DALLAS – Standing behind the visitors bench at the American Airlines Center as his team was being pummeled, Randy Carlyle mutter

DALLAS – Standing behind the visitors bench at the American Airlines Center as his team was being pummeled, Randy Carlyle muttered under his breath some of the frustration and disappointment that goes hand in hand with such a thoroughly one-sided defeat. Air Max Plus Free Shipping . "It gets passed a point of mad and frustration," said Carlyle, bearing the look of a baffled head coach. "It just gets to a point of disappointment and what the heck is going on out there. Those are the things that bring you back to Earth in a hurry. "This is the thud." Toronto hadnt won seven straight in more than 10 years. Thumped 7-1 by Jamie Benn and the Stars in Big D on Thursday night, theyll have to wait at least a little longer to do it once more. The Stars exploded for four goals in an imbalanced middle frame – Benn with a pair of assists – wrestling complete control of a tilt that featured on a whole lot of ills from the visiting hockey club, including a host of turnovers and slew of lost battles. "We didnt really have anything going for a good part of the hockey game," said Carlyle. "We turned the puck over. We didnt make strong plays. We looked like we were a step behind the Dallas hockey club tonight. They skated and we didnt." Considering their recent string of success – the longest win streak by the club in more than seven years – the lacklustre effort seemed to come out of nowhere and was more in line with much of the disappointment and inconsistency that plagued the seasons first half. "It might help put us back down to even-keel here," said Tyler Bozak afterward. "We were pretty confident and maybe a little overconfident after that win streak we had." "Its the management of success as well as well as management when youre not having success of how to remain on an even-keel," Carlyle said. "Obviously we didnt do a very good job of that in our performance tonight." All the elements that flourished so prominently during the six-game win streak disappeared in a hurry. The goaltending had a rare off-night. The previously scorching top line was silent and burned often on the other end. And the power-play, so prominent in the past week and really all season, was a large negative, empty in three attempts with a shorthanded goal against. Blown out in Carolina two weeks ago to the day, the Leafs responded with some of their best hockey, eventually rallying with this most recent win streak. Theyll be looking for more of the same when they visit the suddenly resurgent Jets to conclude the road trip on Saturday. "Weve got to find a way to pick ourselves back up because we cant let this linger with our group," Carlyle concluded. Five Points 1. Rare Off-Night in Goal Between Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer, goaltending has been a strong point for the Leafs all season and more recently during the six-game win streak. But on this night that elite level of performance was nowhere to be found (though they lacked much help). Bernier was bounced for just the second time all season following the third Dallas goal – 13 shots – a redirected Benn point blast that snuck through the five-hole of the 25-year-old. He was replaced by Reimer, who fared no better, yielding four more goals on just 15 shots. "I think they fit in with the rest of our team," said Carlyle of the goaltenders. "Im not going to throw those guys [under the bus] any more than the rest of the group. We just didnt have anything going. We just didnt have it." Leaf goaltenders owned an impressive .932 save percentage during the six-game run, but were hammered for seven goals on 28 shots against the Stars. 2. Top Line Finally Silenced The trio of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak combined for 12 goals and 25 points during the win streak, but they were completely silenced in Dallas. The line failed to generate much of anything against the Stars – combining for just four shots – while also being burned for four goals against on the other end. "We werent skating. We werent winning battles. We were getting outsmarted pretty much all over the ice," said Bozak. "Especially our line – we were terrible. They outplayed us in every facet of the game. Its just one that weve got to put behind us." Prior to the game, Carlyle described their recent success as more expectation than surprise. "Check the size of their pay cheque," said Carlyle with good humour. "Arent they supposed to do that? Thats what theyre paid to do. Thats the bottom line. The reality of it is they are paid to provide offence and I guess theyre doing their job." Kessels potent seven-game point streak was snapped in the loss. He had six goals and 14 points in that span, but was held to two shots on Thursday. 3. Lupul at LW After residing on the right wing for the better part of a month – mostly due to injuries – Joffrey Lupul has, in recent days, returned to his more comfortable left wing. Lupul spent the past three seasons on the left side, moved there at the request of former Leafs head coach Ron Wilson. Randy Carlyle noted Thursday morning that Lupul "seems to be much more comfortable on the left side than the right side". The reasons why, as explained by Lupul himself, start in the defensive zone. "Im better in my own zone for sure," he told the Leaf Report on Thursday morning. "I find it easier to get the puck out on the wall – which a lot of guys dont. I dont why necessarily I do, [but] I find it easier to protect the puck and play better in my own end." Additionally, the 29-year-old believes he is a more dynamic threat offensively streaking down his off-wing. "I think Im a much better passer off the left side," said Lupul. "[Playing there] just gives me a chance to use my body again to protect the puck whereas on the right wing I feel like Im kind of skating with the puck exposed and it can get knocked off a lot. And it just gives me a chance to buy myself that extra second, whether it be to shoot or to pass." 4. Wrong Direction Hes unquestionably been felled by some particularly rough outings from his teammates, but Reimers season has gradually turned in the wrong direction just as Bernier has clutched hold of the crease. The 25-year-old burst out of the gate with a .949 save percentage in October, but has trended downward ever since. Reimer has started three games in January, while stepping in for Bernier in two others, owning an unflattering .875 save mark in the opening month of 2014. Month Save Percentage October .949 November .916 December .909 January .875 5. Clarkson & Other Injury Updates Missing his fourth consecutive game with an elbow injury, David Clarkson isnt due to return to the Toronto lineup until next week. Clarkson had been playing with an infection in his elbow since December and required minor surgery last week to alleviate the issue. Frazer McLaren meanwhile, out the past five games with a bruised shoulder, was due to meet the team in Winnipeg on Friday. Trevor Smith, sidelined since the middle of December with a broken right hand, is expected to start skating with his teammates next week. Stats-Pack 4 – Goals scored against the Leafs top line on Thursday. 2 – Number of times in 32 starts that Jonathan Bernier has been pulled this season. 7-14-2 – Leafs record when failing to score the first goal. 2 – Number of games this season in which the Leafs have allowed seven goals. .750 – Save percentage for the goaltending duo of Bernier and Reimer against the Stars. 11-8-1 – Leafs record versus the Western Conference this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3Season: 22.5% (4th) PK: 1-2Season: 77.5% (28th) Quote of the Night "This is the thud." -Randy Carlyle, on being brought back to Earth in Dallas. Up Next The Leafs conclude their four-game road trip in Winnipeg on Saturday night. Air Max Plus Canada Clearance . The football club recently announced an increase in season ticket prices in five of the seven categories at Investors Group Field for 2014. While most increases are in the two to three per cent range, the clubs most affordable season tickets will jump from $199 to $250 — a 26 per cent leap. Air Max Plus Canada . Now the Minnesota Vikings have set their sights on soccer. http://www.cheapairmaxpluscanada.com/ . -- Chris Tillman paid no attention to the Baltimore bullpen as it started to stir in the ninth inning.With the NHL regular season right around the corner, TSN.ca profiles each team leading up to puck drop. Next up is the Buffalo Sabres, with nowhere to go but up after an abysmal 2013-14 campaign. Catch up on their summer moves and the issues they face this season, as well as Craig Buttons analysis of their top prospect and an analytical breakdown by TSNs Scott Cullen. Division: Atlantic GM: Tim Murray Head Coach: Ted Nolan 2013-14: 21-51-10 (8th in Atlantic) Playoffs: Did not qualify Goals For: 150 (30th) Goals Against: 243 (25th) PP: 14.1% (29th) PK: 81.4% (20th) That Was Then: The Buffalo Sabres 2013-14 campaign started and ended with identical seven-game losing streaks. In total, the club was beaten in 61 of its 82 games - or in nearly 75 per cent of its season. Buffalos 21 wins, 52 regular season points and 150 goals scored all ranked at the bottom of the league. The losing took its toll from management level all the way down through the roster. Head coach Ron Rolston and long-time general manager Darcy Regier were fired after the clubs 4-15-1 start. By the trade deadline, the club was in full fire sale mode when they dealt away long-time goalie Ryan Miller and star forward Thomas Vanek along with Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick and Steve Ott. Fans in Western New York can take solace that after a season like that, there really is nowhere to go but up. Scott Cullens Analytics Sabres 2013-14 stats by Quarter Games GPG GAA SH% SV% SAF% PTS% 1-20 1.70 3.05 6.9% .916 39.7% .225 21-41 1.57 2.33 5.9% .926 44.4% .405 42-62 2.48 2.86 9.3% .916 42.9% .476 63-82 1.45 3.00 5.7% .910 40.8% .300 NHL AVG 2.67 2.67 7.8% .922 50.0% .562 Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points. Analysis: Games 1-20: Trouble from get-go, with horrific possession numbers leading to a massive goal deficit. Games 21-41: Got even worse offensively, but possession improved and Ryan Miller was strong in goal. Games 42-62: Possession still a problem, but went on a (relative) hot streak offensively, led by Ennis, Hodgson and Stafford. Games 63-82: Faded down the stretch, with a patchwork lineup and a goaltending change putting up subpar numbers across the board. Key 2014 Additions: F Brian Gionta, F Cody McCormick, F Matt Moulson, F Sam Reinhart, D Andrej Meszaros, D Tyson Strachan, D Josh Gorges Key 2014 Subtractions: D Christian Ehrhoff, F Cory Conacher, F Ville Leino This is Now: With veteran coach Ted Nolan dropping the interim title behind the bench, general manager Tim Murray wasted no time this summer rebuilding his battered club. First up, using compliance buyouts on Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino. On Free Aggent Frenzy day, the Sabres brought back Moulson and McCormick on three-year deals and added veteran winger Brian Gionta. Cheap Air Max Plus Canada. The blue line was bolstered by the signing of Andrej Meszaros and acquiring Josh Gorges from Montreal. And before the summer was out, the team re-signed Tyler Ennis to a five-year contract. The Sabres didnt score much last year, but the players who did are all back in the fold. Cody Hodgson led the team in points with 44 (20 G, 24 A) and re-joins Ennis (21 G, 22 A) up front. Youngsters Zemgus Girgensons (8 G, 14 A) and Drew Stafford (16 G, 18 A) are also looking to take the next steps in their development. Joining the fray is Buffalos second-overall draft pick, Sam Reinhart. The 18-year-old forward tallied 105 points (36 G, 69 A) for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League and the Sabres could certainly use a boost in firepower as Reinhart develops. He has a good chance of making the squad right out of training camp this season. In goal, the battle for playing time will be between Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth. DEPTH CHART Forwards Left Wing Centre Right Wing Matt Moulson Cody Hodgson Drew Stafford Tyler Ennis Sam Reinhart Brian Gionta Marcus Foligno Zemgus Girgensons Chris Stewart Cody McCormick Torrey Mitchell Brian Flynn Nicolas Deslauriers Mikhail Grigorenko Patrick Kaleta Johan Larsson Zac Dalpe Joel Armia Defence Left Right Josh Gorges Tyler Myers Nikita Zadorov Rasmus Ristolainen Andrej Meszaros Andre Benoit Mike Weber Mark Pysyk Jake McCabe Chad Ruhwedel Goaltenders Michal Neuvirth Jhonas Enroth Matt Hackett TSN Director of Scouting Craig Buttons Top Prospect: If there was a Hockey Mensa Society, Sam Reinhart would be a member. The ability to think at a high level is required to play successfully in the NHL. Sam has a next generation processor when it comes to playing. His ability to think ahead, anticipate what is unfolding and then act is a skill that sets him apart. Like a chess grandmaster, he manipulates the ice to the advantage of his team. Fantasy - Scott Cullens Player to Watch Tyler Ennis There is not a lot of fantasy gold to be spun out of a team that had two players (three, if you count Matt Moulsons full season with three clubs) finish with more than 35 points last year. However, Ennis is one of the few Buffalo forwards with offensive upside. After a rough start to the year, he finished last season with 28 points in his last 39 games, which might be enough to draw fantasy interest, if his plus-minus isnt dragged down to a minus-25 again. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '