TORONTO -- It was such a bad first period, the Toronto Maple Leafs figured they couldnt duplicate the disaster.
#24 Italy Alessandro Florenzi Mens Jersey - Authentic White Away Short Shirt 2016 UEFA European Football Championship Soccer Puma . They were right in that they responded to coach Randy Carlyles goaltending switch to erase a two-goal deficit. Ultimately Toronto lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings in a preview of the Winter Classic, but it was the battling back to get a point that had them feeling slightly more upbeat than usual after a defeat. "Well take the point," captain Dion Phaneuf said. "Coming back, I feel that was a big step for our team to come back against a team that doesnt really give up a whole lot. We did a lot of really good things tonight." The good things for the Leafs (18-16-4) came in the second and third periods when they got goals from Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul to tie the score and then one from the much-maligned David Clarkson to take the lead. That was a complete reversal from the first period, when they squandered the opening goal from defenceman Cody Franson and gave up three goals in 9 minutes 11 seconds to Pavel Datsyuk, Joakim Andersson and Tomas Jurco. "We score the first goal and then we basically stood around for the rest of the period and watched them do their thing," Carlyle said. "They out-competed us badly in the first period." Starting goaltender James Reimer gave up those three goals on 12 first-period shots. He got the hook in favour of Jonathan Bernier at the first intermission, after Carlyle noticed rebounds bouncing away from Reimer and wasnt happy with Anderssons goal going off his stick and in and Jurco shooting the puck through him. Reimer was understandably unhappy with Carlyles decision, which he respected, and also with his performance. "Definitely not what we had in mind, what I had in mind," said Reimer, who was making a third straight start for the first time this season. "They just scored a couple too many goals. Obviously the second one, that cant go in. It was obviously my fault, a hundred per cent. And the third one, they made a nice play, but I think thats one that I can get done on some days, too." The Leafs looked like a completely different team in the second period in front of Bernier. Carlyle was pleased at how his players got pucks deep, cycled, drew penalties and managed to draw even in the game by scoring twice on former Toronto goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who wound up giving up four goals on 23 shots. "I dont think I had my best game tonight, at least we were able to step up there and get the win," Gustavsson said. Phaneuf said he and his teammates talked about having a better effort in the second period. That showed, and when Clarkson scored 8:32 into the third period Carlyle hoped that kind of "dirty" goal would be able to carry the Leafs. Instead, the Red Wings (17-12-9) were able to tie it on a goal by Tomas Tatar at 13:44 when Niklas Kronwall won a blue-line puck battle against Phil Kessel. "We made a mistake and we couldnt get a puck out along the wall, guy got in behind us, a rebound and then we lost in a shootout," Carlyle said in summing up the Leafs sixth loss in their past seven games. "I think that the way that game developed in the evening, I think we were fortunate to get a point." The Red Wings felt fortunate to win in the shootout on goals by Datsyuk and former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson. It was their first victory that way this season after losing their first six shootouts. "It was a mental block for us, shootouts, and to win this one tonight hopefully we can put that behind us and start winning a few," said Alfredsson, who scored the winner. "Winning in overtime last game and now winning in a shootout tonight lessens the grip on the stick next time around." Mike Babcock, coach of the Red Wings and Team Canada, pointed out that he doesnt get so hung up on the shootout performance. But hell take the points from this one, Detroits second straight victory following a six-game losing streak. "I think were a pretty even-keeled group," Babcock said. "We just keep on keeping on. Were going to be fine here in the end. Weve got to get players back and then well start playing with some speed and confidence and tempo and everything." The Red Wings were playing without injured captain Henrik Zetterberg (back), goaltender Jimmy Howard (knee), centre Stephen Weiss (sports hernia) and forwards Gustav Nyquist (groin), Johan Franzen (concussion) and Justin Abdelkader (concussion). They got defenceman Danny DeKeyser back after missing 15 games with a shoulder injury. Carlyle saw similarities between the two teams because the Leafs are still without centres Tyler Bozak (oblique) and Dave Bolland (severed tendon in ankle). But the rest of the team is in tact, and players have been quick to brush injuries off as an excuse. The problem Saturday night wasnt lacking players as much as it was another poor start after Fransons goal 7:15 in. "I didnt think we were ready and we came out a little bit sloppy," said Clarkson, whose go-ahead goal was just his third of the season. "When you allow a team with that much skill and talent to get ahead of you, its hard to battle back, but I think we showed something tonight by battling back. Weve got to be ready from the drop of the puck, be ready to play the way we know we can, the way we did in the second and third." The Leafs play for the final 40 minutes of regulation represented the biggest positive of the night, which was a chance for the teams to feel each other out before meeting in the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. That game is too far from now for either Toronto or Detroit to focus on. The Leafs concern was about their good and bad effort that led to this shootout loss. "It takes a toll on you trying to dig out of a two-goal hole like that," said Lupul, who had a goal and an assist. "If we take one thing from the game, its probably get off to a little better start." NOTES -- Kessel was held without a goal for the eighth time in 10 games since Bozak went out with his oblique injury. The star winger has two goals and five assists in that time. Defencemen Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger and forward Frazer McLaren were healthy scratches for the Leafs for the second straight game.
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Giacomo Bonaventura Jersey . Today is the eve of many a Big Dance dream being shattered and powerhouses upset as conference tournaments and, for some, college careers end before Selection Sunday.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have taken similar paths toward the top, hitting big in the draft and making shrewd moves after rough stretches. They find themselves trying to knock each other out in the Western Conference finals for the second straight year. The Blackhawks prevailed last year on their way to the Stanley Cup, and they have the early lead this time after taking the opener, 3-1. They will try to go up 2-0 when the best-of-seven series resumes Wednesday night in Chicago. "We felt this year were in the toughest division and conference," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We just played two real competitive series (against St. Louis and Minnesota). Every game is tight. I think finding a way to win is what its all about in todays game. Our guys are really diligent of doing the little things particularly that some nights give you an edge." Yes, the Blackhawks keep finding ways. Its why theyre eyeing their third championship in five years and are trying to become the first team to repeat since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. In an era with a hard salary cap where players want raises, thats simply not supposed to happen. Parity is the rule, yet the Blackhawks keep rising toward the top. The same goes for the Kings. Theyre enjoying their most successful era with three straight trips to the conference finals and a Stanley Cup two years ago after following a similar path to the Blackhawks. The Kings missed the playoffs from 2003 to 2009 and lost in the first round in 2010 and 2011 before winning their first championship in 2012. Like the Blackhawks did with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, they hit in the draft with Anze Kopitar. They also collected a strong cast to support their core and filled in the gaps with key trades, like the one that landed Marian Gaborik from Columbus in March. "You have to be able to adjust to the game, adjust to the rules, adjust to the style," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "I think thats a big reason why were both in the confference finals again.
Luca Antonelli Italy Jersey. Whether we can adjust enough to beat the Stanley Cup champions, I dont know." The Blackhawks missed the playoffs from 2003 to 2008 and landed at rock bottom, with dwindling attendance and an alienated fan base unable to watch home games on TV because then-owner Bill Wirtz believed it would be unfair to season ticketholders. They finally emerged with a run to the conference finals in 2009, losing to Detroit. A year later, they beat Philadelphia to end a 49-year championship drought, only to have to part ways with a huge chunk of their team because of cap issues. So they reloaded. "I think management did excellent job with the team," Chicagos Marian Hossa said. "We got a great coaching staff. I think the whole organization, its top class. ... (Los Angeles) is a great organization also. They did an excellent job the last few years. They did it three times in a row. Its just amazing these two teams battling for the West again." The Kings had a few adjustments to make after losing 3-1 in Game 1. Their top line of Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Gaborik got shut down by Toews line, managing just six shots without scoring. Los Angeles will need more from a trio with 16 goals and 24 assists in the playoffs. Even when the Kings had their chances, Corey Crawford stopped most of them. He made 25 saves with several neat stops, turning back Kyle Clifford on a 2-on-1 rush and stopping Gaborik and Brown in rapid succession. So its the Blackhawks with the early lead in the series and the Kings trying to pick themselves up -- again. They did it after dropping the first three games to San Jose in the first round and then rallied from 3-2 down to knock out Anaheim in the conference semifinals. "San Jose and Anaheim had arguably the top two, three, four best home records this year. We went into those tough buildings and won," Jarrett Stoll said. "Chicago is no different. A tough building. Were going to have to figure out a way to win Game 2 and move on."
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