trip. 4 – Starts for James Reimer in the past 16 games. 10-11-5 – Leafs road record this season. .870 – Save percentage for Reimer in the month of January. 5 – Players on the Toronto roster from the province of Manitoba. 29 – Career points for Phil Kessel in 28 games against the Jets. 40 – Points for James van Riemsdyk this season, matching a career-high. 13 – Power-play goals scored against the Leafs in the past 15 games. 117 – Games without a goal for Tim Gleason, who finally scored Saturday against the Jets. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-5Season: 22.4% (3rd) PK: 1-3Season: 76.8% (29th) Quote of the Night "Its tough when you get in there and you dont have a good game. It doesnt sit well."-James Reimer, on a rough outing in Winnipeg. Up Next The Leafs host the Lighting on Tuesday night.  Delanie Walker Titans Jersey . LOUIS -- Bosnia-Herzogovina made its second appearance in St. Steve McNair Jersey . -- Connor Brown had two goals and an assist as the Erie Otters edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.titansjerseysofficialshop.com/black-friday-jason-mccourty-jersey/ . "Ive got no idea," said Gibbons after the game when asked what Bautista was thinking. "Its not smart, winning baseball and Im sure he wont do it again." If Bautistas read on the situation is any indication, it seems that under similar circumstances, he would do it again. Michael Griffin Titans Jersey . The 114th-ranked Lorenzi broke Monacos serve to go up 4-3 in the decisive set and held on to close the match in 2 hours, 34 minutes at the Ibirapuera Arena. The 32-year-old Italian squandered a match point before losing the second set, but was in control in the third to pick up the win in the ATP 250 tournament in South Americas biggest city. Kendall Wright Titans Jersey . The new Romo deal, which is being reported by the Dallas Morning News, will save the team another $10 million. According to the report, the new deal drops Romos salary-cap figure from $21.PHOENIX -- Larry Fitzgerald says he has restructured his contract with the Arizona Cardinals, reducing a big salary-cap hit from his old deal and creating room for signing other players. Fitzgerald announced the move on Tuesday via his Twitter account. The receiver says the move was made to help the Cardinals "get better for 2014." Under his old deal, Fitzgerald would have earned $12.75 million next season and counted a whopping $18 million on the cap. The restructured contract came as no surprise. Fitzgerald said in a radio interview in New York last week that he understood the need to restructure his deal. "When those discussions come I will do what I need to do," Fitzgerald told Arizona Sports 98.7 in an interview at the Super Bowls "radio row." "I have a great relationship with (general manager) Steve Keim, he drafted me in Arizona. I understand his vision and what he is trying to do and the direction he is taking this ballclub. I understand at 30 years old there are things that need to change. Thats part of football, thats part of being an older veteran." Fitzgerald said he knew Patrick Petersons "deal is coming up and he needs to be compensated as the best corner in the game, which I feel he is." Fitzgeraald also mentioned defensive linemen Darnell Dockett and Frostee Rucker.dddddddddddd "There are a lot of guys that deserve to be compensated for their play," he said in the radio interview, "and I understand that." Fitzgerald is on his third contract in his 10 NFL seasons, all with the Cardinals. Last season, he made his eighth Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald holds every Cardinals career receiving record. He caught 82 passes, most on the team, for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. In his career, Fitzgerald has 846 catches for 11,367 yards and 87 touchdowns. He has not missed a game since the 2007 season. The Cardinals, coming off a 10-6 season in their first year with Keim as GM and Bruce Arians as coach, had several players on one-year contracts, including inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, who resurrected his career with a big season, leading the team in tackles. Azcentral.com reported that the restructuring was a simple swap of bonus money for salary, saving the team about $10 million on the coming seasons cap. Cardinals President Michael Bidwill expressed confidence last week that the restructuring would get done. Keim has repeatedly said the team has no intention of trading Fitzgerald and wants him to retire a Cardinal. wholesale jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' ' |
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