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when he heard his name called and went

  • October 21, 2019
    MONTREAL – The question was posed to Jonathan Bernier, perhaps the busiest netminder in the National Hockey League this season and a man who has witnessed the strength of terrific defensive hockey in Los Angeles firsthand en route to a Cup in 2012: Can his Toronto Maple Leafs, currently the top wild card in the East, threaten a deep playoff run without raising their substandard level of defensive play? "Goalies got to be good," Bernier said with an almost uncomfortable laugh. [b]Adidas Nmd Dámské[/b] . "I personally dont think so," he continued frankly. "Because some games [the goalie] wont get those bounces and [the puck is] going to go in somehow. But we know weve got it in this room. Weve just got to pay the price to play better defensively and, if we do, Im pretty sure we can be one of the top teams in this league." Its an uncomfortable truth for a team that wrung up 11 wins in 14 games before the Olympic break and has designs on making noise in the playoffs after a long-awaited return last spring. This is a hockey club that struggles badly to defend and relies most nights on terrific goaltending and an incredibly potent offence to win. Its a formula that might yield success in the regular season, and it has for the Leafs thus far, but is unlikely to gain much steam when the hockey tightens in mid-April. Head coach Randy Carlyle has been beating the drum loudly on the topic all season, but doesnt have much to show for it. His group remains a work in progress. "Weve been trying and stressing that defensive hockey is whats going to give your team the best chance to qualify for the playoffs," said Carlyle after an instructive practice in Brossard, Quebec. "[But] were in the qualification mode. Were not in the playoff mode [yet]." Only five teams have been worse than the Leafs defensively this season and only one of those teams, the Ottawa Senators, has any hope of qualifying for the playoffs. Toronto has allowed a bloated three goals per game despite boasting some of the finest goaltending in the league with the 25-year-old Bernier. No team, in fact, puts more pressure on their goaltender to be great than do the Leafs. Only Mike Smith in Phoenix has faced more shots than Bernier thus far and hes started 10 more games than the native of Laval. "I think weve seen it," said Bernier of sturdy defensive play. "I think everyones seen it, but I dont think weve seen it consistently enough." Hurting the effort is a bad penalty kill, one thats allowed the most goals (tied) in the league this season, an unstable defence which includes young and growing parts like Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner and a high-end forward group that has shown only spotty attention to defence. A pile of goals and timely goaltending have been required most nights to win. That was true during an 11-2-1 run before the 18-day Olympic stoppage. Running, then, behind the all-world efforts of Phil Kessel, who has been the hottest player on the planet in 2014, the club scored 51 goals – 3.64 per game – but also allowed 41 on the other end. Theyve won despite being outshot in 36 of 48 games – they have a record of 21-10-5 in those games – and despite the fact that theyve allowed a league-high of more than 36 shots per game. Cody Franson, second on the back-end in minutes, believes the instability is tied to confusion in the defensive end, too much thinking rather quick instinctual reaction. "I think were still a little indecisive on things sometimes," he said. "We try and play a quite aggressive style of defence and sometimes when you think too much you end up being a half second slow compared to where you should be. That comfort level just isnt quite there with us yet. I think we still think about things too much." They allowed five in their most recent affair against the Islanders on Thursday night, an overtime loss to a struggling club that was without its best player and leading scorer, John Tavares, and their third leading point-getter in Frans Nielsen. Two of the goals came by way of short circuiting on the power-play with Michael Grabner scoring twice shorthanded in a span of 48 seconds on the same power-play. Another found the back of the net via the aforementioned penalty kill with two more coming on defensive breakdowns, including the overtime winner. "Gifts," said Carlyle after the 5-4 defeat. "Ive got no other word to describe the goals that we gave up." A drastic reversal at this late stage in the year seems unlikely, though Carlyle and the coaching staff continue to push and prod. They did so with any available ice during the Olympic break and continued at practice Friday, narrowing their sights on a tighter neutral zone and improved forecheck – efforts aimed at spending less time in the defensive zone. But with just 21 games to play, including a division clash with the Canadiens on Saturday, its probably safe to say that this is what these Maple Leafs are. The question now is whether they can, as currently constructed, make a little noise in the postseason (assuming they get in) or whether their defensive liabilities will prove too onerous to overcome. Last spring, they nearly toppled a Bruins giant, but required some lightning in a bottle and forgotten brilliance from James Reimer in Games 5 and 6. History points emphatically in the direction of those that can defend. In fact, the last three Stanley Cup winners finished the regular season as either the best or second-best team defensively. And though the Leafs are not yet in the Cup conversation, that remains the goal somewhere down the road. Dave Nonis and the Toronto management team have to be mindful of that fact as it relates to the larger construction of the roster, both now with the Mar. 5 trade deadline looming and over the longer term with the core thats being put into place. Are these the foundations of a club that can eventually win the ultimate prize? "You always see it every year, strong defensive teams win," said Jay McClement. "I think we have the make-up for it. But not without being strong defensively. Obviously, youre not going to win a lot of games 5-4 in the playoffs. We have the goaltending for it and have had it all year. Weve just got to cut down on these mistakes and well be fine. "Were not changing the way we do it, weve just got to do it better." [b]Basketbalové Boty Adidas[/b] . His actions are much louder on the Fenway Park mound. De La Rosa had another strong home start, going seven solid innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. [b]Yeezy Powerphase Cz[/b] . -- A lawyer for the fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez asked a judge Friday to throw out perjury charges, saying Shayanna Jenkins did not wilfully lie as she was bombarded with 1,630 questions over two days before a grand jury.Ann Arbor, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Devin Gardner will return to the starting quarterback position for Michigan when the struggling Wolverines take the field Saturday at Rutgers following a tumultous week for the program. Head coach Brady Hoke confirmed Gardners re-insertion atop the depth chart after the fifth-year senior was benched in favor of sophomore Shane Morris for last weeks game against Minnesota. Morris sustained a mild concussion during the Wolverines 30-14 loss but was allowed to return to the game despite not being cleared by the team neurologist, a decision that has drawn heavy criticism upon Hoke and athletic director Dave Brandon from the media as well as Michigan students and supporters of the program. Brandon released a statement Tuesday in response to the controversy, acknowledging that there had been a serious lack of communication between the medical staff and the coaches in regards to Morris injury. Morris, who had suffered an ankle injury earlier in the game, stumbled and appeared dazed after taking a hit from Minnesotas Theiren Cockran in the fourth quarter. He stayed on the field for one more play before being pulled to the sidelines, but later returned for another play on the same drive. Brandon said the training staff did not see the hit Morris took and believed the stumble was a result of the previous ankle injury. According to the statement, the neurologist was in the process of making his way to evaluate Morris when he went back in the game. The neurologist and other team physicians were not aware that Shane was being asked to return to tthe field, and Shane left the bench when he heard his name called and went back into the game, Brandon said. [b]Adidas Nmd Dámské Cerne[/b]. . Under these circumstances, a player should not be allowed to re-enter the game before being cleared by the team physician. This clearly identifies the need for improvements in our sideline and communications processes. The athletic departments handling of the situation prompted several students and fans to form a protest on the lawn of university president Mark Schlissels residence Tuesday, calling for Brandons resignation. During his press conference on Wednesday, Hoke supported Brandons remarks while reaffirming that he and his coaches do not have final say on whether an injured player should be put on the field. I take responsibility for our student-athletes and I would take it for their health and welfare, but I also made clear that I dont make decisions on injuries and that shouldnt be a coaches decision, said Hoke. Thats why we have some of the best trainers, some of the best doctors in the country. They will, unchallenged, have the full authority to make those decisions. Hoke told reporters on Monday that he had not been informed that Morris may have been dealing with a concussion during the game. He said Morris has been ruled out for Saturdays tilt. Gardner had started 16 straight regular-season games at quarterback prior to last weeks loss, but threw six interceptions as the Wolverines split their first four contests of 2014. Two of those picks came in a 26-10 home loss to Utah on Sept. 20 that led to Morris being named the starter against Minnesota. ' ' '