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One day after a public tongue-lashing from his head coach and a post-game meeting with the general manager, Ottawa Senators captain Jason Spezza was adamant that his teammates are all on the same page as their frustrated management group. Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. "I think hes been disappointed all along. I think hes been disappointed with the group right from the onset of the season. I think it was just him letting us know that its not acceptable how were playing," Spezza said of Murrays meeting with the players. "Theres no ultimatums and theres no threats, but there is a definite understanding that if we dont start playing better, it could be you the one being out the door. It could be any one of us and when you dont win, thats what happens. We put ourselves in this situation and were the only ones who can get ourselves out of it. We understand thats part of the game." MacLeans pointed criticism of the leadership core had many wondering if there was a disconnect between the head coach and the captain. But heading into Thursdays game against the Florida Panthers, Spezza wanted to make it blatantly clear that he had no issues with MacLean. "No - our coaches are good coaches and weve always liked playing for them. Im sure theyre getting frustrated by us and that may lead to some of the frustration and some of their remarks," Spezza explained. "But we believe in what theyre preaching to us and Mac is a good hockey man and he understands. Were probably more frustrated than him as players out there playing. But he goes home and its frustrating for him to figure out why he cant get us to go." Spezza has become accustomed to being a lightning rod for criticism in this market, but this is his first season as captain of the hockey club. He insists he is not uncomfortable being the scapegoat on many nights this season. "Whenever youre not winning, you start looking at the top down. As being the captain, it gets reflected on me first and I have to find a way to get our group more consistent and I have to find a way to get my own game consistent," said Spezza. "When things go wrong you look at the top down. And its always been that way in sports." When asked about his attack on the leadership group from the previous night, MacLean made sure to include himself in the group of people who need to improve. "For me, leadership is everyone. Its myself, its my coaching staff, my training staff and its every player in the room. Jason Spezza, Chris Phillips and Chris Neil are the representatives of the leadership of our team, but theyre not the only guys," MacLean said on Thursday. "Everyone is accountable and everyone has to provide leadership on a daily basis and we havent done that as a group. Theyre representatives of it, so they do most of the talking about it, but its not just them. Yes, they need to be better, but every one of us has to better." Spezza has yet to record a goal this month, a drought that has now extended to 12 games. He has been a consistent offensive producer during his career, but has watched his numbers decline so far this season with 28 points in 35 games. The 30-year-old says he is making some adjustments to his game to try and be more of a two-way player, which could explain the decline in his offensive statistics. "Im trying to change my game. Im trying to play in more straight lines, Im trying to drive the net more and doing some things that take away from my offense a little bit," said Spezza. "We feel that in the long run its the best way to play and its the best way to help the team. The more comfortable I get playing that way, the better our team will be." For his part, MacLean acknowledges his captains adjustments, but still expects more. "For Jason, weve asked him to make changes to his game to a more complete game and a more 200-foot game," said MacLean. "And when you go through changes to your game, the offensive side of it a lot of the time suffers. And I think hes starting to get through that. He created some opportunities last night and some previous games. Were seeing an improvement in it, but wed like to see it speed up a little more than it has. But its a process that takes time and we have to be willing to be patient with it. 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Every once in awhile, it seems like life lets dreams become real - and that is a gift.ARLINGTON, Texas – As the Blue Jays trek to Boston after taking two out of three from the Rangers, Marcus Stroman will be catching a different flight. For the 23-year-old its destination, Buffalo. Stroman was optioned back to the Bisons and will pick up there where he left off at the time of his recall on May 4, in the starting rotation. Hes got a 1.69 ERA and a miniscule 1.088 WHIP in five starts for Buffalo this season and while hes disappointed to be leaving behind charter flights and five star hotels for the rigours of a bus, hes glad to return to the routine he knows best. "I want to be a starter 100-percent," said Stroman. "Thats the role I thought I was going to be in when I came up here. I think in the long run hopefully I can be a starter and show that I can start at this level. Thats the plan." Stroman made five relief appearances for the Blue Jays, two of which were in high-leverage situations. He thrived in an inning and a third of work on May 6 in Philadelphia, preserving a 5-5 tie to the 10th and picking up his first career major league victory. In the other, he struggled, relieving Drew Hutchison in the fifth inning of a May 11 loss to the Angels, in which he entered trailing 3-1 but left down 7-1. "First go around, there were a couple of outings where he was really good and a couple of outings where he struggled and gave up some hits," said manager John Gibbons. "But hes like anybody else, you feel your way around, get your feet wet, and when it comes down to it you have to make pitches, quality pitches. When you make mistakes, you leave balls up in the zone, hang breaking balls, at this level they dont miss them." With Dustin McGowan returned to the bullpen, where he thrived last season, the Blue Jays will next need a body for McGowans turn in the rotation on Saturday, at home against Oakland. Stromann is ineligible because, as a player on option to the minor leagues, hes required to spend 10 days there before a recall.dddddddddddd Thats the paperwork end of it. The real life part of the equation is that he needs to get his arm stretched back out. Its a lot to ask of a guy to make his first major league start against one of baseballs best teams having not worked deep into a game for the better part of a month. Its clear what Stroman wants to be doing when his eventual return to the Blue Jays becomes reality. He hedged when asked if he would have preferred to remain in Buffalo until such time Toronto was ready to put him in the rotation. "Its hard to say. Its hard to say," said Stroman. "Obviously whatever opportunity you get to contribute at the big-league level you want to jump on it and go. But Ive been groomed as a starter for the past year and a half so its hard saying otherwise. Its tough but you take it in stride and see what happens." As for who will make Saturdays start against the Athletics, the Jays options off the current roster are thin. Todd Redmond would be the guy. More likely is either Sean Nolin, a lefthander who made his major league debut and was hit hard in a game last May against Baltimore, or Liam Hendriks, a spring-time waiver claim pickup from the Orioles whos a noted strike thrower but has had little success at the big league level spread over parts of three seasons with the Twins. Hendriks is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA for the Bisons in seven starts. General manager Alex Anthopoulos was in attendance for his most recent start, a seven inning performance in which he allowed one run but got a no-decision. For his big league career, Hendriks, 25, is 2-13 with a 6.06 ERA and a 5.31 FIP. A control pitcher, Hendriks doesnt walk many hitters but his 1.590 WHIP reflects the 202 hits hes allowed in 156 innings. Authentic Bills Jerseys Dolphins Stitched Jerseys Cheap Patriots Jerseys Wholesale Jets Jerseys Wholesale Texans Jerseys Cheap Colts Jerseys Jaguars Jerseys Store Authentic Titans Jerseys Authentic Broncos Jerseys Authentic Chiefs Jerseys Cheap Raiders Jerseys Chargers Jerseys Store Cheap Ravens Jerseys Wholesale Bengals Jerseys Cheap Browns Jerseys Steelers Jerseys Store Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys Wholesale Giants Jerseys Authentic Eagles Jerseys Cheap Redskins Jerseys Authentic Falcons Jerseys Panthers Jerseys Store Wholesale Saints Jerseys Authentic Buccaneers Jerseys Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Seahawks Jerseys Store Wholesale Rams Jerseys Wholesale Bears Jerseys Authentic Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Vikings Jerseys Store ' ' '