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SUNRISE, Fla. – Just before the three-day Christmas break, the Leafs survived a 43-shot barrage in Dallas on the shoulders of Jonathan Bernier’s brilliance. But when that goaltending leaks even a little – for a club that’s amongst the loosest in the National Hockey League – troubles arise. And that’s the way a Sunday matinee in Florida played out for the Leafs, who gave up three unanswered in the final frame to lose for the fourth time in five games. “I think everyone could probably share the blame on those goals in the third,” said Joffrey Lupul following the 6-4 loss. “We’ve got to be able to at least get a point out of that game.” Starting in place of an ill Jonathan Bernier (more on that below), James Reimer was up to the task for half the night – stopping each of the first 22 shots he faced – before eventually crumbling in front of a continually lacklustre defensive squad. Reimer allowed five goals on the final 11 shots he faced, including three on just five shots in the third. “Pucks found their way into the net, whether it was good screens or traffic in front, they found their way in the net,” said Lupul. “They just got pucks and bodies to the net and, unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to see a couple of them and they wound up in the back of the net,” Reimer said. “It’s a case where, personally, I want to be able to fight a little harder or smarter to try and see the puck and see the release; it’s one of those games where that didn’t happen.” The Leafs need heroic goaltending most nights to survive their poor defensive play and some nights they just don’t get it. That was the case when the club lost three straight last week before emerging with a win behind Bernier in the Lone Star State. Head coach Randy Carlyle continues to hit that nail on that head. Defensive zone coverage was at the top of the list during a 90-minute practice on Saturday and has been a focal point for improvement for quite some time. But whether unwilling or incapable, this Leafs squad just isn’t able to accomplish such feats on anything close to a consistent basis. Only Buffalo yields more shots nightly than Toronto, an average of 35 per game at the tandem of Bernier and Reimer. It was a continuation of familiar issues on this night; aimless and often soft coverage in the defensive zone; careless play with the puck; substandard offensive zone time leading to extended stints in the defensive zone; a wobbly neutral zone; and lacking commitment to win battles for the puck, Phil Kessel, the team’s best player, no better (or worse) an example of that. Be it coaching, personnel or both, this is a trouble that just hasn’t gotten any better in time. “The fundamentals of playing tight hockey has been a challenge for our group,” Carlyle said. “Tonight’s just another example of [how] we played too loose.” Reimer withstood those failures for the first 25 minutes or so, often spectacular in doing so. He stopped Jimmy Hayes point-blank on a rebound early in the middle period, turning aside Sean Bergenheim and Brian Campbell in fine form shortly thereafter. But continued leaks eventually made their way into the net, starting with Jonathan Huberdeau just minutes after Richard Panik scored the game’s first goal. Huberdeau took full advantage of Jake Gardiner’s misguided coverage, beating Reimer high blocker for the Panthers first goal. “There’s too much freedom in our zone,” Carlyle continued with evident frustration afterward. “We’re not hard enough to play against in the defensive zone. We’ve got to become much stiffer.” The Leafs took control of the game shortly thereafter behind the league’s top offence, scoring three unanswered in less than five minutes. They had been 14-0-0 when leading after 40 minutes previously, but dusted that lead away in the third. Florida scored on three point shots; two slipped through traffic, with the eventual game-winner redirected by Brad Boyes on a power-play. “Three shots from the blue line that found their way in,” Lupul said briskly. “We’d like to play the third period more in their zone. Those shots don’t happen if we’re able to maintain a bit of puck possession down in their zone, but, for whatever reason, we weren’t able to do that.” It was a disappointing start to a busy road trip for the Leafs, one that will see the club play four more times in the next six days. Where they turn to next in goal is a mystery. Bernier didn’t travel with the team to Tampa following Sunday’s game, but could be available Monday night in Tampa if his flu-like symptoms subside. If not, Carlyle has the choice of employing Reimer once more after a tough showing or turn to Christopher Gibson, a prospect who spent some time in the ECHL last season and has never played an NHL game. “I’ve got decisions to make,” Carlyle said. “We’ll make those after an evaluation of today.” Five Points 1. Flu-like Symptoms On Sunday morning – at about 10am – the Leafs called up Gibson, a former Kings second-round pick whos spent the past two seasons with the Marlies. Gibson was needed in Florida because Bernier came down with flu-like symptoms and was unavailable to play against the Panthers. The Leafs proactively made it known that he did not have the mumps, as determined by the team’s doctor, Noah Forman. “He does not feel [Bernier] has the mumps, so it’s a flu,” Carlyle said prior to the game. “He’s running a little bit of a temperature.” Leafs players and coaches were offered the shot for mumps in recent weeks, an illness that’s swept its way around the league in nervous fashion. It’s worth noting that various players, including those in Pittsburgh, have been found to have the mumps after initial tests suggested otherwise. Mumps or not, the timing of Bernier’s illness is particularly poor. The Leafs are in the midst of a five-game road trip, one that sees them fly five more times in less than a week. “We don’t think it’s something that is going to strike our team,” Carlyle said of the suspected flu bug. “We hope not anyways.” Bernier did not travel with the team to Tampa. If the 26-year-old feels better come morning, he’ll make the short flight north and potentially be available to play against the Lightning. If not, he’ll remain in Fort Lauderdale before eventually meeting the club in Boston. 2. Reimer Sunday marked just the fourth time in 11 starts that Reimer has not started on the second end of a back-to-back this season. Most of his duty has been typical of what’s he become for the Leafs: a back-up to Bernier. “You have to adjust to every situation, no matter what,” he said Saturday of the circumstances surrounding his opportunities. “You’ve got to be able to adapt. But I think when you don’t play often, you’re not really able to get into a rhythm as much.” A more than capable starter two years ago, Reimer says the approach is quite a bit different these days as a back-up. Things just don’t come as naturally when playing time lingers. It requires more engagement mentally, he says. Rather than just being in the right spot, one has to think about it. It’s less instinctual. “You’ve got to really be on top of your own game and really thinking about the things that you need to do, whereas when you’re playing [a lot], you’re just going to be at the top of your crease naturally because you’re feeling the flow of the game,” Reimer explained. 3. Up & Down Night A fourth liner since he was picked up on waivers from Tampa, Richard Panik got his first chance Sunday to move higher in the line-up. He was paired with Peter Holland and David Clarkson against the Panthers. “He hasn’t played a tremendous amount,” Carlyle said Saturday, “but he’s provided some offence and hopefully that can spark Holland and Clarkson, that that combination can give us something.” Panik did indeed provide that spark. The 23-year-old led an odd-man rush, firing the puck high and beyond the grasps of Roberto Luongo. It was his seventh goal in limited ice-time and one more indication of the former second round pick’s potential. “Now, Ive got an opportunity,” he said shortly before scoring, “Ive got to play my best game and go from there.” His night ended just a few minutes after the goal. Drilled by Scottie Upshall at centre ice, Panik was stood up with a startling degree of force. He remained down on the ice in obvious discomfort before attempting to make his way to the Toronto bench. He stumbled his way there, eventually headed to the dressing room and did not return for precautionary reasons. There was no further update on his status after the game. 4. Road Trip The Leafs are now amid their busiest, most difficult stretch of the season. They’ll play 13 of the next 17 on the road, including four in six days to conclude this five-game trip. David Booth said he couldn’t recall a trip quite like this, though, he admittedly suffered from a poor memory. “You can say this one if you want to,” Booth said with a grin of his most difficult road swing prior to Sunday’s game. As to managing physically during an especially tough stretch, Booth didn’t expect much to change either himself or his teammates. Carlyle, for his part, said he hoped to manage minutes in light of the schedule, but wouldn’t do so at the cost of losing a game. “I think guys take care of their body, no matter what,” Booth said. “I don’t think you do anything different just because you have more games at one time. I think the only big difference is you don’t practice as much. You don’t have the time to practice.” 5. 700 Carlyle joined a rather exclusive group Sunday night, per TSN Research. Carlyle, who coached in his 700th-career game, joined Joel Quenneville, Jacques Lemaire, Brian Sutter, Dave Tippett, Bob Pulford, Milt Schmidt and Red Kelly as the only people to both coach and play in at least 700 games in the NHL. Carlyle played in more than 1,000 NHL games, picking up a Norris Trophy with the Penguins along the way. Stats-Pack 14-1-0 – Leafs record when leading after two periods this season. 400 – Consecutive games played for Phil Kessel. Kessel has not missed a game since he played his first game for the Leafs in Nov. 2009. 8-27 – Tyler Bozak in the faceoff circle versus Florida. 700 – NHL games coached by Randy Carlyle, becoming the 44th coach to do so. 7 – Power-play goals for James van Riemsdyk, two off a career-high. 24th – Leafs ranking defensively this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-4 Season: 20.3% (9th) PK: 2-3 Season: 83.5% (10th) Quote of the Night “Pucks just found their way into the net.” - Joffrey Lupul, on a third-period lead lost against the Panthers. Up Next The Leafs visit the Lightning on Monday. Babe Ruth Jersey . Seriously. Seven years of losing has brought many different faces, players and management, to the annual pre-season get-to-know-the-team round up. Zach Britton Jersey . Belfort was originally schedule to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 173 on May 24, but a Nevada State Athletic Commission ban on testosterone replacement therapy forced the former light heavyweight champ to withdraw. http://www.yankeesrookiestore.com/Yankee...er-Kids-Jersey/. Canadas 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal ranks as the tournaments most-watched game with a record 2.7 million viewers, the largest ever for a World Juniors game played outside of North America, and winning Saturday as the most-watched program on Canadian television. Alex Rodriguez Yankees Jersey . As analysts we do the same thing, so here are some observations from week one. First there were two major upsets. I should say, major upsets in the eyes of the fans and prognosticators. Lou Gehrig Jersey . Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome.NEW YORK -- The NFL hired 13 new officials for the 2014 season and promoted three veterans to referee. First-year official Brad Allen will join the NFL as a referee from the Atlantic Coast Conference, where he has been a referee for the past nine seasons. Allen is the first to go to the referee position in his first NFL season since Tommy Bell in 1962. Allen has refereed several major bowl games, including the 2012 Rose Bowl and 2014 Sugar Bowl. Allen replaces veteran referee Mike Carey, who will join CBS Sports as a rules analyst. Veteran NFL officials Ronald Torbert and Craig Wrolstad are new referees in 2014, replacing retired referees Scott Green and Ron Winter. Wrolstad has spent the past 11 seasons as a field judge while Torbert has worked the past four as a side judge. Among the dozen new officials are side judge Shawn Hochuli, the son of referee Ed Hochuli, and field judge Brad Freeman, the son of back judge Steve Freeman, a former player with Buffalo. Two women, line judge Sarah Thomas and head linesperson Maia Chaka,, will work minicamps and preseason games this year.dddddddddddd They are in the officiating development program and officiated in Conference USA in 2013. "Our first-year officials were all among the best in college football, including Brad Allen, one of our new referees," NFL vice-president of officiating Dean Blandino said. "Brad was an outstanding referee for many years in the ACC and we are excited about having him on the field. Ron and Craig have proven to be outstanding NFL officials and they also are ready to assume the referee position." The other first-year officials are umpires Mark Pellis and Bryan Neale; head linesman Patrick Turner; field judges Eugene Hall and John Jenkins; side judges Alex Kemp and Scott Novak; line judge Ed Walker; and back ju