07-08-2019, 01:37 AM
TORONTO a€“ If there was one aspect of the Maple Leafs that general manager Dave Nonis believed had improved from one year earlier, it was depth a€“ especially up front. Warren Moon Titans Jersey . Toronto brass spent the summer months adding forwards of different distinctions from the free agent market, the trade market and as far away as the KHL a€“ not to mention the waiver wire, Richard Panik claimed from Tampa Thursday a€“ all with the idea of bolstering an underserved area of the roster. Fast forward to Wednesdays season opener and the earliest peek into what that depth may look like. Of the 12 forwards who dressed against the Canadiens, 11 played more than 10 minutes a€“ and one, Matt Frattin, played 9:24. Randy Carlyle, the Leafs head coach, was able to flip four lines with matching speed for three periods, including in the closing moments of the final frame a€“ Montreal winning late on the second of two goals from Tomas Plekanec. First Line Player Ice-Time vs. MTL James van Riemsdyk 22:07 Tyler Bozak 21:31 Phil Kessel 20:31 Fourth Line Player Ice-Time vs. MTL Matt Frattin 9:24 Daniel Winnik 10:39 Peter Holland 11:01 That kind of depth a€“ which produced Torontos game-tying goal late in the third a€“ simply didnt exist for the club a year ago. Consider that Colton Orr, in last seasons opener in Montreal, played less than three minutes, including one shift of 32 seconds in a close third period. Orr, who is now with the Marlies, played more than 10 minutes once in 54 games last season. Frazer McLaren, also demoted to the Marlies in the Leafs final purge after training camp, never played more than 10 minutes in 27 games. Intimidation aside, they combined for zero goals, zero assists and zero points last season. Torontos new recruits will assuredly provide more than that. The teams bottom two lines proved maybe their most effective against Montreal, all the more valuable given the woeful night of the top unit which turned pucks over, generated little offence and was scored on twice by the Habs first trio of Max Pacioretty, P.A. Parenteau, and David Desharnais. Four lines definitely does help out, especially early on in the games to get everyone involved, said Nazem Kadri, who scored the first goal for the Leafs in defeat. One of the potential effects of increased depth is precisely how it could affect that incumbent first line of Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. The Leafs were overly reliant on the threesome last season, a toll that became evident with their struggles during the March collapse. Better balance (or at least the thought of it) stands to alleviate some of the burden on those players. More capability throughout the lineup also stands to increase possession, keep speed and some degree of skill constant, shift after shift, and add hints of offence where it was lacking in the past. Daniel Winnik, who lined up on the left side of the fourth unit Wednesday, offered 30 points as a Duck last year. That kind of production would be a drastic increase from the wasteland of the teams fourth line in 2013-14. This collection of depth forwards, however, is still very much in question. It remains to be seen whether Mike Santorelli can stay healthy and offer the versatility hes shown during stopovers in Florida and Vancouver or if Peter Holland can establish himself as a regular NHL player (centre ice remains a weak spot for the Leafs). It remains to be seen what kind of contribution David Clarkson can make in Year Two, whether Brandon Kozun can make the leap from the AHL, if Matt Frattin can define himself in this league. Its a wild-card group, really, one thats full of questions. But theres upside in the collection as well. And given the interchangeability of the parts, competition for ice-time seems a given and something the Leafs hope instigates improved performance and expanded roles. Youre going to have to work for your ice, said Kadri, who played only 14 minutes in the opener. Some days youve got it, some days you dont. You definitely have to earn it. Holland, for instance, hadnt killed penalties since junior, but took reps in the role against Montreal. Thats extra ice-time and opportunity for a player still trying to establish himself in the league and it comes at the expense of Bozak, for one, who struggled in the role (under heavy total minutes) last season. Theres also insulation in the case of injuries, a reality the Leafs didnt have a year ago when two of their top centres got hurt early in the season. We think we can play a skating game, an up-tempo game, said Carlyle. Were going to play our nine forwards and possibly our 12 forwards on an equal basis. Marcus Mariota Womens Jersey . -- What Anthony Jennings lacked in experience, LSU more than compensated for with a talented supporting cast in the Outback Bowl. Derrick Henry Titans Jersey . -- Pelicans coach Monty Williams does not expect guard Eric Gordon to play in any of New Orleans final five games this season. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Marcus...ns-jersey/ . The Henry Burris-led squad finished second in the East Division before advancing to the Grey Cup where they ultimately fell to the home field advantage wielding Saskatchewan Roughriders.WASHINGTON -- No, confetti didnt fall from the rafters, and theres no parade scheduled for Pennsylvania Avenue. But John Wall pumped his right arm and smiled broadly as he dribbled out the clock, and the first word out of Bradley Beals mouth when he addressed the crowd said it all: "Finally." The Washington Wizards celebrated what they hope is the end of mediocrity Monday night, moving above .500 for the first time in more than four years with a 100-90 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. "Its only one game over, but, yeah, its a big relief," said Wall, who has endured more than his share of Wizards frustration since his selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. "But the main thing is weve got bigger goals to try to keep winning games and try to keep getting better and try not to go back down -- so we wont have to have this talk again." Wall scored 22 points, and Trevor Ariza added 20 and had another solid defensive game for the Wizards, who hadnt had a winning record since beating the New Jersey Nets to improve to 2-1 on Halloween in 2009. Washington committed six turnovers while forcing 16 from Portland, and Wall and Co. didnt look back after Kevin Seraphin led a 12-0 run that put the Wizards up by 17 early in the fourth quarter. "Its great to finally get this team over the hump," Beal said. No one on the current Wizards roster was on the team when it was last above .500. They had lost this season at 0-0, 9-9, 14-14, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22, and the hurdle became such a bugaboo that players starting declaring the subject taboo when reporters asked about it. Coach Randy Wittman at one point cautioned against thoughts that "all of a sudden fairy dust is going to fall on us if we get over .500." Sticking with that theme, Wittman wasnt about to consider having slightly more "Ws" than "Ls" as much of an accomplishment. "It aint out of the way. How many more games have we got to play?" Wittman said. "You act like that was the last daggum game. ... If were going to learn to be a good basketball team, we have to do this every night, no matter who youre playing." The Wizards aare 120-236 since that Oct. Amani Hooker Youth Jersey. . 31 victory 51 months ago, a .336 winning percentage better than only Minnesota and Sacramento over that span. The streak of futility fell just a few days shy of spanning an entire Winter Olympiad. "Its great that were 24-23 now, but I dont want them to focus on a number," Wittman said. "I want them to focus on the act of why youre 24-23. Thats where you keep it going. I want this team to get on a run. They havent ever been on a run." Another way to put the quest to move above mediocrity in perspective: The Trail Blazers would have to lose their next 20 in a row just to fall back to .500. But the Wizards have now topped two of the Wests top teams in back-to-back games, having taken care of Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Washingtons first playoff berth since 2008 is well within reach, especially in the watered-down East. The Trail Blazers arrived averaging a league-best 108.3 points and shot 61 per cent in the first half, but Portland was 6 for 17 from the field with seven turnovers in the decisive third quarter as Washingtons defence again held its own against a more celebrated lineup. Seraphin went 7 for 10 from the field and scored a season-high 19 points, making his mark by scoring the last four points of the third quarter and the first four points of the fourth. He followed a turnaround hook shot with a jumper to put the Wizards ahead 86-69. The Trail Blazers cut the deficit to six on a layup by LaMarcus Aldridge with 1:12 remaining, but Nene answered with a jumper to give the Wizards a 98-90 lead. Damian Lillard scored 25 points, and Aldridge had 20 to lead the Trail Blazers, who have lost four straight road games. They could care less about Washingtons over-.500 benchmark, but they know one thing for certain: The Wizards are a better team these days. "Give Washington credit," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "They are playing well, theyve beaten some good teams, and they are playing with a lot of confidence." Notes: G Garrett Temple committed three of Washingtons six turnovers. ... Wizards F Trevor Booker missed the game due to personal reasons. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale NHL Jerseys Wholesale MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '