TORONTO - Four games into a new season is certainly no time to panic and while their fans might be climbing up the walls, the Toronto Maple Leafs are doing nothing of the sort.
Authentic Zdeno Chara Jersey. Still, sharing status with the New York Islanders as the NHLs only winless teams isnt doing much for their confidence, and with back-to-back games coming up against the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche, a change in atmosphere will definitely do them some good. Its depressing here right now, head coach Ron Wilson said after Saturdays 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins left his team 0-3-1. Weve got to find a way to get some momentum early in the game, thats what has kind of fallen off. Scoring the first goal and building on that, or at least coming out of the first period 0-0 would be a start in the right direction. The Maple Leafs, who were booed off the ice, did the complete opposite against the defending Stanley Cup champions, digging themselves into an early 2-0 hole and never really finding their equilibrium, as Wilson put it, after that. They were undisciplined, and crossing the line in their physical play combined with porous penalty killing led to three power-play goals for the Penguins, quickly giving back the momentum whenever it had swung their way. Being smarter in that regard and more effective in the offensive zone will help in Mondays affair versus the Rangers (Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m. ET). In New York were going to need a big save early, were going to need some kind of a scoring chance, said Wilson. Were doing all the other things that you would think in most circumstances would give your team a boost. Weve had fights that weve won, weve had some great hits that get the bench excited, yet we havent been able to really unleash any offence, and thats what weve got to get going early in the game. A reason for that, Wilson believes, is his teams insistence on attacking from the perimeter instead of using its toughness to drive the net. As a result, the Maple Leafs have just 10 goals through four games and have rarely produced long stretches of pressure in their opponents end. Against the Penguins, for instance, many of their shots were blocked by Pittsburghs collapsing defenders and the Leafs were rarely around to collect the subsequent loose pucks. The two goals they did score, one by tough guy Jay Rosehill and the other by Niklas Hagman, both came off rebounds. Were not tough in front of the other teams net, said Wilson. Weve got to do a better job and get more guys driving to the net and paying that kind of price. Were on the outside looking in and were not going to score many goals doing that. Goals are likely to be tough to come by versus the usually stingy Rangers and if the Maple Leafs cant pick up their first win against them, the pressure will be turned up even higher for Tuesdays home contest versus the Avalanche. Wilson indicated backup goalie Joey MacDonald - recalled last week because of Jonas Gustavssons groin injury - would start at least one of the two games and some better play in net would help. Vesa Toskala made 28 saves versus the Penguins but looked uncomfortable every time the puck came his way in the first period, and received several mock cheers when he made routine saves. While he hardly deserved all the blame for the loss, he might have stopped a couple of the goals and given his penalty killers an extra sense of security. Occasionally you need a save (while shorthanded), said Wilson. On the first one (a long point shot by Sergei Gonchar), I think Vesa would want to take that one back, it was a wrist shot, probably through a screen but you need a save there. At the end of the day, thats kind of what your penalty killing comes down to once in a while. For their part, the Maple Leafs realize that as a whole everybody needs to step up. The optimism created by the summers roster makeover is quickly ebbing and while some growing pains were to be expected given all the changes, it doesnt excuse a lack of smarts or consistent effort on the ice. Weve got to play more desperate, said forward Matt Stajan. Were waiting for something to happen instead of going out and doing it ourselves. I dont think theres a guy in here who is satisfied with the way they played. Added Hagman: We did some things good, obviously we didnt do good things enough. ... We obviously want to get our first win. We feel if we get the energy and we stick to the system and everybody chips in, were capable of winning.
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Authentic Rick Nash Jersey. Related readings: ID scandal reveals more Stamp of deception uncovered Official arrested for allegedly fabricating identity Zhang Zhenjiang, then deputy Party head of Shijiazhuang City and Li Jianhua, head of Shijiazhuangs publicity department were given administrative warnings, according to a statement from Hebeis discipline inspection commission Sunday.ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals found a way to rally past the Kansas City Royals despite losing Albert Pujols to an injury. Pujols sprained his left wrist and hurt his shoulder trying to make a tag at first base, but the Cardinals recovered to beat the Royals 5-4 on Skip Schumakers ninth-inning homer on Sunday. The Cardinals moved into a tie for first place in the NL Central with Milwaukee, which lost at Boston. Pujols was injured in the sixth and the three-time NL MVP left the game. He will be evaluated on Monday, a day off for St. Louis. "To be honest, I cant give you guys too much until the X-rays and an MRI tomorrow," said Pujols, whose left wrist was tightly wrapped. "I know Im pretty sore. Am I worried? Of course. Hopefully, everything will come out negative tomorrow. When I come out of a game, believe me, something is really wrong. "Hopefully, cross our fingers and Ill be all right." General Manager John Mozeliak said no roster moves are being planned. "We will know something tomorrow and go from there," Mozeliak said. "Right now, he will be tested in the morning and well see." Manager Tony La Russa said he experienced a range of emotions when he saw his first baseman go down. "It scared the hell out of all of us," La Russa said. "It smoked him pretty good. The doctor said he has good strength so that makes us kind of optimistic. First indications are that we caught a break." Wilson Betemit hit a chopper up the middle off Cardinals starter Jamie Garcia. Second baseman Pete Kozma backhanded the ball and made a jump-throw to first, pulling Pujols off the bag. As the slugger tried for a tag, Betemit ran into his glove hand and Pujols went down to the ground in pain. "He hit me on my wrist and my shoulder," Pujols said. "He kind of jammed me back. Its the toughest play to make as a first baseman. Its a bang-bang play. I saw the replay a couple of times, but I didnt really want to look at it." The collision was unavoidable, Betemit said. "I was running hard and the ball arrived at the same time I got to the base," Betemit said. "I couldnt do anything about it. He hit me on my left arm, thats why he dropped the ball. I hit him and then I saw him on the ground. Thats part of the game. I couldnt do anything about it." Pujols, hitting .279, was 3-for-3 with his 17th home run. The fifth-inning shot gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead. Lance Berkman, who had been given a rest Sunday, replaced Pujols at firsst.
Authentic Jaroslav Halak Jersey Leading off the ninth, Alcides Escobar hit his first home run on a 3-2 pitch from St. Louis reliever Fernando Salas, who threw 10 pitches in the at-bat. It was Escobars first homer in 325 at-bats and it tied the game 4-4. It marked just the second blown save in 15 attempts for Salas (4-1). After leadoff hitter Dan Descalso got thrown out trying to stretch a single, Schumaker connected off Tim Collins (3-4), the fifth Royals pitcher. It was Schumakers second game-ending homer, the first coming in 2008, and his first home run since April 13. "Im not sure theres a better feeling than hitting a home run walk off," Schumaker said. "It doesnt happen too often, home runs in general, so Ill take it." It was also Schumakers first major-league home run off a left-hander. "I was disappointed I was out of the game and I didnt get to punch Schumaker in the ribs after the walk-off," Pujols said. Schumaker hit Collins second pitch. "He was obviously sitting fastball," Collins said. "He got it and he hit it. It might have been a little bit over the plate. I was trying to get back into the count." Schumaker got his first RBI as a pinch-hitter this year, driving in Andrew Brown in the sixth to put St. Louis ahead 4-3. Cardinals reliever Miguel Batista pitched out of a jam in the seventh with two on and no outs. After getting a flyout, Batista got Jeff Francoeur to sharply line out to Schumaker at second and Melky Cabrera was doubled off first. Royals rookie left-hander Danny Duffy left in the fourth inning with cramps in his left calf. He struck out nine in 3 2-3 innings. He threw 90 pitches. Duffy allowed six hits and a walk. Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Billy Butler, who was making his first start after pinch-hitting in the first two games of the series. Butler is the Royals designated hitter. The Cardinals scored twice in the first when Brown, making his second major league start, hit a bases-loaded single. The Royals tied it in the second on Alex Gordons two-out RBI single. Kansas City tied it at 3 in the sixth when Escobars squeeze bunt scored Betemit. NOTES: A first-inning error by Descalso at 3B was the 47th error this season in 73 games for St. Louis. The Cardinals have made 10 errors in their past six games. ... The Royals concluded a 4-5 road trip. ... Garcia batted eighth, marking the fourth time a Cardinals pitcher hit eighth this season. Garcia has done so three times. ' ' '
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