Following what the players and coach described as an "embarrassing" loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis remains willing,... moreFollowing what the players and coach described as an "embarrassing" loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis remains willing, patient and fully committed to Randy Carlyle. Joe Klecko Jersey . "The pressure right now should be placed on the players, Nonis told The Dreger Report on Wednesday. "I know Randy and the coaching staff is working hard. Im not now, nor have I ever contemplated making a coaching change. The players have to respond." Nonis refuted the notion that the players are no longer listening to Carlyle, or have tuned out the veteran coach and says at the end of their season exiting meetings after the Leafs Game 7 meltdown to the Boston Bruins last spring, that every Toronto player - to a man - credited Carlyle and his staff as the main reason the Leafs qualified for the postseason last year. The Hits Keep Coming Now Trevor Smith broke his hand in the 3-1 loss to the Panthers and could be out for the next eight weeks,... less
TORONTO -- Already exhausted following a long road trip and playing the second half of back-to-back games, the last thing the Toronto Maple Leafs was another emotional... moreTORONTO -- Already exhausted following a long road trip and playing the second half of back-to-back games, the last thing the Toronto Maple Leafs was another emotional pitfall. Billy Williams Jersey . Coach Randy Carlyle had already caused a stir in Detroit a night earlier by calling James Reimers play in a loss "just OK," and then the goaltender gave up a goal on the first shot he faced Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Unfortunately for the Leafs, that was just the beginning of a long game as defenceman Paul Ranger was injured and Steven Stamkos rang up a hat trick to hand them a 5-3 loss at Air Canada Centre, their third in a row. Even after the club released an update saying Ranger was "stable, conscious and alert" after his head hit the glass on a hit from Alex Killorn and he was taken to a local hospital, there were plenty of worried teammates in the home locker-room after a defeat that dropped the Leafs three points behind the Lightning in the Atlantic... less
For those six Canadian franchises- or the 43%- this season was marked by disappointment, collapses and rebuilds. Teppo Numminen Jersey .Here quick season recaps of the... moreFor those six Canadian franchises- or the 43%- this season was marked by disappointment, collapses and rebuilds. Teppo Numminen Jersey .Here quick season recaps of the teams that are entering golf season early, even if there still is snow on the ground.The Ottawa Senators entered last season with a label of being a rebuilding team that wouldnt reach the playoffs. To the surprise of many, the Senators entered the playoffs as a seventh seed and upset the Canadiens in the first round 4-1.This season, the expectations for the Senators were lofty, they lost captain Daniel Alfredsson but acquired Bobby Ryan and star defenceman Erik Karlsson was given a clean bill of health. Yet, the Senators failed live up the level of performance theyd produced the previous season and were removed from the playoff race shortly after the trade deadline.Some would say the Sens just werent ready to fight for it.GIF credit: TumblrThe Toronto Maple Leafs 2013 playoff run gave hope to fans that the future was bright... less
NASHVILLE -- David Desharnais enjoys playing in high-pressure situations, and showed how much Saturday night. Paul Molitor Jersey . Desharnais scored at 1:43 of... moreNASHVILLE -- David Desharnais enjoys playing in high-pressure situations, and showed how much Saturday night. Paul Molitor Jersey . Desharnais scored at 1:43 of overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Desharnais stripped the puck from defenceman Mattias Ekholm along the left boards, skated to the left faceoff dot and put a slap shot over goalie Carter Huttons left shoulder. "I like playing those overtimes, those shootouts, I want to make the difference," Desharnais said. "I knew he was going to try to hold that puck there, so I just beat him to the puck and took a shot." P.K. Subban, Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec also scored for Montreal. "The most important thing was for us to win the hockey game," Montreal coach Michel Therrien said. "What an effort from David Desharnais. It was a great effort to pursue the puck and stay in the play, and he took a perfect shot." Gabriel Bourque, Nick Spaling, and... less
NEW YORK – Edwin Encarnacions strained right quadriceps isnt progressing as quickly as he, the Blue Jays and the clubs starved-for-a-winner fanbase is... moreNEW YORK – Edwin Encarnacions strained right quadriceps isnt progressing as quickly as he, the Blue Jays and the clubs starved-for-a-winner fanbase is hoping. Fernandinho Jersey . "Eddie had a little setback in Florida,” said manager John Gibbons before Saturdays game at Yankee Stadium. “Hes a little bit tender so were going to back him off for a few days.” Encarnacion was injured three weeks ago, July 5, in Oakland as he beat out an RBI fielders choice groundball in the first inning of an eventual loss to the Athletics. As he was running to first base, Encarnacion felt a pop in his quadriceps. One stride beyond the bag, he crumpled to the ground and required the assistance of trainers George Poulis and Mike Frostad to leave the field. A day later, he was placed on the disabled list after an MRI revealed what Encarnacion reported to be a Grade-2 strain. Thats an injury which typically requires a six-week recovery period. Encarnacion is halfway to six weeks. Which... less
LOS ANGELES -- A judge Thursday rejected an urgent request by Shelly Sterlings attorney asking that husband Donald Sterling and his lawyers be ordered to stop harassing her legal... moreLOS ANGELES -- A judge Thursday rejected an urgent request by Shelly Sterlings attorney asking that husband Donald Sterling and his lawyers be ordered to stop harassing her legal team and doctors in their dispute over the planned sale of the Los Angeles Clippers. Willie Roaf Jersey . A petition filed by Shelly Sterlings attorneys quoted allegedly threatening remarks made by Donald Sterling in phone calls and a letter sent by his lawyer to two doctors who declared him mentally incapacitated. Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said the matter may involve "high emotions and some litigation posturing" and urged both parties to tone down their communications. "The court does not feel that the statements set forth in the ... petition rise to the level of great and irreparable injury to a party as called for in the Code of Civil Procedure," Levanas said in a written decision. Outside court Donald Sterlings attorney Bobby Samini said, "Clearly from the courts ruling its apparent Mr. Sterling is... less
ALLEN PARK, Mich. Laurie Boschman Jersey . -- Jim Bob Cooter has been hired as quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions. Detroit officially announced the move Monday.... moreALLEN PARK, Mich. Laurie Boschman Jersey . -- Jim Bob Cooter has been hired as quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions. Detroit officially announced the move Monday. Cooter was an offensive assistant for the staff that led Denver to an AFC championship last season. He had previously worked for the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts. Detroit has been putting together a new staff under Jim Caldwell, who replaced fired coach Jim Schwartz. With Cooter on the staff, the Broncos ranked first last season in total offensive yards per game (465.3), total touchdowns (76) and points per game (37.9). Cooter was on Caldwells staff in Indianapolis when the Colts reached the 2010 Super Bowl. Blake Wheeler Jersey . The Toronto Maple Leafs forward and Nashville Predators goaltender highlighted Mondays waiver transactions, with Calgarys Chuck Kobasew and Edmontons Philip Larsen also being placed on waivers. Custom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . It led to his downfall on Tuesday.... less
The Dallas Cowboys are releasing Kyle Orton after their backup quarterback missed all the off-season workouts amid reports he was considering retirement. Custom... moreThe Dallas Cowboys are releasing Kyle Orton after their backup quarterback missed all the off-season workouts amid reports he was considering retirement. Custom Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Cowboys were cutting ties with Orton slightly more than a week before the start of training camp. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the decision. The 31-year-old Orton started the finale last year after Tony Romo injured his back a week earlier. The Cowboys lost to Philadelphia, their third straight season-ending defeat against an NFC East rival with a playoff berth on the line. The new backup is likely to be Brandon Weeden, Clevelands first-round draft pick in 2012. The Cowboys signed Weeden in March, and he worked with the first team during the off-season while Romo continued his recovery from back surgery. Orton was fined about $70,000 for failing to report... less
CHARLOTTE, N. Custom Houston Rockets Jerseys .C. -- The Miami Heat showed solidarity with the Los Angeles Clippers over the Donald Sterling controversy before Monday... moreCHARLOTTE, N. Custom Houston Rockets Jerseys .C. -- The Miami Heat showed solidarity with the Los Angeles Clippers over the Donald Sterling controversy before Monday nights playoff game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Like the Clippers did on Sunday, the Heat ran out of the tunnel wearing their warmups, huddled at centre court and tossed their white shooting T-shirts to the ground. They then went through their pregame routine with their red Heat warmup jerseys inside out, hiding the teams logo. It was a silent protest in response to Sterlings purported comments urging a woman to not bring black people to his teams games. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had both said in the locker room before the game they werent sure what they would do to show their support for the Clippers. Hakeem Olajuwon Jersey . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again --... less
John Gibbons and a curious bear. Jabari Parker Jersey .Jose Reyes and a ferocious lynx. Adam Lind with a wolf and an eagle.These should all be mounted on a cabin wall.... moreJohn Gibbons and a curious bear. Jabari Parker Jersey .Jose Reyes and a ferocious lynx. Adam Lind with a wolf and an eagle.These should all be mounted on a cabin wall. So majestic. (h/t @MacInTheB0x) John Henson Jersey . The world No. 1 had one of the most dominating performances in a final and was on his way to a possible shutout on Sunday until the third-seeded Berdych broke the super Serbs serve in the 12th game of the match. Rashad Vaughn Jersey . The club was unable to retain hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who is bound for Atlanta. Seitzer replaces Greg Walker, who was assisted by Scott Fletcher this season as the Braves finished 79-83.Rostislav Klesla will not be joining the Buffalo Sabres. The 31-year-old defencemen was traded from the Washington Capitals alongside goalie Michal Neuvirth to the Sabres for goalie Jaroslav Halak and a third-round selection on Trade Deadline day. Klesla was traded the day before from Phoenix to Washington. "With all due respect to the... less
Most Senators fans are still reeling from Saturday nights epic collapse against the Montreal Canadiens, when their team became the first in NHL history to lose a game in which... moreMost Senators fans are still reeling from Saturday nights epic collapse against the Montreal Canadiens, when their team became the first in NHL history to lose a game in which they had a three-goal lead in the final five minutes. Xavier Su a-Filo Jersey . The loss was painful on so many levels and seemed to put a definitive nail in the coffin when it came to the Senators playoff chances. And while its easy to point to that loss as the one that killed the teams post-season hopes, it was merely the final straw in a season-long string of disappointments. That collapse against Montreal was spectacular and historic (for the wrong reasons), but it wasnt an anomaly when it comes to the 2013-14 Ottawa Senators. On too many occasions this season, this team squandered opportunities to get two points – either settling for one or being blanked altogether. Here is a look at the 10 games that will likely cost the Senators a playoff spot this season: 1) October 5th – 5-4 shootout loss at TOR... less
ST. Oribe Peralta Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Takuma Sato won the pole at St. Petersburg for Sundays season-opening IndyCar Series race, where Tony Kanaan will make his... moreST. Oribe Peralta Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Takuma Sato won the pole at St. Petersburg for Sundays season-opening IndyCar Series race, where Tony Kanaan will make his debut in his new Target/Chip Ganassi Racing ride starting alongside him on the front row. Sato circled the street course in 1 minute, 0.01 seconds Saturday in the rain-delayed qualifying session to put his A.J. Foyt Racing entry out front. It was a stellar debut for Honda and its new twin turbo engine. "Its a fantastic day. I cant really ask any more for the start of the season," Sato said. "A.J. said Very well done, and he was very happy, and making him happy is a very difficult thing. So Im pleased." Sato also praised Honda Performance Development, which struggled mightily in this race a year ago. He said having the engine ready early in the off-season allowed his team to do needed testing in advance of the opener. "Last year, my first test was the end of February with the team," he said. "Its a very short time to prepare.... less
New Orleans. Willie McGee Jersey . LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Local stakes winner Gantry returned to the winners circle Thursday by claiming a highly competitive allowance... moreNew Orleans. Willie McGee Jersey . LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Local stakes winner Gantry returned to the winners circle Thursday by claiming a highly competitive allowance race at Fair Grounds. Just two weeks after failing to repeat in Fair Grounds Thanksgiving Handicap, Gantry, ridden by Miguel Mena, finished first in a $40,000, 5 1/2-furlong turf event versus other stakes-winning runners. Trained by Ron Faucheux for Brittlyn Stable, Gantry was the 3-1 third pick in the seven-horse field behind even-money favorite Unbridleds Note and 2-1 second choice Sum of the Parts. Gantry overcame a poor start to register a length victory over Unbridleds Note, the 2012 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint runner-up, with 52-1 longshot Solar Charge getting third. Gantry and Solar Charge, leaving from the two outside posts, bumped each other at the break. Finishing fourth was Voodoo Storm followed by Win Lion Win, Sum of the Parts and Rhetorical. Gantry covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.53 on a firm turf course.... less