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TORONTO – This was what Jonathan Bernier wanted all along. This is what he pined for as the backup in Los Angeles, stuck for years in the shadow of Jonathan Quick. And yet now that hes finally gripped hold of his first No. 1 job in the NHL, the 25-year-old knows that satisfaction is far from being attained. "Things can change," he said, mindfully. "You can be a No. 1 for 10 years and then next day, youre a backup. My goal is not to be a No.1 for a year or half a season, I want to be a good goalie for a long time, hopefully." Just 33 starts into that quest – by far the most of his NHL career – Bernier is off to a fine beginning. Starting for the 13th time in the past 17 games against the Lightning on Tuesday night, Bernier stopped 40 shots, including one of game-saving proportions on Martin St. Louis in the final moments. It was the kind of load-bearing performance that has become more norm than exception for Bernier, who is tied for sixth in the NHL in save percentage and fourth in even-strength save percentage among goaltenders with at least 20 starts. "When I got traded, I knew that was my chance to prove what I can do in this league," said Bernier, who is 5-1-0 in his last six starts. "My main focus was always to be a No. 1 guy and Ive still got a lot to learn, but I think Im moving towards that." He and James Reimer traded starts until mid-December before the crease eventually tilted in favour of the Laval, Quebec native. His performance month-to-month has rarely wavered – .933 save percentage in October, .923 in November, .932 in December and .915 so far in January. "I knew Randy, the type of coach he was," said Bernier of head coach Randy Carlyle, "I knew I had to really battle to earn [the job] which is the good way. You dont want anything for free in life. [But] I didnt really focus on how many games I was playing, I think I was just focusing on getting better every day and every game and it just worked out that I started playing good and he kept me in." Maybe most notable in his year-long efforts has been his ability to withstand a nightly barrage of shots and chances, a far cry from the Kings, who were a constant amongst the NHLs best defensive teams. In fact, Bernier is facing 11 more shots per start this season with the Leafs (35) than a year ago in Los Angeles. He sits a sparkling 7-1-2 when challenged with 40 shots or more. "I think we can still improve as a team," he said honestly of the groups performance. "[Were] still giving up a lot of scoring chances, especially I thought last game wasnt our best one, but were coming out with wins. I think if we want to be successful in the playoffs – Ive been through that – youve really got to bear down defensively and be a good defensive team." Though the goalie competition has gradually evolved into a one-man job, Bernier understands that he is a long ways from proven as a No. 1 starter in this league. But he also carries a certain degree of pride and quiet confidence knowing that hes accomplished what he set out to do upon landing in Toronto. "Its not like I said yesterday I made it, Im a No. 1, I think youre just going day by day," he said. "Obviously, Im happy the way things turned out." air max 95 dark blue . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. cheap air max 95 black . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. http://www.cheapmax95uk.com/ .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. air max 95 yellow . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. cheap air max 90 . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is.LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Joe Torre, Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox, baseballs winningest managers over the past four decades, were unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame on Monday by the expansion era committee. Each won more than 2,000 games and was selected on all 16 ballots when the committee met Sunday ahead of baseballs winter meetings. "Managing against them, you certainly learned things," said Torre, now an executive vice-president for Major League Baseball. "I am honoured to go into the Hall with these two guys." Induction ceremonies will be held July 27 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Torre became the fifth manager to win four World Series championships, leading the Yankees to titles in 1996 and from 1998-00 -- beating Coxs Braves twice. After making only one trip to the playoffs in 14 seasons with the New York Mets, St. Louis and Atlanta, Torre guided the Yankees to the post-season in all 12 of his years in New York with a cool, patient demeanour. His popularity rankled owner George Steinbrenner, who didnt receive the necessary 75 per cent of the vote for election in his second appearance on the ballot. Torre finished his career by leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to two NL West titles in three seasons, retiring after 2010 with a record of 2,326-1,997. Hes the only manager to have more than 2,000 hits as a player -- he was the 1971 NL MVP -- and 2,000 wins in the dugout. "Joe taught a lot of us about how to win the right way and lose the right way," La Russa said. La Russa won World Series titles with Oakland in 1989 and with St. Louis in 2006 and 11, retiring days after beating the Texas Rangers in a seven-game thriller. Of the nine managers with three or more World Series titles, the other seven all have been inducted. La Russa finished with the third-most wins by a manager in a career that began with the Chicago White Sox in 1979 and ended with a record of 2,728-2,365. Coxs managerial career began in 1978 with Atlanta, but he was fired after four seasons -- only one above .500. A four-year run in Toronto ended in 1985 with an AL East title, and Ted Turner lure him back to the Braves as their GM. Cox returned to the dugout in 1990, and following one losing season he went on one of the most successful regular-season runs by any skipper, leading the Braves to 14 straight division titles and a World Series championship in 1995. He retired in 2010 fourth behind La Russa in career wins with a record of 2,504-2,001. Fiercely loyal to his players, Cox was ejected a major league record 159 times. Two of his pitchers during the remarkable stretch during the 90s, 300-game winners Greg Maddux and Tom& Glavine, head the newcomers on this years players ballot.ddddddddddddResults of voting by the Baseball Writers Association of American is scheduled for Jan. 8. "It would be quite an honour to go in with those two guys," Cox said. "I just hope Glav and Mad Dog can be on the stage with me. "That would be the final finishing touch, going in with those two." Marvin Miller, the pioneering head of the players association from 1966-81, was rejected for admission to the Hall for the sixth time he appeared on a committee ballot. He fell one vote short of induction in 2010 and received no more than six votes this year. And that disappointed Don Fehr, the executive director of the NHL Players Association. Fehr worked with Miller the final six-plus seasons he headed up the baseball players association before serveing as union head from 1983 until 2009. "Marvin should have been elected to the Hall many years ago," Fehr said in a statement. "It is a sad and sorry state of affairs that he has not been, and continues to reflect poorly on the very organization that has as its purpose recognizing and celebrating baseballs best." Tony Clark, the current head of the baseball players association, agreed. "Words cannot adequately describe the level of disappointment and disbelief I felt when learning that once again the Hall of Fame has chosen to ignore Marvin Miller and his unparalleled contributions to the growth and prosperity of Major League Baseball," he said in a statement. "Over the past 50 years, no individual has come close to matching Marvins impact on the sport. "Despite the election results, Marvins legacy remains intact, and will only grow stronger, while the credibility of the Hall of Fame continues to suffer." This years committee included Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Carlton Fisk, Whitey Herzog, Tom Lasorda, Paul Molitor, Joe Morgan, Phil Niekro and Frank Robinson; Toronto president Paul Beeston; retired club executive Andy MacPhail; Philadelphia president Dave Montgomery; White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf; Steve Hirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau; Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle; BBWAA Secretary-Treasurer Jack OConnell; and retired Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Jim Reeves. This years ballot, chosen by a BBWAA-appointed historical overview committee, covers baseballs expansion era. Players, managers, umpires, executives whose most significant impact was from 1973 on were considered as part of a three-year cycle. The golden era (1947-72) will be voted on in 2014 and the pre-integration era (1871-1946) will be judged in 2015. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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