TORONTO – It was nearing the end of a Monday practice and Randy Carlyle was flashing a menacing grin. Marlon Santos Jersey . All those under the age of 24, he said, were due an extra round of skating from sideboard to sideboard. Amid the Leafs longest losing streak of the season and a dismal November, which included two regulation wins in 13 games (4-6-3,) Carlyle is doing his best to remain calm. "Stress varies in coaching," said Carlyle, ahead of a Tuesday tilt with the scorching San Jose Sharks, who have won eight of their past 10 games. "Id say its always high, but [not getting] to the boiling point, its real difficult at times." "Our job is to be the calming influence," he continued, "and our job is to show leadership. Leaders, you cant be going off on your players on a continual basis because they become numb. I think that the screaming and hollering, weve done enough of that at times. Now is the time to accentuate the positives that they bring, correct and instruct and coach the negatives out of our group." Not much went right for his team in the second month of the season, one that ended with four straight losses, nine defeats in 13 games and a seven-game road losing skid. Their defensive troubles remained constant, their offence struggled to produce at even-strength, and one-half of their previously dominant special teams took a hit, their penalty kill dipping to 24th overall. Even the goaltending, superb under considerable strain for the opening six weeks, finally buckled somewhat under a heavy load in recent days. Though their record said otherwise (10-4-0,) October offered many of the same concerning traits to Carlyle and his coaching staff (save for goaltending and special teams.) But, because the wins kept coming, urgency amongst his players remained relatively low. "When youre winning youre winning," said Phil Kessel, who cooled in November with just six points in 14 games. "Its a result-based business. You want to win, so youre always positive when youre winning games. Obviously [the] last month has been a little tougher. We didnt win as many games as wed like and we didnt play as well as wed like. But its a long season. Theres ups and downs. Well get out of that and stay positive." With much of their October luck disappearing in recent weeks – their save percentage and shooting percentage both trending downward – Carlyles message, which urged the need for improvement throughout, is now carrying more weight with it. His early concerns have finally bubbled into real trouble, the Leafs now fifth in the Atlantic Division. "The one thing about what happens is when you continue to have success and youre doing it that way its not as drastic," said Carlyle. "But weve been hit right with a hammer right now so we know where were at and we know what we need to do to correct ourselves. All weve asked of our players is we want 10 per cent more from every individual in there and, in some cases, I believe theres 20 per cent more for people to give." "When a coach tells you that, obviously, you look yourself in the mirror, you think over your practice habits, your game habits, your routine and you just make sure that theres nothing slipping in that you need to change," said James Reimer, who has allowed nine goals in his past two starts. "Once you realize that, you put your nose to the grindstone and work your butt off." The Leafs have yet to consistently brand themselves in the fashion that Carlyle would like, that of an aggressive blue-collar hockey club. Of late, hes been troubled by the quality of opportunities for the opposition in the "critical areas" of the ice, the increasing amount of odd-man rushes against and ongoing problems with discipline, the Leafs guilty of the third-most minor penalties this season. "Thus our penalty killing has been taxed," said Carlyle. That penalty kill, ranked second overall last season, allowed 15 goals in November and was successful to the tune of just 70 per cent. Troubles in that regard only accentuated the hefty strain on the two goaltenders, Reimer and Jonathan Bernier victim to the most shots against nightly this season (36 per game.) Improbably saving the day early and often, the tandem has predictably cooled in recent weeks. Reimer and Bernier have combined for an .894 save percentage in the past six games. "Were giving up a lot of chances," said Kessel. “"You cant give as many chances as weve been giving up." While their power-play has remained effective, still ranked as the 5th best this season, the Leafs productivity at even-strength has fallen on hard times. They scored just 18 such goals in 13 November games, managing two goals (overall) or fewer in nine of 13 games. Hoping to spark some change in that respect, Carlyle decided hed enough, for the moment, with the combination of Nazem Kadri and David Clarkson. Clarkson was replaced by Nik Kulemin on a line that also features Mason Raymond. "Were not creating enough," said Carlyle. "Were not creating enough chances and were not creating enough from an offensive standpoint. For me and for us we waited to do an analysis over the three games and we just felt there wasnt enough there." Depth offensively continues to be an issue. Of the 72 goals the Leafs have scored this season, 59 or 82 per cent have come for a group of just seven players, one of them being the injured Dave Bolland. Led by Dion Phaneuf, the defence has just three goals all season. "Were always looking and reviewing the things that you do wrong and there are some things that need addressing – were not going to hide from the fact of that – but we believe that the corrections are very easily adaptable," Carlyle said after a practice which included work on defensive zone coverage, breakouts, and special teams. "Now, does it happen overnight?" he finished with a laugh. "I hope so." Clement Lenglet Jersey . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. Denis Suarez Jersey . The Canadian Luge Association officially named seven athletes to the 2014 Olympic team Tuesday. Edney, will lead teenagers John Fennell and Mitchel Malyk into their first Games in mens singles. Tristan Walker and Justin Snith will represent Canada in doubles, while Gough, will be joined by Kimberley McRae in womens singles. http://www.cheapbarcelonajerseys.com/?tag=philippe-coutinho-jersey . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs.CHICAGO -- Jay Cutler, Mr. Fourth Quarter? The nickname just might stick if he keeps this up. Cutler came through just in time again, firing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett with 10 seconds left to lead the Chicago Bears to a 31-30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. "Hes just ice cold, man," said Brandon Marshall, who added that he calls Cutler "Mr. Fourth Quarter." "So, I really appreciate and am grateful to play with him." Things were looking bleak after Minnesotas Blair Walsh kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it a six-point game with 3:15 remaining. Chicago took over at its 34, and Cutler went to work. After leading the Bears back from an 11-point deficit to beat Cincinnati in the opener, he did it again -- this time with a heavy rain falling. A 23-yard pass to Bennett along the sideline put the ball on the 16. Cutler then spiked the ball because his tight end did not get out of bounds when he admittedly should have. After an incompletion, Cutler hit a twisting Bennett in the front corner of the end zone with a pass to his back shoulder. Robbie Gould kicked the go-ahead extra point and Chicago (2-0) remained unbeaten under new coach Marc Trestman despite committing four turnovers. Cutler completed 28 of 39 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. But he was also intercepted twice and got stripped by Jared Allen on a sack, leading to a 61-yard touchdown return for Brian Robison in the second quarter. "He had moments of adversity in this game and he never flinched and the guys around him never did, either," Trestman said. Devin Hester returned five kickoffs for a Bears-record 249 yards -- including a 76-yarder and an 80-yarder. Bennett had 76 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Brandon Marshall had seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. Matt Forte chipped in with 71 yards receiving and 90 yards rushing. Minnesotas Cordarrelle Patterson returned the opening kickoff 105 yards to tie a club record. Christian Ponder threw for 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception after getting picked off three times in a season-opening loss to Detroit. Adrian Peterson ran for 100 yards, but the Vikings (0-2) remained winless at Soldier Field since 2007. Peterson said he was "a little hesitant" and added: "I have to do a lot of soul searching and come back better than I was." Allen pointed at the defence. "This game came down to one series, six-point lead, thhey had the ball on the 34 and weve got to get off the field," he said. Lionel Messi Jersey. "It just plain and simple. We have to get off the field in that situation." They looked as if they might pull this one out after two 13-play drives led to 28-yard field goals by Walsh, turning a 24-21 halftime deficit into a 27-24 advantage in the fourth quarter. The first came after Chicagos Isaiah Frey recovered a fumble by Jarius Wright in the end zone, only to have it overturned on a replay review. Harrison Smith set up the second when he intercepted a long pass from Cutler to Marshall at the 12 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Peterson kept the drive going with a 4-yard run to the 14 on fourth-and-1, only to be hit with a 13-yard loss on the next play, and Walsh booted the go-ahead field goal with just over 8 minutes left. Letroy Guion stripped Forte of the ball near midfield on Chicagos next possession. That led to Walshs 22-yarder that made it a six-point game, but Cutler and the Bears had one more rally in them. The late theatrics capped a game that featured no shortage of big plays in the early going. Patterson got this one off to an explosive start with that huge return to start the game, taking advantage of some big holes and sprinting past a lunging Gould on the way to the end zone. The 105-yarder matched the club record set by Percy Harvin last year and was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a Bears opponent since 2007. After Pattersons big return, Hester returned the kickoff 76 yards before being pushed out of bounds at the 32. That led to a 1-yard TD catch for Bennett, and the teams kept trading big plays in the half. Later, with the game winding down, the Bears made one final push to win it. "Its taken everyone in that locker room two weeks in a row," Cutler said. NOTES: The Bears honoured the 1963 championship team at halftime, two days after star running back Rick Casares died at age 82. "Oh my God, I think when you talk to my fellow teammates over here, what was all right, true and good about professional football was embodied in Rick Casares," former teammate Ed OBradovich said. "Nobody loved the game more than him." Casares played 10 seasons in Chicago and ran for 5,675 yards. He was the Bears all-time leading rusher until Walter Payton surpassed him and currently ranks third. ... Williams now has five interceptions in his career, most by a Vikings defensive lineman. Cheap Baseball Braves Jerseys Cheap Baseball Marlins Jerseys Cheap Baseball Mets Jerseys Cheap Baseball Phillies Jerseys Cheap Baseball Nationals Jerseys Cheap Baseball Cubs Jerseys Cheap Baseball Reds Jerseys Cheap Baseball Brewers Jerseys Cheap Baseball Pirates Jerseys Cheap Baseball Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Baseball Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Baseball Rockies Jerseys Cheap Baseball Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Baseball Padres Jerseys Cheap Baseball Giants Jerseys ' ' '