TORONTO – This time it was the Leafs stifling their opponent, furiously dictating the play, and peppering the opposing netminder. Dan Marino Jersey . But in what was easily their most complete performance of the season they were on the wrong side of the scoresheet. "Its amazing isnt it?" said an optimistic Randy Carlyle late Wednesday night. "Thats what pro sports [is], theres always something that happens that makes you shake your head. By far was our best effort in the last couple months, but no reward for it." Despite outshooting their opponent for just the fourth time all season – yielding just 23 shots while firing 39 at rookie netminder Martin Jones – the Leafs ultimately fell for the 12th time in the past 18 games (6-9-3), edged 3-1 by the savvy L.A. Kings at the ACC. In control of the play for the better part of 60 minutes – while playing without the suspended Dion Phaneuf – the Leafs more closely resembled the plucky, feisty group they were for so much of last season. Energetic on the forecheck, feisty on the backcheck, and finally effective at moving the puck out of the defensive zone, there was a lot to like for the home side in defeat. "Ive got no complaints with the work ethic of our group," said Carlyle. "We executed from a defensive standpoint. We made good breakout passes, we attacked, we forechecked, but we didnt win. Simple as that." "Its what we were discussing and what we needed to do to give ourselves better chances to win games," said Cody Franson, the 26-year-old who scored his first goal of the year in defeat. No team in the NHL has yielded more shots nightly than the Leafs this season – 37 per game prior to Wednesdays game – but against the Kings it was something different entirely. Facing his former team for the first time, Jonathan Bernier saw just 23 shots or about half of the 44 he had faced on average in his previous four starts. "We definitely played our best game of the year tonight," said Bernier. "We deserve a better fate." "Be better on the defensive side of the puck and in turn thatll give us more good offensive chances," said Franson. "It showed tonight. We really paid attention to the details of defence and we were able to keep them to a lower shot count than us for the first time in a while. We had some good chances, we just didnt score enough tonight." Coming off back-to-back shutouts, Jones stopped 38 of 39 shots, including an impressive stop on Joffrey Lupul shortly after Franson scored the lone Leaf goal. Jones held the Kings in it long enough for Jeff Carter to score the go-ahead marker midway through the final period, a bad pinch from Paul Ranger ending up in the back of the net. The Leafs were fortunate to swipe many victories in the opening two months on the shoulders of goaltending and a terrific power-play, but rare was the game in which their performance rarely wavered from start to finish. Despite falling short of the desired result, this was one of those nights. Amid a difficult portion of the schedule – the Blues, Blackhawks and Penguins are up next – more of the same will be needed in the days ahead. "If we have that type of dogged work ethic, if we can effectively move the puck out of our zone the way we did tonight and backcheck as hard and create as many offensive opportunities then well win our share of games," said Carlyle. "But pushing that snowball, every time you lose it gets bigger." "Weve got to build off what weve done," Mason Raymond said. "I dont think theres any question that was one of our better games weve played in a long time. The shot totals, not giving up odd-man rushes, a lot of good things you can take from it. "Sometimes you dont deserve wins and you get them and we were on the opposite of that maybe tonight." Five Points 1. Bernier vs. L.A. Then the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Carlyle got his first glimpse of Jonathan Bernier in London, England at the O2 Arena on Sept. 29, 2007. It was the first start of Berniers NHL career and the outset of the 2007-08 season. "He was a young kid then," Carlyle recalled of the now 25-year-old Leafs netminder, drafted by the Kings in the first round of the 2006 Draft. Bernier stopped 26 of 27 shots that day across the pond, backstopping Los Angeles to a 4-1 win. "For an 18-year-old to come out of junior hockey and start in the NHL it was quite a feat," said Carlyle. Starting against his former team for the first time, Bernier made 20 saves. He was beaten five-hole by Carter for the eventual game-winner. Speaking prior to the game, Carlyle said the Leafs were "very, very fortunate" to have Bernier on their side. "Theres been a focus right from the day we acquired him that he was going to be our starting goaltender, he was going to be this, he was going to be that, he was here to seize the opportunity, seize the job, and he hasnt disappointed," said Carlyle of Bernier, who owns a .927 save percentage this season. 2. Rielly Checks In Simplicity was the message for Morgan Rielly as he re-entered the lineup on Wednesday night. "The simple things are the best way to go right now," Carlyle said in regards to Rielly prior to the game. "Make the simple play; make the good first pass, take the body, stop progression, jump up in the play when you have an opportunity, but move the puck. Move the puck, move it effectively. Dont try to do too much." Paired with Jake Gardiner for the first time all season, the 19-year-old logged nearly 20 minutes against the Kings, replacing John-Michael Liles on the Toronto back-end. Rielly had been a healthy scratch in the previous three games. "We felt Morgan Riellys worked hard and is deserved of an opportunity and well make decisions again for the next one [Thursday] night," said Carlyle. 3. Defensive Effort Among the more encouraging elements of the Leafs game in defeat was the ferocity with which they defended, eliminating many of the odd-man opportunities which had plagued their game in October and November. Especially impressive for the group in that regard was the effort of the forwards on the backcheck. "If youre not giving up odd-man rushes it makes easy on a goaltender and the shot numbers as I kind of mentioned earlier," said Raymond. "We were better on the defensive side of the puck," said Franson. "Our forwards worked real hard on our forecheck and they backchecked hard all night and made it an easier night on [the defence] to make reads when to jump in and when to back out." The 23 shots against was the second fewest for the Leafs all season. Back on Nov. 25, they yielded just 22 in a 6-0 blowout loss to Columbus. 4. Welcome to the NHL It was the lockout year (2005-06) and a young Jason Spezza was playing in Jerry DAmigos hometown of Binghamton, New York. DAmigo was just in bantam hockey then, but it was there at a team function with the Senators AHL affiliate – spaghetti dinner! – that he met Spezza. Befitting of his welcome into the NHL, the 22-year-old lined against the Senators captain over the weekend and was suitably in awe. "It was just crazy just seeing him out there and playing against him," DAmigo told the Leaf Report. "I actually thought to myself Im like wow this actually really happened." 5. Road to the NHL Picked in the sixth round of the 2009 Draft, DAmigo played in 208 games with the Marlies before finally getting his first NHL opportunity with the Leafs. "Its definitely been awhile," said DAmigo, limited to just under five minutes against the Kings. "The three years I spent in the minors, it seems like a long time, but when [I was called up] obviously everything kind of flushes from your mind and you dont think about that stuff anymore. You just think about that youre here and youre not wanting to leave basically." DAmigo arrived at his first NHL training camp in the fall of 2010 amid considerable hype and (probably unfair) expectation. There was even talk that he might crack the Leafs opening night lineup. But when that failed to materialize the buzz on the former American World Junior star quieted down to the point of his long-awaited debut against the Stars on Dec. 5. "It was one of those things where I had high hopes to make it, but I didnt know how hard it was going to be and then I sort of got that," DAmigo said. "You want to think its going to happen soon, but it doesnt. It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of learning of systems, learning how to prepare on and off the ice basically and thats what I had to do the past couple years to sharpen those tools a little bit and be where I am now." Former Marlies coach and now Oilers bench boss Dallas Eakins often spoke of the need for DAmigo and other young Toronto prospects to learn what it takes to become a professional. "And you dont really notice it until it happens, until you see the progression that youve made," DAmigo said. "I can see my first year, my weight, my eating habits were terrible. Ive had guys along the way that helped me, especially Dallas, and a lot of other coaches and players as well." Stats Pack 6-9-3 – Leafs record over the past 18 games. 4 – Games this season in which the Leafs have outshot their opponent. 4 – Consecutive games with a point for Jake Gardiner. Gardiner has a goal and three assists in that span and now has 10 points in 31 games this season. 19:28 – Minutes for Morgan Rielly against the Kings. 1 – Goal for Cody Franson this season, scoring his first against the Kings on a five-on-three advantage. 216 – Consecutive games streak snapped Wednesday for Dion Phaneuf, who served the first of a two-game suspension against the Kings. 9 – Consecutive games in which the Leafs have allowed a power-play goal. 6 – Shots for David Clarkson against the Kings, a season-high. 35-21 – Shots advantage for the Leafs at even-strength. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3Season: 24 per cent (4th overall) PK: 1-2Season: 76.6 per cent (27th overall) Quote of the Night "Sometimes you dont deserve wins and you get them and we were on the opposite of that maybe tonight." -Mason Raymond, on falling to the Kings despite the largely positive performance. Up Next The Leafs get right back at it on Thursday night, visiting the Blues in St. Louis. Larry Csonka Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. Bob Griese Jersey .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. http://www.authenticdolphinspro.com/Mark-duper-dolphins-jersey/ . Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night.ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Sometimes all it takes is a couple of lucky bounces. Austin Fyten can attest to that. The Oklahoma City forward picked up his first career two-goal game Sunday afternoon as the Barons came back to beat the Abbotsford Heat 5-4 in a shootout in American Hockey League action. Fyten hadnt scored in 14 games but the 23-year-old tied the game twice with redirections in the comeback win. "Ive been playing a lot and pretty well but things werent going my way, as far as bounces and stuff," said Fyten. "Tonight is one of those nights. I didnt even shoot it in — both goals went off my body. "If you play the right way good things will happen. I was pleased to get those — huge win for the boys." The two goals Sunday were just the fifth and sixth of the year for the Sundre, Alta. native. "Hes been great for us lately," said Oklahoma Citys Roman Horak. "Hes not afraid to go to the front of the net and do the dirty work and it pays off. He got two goals and that was a huge help from him tonight." Anton Lander scored the shootout winner, beating goalie Doug Carr low to the stick side before Barons goaltender Richard Bachman stopped Max Reinhart to clinch the win. The Barons never led in the game and needed Curtis Hamilton to tie it with just over two minutes to play in the third. "It was tough," said Fyten. "We were behind the eight ball all night. We stayed with the game plan and battled back. We got a couple greasy goals, and then Hammy stepped up with a big goal. "We wanted it and just kept pushing and pushing. We deserved that one." Former heat forward Horak also scored for Oklahoma City (34-28-11), which maintained the final Western Conference playoff berth, with Charlotte and Rockford now both two points back. "Its definitely one of those things where you watch whos winning and not winning," said Fyten. "Both the teams helped us out tonight with a couple losses. But its going to come down to the bitter end. We need to keep winning games and finish strong." Bachman, who has started 27 of the Barons last 30 games, made 33 saves. "Hes been keeping us in games," said Horak of Bachman. "Especially if we make the playoffs, were going to be betting on him a lot." Added Fyten: "We gave up too many shots tonight, too many PKs and stuff. But hes our most valuable player for sure. Hes been unreal for us and hopefully he can keep with it and help us down the stretch." In the other crease, Carrr was making his first AHL appearance, stopping 22 shots for Abbotsford (40-25-8). Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey. . "He made some huge saves," said Heat head coach Troy Ward, who gave team MVP Joni Ortio the day off. "I thought the last one there he wants back, the tying goal. But hes adjusting to a higher level, the release is quicker . . . but I thought he did a nice job for us today." Brett Kulak recorded his first career AHL goal, while Ben Street, Brett Olson and Reinhart also scored for the Heat, who have clinched a playoff spot but ended their chances of catching Chicago for fourth place. Lander tested Carr early, stealing the puck in the slot, but the Heat netminder made a nifty glove save to keep the game scoreless. Olson opened the scoring at 10:45 on the power play. Derek Smiths point shot ricocheted off Sven Baertschis skate right to Olson at the side of the net and he quickly backhanded it past Bachman for his 17th of the year. Fyten tied the game at 5:56 of the second period, redirecting Brad Hunts point shot. But Kulak put the Heat back in the lead a little more than two minutes later. Ben Hanowski, playing his first game since being reassigned by Calgary, made a great play, drawing Bachman to the left right post before setting up Kulaks one-timer from the hash marks. "I didnt know (Hanowski) saw me back there, but he threw a really nice pass — I guess thats why hes been in the NHL for the past month," said Kulak. "He made it really easy for me to just tap it in there. Obviously I cant enjoy it as much as I would have if we won the game, but its still a special feeling." Streets team-leading 28th of the season doubled the lead at 14:31. Smith blocked a clearing attempt at the blue-line and quickly put a shot on net, where Street deflected it past the left pad of Bachman. Horak drew the Barons back within one with a power-play goal at 17:21. First he drew a tripping penalty when he was hauled down by Smith on a partial breakaway. Then he scored his 22nd of the year, finishing off a give-and-go with Steve Pinizzotto to beat Carr glove side. Fyten tied the game again when Oscar Klefboms rebound bounced off Fyten at the side of the net at 6:10 of the third. However, Fyten took a slashing penalty a minute later and the Heat made him pay. Reinhart tapped in a feed from Street at 8:27 for his 20th of the year. Oklahoma City once again evened the game with just over two minutes to go. Hamilton took a pass from Will Acton in the slot and wired a wrist shot past Carrs glove. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys discount uswnt jersey Wholesale AC Milan Jerseys Wholesale Arsenal Jerseys Wholesale A.S. 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