TORONTO – The images of humiliation flashed across a screen one by one inside the Maple Leafs practice facility on Wednesday morning, images of mediocrity from two incredibly embarrassing losses. NHL Jerseys China . Lazy fore-checks. Lazy back-checks. Careless defensive positioning. All the little intricate details that slipped away so badly in a pair of one-sided losses to the Sabres and Predators. Obviously there was lots that we couldve chosen to go through, head coach Randy Carlyle said the next day, even managing a grin. Carlyle was hoping to highlight process over big picture with his job on the line and he got the response he was looking for on Thursday night. The Leafs left behind the embarrassment of recent days with a mostly thorough 5-2 win over the Lightning, ending a three-game losing streak while quieting the panic and weariness of a frustrated city. That, said Cody Franson, pausing to exhale, is a much better feeling than the one that weve been carrying around for the past couple days. Richard Panik, drafted and developed by the Lightning, scored to put the Leafs ahead for good moments into the middle period, Toronto ultimately holding the leagues most potent offence to just two goals and 28 shots. Their goal was to keep the latter number under 25, something theyve done all too infrequently in the past two seasons. That was our main focus, said Jonathan Bernier after a 26-save performance, to keep [them to] 25 shots or under against us, and we were pretty close to that. I thought we played a pretty solid game. His job security questioned repeatedly after a 9-2 loss to the Predators two nights earlier, Carlyle believed his team was more engaged, structured and relaxed against the Lightning. It was a far cleaner effort overall – far fewer turnovers – one that kept Steven Stamkos quiet until the final furious moments of the final frame. It was an example of what kind of team we can be when we stay disciplined to our system and manage the puck, Franson said. And that, generally speaking, was the intent of the video session just a day earlier – demonstrate, under increasing pressure from all corners of the city, that the path toward respectability wasnt so overwhelming or undoable. This isnt a mountain that were climbing or a building that we have to push over, Carlyle said. This is something that youve done all your life and all were expecting you to do is to continue to do some of the things and do them at a higher rate and do them more consistently. Consistency has been elusive for the Leafs all year. The team that beat Boston handily just over a week ago was remarkably different from the one that showed up Saturday in Buffalo. This team, the one that held the high-powered Lightning in check, was vastly changed from the one that yielded nine markers to Nashville. Carlyles message suitably after victory then was to start preparations for Detroit on Saturday. Wed love to be able to be more consistent for sure, he said. Thats a goal that weve set out. And tonight was hopefully a starting point for us. By no means do we think were over the hump. Five Points 1. Stamkos Kept Quiet Carlyle employed his top line and top defensive pairing against Stamkos and, for the better part of Thursday evening, they held him and linemates, Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan, in check. Stamkos scored late with the Lightning net empty and finished with five shots, but he was mostly quiet in defeat. Tampas captain had six goals in 10 career games previously at the ACC. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you dont cover one of the best players in the league, they have multiple ways of hurting you, said Carlyle. Additionally crucial for the head coach in limiting the leagues top goal-scorer since the 2009-10 season was his teams dominance in the faceoff circle. The Leafs won 65 per cent of the draws, led by Tyler Bozak at a remarkable 73 per cent (22-30). Toronto is now up to seventh overall in the faceoff circle, again led by Bozak, who is eighth-best in the league at 57.5 per cent 2. Point Streak Franson extended the longest point streak of his career and the longest currently of any player in the NHL against Tampa. Franson, in line for a big payday in unrestricted free agency next summer, rung up a point for the ninth straight game, totaling nine assists and 11 points in that span. The 27-year-old had never gone more than four games with a point prior to this streak. He is one game from matching Tom Kurvers franchise record for longest point streak by a defenceman. 3. Fourth Line Offence Colton Orr went 50 games last season without recording a goal or even a point. He was demoted in the fall as the Leafs – led by a revamped management team – veered toward a more conventional lineup, one that leaned more on skill and less on grit. Enter the likes of Richard Panik, who scored Thursday opposite his former team, his fourth goal of the year. Panik is now on pace for 17 goals, despite averaging only nine minutes per game, none of that coming on the power play. The 23-year-old is a good example of why the Leafs are better off using more capable players on their fourth line. He might also be deserving of some opportunity on the power play, especially given the ineffectiveness of the teams second unit – Nazem Kadri, Peter Holland and David Clarkson have just two power play goals combined. 4. No Pain No player in the league has thrown himself around more recklessly this season than Leo Komarov. And yet the 27-year-olds body is apparently no worse for wear. He claims to have no bumps or bruises, nothing to signify the nightly punishment his body endures. Ive been thinking about that, too, he said. I guess Im used to it. Komarov says he feels fatigue and the usual tightness after a game, but his body doesnt have anything bad on it as far as bruises are concerned. He isnt one for a regular dip in the ice-bath or hot tub either, but does visit a chiropractor two times a week. The Finnish winger took over the league-lead from Matt Martin in the hits department on Thursday. He threw four against the Lightning and now boasts 88 in 20 games. 5. Under the Microscope The Leafs were under siege after their hapless performance against the Predators, leading to what van Riemsdyk dubbed as a lot of over-analyzing in recent days. Starting his career with the Flyers, the 25-year-old is well-accustomed to the ranting of an engaged fan-base and media corps. Coming from a market like Philly, theres some very passionate fans there as well so you learn some lessons over the years I played there, he said. I dont really let anything faze me as far as stuff like that. Youve got the most passionate fans in the world here, a lot of coverage for our team so you know theres going to be a lot of people giving their two cents – deserved or not. So weve just got to be ready to not worry about that and worry about what were doing in there. Injury Updates David Booth is nearing his Leafs debut, but it seems a likely possibility that the 29-year-old heads to the Marlies first on a conditioning stint. Booth, who was suffering from a broken right foot, hasnt played in a game since the end of September, but has been skating with the big club for the past week. Sidelined since late October, Joffrey Lupul is also closing in on his return. Like Booth, it seems likely that the 31-year-old will be out through the weekend though. The Leafs will send Lupul for one last round of x-rays, intent on making sure his previously broken right hand is healed and in no danger of further injury. Stats Pack 6 – Goals for David Clarkson this season, besting the mark he set in 60 games last year. 11 – Points for Cody Franson during a career-high nine-game point streak, the longest of his career. 4 – Goals for Richard Panik this season. 7-0-0 – Leafs record when scoring first. 22-30 – Faceoff mark for Tyler Bozak against the Lightning. Bozak is eighth in the NHL at 57.5 per cent. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3 Season: 20.3% PK: 3-3 Season: 84.3% Quote of the Night I told them theyve got a better chance of seeing the big guy than that happening. - Randy Carlyle, responding to a players request for another optional morning skate on Saturday. They requested and were granted one on Thursday morning. Up Next The Leafs host the Red Wings on Saturday. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic .C. -- Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has been ruled out for Sundays game against the Atlanta Falcons. Cheap NHL Jerseys From China . After the loss, White refused to make good on the bet, instead offering Hoyt tickets to a Bears game. https://www.nhljerseys2020.com/ .500 ball against teams with winning records, so they needed a huge lift from somebody Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders.MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer will move from catcher to first base on a full-time basis for the Minnesota Twins, hoping to avoid a repeat of the concussion that cut short his 2013 season. The Twins announced the switch on Monday for the 30-year-old Mauer, who missed the last six weeks of the schedule recovering from his head injury. He took a foul tip off the mask on Aug. 19. During a conference call with reporters, Mauer said hes feeling fine and symptom-free, having begun his off-season workouts. The sensitivity to light and noise, irritable moods and headaches lingered into October, however, prompting him to seek medical advice from Mayo Clinic doctors and team physicians about the prospect of continuing to play behind the plate. "When I kept gathering information, to be honest with you, it wasnt really even a decision," said Mauer, who is signed through 2018 with $115 million remaining on his contract. "I kept searching to see if it was going to be OK, if it was going to be safe for me to go back there and catch, and I just wasnt finding that." He added: "All it could take is one foul tip in pitchers batting practice, and Im out for two or three months or even more." Twins general manager Terry Ryan said the organization wouldve supported whatever Mauer decided was best, even if he felt he could keep playing the position with the most inherent injury risk of anywhere on the field. "Im happy that hes chosen to make the transition, but had he decided that he wanted to catch Im not sure that anybody was going to stand in his way," Ryan said. Ryan, who traded Mauers close friend, first baseman Justin Morneau, a couple of weeks after Mauer was hurt, acknowledged this move makes the potential pursuit of Morneau in free agency improbable. Mauer won the Silver Slugger award for American League catchers this year after batting .324 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 113 games. Taken by the Twins, his hometown team, with the first pick in the 2001 draft and given the job as a 20-year-old to start the 2004 season, Mauer has been the catcher in 920 games. "I really enjoy going out there and competing, and Im thankful still be able to do that. ... But its frustrating it had to end sooner than I anticipated," he said. Mauer has three Gold Gloves, three batting titles, six All-Star game selections and the 2009 AL MVP award as a catcher. Can he amass similar accolades at a position crowded with top hitters is to be seen. Fake NHL Jerseys 2020. As for the effect on the value of his $23 million annual salary, his rotisserie league worth or his Hall of Fame credentials, well, Mauer predictably said hes not worried about any of that. First theres his family, including wife Maddie and twin infant girls Emily and Maren. Then theres the Twins, who are better off with a healthy Mauer at first base than with an injured Mauer at catcher. The men behind the mask took quite a beating around the majors this season, with Detroits Alex Avila, Oaklands John Jaso and Kansas Citys Salvador Perez all missing time due to concussions. "I had one when I was younger, but I probably had several that went undiagnosed. Youre just kind of wired to play through it," Mauer said. Mauer said he sustained "two significant blows" to his head that mid-August afternoon, a makeup game against the New York Mets from April rendered meaningless with both teams buried in the playoff race. With problems with his back and legs behind him, Mauer had been feeling as fit and strong as ever the last two years. "We wouldnt be having this conversation if I didnt have that concussion," he said. Former Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski is among the veteran free agents available this winter, but Ryan said his priority is starting pitching. Josmil Pinto showed some potential after Mauer was out, and Ryan Doumit has plenty of experience. Other options are Chris Herrmann and Eric Fryer. Mauer has played 56 games at first base in his career, committing four errors in 536 chances for a sparkling .993 fielding percentage. The natural athleticism that made him a standout point guard and quarterback in high school serves him well anywhere on the baseball field, and he ought to be able to pick up defensively where Morneau left off. Where Mauer cant match Morneau is with raw power, long widely considered the most important asset at first base, but Mauer has a career .873 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 20th among all active players regardless of position. With increased availability and fresher legs, he could easily recalibrate his annual average of roughly 10 home runs. Mauer spoke with Morneau shortly before he addressed the media. "He was a catcher way back in the day, and he said, Youre going to be amazed at how much better you feel," Mauer said. "Im looking forward to that." ' ' '