ting 59 saves. "Its a big concern of ours right now. In our

ST. LOUIS – The steam oozed off of Dion Phaneuf in the minutes after yet another demoralizing loss, the 12th in 15 games for the sputtering Maple Leafs. It feels awful, said Torontos captain, displaying an unusual bit of public fire after a 3-0 defeat in St. Louis, the capper on an empty trip. It feels absolutely terrible. I dont know what more I can say than when you lose games, when you go through stretches like this, its awful. A hellish four-game road swing ended with four losses and amazingly, for a team that recently led the league in scoring, just a single goal scored. Toronto was outscored 12-1 on the week-long trip through L.A., Anaheim, San Jose and then St. Louis. Not one forward found the back of the net at all, Roman Polak posting the only goal Thursday in San Jose. Were cold as ice right now, said James van Riemsdyk, stuck on 19 goals this season. The list of Leafs gone dry is lengthy. Phil Kessel has just one even-strength goal in the past 18 games and only four total in that same span. Nazem Kadri has gone eight straight without scoring. David Clarkson has one goal in 20 games. Tyler Bozak has one in the past 11. Van Riemsdyk has found the back of the net in just one of the past eight games. Richard Panik hasnt scored in eight games. Mike Santorelli hasnt scored in six. A once devastating power-play - the foundation of offence for Kessel, Bozak and van Riemsdyk – has gone completely cold, 0-11 on the road trip and 2-21 in the past seven games. You cant really let it get to you, said van Riemsdyk, who shot a middle period opportunity over the net of Brian Elliott. As an offensive player youve got to stay confident, stay with it. These things happen; Ive never quite maybe seen it like this. Of late and despite their recent record, the Leafs have not actually played all that poorly. They kept it tight through every step of a difficult trip against a four-some of quality opponents. They limited shots and chances and held tight in terms of possession, but simply never could put the puck in the back of the net. Yeah, but the bottom line is you go home at the end of the night and you didnt win a game, Phaneuf said with some venom. You go home at the end of the night and we didnt win a game in four on a road trip. Yeah, we can draw on positives and we will draw on the positives, but youre asking me how I feel and I dont feel very good. Chasing a share of the division lead as recently as mid-December, the Leafs are now just hanging onto the sight of any playoff spot at all. They trail the Rangers and Bruins by seven points for the two wild card spots, now being nipped at by the Senators and Flyers. Just a day after his second coach in Toronto was fired, Kessel opined on what exactly captured his troubled tenure as a Leaf and it came down to stretches like this. Were always right there every year, Kessel said, and then all of a sudden we just hit these rough patches…You know youre going to lose a couple games here and there, but you cant go on long losing streaks like weve had in the past. I think that happens every year with us and weve just got to somehow kick that. And that may indeed define another failed Leafs season, a one-month run thats seen the club pick up just six of a possible 30 points (3-12-0). Five Points 1. Kadri on the Point One tweak the Leafs have made to jump-start their struggling power-play: re-inject Nazem Kadri onto the point of the first unit. They tried it briefly earlier in the year to no avail, but are looking to Kadri again for a different type of threat from where Phil Kessel operates on the left half-wall. I think we can play from both sides, Horachek said, citing the need for a balanced look, start using [Kadri] on the other side so theres two strong sides instead of just playing from one. Kadri, who hadnt played the point of the power-play since junior, says hes a lot more comfortable in the role this time around. Now I can survey my options a little quicker and know what to do, just feel comfortable backing up in the offensive zone, just little things like that, said Kadri, who is amid an eight-game goal drought. The changes go deeper than that though, especially in contrast to the 24-year-olds usual spot on the left half-wall of the teams second (largely unsuccessful) power-play grouping. You kinda gotta be a little bit of a safety valve on the point, Kadri explained, whereas on the half-wall everything is kind of working through you, and you have layers of structure that if you do turn the puck over theres help. You have a little bit of that on the point, but youve got to be a little more safe and youve got to be an out for those guys down low. 2. Full Value? Roman Polak played the first 424 games of his NHL career in St. Louis, returning to the Scottrade Center for the first time on Saturday. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock observed before the game that neither team had seen the best of a summer trade which brought Polak to Toronto and Carl Gunnarsson to Missouri. I dont think either team has seen the true value of what the players can do because both players have been hurt, Hitchcock said. Polak missed 10 games this season with a knee injury; Gunnarsson limited early after offseason hip surgery and then more recently due to a concussion. I think you wouldve saw a bigger impact with [Roman] if he wouldve stayed healthy from his injury too, Hitchcock said. Polak has a certain element that unnerves the opposition and Gunnarsson has a good element that really makes him a good partner for Shattenkirk. We needed that type of partner for [Shattenkirk]. Its a good trade, but I dont think both teams have seen the full value until these players are both healthy. 3. Polak II Hitchcock said the Blues loved Polak, but needed a different element in Gunnarsson, one that was capable of stepping into their top-four and playing with the under-looked Kevin Shattenkirk – tops among NHL defenders in points entering Saturdays game. Its what you gotta give to get the element that was missing on our team, said Hitchcock. If there is one big shift for Polak in his transition to Toronto its how hes being used or more specifically, how much hes being used. The 28-year-old was a third pairing defender in St. Louis – averaging 17 minutes last season – but with the Leafs hes been strictly in a top-four role, even teaming with Dion Phaneuf on the teams top pair for a night in San Jose. Toronto doesnt have near the talent obviously of Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester at the top of its defence, thus requiring more out of Polak, who is averaging nearly 21 minutes or the most since his first full season in the league (2008-09). Its a different role just to play a little bit more minutes in the game, said Polak, who led the Leafs with more than 24 minutes opposite his former club. He appears better suited to the more limited role he had in St. Louis. Polak holds a 41 percent possession mark since his return from the knee injury last month. 4. Sitting Inked to a three-year deal in the summer, Stephane Robidas sat as a healthy scratch for the eighth time on Saturday night. A look at the numbers might reveal why hes been replaced by Korbinian Holzer for the better part of a month on the Leafs third pair. Even-Strength Possession since Dec. 17 (entering Saturdays game) Korbinian Holzer 49 percent Stephane Robidas 39 percent 5. Shattered David Booth thought his nose was shattered when the right elbow of Ducks defender Sami Vatanen flew up and hit him in the grill. It was just more a shock than anything, Booth said a couple days after the incident I wasnt expecting it. His nose was indeed broken, but curiously and fortunately for the 30-year-old, there was no hint of a concussion. Booth managed to suit up against the Blues sporting a full face shield. When first pegged by Vatanen – who was fined by the NHL – Booth lost balance, was noticeably disoriented and could not make to the bench, let alone the dressing room in Anaheim, without assistance. Booth says it was because of his vision. I couldnt open my eyes which was weird, he said. My eyes were just watering. I couldnt open them so I felt a little off-balance there on the ice, but I knew where I was, I knew what was going on, I just couldnt open my eyes and whenever you cant see you kind of feel off-balance. Stats-Pack 2-10-0 – Leafs record in their past 12 road games. 12-1 – Scoring differential for the Leafs on their four-game road trip. 2-21 – Toronto power-play in the past seven games. 7-12-3 – Leafs road record this season. 9th – Leafs league-ranking in offence this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-2 Season: 19.2% (13th) PK: 3-3 Season: 82.6% (12th) Quote of the Night It feels awful. It feels absolutely terrible. I dont know what more I can say than when you lose games, when you go through stretches like this, its awful. - Dion Phaneuf on his feelings after a 3-0 loss in St. Louis. Up Next The Leafs return home to host the Hurricanes on Monday night. Dani Alves Jersey . The announcement was made by the hall on Friday, March 14. She joins Switzerlands Denise Biellmann as this years inductees to the Hall, based in Colorado Springs, CO. Layvin Kurzawa Paris Saint-Germain Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings. Winners of 15 straight, with a healthy roster, the Spurs have overtaken the Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the number one ranking. http://www.parissaintgermainfcstore.com/Women-Marquinhos-Paris-Saint-Germain-Jersey/ Kylian Mbappe Jersey . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. Thiago Silva Jersey . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima.ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves needed six tries to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. Justin Upton thinks the Braves took too long. "Weve battled them hard and weve let some games get away late," Upton said. "Its nice to get a win. We had to work for this one, so it was nice to see." Ervin Santana won his sixth straight start at Turner Field, Upton drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the Atlanta Braves snapped a two-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. Andrelton Simmons returned to the lineup after missing six games with a sprained left ankle and had two RBIs for the Braves, who had lost 11 of 13. Hyun-Jin Ryu (13-6) left the game with a right gluteus muscle injury after allowing six hits and three runs with two walks and seven strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. "I dont think its something serious right now," Ryu said through a translator. "Its not like my arm blew out. I think I can jump right back on the mound. I just want to be cautious of it as well." The victory allowed second-place Atlanta to stay five games behind Washington in the NL East. Los Angeles, which leads San Francisco by five games in the NL West, was trying to earn a sixth straight win over the Braves for the first time since Sept. 20, 1987-April 16, 1988. Santana (12-6) improved to 5-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his last six starts overall, giving up eight hits, two runs and two walks with nine strikeouts in six innings. The right-hander improved to 8-2 with a 3.48 ERA at Turner Field this year. Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel got the last three outs to earn his 35th save in 39 chances. He walked the first batter he faced, pinch-hitter Andre Either, and the next batter, Dee Gordon, reached on a bunt single. Kimbrel struck out Yasiel Puig for the first out and gave up a single to Adrian Gonzalez to load the bases before Matt Kemp grounded into a double play to end the game. "The moment doesnt get away from him," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Kimbrel. ";He has the maturity of being in situations closing big games, but he doesnt get rattled a lot.dddddddddddd" The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the second on RBI singles by Carl Crawford and Miguel Rojas. The Braves cut the lead to 2-1 in their half of the second when Evan Gattis doubled, moved to third on a bunt and scored on Simmons RBI groundout. Chris Johnson, who was hitting .434 against left-handers this season, decided on his own to move over Gattis with a rare sacrifice against Ryu. "Whatever it takes to win ballgames, whatever it takes to runs, weve got to do that," Johnson said. "We cant sit on our ego or anything like that. If I have to bunt, I have to bunt." Simmons bloop RBI single in the fourth tied the score 2-2. Atlanta went up in the fifth. Jason Heyward, batting leadoff for the first time since June 17, singled, advanced when Freeman was hit by a pitch and scored from second on Uptons RBI single. Puig went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts and one walk. TRAINERS ROOM Dodgers: Ryu grabbed the back of his top right leg after as he stood in front of the mound after walking B.J. Upton in the sixth and motioned for a trainer. He walked off the field under his own power. The Dodgers are listing him as day to day. Braves: Simmons, who went 1 for 4, appeared to run and field with no ill effects after missing the last six games with a sprained left ankle. UP NEXT Dodgers: RHP Roberto Hernandez (6-8) will make his second start since arriving in an Aug. 8 trade with Philadelphia, has a 2.87 ERA and a .189 opponents batting average in his last eight games. Braves: RHP Aaron Harang (9-6) didnt receive a decision in his last five starts despite a 2.81 ERA. SMILES IN THE USA: Atlanta bullpen coach Eddie Perez, a native of Venezuela, said before the game that he took a U.S. oath of naturalization in the morning with his family in attendance. Perez, the 1999 NLCS MVP and a Braves coach since 2005, was shown on the video board before the start of the fourth inning and waved to the cheering crowd. Authentic Bills Jerseys Dolphins Stitched Jerseys Cheap Patriots Jerseys Wholesale Jets Jerseys Wholesale Texans Jerseys Cheap Colts Jerseys Jaguars Jerseys Store Authentic Titans Jerseys Authentic Broncos Jerseys Authentic Chiefs Jerseys Cheap Raiders Jerseys Chargers Jerseys Store Cheap Ravens Jerseys Wholesale Bengals Jerseys Cheap Browns Jerseys Steelers Jerseys Store Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys Wholesale Giants Jerseys Authentic Eagles Jerseys Cheap Redskins Jerseys Authentic Falcons Jerseys Panthers Jerseys Store Wholesale Saints Jerseys Authentic Buccaneers Jerseys Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Seahawks Jerseys Store Wholesale Rams Jerseys Wholesale Bears Jerseys Authentic Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Vikings Jerseys Store ' ' '