Coversongs » by Washington for the third straight series,

WINNIPEG – James Reimer was hoping to reignite the Leafs goaltending competition with a start just outside his hometown of Morweena, Manitoba. It didnt go as planned. Reimer allowed two goals on the first four Winnipeg shots, the was pulled for the fifth time this season in an eventual overtime loss to the Jets. Afforded just his fourth start in the past 16 games, the 25-year-old was unable to snatch an opportunity toward reclaiming some part of his old no. 1 job, one that has become the tentative property of counterpart Jonathan Bernier. "Just a tough one," said a sullen Reimer after the 5-4 defeat, which concluded a four-game western road trip. "I felt my head was in the right place and sometimes things just dont go your way. And when theyre not going your way, its obviously harder mentally, but you have to find a way to stay focused and I felt that I did what I could to stay focused and ready and prepared and it just didnt happen." Trading starts with Bernier for the opening three months, Reimers season has gradually slid in the wrong direction, the unquestioned starter a year ago now the unofficial backup. Though he offered a sturdy start in Colorado earlier this week, that performance failed to translate into any semblance of momentum. Reimer gave up four goals in relief of Bernier in Dallas and was pegged for four more on just 19 shots in Winnipeg. He now owns an unflattering .870 save percentage in six appearances this month and a .911 mark on the season. "Its tough when you get in there and you dont have a good game," said Reimer. "It doesnt sit well." Seven minutes had not yet elapsed before the Jets had struck twice on the embattled netminder. Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler both snuck shots through the body of Reimer, one under the arm and another through the five-hole with the latter a partial power-play rush by the Jets winger and future US Olympian. "The first two goals were goals that I thought were scored in the middle of the net," said Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle. "Those are tough ones." It was at that point, down 2-0 on the road, that Carlyle considered pulling the seemingly nervous netminder, only to leave him in for a chance to fight back. And though Reimer managed to rebound in some respect, including a shorthanded stop on Michael Frolik, he was unable to close the door entirely, allowing two more goals in the middle frame. Bernier stepped in with 13 saves as the Leafs rallied from a 4-1 deficit, only to fall on Dustin Byfugliens overtime winner. Pocketing five of a possible eight points on the four-game swing, Toronto now sits third in the Atlantic division with 60 points. Five Points 1. Kessel in Winnipeg Winnipeg remains advantageous hunting ground for Phil Kessel. The 26-year-old knotted the score at 4-4 with less than two minutes to go in regulation, beating Ondrej Pavelec with his 27th goal of the season, an unlikely snipe from just above the goal-line. He has scored at least a goal in eight-straight games at the MTS Centre, totaling nine in that span. Kessel has 16 points in the past nine games overall and has vaulted to sixth in league scoring with 54 points in 54 games. 2. Sour Penalty Kill Yielding two more power-play goals to the Jets, the Toronto penalty kill fell deeper into whats become a year-long hole. The unit has allowed a bloated 13 goals over the past 15 games and sits as the second-worst in the NHL this season (76.8%.) "Weve found ways to leave people uncovered in that critical area," said Carlyle of the penalty kill. Wheeler scored the first of two power-play goals when he burst wide on Cody Franson, beating Reimer through the five-hole. Bryan Little added the second marker, redirecting a sneaky point pass from Tobias Enstrom. "We shouldve had coverage on that and we vacated that area," Carlyle said, noting a need to intercept the pass with a stick in the lane. 3. Potent Power-play Countering the teams struggles on the penalty kill has been a continually productive power-play, one that ranks as the third-best in the NHL. Dion Phaneuf scored his first power-play goal of the season against the Jets, giving the Leafs at least one mark on the man advantage in eight of the past 11 games. Cody Franson, second on the team with 16 power-play points, detailed the different components of the top unit, which also includes Phaneuf, Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and how theyve functioned to have success. "Obviously, [Phaneufs] got a big shot and teams are aware of that and they want to try and take that away. Phil can do so many things with the puck. Hes very deceptive. He makes guys think that hes going to pass and hell have that quick release shot. And its not a quick release where theres nothing on it – he can rip a puck. Theres that shot threat. I take pride in being able to shoot the puck, so hopefully thats something other teams are thinking about when Im out there. Youve got JVR in front. Hes one of the best at providing a screen and knocking pucks out of the air. Hes a guy that if teams are doing a good job on us, we can just throw it at the net and we know that hes going to be there whacking at rebounds or tipping pucks into goalies and making it tough on them." Franson calls Bozak the secret facilitator of the units success. "When teams are pressuring really quick, you usually need that quick out to try and get away from the pressure and make them back off and allow us to set up and Bozies probably the most important piece of that," explained Franson. "Hes the guy that controls the middle of the ice and has to make those reads in order to be in the right spot for the guys that are getting the puck in tight situations. He does a great job with that and it allows us to break away from pressure and allow us to set up and do what we want to do out there." 4. Career-High Dishing to Kessel on the game-tying goal, van Riemsdyk notched his 40th point of the season, matching a career-high he set with the Flyers in the 2010-11 season (78 games.) The 24-year-old required 51 games to meet the mark, on pace to set new career-highs in just about every offensive category. "Ever since I got here Ive been given an opportunity to play some key minutes and some key situations," said van Riemsdyk, who also screened Pavelec on the Phaneuf marker. "Ive always had the confidence in myself to be able to contribute when I knew I was getting the chance to do that." Sitting at 20 goals on the year, van Riemsdyk remains one off from matching another career-high (21.) 5. Rare Goal It had been quite awhile for Tim Gleason. Gleason scored the third Leaf goal on Saturday, his first since Dec. 18, 2011 in a string of 117 scoreless games. Not relied upon for his offence in any sense, the 30-year-old grinder has just 16 goals in 627 career games. Stats-Pack 2-1-1 – Record for the Leafs on four-game road trip. 4 – Starts for James Reimer in the past 16 games. 10-11-5 – Leafs road record this season. .870 – Save percentage for Reimer in the month of January. 5 – Players on the Toronto roster from the province of Manitoba. 29 – Career points for Phil Kessel in 28 games against the Jets. 40 – Points for James van Riemsdyk this season, matching a career-high. 13 – Power-play goals scored against the Leafs in the past 15 games. 117 – Games without a goal for Tim Gleason, who finally scored Saturday against the Jets. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-5Season: 22.4% (3rd) PK: 1-3Season: 76.8% (29th) Quote of the Night "Its tough when you get in there and you dont have a good game. It doesnt sit well."-James Reimer, on a rough outing in Winnipeg. Up Next The Leafs host the Lighting on Tuesday night. Air Jordan 3 Ireland . Cox started the season with San Francisco, but was released by the team on Nov. 12 before being signed by Seattle, where he appeared in two games and tallied three tackles before being released on Dec. Cheap Jordans Ireland . Jackson Houck added a goal and two assists for the Giants (28-23-10), who halted a five-game slide, while Tyler Morrison, Mason Geertsen and Dominik Volek each scored once. Matt Bellerive scored both goals for the Blazers (12-43-5), who are 1-9-0 in their last 10 outings. http://www.airjordan3ireland.com/ . He made another correct read. The Browns, who have been shuttling quarterbacks on and off the field all season, finally got some good news on that front: Campbells ribs are only bruised. Wholesale Air Jordan 3 Ireland . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. Air Jordan 3 Retro Ireland . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. NEW YORK -- Stalking off the mound, Gio Gonzalez slammed the ball hard into Matt Williams hand without a word. Back in the dugout, Gonzalez had a little more to say to the Washington manager. The pitcher covered his mouth with a towel for a brief -- and lively -- chat with Williams. "He was upset, and I understand it," Williams said after the Nationals lost to the New York Mets 4-3 Friday night. Gonzalez was pulled with two outs and no one on base in the seventh inning when Williams wanted a reliever to face Juan Lagares. In the fifth, Lagares hit a tiebreaking double that helped end the Nationals 12-game winning streak at Citi Field. "We tried our best to diffuse it," Gonzalez said. "Its not bigger than it is." "Theres two sides of that story, too," he said. Williams said he realized his lefty wanted to stay in the game. Asked whether he spoke to Gonzalez about showing such emotion, Williams said: "Thats part of the game, and that was our discussion." The Mets losing streak at Citi Field versus Washington dated to last season, and was their longest in team history against a visiting club. "Well, it is really nice, and we have played them good. They are just really tough," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "There has been a lot of nights where we have had them late in the game and then they come back, do some big damage against us," he said. Washington almost did it again in the ninth inning. Denard Span led off with a single against Jenrry Mejia, and Asdrubal Cabrera flied out to the wall. After Span stole his 30th base, Mejia struck out Anthony Rendon, walked Adam LaRoche and then fanned Ian Desmond for his 26th save in 28 chances. Rendon got three hits, including his 20th homer -- which came after a replay reversal. Washington has outhomered the Mets 32-6 over their last 13 meetings in New York. Dillon Gee (7-7) and a trio of Mets relievers ended the drought, aided when Lagares drove in Eric Young Jr. for a 4-3 lead. Travis dArnaud put New York ahead with a bases-loaded double in the first off Gonzalez (8-10). Three runs scored on the hit, with Lucas&nbssp;Duda kicking the ball out of catcher Wilson Ramos glove for an error.dddddddddddd In his last eight games, dArnaud has five doubles and seven RBIs. LaRoche and Ramos hit RBI singles in the third, and Rendon hit a solo homer in the fifth that made it 3-all. Gee gave up nine hits and two walks in 5 1-3 innings. Carlos Torres threw a double-play ball to end the sixth and worked the seventh, Jeurys Familia pitched the eighth and Mejia closed. Lagares also singled, was hit by a pitch and stole a base. Mets rookie second baseman Dilson Herrera boxed around several grounders. But he also went back for a tricky catch on Cabreras soft liner with the bases loaded to end the second. A day after Bartolo Colon was ejected for hitting two Washington batters with pitches following home runs and a Mets batter got nicked, Williams predicted there wouldnt be any carry-over from the "shenanigans." There were a couple of early HBPs, but no hostility. Lagares was plunked by Washington for the third straight series, and Span was hit by Gee on a pitch that bounced. TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: RF Jayson Werth didnt start, a day after he was hit above the left elbow by a pitch from Colon. Williams said Werth wasnt out because of the plunking, rather it was a day of rest for "dead legs." Mets: 2B Daniel Murphy was out of the lineup, a day after he was hit in the left wrist by a pitch from Nationals reliever Matt Thornton. Collins said the wrist was swollen, but that Murphy said he thought hed miss only one day. UP NEXT Nationals: RHP Doug Fister (13-6, 2.53 ERA) starts Saturday night. He beat Atlanta in his most recent outing, ending a four-start winless string. Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler (10-9, 3.38) gets the ball Saturday night. He won at Washington on Aug. 5 and is 2-4 against the Nationals overall. CHALLENGING Collins challenged after Desmond was ruled safe at first in the fifth inning, beating out a double-play relay. The review upheld the call. Desmond promptly stole second but overslid the bag and appeared to get tagged before he returned to the bag. With the Mets out of challenges, though, Desmond was safe again. ' ' '