matchup marks the final regular-season meeting

[lebaobei123]

TORONTO -- After taking a sip of water at the start of his news conference, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis made sure to thank the players who were around last season and left on the first day of free agency. "I just wanted to thank them for what they attempted to do over the last 12 months and wish them all the best going forward," Nonis said. Attempted might be the most important word after the Leafs went from being almost surely playoff bound to collapsing with an eight-game losing streak. Gone from that group are centres Dave Bolland and Mason Raymond, who signed elsewhere Tuesday. In come defenceman Stephane Robidas, signed to a US$9-million, three-year deal, and forward Leo Komarov, signed to an $11.8-million, four-year deal, along with forward Matt Frattin, re-acquired in a trade that sent winger Jerry DAmigo to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Its Noniss hope that those players change the Leafs mix back to more of what it was like in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, when they made the playoffs. "The compete level that we had two years ago, I think was at or near the top of the league," Nonis said. "We got more out of our players, the coaches did, the players themselves did in terms of pushing each other, than we did last year -- no question about it. Some of the players that were talking about either were here and will help us get that back or have a history of doing that. That was a focus for us." Robidas at 37 brings 885 games of experience to Toronto, along with a right-handed shot. He broke his leg while playing in the playoffs for the Anaheim Ducks but started skating last week and expects to be ready for Day 1 of training camp. Komarov returns from the 2013 Leafs after a year with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL. He had four goals and five assists in 42 games that season, but the 27-year-old Finn is expected to have a much bigger role this time around. "Leo offers a lot more than I think even we got out of him two years ago," said Nonis, who met with Komarov in Finland and "laid that out so that he knew that he wasnt just a fourth-line guy that was playing six minutes a night, that we feel that he can do more." Komarovs return could help fill the void left by the departure of Bolland, who signed for five years and $27.5 million with the Florida Panthers. Bolland said on a conference call with local media that the Leafs were close to bringing him back. "We were getting there," the 28-year-old Toronto native said. "We were just a little bit apart." Nonis did not begrudge Bolland for taking the more lucrative deal with the Panthers. "We feel our offer was very fair, very strong, it reflected his value to us," he said. "He chose to go somewhere else, thats his right. Hell be a good player for them ... The only way to prevent that from happening was to spend more than we felt was appropriate, and I dont think thats something we wanted to get into." Raymond also got more money than the Leafs were willing to pay: three years and $9.5 million from the Calgary Flames. Being closer to home was part of the Cochrane, Alta., natives decision to go there. Even before signing in Calgary, Raymond expected changes around the Leafs under new president Brendan Shanahan and after the teams late-season collapse. "I think we all wouldve loved to finish a lot better," Raymond said in a phone interview. "When you have new management or different changes within the organization, that (roster moves are) susceptible to happen." What Bolland and Raymond have in common is they werent around for the Leafs somewhat-expected 2013 season that Nonis seems to want to replicate. Komarov and Frattin, who was sent to Los Angeles a year ago in the deal that brought goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Leafs, were. "We talked a little about the chemistry that we had two years ago and the work ethic and i think players playing outside their comfort zone," Nonis said. "Those are two players that played a big part in it." Notes -- Nonis said if a trade for restricted-free-agent goaltender James Reimer was there and made sense, the Leafs would make it. Otherwise, he reiterated, Reimer could be back next season. ... The process of hiring assistant coaches is still ongoing with no resolution as of Tuesday. Lamar Miller Texans Jersey . The 24-year-old right winger has one assist in nine games this season with the Sabres. In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games. C.J. Fiedorowicz Texans Jersey .Y. -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will have less time to remain eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot under changes made Saturday. http://www.nfltexansteamstore.com/authe ... ns-jersey/. By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U. J.J. Watt Texans Jersey . The Italian side scored twice in a four-minute span in the second half to defeat former stars from S. Whitney Mercilus Texans Jersey . The German has taken the pole for three straight races -- winning the first two. Hes aiming for a third consecutive win at the Yeongam circuit and, most importantly, a fourth consecutive F1 championship.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Anaheim Ducks will try to match their longest winning streak of the season and extend their lead atop the NHL standings when they visit the rival San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The Ducks have won six straight and lead the NHL with 70 points, three more than the Nashville Predators. Another victory tonight would give Anaheim its third seven-game win streak of the season. Bruce Boudreaus club won seven straight from Oct. 11-24 and again from Dec. 1-13. The Ducks won five straight before the All-Star break and kept the .... streak going with Tuesdays 4-0 triumph in Vancouver. Frederik Andersen only needed to stop 17 shots for his third shutout of the campaign and he improved to 27-6-5 on the season. Andersen also tied an NHL record for the quickest goaltender to reach 47 career wins. The 25-year-old Dane reached the mark in 63 career decisions (47-11-5) to tie Bill Durnan, who notched his 47th win for the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 26, 1944. Rickard Rakell had a goal and an assist while Patrick Maroon, Matt Beleskey and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Ducks, who hold a 14-point lead over second-place San Jose for the Pacific Division lead. The whole team is getting stronger, said Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm. We feel like were playing good out there. We just need to keep it up. Andersen, who has started 39 of 48 games for Anaheim this season, could get a rare night off either tonight or on Friday when the Ducks are scheduled to host Chicago. He is 5-0-1 with a 1.29 goals against average in six career outings against the SSharks.dddddddddddd Ducks backup Ilya Bryzgalov, who last played on Jan. 16 against New Jersey, is 10-11-4 with a 2.35 GAA in his career versus San Jose. The Sharks are playing their first game after the break tonight and they hope to begin their post-All-Star schedule by continuing their run of success against the first-place Ducks. San Jose is 3-0-1 against the Ducks this season and tonights matchup marks the final regular-season meeting between the clubs in 2014-15. The Sharks have claimed eight of 11 overall in this series and Anaheim has lost six straight in San Jose. Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi made 28 saves for a shutout victory when the clubs last met on Dec. 31 in Anaheim. The 3-0 decision is just one of two times this season the Ducks were shut out, with the other occurrence happening on Oct. 30 in St. Louis. San Jose hasnt played since beating Los Angeles on Jan. 21, when Logan Couture had two goals and an assist to help the Sharks record a 4-2 victory. That win came in the fourth segment of a seven-game homestand and pushed San Joses record at SAP Center to 12-8-3. Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist while Joe Pavelski also scored for the Sharks, who snapped a two-game skid. Niemi allowed two goals on 28 shots. What is most satisfying is the competitiveness that we showed up with, Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said. We have to capture it and be prepared to bring it to the rink after the break every night. Niemi could get the start tonight. He is 13-9-1 with a 2.48 GAA in 23 career outings against the Ducks. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '