Kartentausch » Whitney turned aside

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Mats Sundin was the captain. Paul Maurice was behind the bench. Andrew Raycroft was starting in goal. And Alex Steen was scoring the game-winning goal as the Maple Leafs reeled off their fifth consecutive win in St. Louis. That was Feb. 6, 2007, a long and often dark run of seven years since the club last won five in a row. But with another standout performance from Jonathan Bernier, among other things, they would finally match the mark again in the Arizona desert on Monday night. “Its always nice to get a couple wins in the backpack,” said Carl Gunnarsson after a 4-2 victory over the Coyotes, “but weve got a long ways to go here. Were not satisfied. We just know that if we keep doing this we can continue this win streak.” The Leafs have been a different team since they were dropped handily by the Hurricanes in Raleigh earlier this month. What was then their third straight loss (en route to four) and a low point in a season veering off the rails seems to have proven a turning point. “We found out winnings fun,” said Jake Gardiner with a large grin. “Practice the other day was light – we had a three-on-three scrimmage and we want more of that. Hopefully we can keep winning.” Though they were outplayed by the Coyotes in the back half of Mondays outing – outshot 29-15 over the final two periods – a once lackadaisical group has found, in recent days, the necessary will to start earning wins with more consistency. Compete was the word head coach Randy Carlyle tossed around repeatedly as the losses mounted in the early days of 2014, but of late, that tenor has changed for the better. “We knew we were a great team – we just didnt compete enough,” said Bernier, who made 39 saves. “Thats the main thing. I think were doing it right now.” Continued brilliance from the 25-year-old between the pipes has also helped, not to mention a scorching run from Phil Kessel, who scored his team-leading 24th goal in the win. “We feel that this group can continue to grow and play to a higher level, but its enough talking about it,” said Carlyle. “Action speaks louder than words. Weve got to continue to grow this group to be a playoff hockey club. That was a statement we made before and were going to continue to make it because we believe in this group; we believe we can play to a higher level; we believe weve got more; and I think they believe theyve got more.” The win streak has nestled the club into the first wild card position, now with 57 points in 51 games. Five Points 1. Berniers Zone Bernier improved to 3-0-0 lifetime against the Coyotes while bumping his save percentage up to .927 this season with the 39-save performance at Jobing.com Arena. His efforts throughout the night were the ultimate difference in the game. “We had some turnovers tonight that were pretty juicy and he definitely bailed us out,” said Gardiner, bailed out in one such instance by Bernier in the opening frame. “I think this is probably one of his better games.” Entrenched as the Leafs first option in goal at the moment, Bernier stopped all 27 shots in the opening two periods, including 15 in a one-sided second frame. His stop on Radim Vrbata with just over eight minutes to go in the third kept the score at 3-1. Nazem Kadri would increase the lead back to three just a few minutes later. “I thought I was seeing the puck pretty good tonight,” said Bernier, who owns a 17-14-4 record this season. 2. Five Straight Only five players from the last Leafs squad to win five straight are even in the league today: Steen, Matt Stajan, Carlo Colaiacovo, Hal Gill, and Nik Antropov. 3. Kessels Scorching Run Phil Kessel had two points before the first period even closed in Phoenix, extending his point streak to six games. The 26-year-old has four goals and 12 points in that span, now up to 50 points in 51 games this season – good for seventh (tie) in league scoring. “When he gets hot hes one of those guys that everything he shoots has a chance to go in,” said Carlyle of Kessel. “Hes got a skill-set that the puck follows him around. Those are signs of great players.” 4. Source of Success Cody Franson described what he believed to be the source of the teams recent success. “I think weve played a tighter brand of hockey,” said Franson before Mondays game. “Weve managed the puck a little better and weve really just had everybody get on the same page and buy in. We havent had any nights where guys were trying to do a little too much or we didnt have any passengers. Just the whole team coming together as one has made it a little easier for us to execute our game-plan.” 5. Gardiners Showing Jake Gardiner had yet to post a multipoint night this season before boasting his fourth goal of the season and an assist against Phoenix. But despite the fine offensive numbers, the 23-year-old had his share of struggles in the desert, especially with the puck. A giveaway early in the first preceded a terrific opportunity for Vrbata – one that was turned away by Bernier – and then later that period another giveaway led to Lauri Korpikoski ringing one off the cross-bar. Gardiner would score the games opening goal moments later. “I had some good plays, had some bad plays,” said Gardiner, who played just under 19 minutes. “Both Morgan [Rielly] and I werent very happy about the way we played, but we got the win and as a team we played pretty well.” Stats-Pack 19-6-3 – Leafs record when scoring first this season. 6 – Consecutive games with a point for Phil Kessel, who has four goals and 12 points in that span. 82 – Games between goals for Carl Gunnarsson, who scored his first of the year on Monday. 6 – Power-play goals for the Leafs in the past five games. 11 – Games between goals for Nazem Kadri, who scored for the first time since Dec. 23 against the Coyotes. 3 – Consecutive games with a point for Kadri, who has five points in that span. 10-7-1 – Record versus the Western Conference this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 2-6Season: 22.8% (4th) PK: 3-4Season: 77.3% (28th) Quote of the Night “We found out winnings fun.” -Jake Gardiner, on the difference in atmosphere around the team in recent days. Up Next The Leafs head to Colorado for a Tuesday date with the Avalanche. Elmer Flick Jersey . TSN platforms will broadcast 75+ live games per season – tripling the networks current slate of MLB games. With the new deal TSN retains rights to ESPNs SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and, for the first time, acquires rights to ESPNs MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and WEDNESDAY NIGHT BASEBALL. Aaron Nola Jersey . Maricopa County spokeswoman Cari Gerchick says thats the finding from an autopsy conducted Thursday by the county Medical Examiners Office. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/.J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. Zach Eflin Jersey .com Tour title, closing with a 6-under 64 for a four-stroke victory. The 22-year-old former North Texas player finished at 12-under 268 at Panama Golf Club and earned $112,500 to jump from seventh to second on the money list with $171,500. Jose Alvarez Jersey . Brad Malone had the other goal for the Monsters (1-1-0), while Elliott chipped in an assist for a three-point night and the games first star. Bryan Lerg also had two assists. Corban Knight and Max Reinhart scored for the Heat (1-1-0), who opened their season Friday with a 5-2 win over the Monsters in Cleveland.SHERBROOKE, Que. - Alexis Loiseau had two goals and two assists as the Rimouski Oceanic downed the host Sherbrooke Phoenix 6-4 on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.Anthony DeLuca also had a pair of goals for the Oceanic (8-1-0), who extended their win streak to six games, while Guillaume McSween and Samuel Laberge each scored once.Daniel Audette led the Phoenix (6-3-0) offensively with three goals and Tim Wieser had a goal and an assist.Philippe Desrosiers made 29 saves for the win as Alex Bureau kicked out 36-of-41 shots in defeat.Rimouski went 0 for 4 on the power play while Sherbrooke scored three times on eight chances with the man advantage.---REMPARTS 5 SAGUENEENS 4 (OT)QUEBEC CITY — Nikolas Brouillard scored the winner and Taylor Burke added two goals in regulation as the Remparts slipped past Chicoutimi in extra time.Raphael Maheux and Guillaume Gauthier also scored for Quebec (5-3-0) while Eric Brassard made 33 saves for the win.Jeremy Lipine, Alexandre Ranger, William Gignac and Janna Puhakka supplied the scoring for the Sagueneens (4-4-1) as Julio Billia stopped 29 shots in defeat. ---FOREURS 4 MOOSEHEADS 3 (SO)HALIFAX — Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored once in the shootout and regulation as Val-dOr edged the Mooseheads.Shawn Ouellette-St-Amant and Stephen Anderson also scored for the Foreurs (3-6-1) while Etienne Montpetit made 25 saves for the win.Danny Moynihan scored twice for Halifax (2-4-2) and Vincent Watt had the other. Zachary Fucale made 33 saves in a losiing cause.dddddddddddd---OLYMPIQUES 5 DRAKKAR 4GATINEAU, Que. — Joey Richard, Vaclav Karabacek and Marc Beckstead had a goal and an assist apiece as the Olympiques downed Baie-Comeau.Pascal Laberge and Jonathan Bourcier tacked on a goal each for Gatineau (6-2-2). Anthony Brodeur was pulled after allowing two goals on three shots in 6:31 of action. Nicolas Lachance made 26 saves to earn the win in relief.Simon Chevrier, Luca Ciampini, Valentin Zykov and Maxime St-Cyr scored for the Drakkar (4-4-1) while Reilly Pickard made 24 saves in the loss.---CATARACTES 4 TITAN 2SHAWINIGAN, Que. — Anthony Beauvillier scored twice — including the eventual winner 58 seconds into the second period — and Marvin Cupper made 29 saves as the Cataractes doubled up Acadie-Bathurst.Alexis DOust scored once and set up two more for Shawinigan (5-2-2) and Gabriel Slight added the other.Anthony Gingras and Bronson Beaton replied for the Titan (2-7-0). Alexandre Lagace gave up three goals on 11 shots before giving way to Jacob Brennan, who stopped 19-of-20 shots in 37:45 of relief.---TIGRES 3 ARMADA 2VICTORIAVILLE, Que. — Yan Pavel Laplante scored the winner 6:21 into the third period and Brandon Whitney turned aside 33 shots as the Tigres toppled Blainville-Boisbriand.Tommy Veilleux and Samuel Blais also scored for Victoriaville (5-2-2) and Angelo Miceli tacked on two assists.Fabrizio Ricci and Danick Martel scored for the Armada (2-6-1), who got an 18-save outing from Marc-Antoine Turcotte. --- ' ' '