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TORONTO -- It was such a bad first period, the Toronto Maple Leafs figured they couldnt duplicate the disaster. Nike Free 5.0 V2 . They were right in that they responded to coach Randy Carlyles goaltending switch to erase a two-goal deficit. Ultimately Toronto lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings in a preview of the Winter Classic, but it was the battling back to get a point that had them feeling slightly more upbeat than usual after a defeat. "Well take the point," captain Dion Phaneuf said. "Coming back, I feel that was a big step for our team to come back against a team that doesnt really give up a whole lot. We did a lot of really good things tonight." The good things for the Leafs (18-16-4) came in the second and third periods when they got goals from Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul to tie the score and then one from the much-maligned David Clarkson to take the lead. That was a complete reversal from the first period, when they squandered the opening goal from defenceman Cody Franson and gave up three goals in 9 minutes 11 seconds to Pavel Datsyuk, Joakim Andersson and Tomas Jurco. "We score the first goal and then we basically stood around for the rest of the period and watched them do their thing," Carlyle said. "They out-competed us badly in the first period." Starting goaltender James Reimer gave up those three goals on 12 first-period shots. He got the hook in favour of Jonathan Bernier at the first intermission, after Carlyle noticed rebounds bouncing away from Reimer and wasnt happy with Anderssons goal going off his stick and in and Jurco shooting the puck through him. Reimer was understandably unhappy with Carlyles decision, which he respected, and also with his performance. "Definitely not what we had in mind, what I had in mind," said Reimer, who was making a third straight start for the first time this season. "They just scored a couple too many goals. Obviously the second one, that cant go in. It was obviously my fault, a hundred per cent. And the third one, they made a nice play, but I think thats one that I can get done on some days, too." The Leafs looked like a completely different team in the second period in front of Bernier. Carlyle was pleased at how his players got pucks deep, cycled, drew penalties and managed to draw even in the game by scoring twice on former Toronto goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who wound up giving up four goals on 23 shots. "I dont think I had my best game tonight, at least we were able to step up there and get the win," Gustavsson said. Phaneuf said he and his teammates talked about having a better effort in the second period. That showed, and when Clarkson scored 8:32 into the third period Carlyle hoped that kind of "dirty" goal would be able to carry the Leafs. Instead, the Red Wings (17-12-9) were able to tie it on a goal by Tomas Tatar at 13:44 when Niklas Kronwall won a blue-line puck battle against Phil Kessel. "We made a mistake and we couldnt get a puck out along the wall, guy got in behind us, a rebound and then we lost in a shootout," Carlyle said in summing up the Leafs sixth loss in their past seven games. "I think that the way that game developed in the evening, I think we were fortunate to get a point." The Red Wings felt fortunate to win in the shootout on goals by Datsyuk and former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson. It was their first victory that way this season after losing their first six shootouts. "It was a mental block for us, shootouts, and to win this one tonight hopefully we can put that behind us and start winning a few," said Alfredsson, who scored the winner. "Winning in overtime last game and now winning in a shootout tonight lessens the grip on the stick next time around." Mike Babcock, coach of the Red Wings and Team Canada, pointed out that he doesnt get so hung up on the shootout performance. But hell take the points from this one, Detroits second straight victory following a six-game losing streak. "I think were a pretty even-keeled group," Babcock said. "We just keep on keeping on. Were going to be fine here in the end. Weve got to get players back and then well start playing with some speed and confidence and tempo and everything." The Red Wings were playing without injured captain Henrik Zetterberg (back), goaltender Jimmy Howard (knee), centre Stephen Weiss (sports hernia) and forwards Gustav Nyquist (groin), Johan Franzen (concussion) and Justin Abdelkader (concussion). They got defenceman Danny DeKeyser back after missing 15 games with a shoulder injury. Carlyle saw similarities between the two teams because the Leafs are still without centres Tyler Bozak (oblique) and Dave Bolland (severed tendon in ankle). But the rest of the team is in tact, and players have been quick to brush injuries off as an excuse. The problem Saturday night wasnt lacking players as much as it was another poor start after Fransons goal 7:15 in. "I didnt think we were ready and we came out a little bit sloppy," said Clarkson, whose go-ahead goal was just his third of the season. "When you allow a team with that much skill and talent to get ahead of you, its hard to battle back, but I think we showed something tonight by battling back. Weve got to be ready from the drop of the puck, be ready to play the way we know we can, the way we did in the second and third." The Leafs play for the final 40 minutes of regulation represented the biggest positive of the night, which was a chance for the teams to feel each other out before meeting in the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. That game is too far from now for either Toronto or Detroit to focus on. The Leafs concern was about their good and bad effort that led to this shootout loss. "It takes a toll on you trying to dig out of a two-goal hole like that," said Lupul, who had a goal and an assist. "If we take one thing from the game, its probably get off to a little better start." NOTES -- Kessel was held without a goal for the eighth time in 10 games since Bozak went out with his oblique injury. The star winger has two goals and five assists in that time. Defencemen Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger and forward Frazer McLaren were healthy scratches for the Leafs for the second straight game. Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit cz . - Corey Perry got to 40 goals and helped the Anaheim Ducks reach 50 wins. Nike Free Flyknit Chukka .ca sat down with two Blue Jays veterans to get their thoughts on the August collapse. ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Corban Knight snapped out of his scoring slump in a big way Friday night, with some help from an old friend. Knight scored twice and assisted on another as the Abbotsford Heat blanked the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs 6-0 in American Hockey League action. After recording five points in the final three games of December, Knight had no goals and just two assists in nine games through the month of January. "Id definitely say I was a little snake-bit the last little while here, and things werent coming my way," said Knight. "It was nice to get a couple nice set-ups from the guys, and I was able to put them in. Hopefully Ill kind of put that behind me and move forward here." Knight was matched up with former linemate at the University of North Dakota Evan Trupp. Trupp responded with his first multi-point game since being called up from the ECHLs Alaska Aces. "We played two years together, and were really good friends, too," said Knight. "The fact we were put together, I think we were both pretty excited about it, and we were able to get some chemistry going tonight." Besides recording two second-period goals, Knight picked up the second assist on Markus Granlunds opening goal and was also in the crease for a Heat goal that was waved off in the first period. "Hes going through a learning curve like a lot of our guys," said Heat head coach Troy Ward. "Theyre kind of over that hump of, Im tired now. Some of our college guys that come out, thats really hard for them. Hes got a little bit more energy to his game, and Trupp made a difference." Blair Jones had two goals in his first game since being put on waivers by the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. With the addition of Jones and Shane OBrien, who was also sent down by the Flames, along with Heats signing of Trevor Gillies, the Abbotsford dressing room is beginning to get quite crowded. Derek Smith and Sven Baertschi are also recent Flames demotions. "Our team is at probably one of the most competitive points for ice time," said Ward. "Thats based on health and depth. It might get worse next week when the NHL shuts down and they assign players, creating more of a log jam. Its a heaalthy situation. Nike Free Flyknit+. It makes coaching decisions a little bit harder but thats part of our job." Josh Jooris also scored, while Max Reinhart had two assists as Abbotsford (27-14-4) got back in the win column after consecutive overtime losses last weekend. Joni Ortio stopped 34 shots for his second shutout of the season, and was a factor despite the lopsided win. "Hes one of the unsung heroes," said Ward. "He made some huge saves at critical times. We gave them a couple good looks and he was there and made it look pretty easy." Dustin Tokarski made 22 saves for Hamilton (20-19-4), which has won just once in its past five outings. After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Ortio woke up his club with a huge save midway through the second period. "Joni made some big saves in the second period when they had a couple cross-ice plays," said Jones. "Its kind of what Ive been seeing from him all season." Hamilton got a three-on-two rush while at the tail end of a penalty kill, but Ortio made a great save, sliding across to deny Martin St. Pierres one-timer at the side of the net. During a post-whistle scuffle the Heat came away with another power play and this time made it count. Max Reinhart fed Granlund and the Swede beat defender Darren Dietz at the blue-line and skated in on Tokarski, scoring blocker side for his team-high 18th of the season at 10:26. Then, just 1:27 second later the Heat built on their momentum. Brett Olson put a perfect backhanded saucer pass on the tape of Knight in the slot and the High River, Alta. native made no mistake, beating Tokarski glove side. Knight picked up his second with less than a minute to go in the period. Trupp came off the side boards and shovelled the puck to Knight in the high slot. This time he went top corner, blocker side for his 11th of the season. Jooris made it 4-0 with his fifth of the season at 7:20 of the third. He took a feed from Baertschi, cut to the front of the net and swept the puck around Tokarski. Jones completed the onslaught, scoring twice in less than two minutes. First he redirected Reinharts perfect feed at 9:52, then wired a one-timer between Tokarskis pads for his 10th of the season. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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