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MONTREAL -- The Vancouver Whitecaps earned some revenge and a big three points on the road while also leaving Montreal coach Marco Schallibaum and the Impact hopping mad. Kenny Miller scored from the penalty spot and Camilo Sanvezzo came off the bench to add two late goals as the Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the sagging Impact on Saturday afternoon. But it was a penalty that referee Jorge Gonzalez called, then overturned, in the first half that had Schallibaum, Montreals oft-suspended coach, in a lather. Vancouver led 1-0 in the 38th minute when Patrice Berniers shot from distance after a corner kick glanced off Jun Marques Davidsons arm or shoulder at the left post. With Impact players calling for a penalty and Whitecaps players and coach Martin Rennie screaming no foul, Gozalez hesitated, then pointed to the spot. He then changed his mind after consulting with fourth official Mathieu Bourdeau. "Its a scandal," said Schallibaum, the first-year coach who has been suspended four times for a total of five games for various infractions. "A decision was made and all of a sudden, its not made. "Im not saying that won the game, but if we have this penalty and its 1-1, it can change a lot of things." The Whitecaps (11-10-8), who began the day seventh in the Western Conference, ended a string of three straight road games with a win that keeps them in the crowded Western Conference playoff race The Whitecaps ended a five-game winless run and picked up only their second victory in 10 games. Montreal (13-9-6) lost a second straight home game. "We had three road games and we wanted to get four points and we did," said Rennie. "A 3-0 result is good anywhere, but to get it against a rival and a good team like Montreal shows the team is coming together." It also avenges Montreals win on the away goals rule in a two-game series in the Amway Canadian Championship in May. There was no argument about Millers goal in the 23rd minute. Vancouver looked to be the fresher team from the start and struck first after Nigel Reo-Coker blew past 37-year-old Alessandro Nesta on the right side. As he crossed the ball, defender Hassoun Camara fell and, as he was getting up, Matt Watsons shot hit his arm in the 23rd minute. Gonzalez had no choice but to call a penalty. Miller made no mistake with his eighth goal of the year but only his second in the last 10 games. Bedlam came 15 minutes later on the disputed hand ball. Whitecaps defender Jay DeMerit said the refs got it right in the end by consulting a video replay. "Its using the system in a positive way," he said. "Every team had been burned on penalties that werent penalties. "And the whole point of having a fourth official and the whole point of taking an extra 30 seconds to make sure that call was right is the reason for this. We use this technology and we use our fourth officials to make sure we make the right calls. "Thankfully for us, he made the wrong call and corrected himself, because the last thing you want is it to be a tie game when it actually wasnt a hand ball." Thats not how Montreal saw it. "Ive never seen anything like that," said veteran midfielder Justin Mapp. "I had a good view of it. "I dont think Ive ever seen a reversed PK call, but Im not an official. Its tough to get that call at home. It would have helped us." The officials released a statement after the game that the decision to reverse the call was made by the entire crew, which found that "there was not an intentional handling of the ball on this play." It added that: "The referee crew determined that the ball struck the Vancouver players chest/shoulder area of the body with no intention to play the ball with his hand." Montreal pressed hard in the second half and nearly tied it as Felipe Martins volleyed Mapps pass off the bar and another Felipe shot was tipped off the bar by goalie David Ousted. Then Camilo got one on a counter-attack in the 89th minute and another in added time -- his 15th and 16th of the season -- to put the game away. "We were disappointed not to win the Canadian Championship, but fair play to Montreal -- they came into our stadium and beat us to win it," said DeMerit. "But the league takes precedence. "To come back and get a win right now was a huge step for us going into the final games of the season. We needed these three points." Fatigue may have been a factor for Montreal, which was playing its third game in eight days. It was a week to forget, as the Impact blew a lead and lost 2-1 at home last weekend to Columbus, then was beaten 3-0 in San Jose in CONCACAF Champions League play. "Obviously, we want to correct those things," said Mapp. "We wish we were winning games by shutouts, but sometimes thats how it goes. "Youve got to move onto the next game. Well be men and a correct whats wrong. But I thought we were the better team. The 3-0 scoreline is a bit misleading." Felipe will sit out Montreals next game after picking up his fifth yellow card for a dive in the Vancouver area. Miller was substituted in the 60th minute by Camilo and Russell Teibert went in after 65 minutes for Tommy Heinemann. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Wholesale NBA China Jerseys . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. 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Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars.TORONTO – He deftly bounced the Tyler Bozak feed off his left skate and onto the blade of his stick before beating a flabbergasted Craig Anderson with the eventual game-winner, and third goal of yet another scorching night. It was the summation of the fifth career hat trick and fifth career 30-goal season for Phil Kessel – he also added an assist – whose scorching play continues to lead a burning Leafs run, one that reached nine wins in 11 games at the ACC on Saturday night. “Its fun to watch,” Nazem Kadri said of Kessels play after a 6-3 win over Ottawa, the 23-year-old catching fire himself in recent weeks. “Hes making plays out there left, right and centre so well just keep letting him do what he does.” Kessel has mesmerized with his electric production amid the Leafs charge – which has them three points back of Tampa for second in the Atlantic division – totaling 10 goals and 23 points in the past 12 games. He has vaulted into fourth in league scoring with 61 points, now trailing only Alex Ovechkin with 30 goals – the fourth time hes reached that mark in five seasons with the Leafs, the lockout-shortened 48-game season the lone exception. The 26-year-old, set to join Team USA for the second time at the upcoming Olympics in Sochi, appears well on his way to eclipsing a career-high of 37 markers and could very well challenge the 40-goal plateau for the first time. “Its hard to really put a limit on him,” said Bozak, who had a goal and an assist and now has 29 points in 33 games this season. “He can get so streaky. Three goals tonight, who knows next game. You never know with him. I definitely wouldnt doubt him getting 40 goals by any means.” Kessel is on pace for 43 goals and 88 points, both of which would prove career-highs. Toronto is 16-3-3 when he scores this season and 26-6-4 when he records a point. Five Points 1. Kessel vs. Ottawa With their third win in three tries against the Senators this season, the Leafs have now beaten their Ontario rival nine times in the past 10 meetings. Much of that success is owed to their leading scorer, who toys with Ottawa like no other. Kessel has 18 goals and 35 points versus the Senators in 25 games as a Leaf and more career goals (25) and points (46) against them than any other team. 2. Kessels All-Around Game Though his performance is aptly judged on the level of offence he produces, Kessels all-around efforts and competitiveness have notably risen during the Leafs sizzling run, which sees them with 66 points on the year. Pointing first to the deadly shot and skating ability of his teammate, Joffrey Lupul observed that “you know when [Kessels] really playing well because of how hes competing on pucks down-low in the offensive end – turning his back, protecting the puck – and hes been doing that for a while now. It makes him really effective down there.” Added Randy Carlyle: “Hes been classified as this one type of player and we think that hes got more of an all-around ability too because he can distribute the puck, he can pass the puck, he can find people, he can do a lot more things than just shoot.” Kessel has 13 assists during the 12-game run. 3. Secondary Hot Streak Kadris hot streak also kept marching on against the Senators. The 23-year-old set up Lupul for the Leafs second goal – which erased a 2-0 deficit – infuriating the Ottawa bench as he did so. Aggressive on the forecheck, Kadri connected with rookie defender Cody Ceci from behind before digging out the puck and feeding his teammate, who was all alone parked in front. The visitors believed a penalty should have been called on the hit from behind and the goal waved off. “I think he turned just to try and give himself a little more room,” Kadri said of Ceci. “At that point Im just fully committed to hit and I just finished my check. To be honest, I did let up a little bit and the puck was laying there and I just put it in front.dddddddddddd” Kadri, who played over 23 minutes (nearing a season-high), also added an empty-netter and has 14 points in the past nine games. He is up to 40 points in 53 games this season. 4. Back on Track In a stretch of 20 games between November and December, Joffrey Lupul failed to find the score-sheet 16 times, producing points (10) in just four games. Bouncing between left and right wing, Lupul played with a rotating cast of centres that included everyone from Jay McClement to James van Riemsdyk to Peter Holland and Trevor Smith. “You would like to stay on one line the entire year because that means, for me youre staying healthy first of all, and having success with your linemates,” the 30-year-old told the Leaf Report late last month. “But weve had so many guys in and out of the lineup – myself included, Clarkson, Kulemin, Bozak, everyones been out – theres been nothing really set in stone other than Phil and JVR together, thats been pretty much the only thing.” Entrenched with the same linemates – Nik Kulemin and Nazem Kadri – for the past eight games, while back at his preferred left wing, Lupul is finding a more consistent offensive touch. He scored his 17th goal against the Senators and now has eight points in the past eight games, totaling 33 points in 48 games this season. “Hes a different player on the left side,” said Carlyle. 5. Riellys Improvement Questioned on where he had improved most from the start of his first full NHL training camp, 19-year-old Morgan Rielly pointed to the defensive end. “Id like to think there are a few things Ive improved on,” he told the Leaf Report. “I would say playing defence in my own end. I think thats an area of the game that as a team weve been trying to improve. I think as we kept practicing that and keep talking about it I think that Ive been able to improve at that. But I think I can keep working at it.” More specifically, Rielly said hes improved in his ability to close out on opposing forwards, sealing them against the glass and thus more quickly erasing offensive opportunities. “Just trying to end plays,” he said. “I think that in the past I was just trying to keep them outside. I was a bit too cautious. I think Ill get stronger at just closing in on them and just trying to end the play.” Now paired with Tim Gleason, Riellys defensive assignments are getting tougher and included Ottawa captain Jason Spezza on Saturday evening. Stats-Pack 23 – Points for Phil Kessel in the past 12 games, totaling 10 goals in that span. 14 – Points in the past nine games for Nazem Kadri. 8 – Times in the past nine games that Kadri has registered at least a point. 6 – Consecutive wins for the Leafs at home, the first time theyve accomplished that feat since Mar.6 – Apr. 7, 2007 (9-game streak). 26 – Power-play goals for the Leafs at home this season, most in the NHL. 16-3-3 – Leafs record this season when Kessel scores a goal. 18 – Goals for Kessel in 25 career games as a Leaf against Ottawa. 3:43 – Ice-time for Greg McKegg in his NHL debut. 10-10 – Toronto penalty kill in the past three games. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-5Season: 22.7% (3rd) PK: 2-2Season: 78% (28th) Quote of the Night I “Its a new one for me. To me, its crazy. A guy wears a new pair of skates in the morning, plays the game that night and the next morning hes got lace bite. Go figure. Im at a loss to explain it.” -Randy Carlyle, on the injury which kept Peter Holland out of Saturdays lineup. Quote of the Night II “Hes talking. Four points and he talks.” -Tyler Bozak, upon seeing the media-relunctant Phil Kessel speaking with reporters. Up Next The Leafs head south, visiting the Panthers in Sunrise on Tuesday before taking on the Lightning in Tampa on Thursday. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
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