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TORONTO - Toronto Rock general manager Terry Sanderson died from the effects of a heart attack that he suffered while on vacatio
TORONTO - Toronto Rock general manager Terry Sanderson died from the effects of a heart attack that he suffered while on vacatio
in General Discussion Tue May 29, 2018 8:47 amby jokergreen0220 • Farseer | 295 Posts | 2950 Points
TORONTO -- Just like after previous home victories, "We Cant Stop" by Miley Cyrus blared from the Toronto Maple Leafs locker-room. Bobby Hebert Jersey . The victory song that became synonymous with a season of good fortune was the same, but after beating the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Tuesday night the mood was much more relief than happiness. The result snapped a streak of eight straight regulation losses to keep the Leafs slim playoff hopes alive. "It feels like a lot of weight lifted off of our team," captain Dion Phaneuf said. "We can feel good about ourselves because we won this game." The Leafs allowed themselves to feel good by picking up their first points since beating the Los Angeles Kings on March 13. They improved to 82 with five games remaining and passed the Washington Capitals (81, six games left) but still trail the Detroit Red Wings (84, seven games left) and Columbus Blue Jackets (83, seven games left) in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Catching either the Red Wings, who play the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, or the Blue Jackets, who blew a two-goal lead and lost in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche, remains a daunting task. But for Toronto (37-32-8), any victory represented a confidence boost. "Its been a long time. Its been too long," coach Randy Carlyle said. "You hope that you can build on it, but I dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves because we didnt paint a Mona Lisa here tonight." In getting goals from Jay McClement, Dave Bolland and then the game-winner from David Clarkson, the Leafs managed to prevent what wouldve been their first stretch of nine straight regulation losses since 1967, the last time this franchise won the Stanley Cup. "We were flat for a big part of that game and gave up three rush chances," said ex-Leafs forward Matt Stajan, who scored his 13th of the season for the Flames on a breakaway. "Thats how that team scores goals. You could say they got a bounce on the one. Im guessing they havent had many bounces the last month so weve just got to be better." A loss of any kind to the Flames (31-38-7) wouldve been devastating to a team that knew it would have to run the table and get some help just to give itself a chance. Step 1 was beating the Flames. "It beats losing, thats for sure," said defenceman Cody Franson, who set up McClement for the games first goal 50 seconds into the second period. Anything beats losing for the Leafs, who not too long ago were in second place in the Atlantic Division before going into this free fall that saw them lose to the Capitals, Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and then Detroit again. Calgary didnt make it nine despite goals from Stajan and defenceman Kris Russell. Goaltender Karri Ramo stopped 19 of the 22 shots he faced. "I dont think we got outplayed," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "Its just they got one goal more than us. They were opportunistic at the right time and we got our chances late and we couldnt capitalize on them but its not by a lack of effort." In the same vein, Clarkson said Torontos losing streak wasnt for a lack of effort. But in a results-oriented business, they simply werent there. They came Tuesday night because McClement drove hard to the net, Bolland banked the puck off Flames defenceman T.J. Brodie and Mason Raymond sprung Clarkson on a breakaway. Jonathan Bernier also made 22 saves for his first victory since March 10. "It wasnt pretty, but well take it," Bolland said. "I dont think we played the prettiest game or we made the prettiest moves. But in a slump like that, just to get out of that, its great to get out of it." One victory wont get the Leafs out of the hole they dug over the past few weeks, but players hope is that this is at least a start. "Hopefully its big," said Clarkson, whose goal was his first point in 17 games. "At this time of the season, you stay positive, you continue to get better and youve got to stick together. Weve got to stick together in here and back each other up." And get some help. Phaneuf was keenly aware of the Capitals 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars and the Blue Jackets 3-2 overtime loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday night. "Were definitely aware of where were at, and youre aware of the scores and what else is going on around you," he said. "You dont want to be in the position that youre scoreboard-watching, but thats the position that were in. We accept that, and any time you get help around the league, you take it." More than anything else, the Leafs have to take care of business in front of them. The remaining schedule includes home games against the Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets and then three on the road at the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators. Its possible theyll need five more in a row to make a suddenly improbable run to the playoffs. But all the talk after beating the Flames had to do with Wednesdays practice and then Thursdays game against the East-leading Bruins. "We know were going to play a Boston team, but we should feel good about ourselves because weve had a lot of things that have been negative for us, so lets enjoy the win and lets get ourselves ready tomorrow to play a real tough opponent in the Boston Bruins," Carlyle said. NOTES -- Phil Kessel played for the Leafs despite a bruised right foot. More than once he took a puck to that foot. "Its like, Here it is, hit me. He had the sign on his foot," Carlyle said jokingly. ... Paul Ranger dressed as the Leafs seventh defenceman in his first game since suffering a neck injury against Tampa Bay on March 19. Forwards Colton Orr and Jerry DAmigo were scratched. ... Bryce Van Brabant made his NHL debut for the Flames, becoming the 10th Calgary player to do that this season. Manti Te o Jersey ." Also, defencemen "were found to be at a higher risk of suffering a concussion than other players, perhaps due to turning their back to retrieve pucks along the boards, which leaves them vulnerable. Tommylee Lewis Jersey . Beckham finished 2 for 4, adding a double in the first inning. Chicago has won eight of 12 to get back to .500 (27-27). The White Sox are 6-3 against Cleveland this season after losing 17 of 19 to their American League Central rival in 2013. Mike Aviles went 1 for 2 with a walk and drove in Clevelands run. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Ted-Ginn-Jr-Saints-Jersey/ . Chile applied pressure in midfield right from the beginning, challenging aggressively and continually surging forward. Eduardo Vargas beat the offside trap and fired home a stinging shot for Chiles opening goal in the fifth minute.NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira has provided consistent power for weeks. The rest of the New York Yankees joined in Saturday. Teixeira hit a two-run homer, Zoilo Almonte connected in his first start of the season and New York went deep five times for a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the second time since 2011 that five Yankees players homered in one game. "It was nice to see," manager Joe Girardi said. "Our team is built for this park." Brett Gardner and Alfonso Soriano also homered off a struggling Edinson Volquez to back five scoreless innings from David Phelps (1-0). Brian McCann added a two-run drive in the eighth against reliever Vin Mazzaro as New York won for only the second time in eight home games. Coming off consecutive road shutouts against the crosstown rival Mets, the Yankees took their third straight following a four-game slide. "We had a very good game overall," Soriano said. "Thats what we expect." Starling Marte homered and had three hits in his return to the starting lineup for the Pirates, winless at Yankee Stadium since Harvey Haddix pitched them to a 5-2 victory in Game 5 of the 1960 World Series. Volquez (1-4) gave up six hits -- four homers -- and no walks in 6 1-3 innings, dropping to 0-4 in his last five starts. Teixeira connected on a 1-2 pitch following Derek Jeters single in the first for his eighth home run in his last 17 games. It was the 350th of his career, tying Chili Davis for sixth place among switch-hitters. Almonte sent Volquezs first pitch of the third into the raised bleachers in right-centre for his second major league homer. Called up from the minors Tuesday, Almonte was a late addition to the lineup when centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was scratched with flu-like symptoms. Gardner homered leading off the sixth and Soriano did the same in the seventh. "They are great hitters and I made a lot of mistakes," Volquez said. "You cannot make a lot of mistakes in this ballpark." After a rainout Friday night, 47,353 fans turned out on a beautiful afternoon for the Pirates first visit to the current Yankee Stadium. They went 0-6 in interleague games at the old place, swept in a June 2005 series and again two years later. Phelps pitched out of early trouble to earn his first win as a starter since July 4, 2013, at Minnesota. After beginning the season in the bullpen, the right-hander was making his third staart since replacing injured Michael Pineda in the rotation. Andrus Peat Jersey. "At the end of the day it was five zeros and Ill take that," he said. "You dont want to grind every time out, but its one thing that Ive kind of done this year. I havent really had my best stuff yet." Phelps got some help from the overaggressive Pirates, who ran into three outs on the bases. "We were pushing guys out there," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Those are the chances you want to take when youre not getting those big hits with runners in scoring position, try to push yourself across the plate or get yourself in scoring position." Dellin Betances tossed two innings in relief before Adam Warren and Matt Daley finished up. Phelps is 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in his last three starts at Yankee Stadium. "He made pitches when he had to," Girardi said. "There were some good plays." Pirates bopper Pedro Alvarez, who grew up a few miles from Yankee Stadium, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his first game against the Yankees. He left about a dozen tickets for family and friends and was expecting his father to be in the crowd. Two calls were overturned on replay challenges, one in favour of each team. Both plays involved tags by Jeter at second base. "We won with the home run today, which were capable of doing," Teixeira said. "We have to score a little bit more and I think the last few games our pitching has really picked us up. So its good to see us break out today." NOTES: Marte (lower back tightness) made his first start in a week. ... 1B Ike Davis, traded by the Mets last month, went 0 for 3 with a walk and three strikeouts in his return to New York. ... Girardi said he would be "kind of shocked" if LHP CC Sabathia (right knee) is able to return after only 15 days on the disabled list. "We dont know when hes coming back," Girardi said. ... Pineda (shoulder muscle) is scheduled to throw 25 pitches on the side Sunday. ... Ichiro Suzuki (back) entered in RF in the ninth and is likely to play in the traditional doubleheader Sunday -- the first single-admission twinbill at Yankee Stadium since 2004. ... RHP Hiroki Kuroda chose to start the opener Sunday against Pirates RHP Charlie Morton. LHP Vidal Nuno will pitch the second game against RHP Gerrit Cole, who spurned the Yankees to attend UCLA after they drafted him out of high school. 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