Dein erstes Forum » run in his 49 innings, lowering his ERA to 0

Given the depth of the Toronto Maple Leafs struggles, its somewhat surprising they still have an outside shot at a wild-card spot. The New Jersey Devils are five points behind the Leafs, but they look like the team thats more eager to make a playoff push. The Leafs return from the All-Star break looking to snap a six-game losing streak when they visit a Devils club thats earned points in five of seven Wednesday night. Toronto (22-23-3) scored more than one goal for the first time in six games last Wednesday but lost 4-3 at Ottawa. The Leafs trailed 3-0 after the first period in suffering their 14th defeat in 17 contests - all the losses coming in regulation. Thats left them 10 points out of the second wild-card spot with three teams to pass. We just have to keep trying to move forward, said center Nazem Kadri, who scored for the second straight game. Thats really all we can do is try and stay positive. We just have to play with that desperation through 60 minutes instead of 40 or 45. Toronto held a 40-26 shot advantage over the Senators - 17-6 in the third period - but exceeded the two-goal mark for just the second time in 10 contests. The Leafs havent been much better defensively, allowing 3.10 goals per game to rank near the bottom of the league, and theyll be without defenseman Dion Phaneuf on a week-to-week basis due to injury. Well definitely miss our captain, Kadri told the teams official website. He also logs a lot of minutes against (opponents) top guys so thats definitely a big hole to fill. Toronto has gone 5-10-3 without Phaneuf since he joined the Leafs in January 2010. They have a .517 winning percentage in the 359 games hes played. Toronto will get forwards Leo Komarov and Peter Holland back in the lineup for tonights contest. Joffrey Lupul (lower body), Stephane Robidas (upper body) and Dion Phaneuf (hand) will all sit out. The Leafs will start with Korbinian Holzer in Phaneufs place on the top pairing with Cody Franson, but head coach Peter Horachek said he may try others in that spot as well. Jonathan Bernier gets the start between the pipes for tonights contest. New Jersey (17-22-8) would need to pass six teams to capture the final wild-card berth, but the Devils have certainly appeared more motivated than the Leafs of late. New Jersey defeated San Jose 5-2 on Jan. 19 to complete a 2-1-0 California road trip, giving it a 4-2-1 mark in the past seven. Cory Schneider made 34 saves and five players scored for the Devils, who went 4 for 9 on the power play during the three-game swing. We can feel good about ourselves, Schneider said. We just have to capture this and realize this is what we have to do night in and night out. New Jersey, near the bottom of the NHL with 2.23 goals per game, has scored four or more three times in the past seven contests. Its likely to get more help offensively Wednesday from second-leading scorer Jaromir Jagr and Tuomo Ruutu, who both missed the last three games before the break due to the flu. You go in feeling good but you cant feel too good, general manager and interim co-coach Lou Lamoriello said. You just have to realize what you did to have success and take that from the game and just pick it up when you get back. New Jersey has won the last two meetings with Toronto and is 2-0-2 in the past four. The Devils took the first matchup of the season 5-3 on the road Dec. 4, getting goals from five players and 29 saves from Schneider. Those last four meetings represent all of Schneiders career starts against the Leafs, and hes posted a 1.93 goals-against average. Wednesdays Projected Lines vs. Devils: Forward Komarov - Kadri - Kessel van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Clarkson Winnik - Holland - Santorelli Booth - Smith - Panik Defence Holzer - Franson Rielly - Polak Gardiner - Granberg Game Notes: NJ is 1-0-0 vs TOR this season, winning in TOR TOR has gone 3-1-0 past 4 games in NJ (lost last) Devils: 4-2-1 past 7 games, 4GF or more in 4 of the games, 5/16 on PP Havlat (2G, 1A) 3 game PT streak Maple Leafs: lost 6 straight, outscored 20-5, 2/18 on PP Kadri (2G) has scored in back to back games Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . The seventh-ranked Berdych wants to focus on the ATP Tour after helping the Czechs beat the Netherlands in the first round. Seeking their third straight Davis Cup title, the Czechs will rely again on veteran Radek Stepanek. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Scrivens stopped 48 shots and captain Andrew Ference scored in overtime as the Oilers pulled off a 4-3 upset of the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . The Laval Rouge et Or defensive back/kick-returner gained the invitation following his showing Sunday at an NFL regional combine in Baltimore. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Its getting very crowded at the top of the AL Central. The surging Cleveland Indians have turned the division into one of baseballs best playoff races. Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana each had an RBI single in the 11th inning, leading the Indians to a 3-2 victory over the sliding Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. Kansas City has lost three in a row to fall into a first-place tie with Detroit, which split a doubleheader at Chicago. Cleveland, which has won six of seven, is just 3 1/2 back. "Its extremely agonizing," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Its frustrating." The Royals got a run back in the bottom of the 11th when Salvador Perezs two-out double scored Jarrod Dyson. But Erik Kratz struck out to end the game. Jose Ramirez sparked Clevelands winning rally with a leadoff triple. Brantley followed with a base hit against Scott Downs (0-4). "It was a hustle triple," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I about swallowed my tobacco when he went around second. Instead of Brantley trying to get the runner over they have to bring the infield in and he hit a chopper over the infield." Brantley then stole second and went to third on Perezs throwing error before Santana singled into centre field. The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the 10th, but failed to score off Josh Tomlin (6-8). The reliever got Alcides Escobar to hit a grounder to third, forcing Perez at the plate. He then struck Jayson Nix, who was making his Royals debut. The Royals went 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 16 runners, twice leaving the bases loaded. "We werent getting any hits with runners in scoring position, it was plain and simple," Yost said. "One was an infield hit and didnt score a run. We had a multitude of opportunities starting in the first inning. We just couldnt take advantage of it." Cleveland grabbed a 1-0 lead when Yan Gomes doubled in Jason Kipnis in the fourth. The Royals tied it in the eighth without the benefit of a hit. Alex Gordon led off with a walk. Billy Butler then hit a comebacker that should have been a double play, but reliever Scott Atchison threw the ball into centre field, putting Gordon on third. With the bases loaded, Lorenzo Cains grounder scored Gordon for an unearned run.dddddddddddd "Thats tough, leaving that many runners on base," Cain said. "We should have definitely beat these kids. We had a few chances to walk it off. I did myself. We just didnt get the job done. Weve got to come through in those tight situations if we want to get to the playoffs." Indians rookie Trevor Bauer pitched 5 2-3 scoreless innings despite issuing five walks. He allowed four hits and struck out six. The Royals loaded the bases with none out in the first, but Bauer escaped the jam. "I was fortunate to get out of it," Bauer said. "With the way the game turned out it was important to get out of it with no runs. Usually in that situation you try to keep it to one or two, but that was big with no runs." James Shields tossed seven innings of one-run ball for Kansas City. He gave up five hits, struck out four and walked one. "Its disappointing," Shields said. "We had the game right in our grasp, right in our hands and we didnt come out of it." Wade Davis replaced Shields and struck out the side in the eighth to run his scoreless streak to 25 2-3 innings, the longest active streak in the majors. He has allowed just one run in his 49 innings, lowering his ERA to 0.76. INDIANS WINNING WAYS The Indians have won five straight series and are a season-best six games above .500. They have won eight of their past 10 road games. They are 17-9 in August for their fourth straight winning month. TRAINERS ROOM Indians: DH Jason Giambi (left knee inflammation) and OF Ryan Raburn (right wrist soreness) are on a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron. Giambi is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday and Raburn on Tuesday. Royals: DH-OF Josh Willingham was unavailable with a stiff back. .1B Eric Hosmer (fractured right hand) went 2 for 6 with two RBIs and struck out twice in his first rehab game with Triple-A Omaha. ... 2B Omar Infante (right shoulder inflammation) started after missing four games. UP NEXT Indians: Rookie LHP T.J. House, who won his first big league July 5 over the Royals, is coming off a rocky outing, giving up five runs Tuesday in a no-decision against the White Sox. Royals: LHP Danny Duffys 2.47 ERA ranks third in the American League, but he has a losing record at 8-11. ' ' '