Die Jäger des Schicksals » verhaul Roma, which is two

TORONTO – Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger. St. Louis was all that and more for most of a cold March night. They dealt the sliding Leafs their sixth straight loss – seven in the past eight games – and a very loud exit from the current playoff picture. Once on firm ground toward a second straight trip to the postseason, Toronto now sits 10th in the East, trailing Columbus and Detroit for the final two wild card spots with only eight games left to play. Skidding for nearly two weeks without even a single point they are in danger of fumbling away what seemed like a sure thing. Fear of that reality, it seems, is slowly infecting the group. "Well, certainly were afraid of letting it slip away," Joffrey Lupul conceded after a 5-3 loss to the Blues, the Leafs winless since Mar. 13. "The whole year we thought we were a playoff team and we still believe that now." At this moment, however, they are not. And what once seemed unthinkable as recently as two weeks prior when they stormed through California has now become a very real reality. The Leafs may not make the playoffs and they know it. And that fear of fumbling it away is driving the nerves of a flailing group. Head coach Randy Carlyle observed "tenseness" during the first half of Wednesdays game, one that saw St. Louis completely manhandle their sinking opponents, especially so in a dominant first frame. Big, hard, fast and strong, the best team in the West controlled possession of the puck almost without exception, peppering Jonathan Bernier with 23 shots while scoring the first two of four unanswered. "Its like we were frozen for 30 minutes of the hockey game," Carlyle said. "We didnt pick up the puck and skate with it at all. And thats showing signs of being nervous, tense, [lacking] confidence, not wanting to make a mistake which led to more offensive zone time [for the Blues]." Only when the score tilted at 4-1 did they start to push back and in a well-repeated theme, muster the kind of tenaciousness and enthusiasm required for winning at this time of year. Carl Gunnarsson and James van Riemsdyk scored to slice the deficit to one, but like those rallies in each of the previous five losses, the Leafs ultimately ran out of time. Desperation was just a little too late. "Right now it seems like when we get down then were playing with no fear," Lupul said. "Theres something to be said about being down and not having that fear anymore, but realistically weve got to play like that right from the start. Its more of a psychological thing than it is a physical thing for sure." Whether they can overcome that imposing mental hurdle and recover in time to make the playoffs remains an increasingly uncertain question. With stumbling starts, glaring defensive breakdowns, inconsistent offence and poor goaltending, theyve found ways to lose hockey games in rapid order and are feeling the pressure from it. Losing six straight for the first time since the infamous 18-wheeler collapse in 2012, the Leafs now they sit on the outside of the playoff picture with a daunting weekend set ahead against the Flyers and Red Wings. Their fate could be determined in a matter of days. "Theres reason for concern, but its not completely time to panic," Lupul said. "Were still right there. Weve got a game Friday, we play Detroit [on] Saturday, you win those two games and all of a sudden things look a lot different." Five Points: 1. Berniers Back Even Bernier – making his first start since Mar. 13 – couldnt rescue the Leafs from the Blues. And he tried. The 25-year-old was spectacular early on, turning away the first 20 St. Louis shots in a one-sided opening frame. He eventually ceded four goals on 48 shots. It was just his third loss in regulation when facing 40 shots or more (8-3-2). Bernier had missed the previous five games with a groin injury, rushing back to stabilize the Leafs wobbling crease. "Lot of work, but felt okay," he said afterward. Stretching constantly, in between whistles and during TV timeouts, Bernier was seemingly shy of 100 per cent, but surely felt the need to return with his teams chances of reaching the postseason flailing. Asked if he rushed back from the injury, Bernier said, "You always want to be back as soon as possible." "It was a little sore obviously, but I was just trying to get it loose a little bit in between whistles and timeouts." 2/3. Ready to Start? Scoring first didnt help the Leafs much on this night. They scored the first goal for the first time in eight games with Lupul tucking a Nazem Kadri pass beyond Ryan Miller on a power-play, but it was down-hill from there. Already owning possession for much of the period to that point, the Blues tied the proceedings at one when T.J. Oshie squeezed a rebound through the pads of Bernier. They went in front for good on the first of three from David Backes on a power-play, Dion Phaneuf failing to clear the puck adequately. St. Louis had 23 shots for the period, the most Toronto has allowed in any one period this season. "Thats a heck of a hockey team over there," van Riemsdyk said. "The way they play, lines 1-4, [defence] pairings 1-3, theres not much of a falloff. They kept coming. Thats no excuse for us. We have to find a way to get off to a better start." Strong and sturdy, the Blues cycled and cycled and cycled without giving the Leafs even a taste of the puck. "We couldnt break their cycle," Lupul said. "We couldnt get the puck." It was the kind of grinding performance Carlyle would like to see more from his team in Toronto. "They did a lot of things that were trying to convince our hockey club to do as far as hanging onto the puck a little bit more," he said. "We understand were not as big and strong and as physical as some of those teams that are able to do that, but thats more of the style this time of year – if you watch the games – thats whats being played." The Leafs are now 8-20-4 when they trail after the opening period. "Again we played 30 minutes of hockey tonight and showed that we can play, but wheres the 60 minutes?" Carlyle said. "We cannot afford to not start the way weve been starting. We have to have more of an effort or consistent, confident start than weve had in these games." 4. Phaneuf Phaneuf played fewer than 21 minutes and had what may have been his worst game of the season. The Toronto captain was on the ice and largely responsible for three of the first four St. Louis goals, having what Carlyle described as a "rough night". The 28-year-old made his first error late in the first, fumbling away an opportunity to clear the puck on a penalty kill, the Blues regrouping to score the first of three from Backes. Then early in the middle frame Phaneuf lost a puck battle with Alex Steen in the offensive zone. Lagging to get back defensively, he was beaten down the ice by Backes, the Blues captain eluding Bernier for the third St. Louis marker. About 10 minutes after that it was Steen muscling Phaneuf to the ice just outside Berniers crease, shaking free to whistle a backhand just under the bar for a 4-1 lead. Phaneuf was unavailable to media after the game. 5. Six-Game Skid Losing a bunch of close games, prior to Wednesday night, Lupul believed the Leafs had actually played better at points in their slide than in many victories this season. "Absolutely," said Lupul before the loss to St. Louis. "We track scoring chances – our team does – and were out-chancing teams every night. You can look at that and say were doing some things right, but its the time of the year that that doesnt really matter anymore, its all about wins. Youve got to translate that into getting more wins." The 30-year-old observed that the margin for winning and losing at this time of year is "really close". "Its been a topic of discussion in here," he said. "Were generating chances. Were not giving up near as many as we have, but were coming out on the wrong side of the game so that doesnt really matter. "And on the flip side when we were winning games and getting out-chanced we were saying the same thing in here, like come on, what are we doing? But now its the time of the year that it doesnt really matter how you get the job done it just needs to get done." Stats-Pack 1-7-0 – Leafs record in the past eight games. 23 – Shots allowed by the Leafs in the opening period Wednesday, the most of any period this season. 8 – Fights for David Clarkson this season. Pointless now in 23 of the past 25 games, Clarkson fought Brendan Morrow in the second period. 7-23 – Tyler Bozak in the faceoff circle against the Blues, hammered by the combination of Steen and Vladimir Sobotka. 1 – Six-game losing streak for the Leafs this season. 2 – Goals for James van Riemsdyk in the past 12 games, van Riemsdyk notching his 28th this season in defeat. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3Season: 21% (3rd) PK: 2-3Season: 78.5% (28th) Quote of the Night "Theres reason for concern, but its not completely time to panic." -Joffrey Lupul, following the Leafs sixth consecutive loss. Up Next The Leafs travel to Philadelphia on Friday to meet the Flyers before hosting the Red Wings at home on Saturday. Cheap Padres Jerseys Authentic .J. -- Kevin Gilbride retired Thursday as offensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Toronto announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. The terms were not disclosed. http://www.cheappadresjerseys.com/ . -- Kole Calhoun homered and drove in three runs, Albert Pujols also went deep and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 Friday night. Cheap Rollie Fingers Jersey . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. Cheap San Diego Padres Jerseys .Manager Brendan Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo on Friday that Sturridge pulled his calf muscle in training as he prepared to return from a five-week layoff due to a thigh strain.BARCELONA, Spain - Cristiano Ronaldo needs one goal to match the Champions Leagues all-time leading scorer when Real Madrid hosts Liverpool on Tuesday.At the rate the forward is sweeping in goals, Ronaldo has a good chance to match and even break Raul Gonzalezs mark of 71 goals in front of the same Santiago Bernabeu crowd that used to chant Rauls name.Madrid would qualify for the knockout rounds with a second straight win over Liverpool in Group B.Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Barcelona, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and FC Porto can also advance from the group phase this week, leaving two games to spare.Here are some things to know about round four of the Champions League group phase:___RONALDO UNBOUNDRonaldo is doing his best to erase memories of Portugals poor showing at this years World Cup and boost his chances of winning a second consecutive Ballon dOr.Ronaldo has scored in 12 straight appearances in all competitions for Madrid. His goal on Saturday, which sparked a 4-0 rout at Granada on Saturday, made him the first Madrid player to score in eight consecutive Spanish league appearances.He leads the Spanish league with 17 goals and has 22 overall for his club, including the one he scored last month to set Madrid on its way to a commanding 3-0 win at Liverpool.Ronaldo will also have the extra motivation of not giving Lionel Messi the chance to reach Rauls record first. Messi has 69 goals heading into Barcelonas match at Ajax on Wednesday.Liverpool was outclassed in the first meeting and will face an even tougher task with Madrid playing its best football since the arrival of coach Carlo Ancelotti last season.We are on a good run, said former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa. We have won 11 in a row and we want to make it 12 against Liverpool.The European champion has outscored opponents 46-7 during its winning streak and hasnt lost at home in European competition since April 2011, winning 16 of 18 home matches. Also in Group B, Basel hosts Ludogorets.___SUAREZS HOMECOMINGLuis Suarez established his checkered reputation when playing for Ajax by scoring 81 goals from 2007-11 while also earning his first of three suspensions for biting an opponent.Now, fresh off his ban for biting an Italian defender at the World Cup, Suarez returns to Ajax with his new club Barcelona struggling.Im grateful to be able to go back, (Ajax) is a team that gave me a lot and helped me ggrow, Suarez said after Barcelona was upset 1-0 at home by Celta Vigo on Saturday.ddddddddddddThat was a second consecutive loss in the Spanish league with Suarez in the lineup, leaving first-year coach Luis Enrique under added pressure to win in Amsterdam. Also in Group F, PSG hosts APOEL.___STRUGGLING CITYWhile Chelsea and Arsenal could qualify with wins this week, its set to go right down to the wire for fellow Premier League team Manchester City.Citys struggles in the Champions League have continued this season as it has picked up just two points from three games, although Bayerns dominance of Group E leaves the English champions with a chance of qualifying as runner-up.A home victory over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday is imperative, though, if City is to overhaul Roma, which is two points ahead in second but facing a daunting trip to Munich.We have nine points more to play for, City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, and the game that will decide if we qualify for the next stage will be the game we have to play in Rome.Chelsea will advance from Group G if it beats Maribor away and Sporting Lisbon fails to defeat Schalke on Wednesday. An Arsenal win at home to Anderlecht on Tuesday will qualify Arsene Wengers team from Group D, providing Galatasaray doesnt beat Dortmund.___CONTRASTING FORTUNESComplacency appears to be the biggest danger facing Bayern as it coasts through the start of the season.Unbeaten in the Bundesliga, the German powerhouse appears to have the domestic title sown up after just 10 games, while the Champions League has seemed even easier so far.Bayerns 7-1 thrashing of Roma last week was its biggest away victory in European competition, and the Italian side comes to Munich on Wednesday. Bayern can clinch qualification from Group E with another win.We have to keep trying to improve things and cannot let up, Arjen Robben said after scoring the winner in Saturdays 2-1 win over Dortmund. We won 7-1 in Rome and have now beaten Dortmund. Were on the right path but we shouldnt think it all comes naturally.Dortmund is looking to the Champions League for relief after its worst start to a Bundesliga season left it languishing in the relegation zone.Dortmund can ensure it advances from Group D with a victory at home over Galatasaray on Tuesday.___AP writers Steve Douglas in Manchester and Ciaran Fahey in Berlin contributed to this report. 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