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TORONTO -- Randy Carlyle really liked how the Toronto Maple Leafs started against the San Jose Sharks. In a game he saw as a measuring stick, they got three shots on net in the first two minutes and looked like they could hang with one of the top teams in the NHL. Then Frazer McLaren took exception to Andrew Desjardins hit on Jerred Smithson and things fell apart. McLarens penalty was the first of many costly ones as the Leafs lost to the Sharks 4-2 Tuesday night at Air Canada Centre, their fifth straight defeat. "Disciplines a huge part," said Leafs winger Mason Raymond, who scored a goal and committed two penalties. "Youre killing penalties, youre not playing offence and youre playing in your own zone, so were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot there." Taking ill-timed penalties is often a recipe for failure, and thats especially the case against a high-powered team like the Sharks (19-3-5), who entered the game second in the league in goals per game. But more so than giving them the man advantage, the Leafs (14-11-3) stunted their own flow by going to the box. McLarens penalty came not long after the Leafs got the games first three shots in the first 1:21 and controlled much of the play. Even though the Sharks didnt score on the ensuing power play, they didnt give the puck up much for the rest of the period. Former Leafs forward Mike Brown opened the scoring for the Sharks midway through the period when he tipped a shot from defenceman Jason Demers five-hole past James Reimer. "It kind of bounced around a little bit and just squeezed through," said Reimer, who made 37 saves. "I wasnt able to close my legs quick enough. Thats just the way she goes." The lasting effect of San Joses seemingly never-ending possession was the Leafs trying desperately to catch up. When Jay McClement took a hooking penalty and then Raymond was called for tripping 33 seconds later, the Sharks wasted little time before captain Joe Thornton scored on the five-on-three power play to take the lead. "Go down five-on-three, and that took the momentum totally for the period in their favour," Carlyle said, making reference in part to a 17:17 shot drought the Leafs went through. "When you give a hockey team like that momentum, they can skate, theyre big, there was no real surprise on what they were going to do. They did it. And it took us till the second period before we got our things going." The Leafs got things going in part because of San Joses lack of discipline. Raymond scored a power-play goal off the rush 2:44 in, and Phil Kessel was the beneficiary of Logan Coutures high-sticking minor later when he scored on the power play. Centre Tyler Bozak, who fed Kessel for his 200th career goal and 15th of the season, left the game for good after with what Carlyle called an upper-body injury. The Leafs were already without centre Nazem Kadri, who missed the game with a death in his family. Carlyle didnt know the severity of Bozaks injury but acknowledged that it hurt against the Sharks. "For half the game, almost, we were short," he said. "We had three centres. Were taxing a lot of people here right now." For part of the second period, the Sharks were getting taxed thanks to the Leafs turning the tide. "I think we maybe got a bit lackadaisical at the start of the second period for about 10 minutes and they really gave it to us," Thornton said." The 10-minute mark it kind of switched. We had a timeout and we kind of flipped it back on them." Naturally it was another penalty that caused the reversal. The Sharks had started to get more attack time, and when Raymond took a high-sticking penalty, it gave San Jose the spark it needed. Again, the Sharks didnt have a power-play goal to show for their efforts, but they had enough attack time to put the Leafs on their heels. At no point was that more evident than on the shift that led to Mark Stuarts game-winner. Torontos fourth line of McLaren, Smithson and Colton Orr were caught on the ice for 1:48. The Leafs had chances to clear it, including Morgan Rielly failing to ice the puck, but when they didnt, Stuart skated in and scored his third of the season. "Theyre tired and theyre fourth line so, no disrespect, but you can maybe try things that you ordinarily wouldnt do," Stuart said. "I think we had a lot of good looks on that shift. We were able to get a good bounce and capitalize on it." Having the fourth line and a 19-year-old defenceman on the ice for almost two minutes wasnt what the Leafs wanted, but they got some chances to tie it in the third. Ultimately it wasnt enough, and Couture iced it with an empty-net goal at 18:36 of the final period. "I thought we worked hard out there, I thought the effort and the compete level was there," winger James van Riemsdyk said. "(We made) a couple mistakes. Theyre a good hockey team, theyre going to capitalize on their chances." NOTES -- The Leafs held a pre-game moment of silence for Toronto police constable John Zivcic, who died in a car accident Saturday. ... Cody Franson missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Carlyle had called him a game-time decision, but the defenceman did not take part in warm-ups. A.J. Green Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Tyler Eifert Jersey . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. http://www.thebengalsshoponline.com/ . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Authentic Jeremy Hill Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Tyler Eifert Bengals Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records.ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals have made a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer to free agent Carlos Beltran. They just dont expect him to return next season. General manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny met with reporters Monday for the first time since losing a six-game World Series to the Red Sox last week. Mozeliak says he expects the 36-year-old Beltran to seek a multiyear contract elsewhere. "We never want to close doors," Mozeliak said. "Reality is when you look at the depth, trying to find ample playing time, Im not sure how happy he will be." Beltran topped 600 plate appearances both seasons with the Cardinals, needing just occasional rest for his surgically repaired knees. He batted .296 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs this year, and had several big hits in the post-season, too. "I reminded him what an incredible season he had for us," Matheny said. "We dont know how this whole thing is going to play out." But the outfield will be crowded with Matt Adams expected to be the everyday first baseman and cleanup man Allen Craig moving to right field. Top prospect Oscar Taveras also figures to be in the mix. Mozeliak said theres a chance the payroll will be lower at the start of next season, with big contracts for Beltran, Chris Carpenter, Rafael Furcal and Jake Westbrook coming off the books. Given the right circumstances, he said the payroll could go up. At the top of the off-season wish list is an offensive upgrade at shortstop over the slick-fielding, light-hitting combo of Pete Kozma and Daniel Descalso. The Cardinals expect to hear from teams interested in their prospects. "We do have the resources," Mozeliak said. "Certainly, I dont want to close any doors today." Rookie Trevor Rosenthal opens spring training as the closer ahead of Jason Motte, wholl be eased back into the mix coming off reconstructive elbow surgery that sidelined him all of 2013. Mozeliak said it was "hard to imagine" a better closer than Rosenthal the way he finished the yyear.dddddddddddd. Mozeliak said rookie Kolten Wong, a first-round pick in 2011, could be the everyday second baseman. Leadoff man Matt Carpenter would move to third, displacing David Freese. "If I had a bet, I would say hes probably going to get a lot of playing time for us," Mozeliak said. Neither Matheny nor Mozeliak expressed any regrets about using post-season roster spots for rookie 15-game winner Shelby Miller and deposed closer Edward Mujica, who had 35 saves before hitting the wall the final month. The Cardinals left the 22-year-old Miller out of the post-season rotation due to concerns about the innings load from a full season as the fifth starter. They wanted Miller on the roster just in case, assuring him hes a big part of next years rotation. Mujica got the nod in appreciation for services rendered, with Mozeliak noting "there is some loyalty in the decision-making process." "We were prepared, we knew what we were trying to accomplish," Matheny said. "We do what we believe is best for this team so we can go back and sleep at night and realize we did the right thing." Among the healthy arms who didnt make the cut were lefties Sam Freeman and Tyler Lyons. They could have added third catcher Rob Johnson, freeing up backup catcher Tony Cruz as a pretty good bat off the bench. "Look at Chiefs contribution," Mozeliak said, using Mujicas nickname. "I think it would have been very difficult to keep him off." The Cardinals know Rosenthal wants to be a starter but theyre loaded in that department with rookie Michael Wacha near the top of the list, right behind 19-game winner Adam Wainwright, coming off a phenomenal post-season. Also in the mix are Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn, along with youngsters Miller and Carlos Martinez, plus Matheny thought Jaime Garcia was almost ready to return from shoulder surgery at the end of the season. Mozeliak anticipates no off-season surgeries, and believes Craigs left mid-foot sprain will be healed in about a month. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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