Diskussionen » hen it came to his payday. Chu

Staring down a six-game stretch heading into the Olympic break, the Maple Leafs gathered as a group and discussed the importance of yielding as many points as possible out of a pair of match-ups with the Panthers and Lightning as well as games against the Senators and Canucks. Already with four wins out of five, a victory on Saturday night against Vancouver would make it mission accomplished. "We want to end this part of the year off on a winning note," said Dion Phaneuf after the team took part in an off-ice workout on Friday. "We talked about it two weeks ago, how we wanted to get as many points as possible to set ourselves up going into the break in a good position." Despite the Leafs rolling to a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 games, a playoff position is still far from secured though. On Jan. 12, the day they beat the Devils 3-2 in a shootout to begin this impressive stretch, the Leafs sat two points out of a Wild Card spot. As of Feb. 7, they sit with a five-point Wild Card cushion and have gained ten points on the Montreal Canadiens to draw even at 68 points. Though still with 23 games remaining, Toronto is nowhere close to a position where they can ease up on their effort. "I dont think any team wants to give away any points," said Carl Gunnarsson. "Were in kind of a tight spot too. We really need the points." So too do the Canucks who have struggled mightily of late, losing six straight games and posting a dismal 4-12-2 record since the turn of the calendar to see their six-point Wild Card cushion evaporate to just one. That doesnt, however, mean the Leafs are taking anything for granted. "When youre playing a team that hasnt had as much success as theyd like, theyre going to want to end their pre-Olympic break on the right note," Phaneuf said. "Were expecting a push out of them." How hard the Canucks can push though is the question, since they are missing Henrik Sedin, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Chris Tanev, Andrew Alberts, Mike Santorelli and Yannick Weber to various injuries and ailments. "Quite honestly, Ive never been through so many injuries at one time in all the years that Ive coached," said head coach John Tortorella after putting his team through practice at the MasterCard Center on Friday. "I dont want to paint this as Woe is me and were getting all the bad breaks, we have to find a way to get out of it. I think we have in the past three games regained our structure and hopefully itll get things going our way tomorrow." Outscored 23-10 during their six-game skid, an inspired performance from both Daniel Sedin and Roberto Luongo would be most welcomed by the Canucks. Sedin has not scored in 2014 and has just five assists in the 18 games he has played since the turn of the calendar. Luongo meanwhile has lost his last four starts, posting an ugly 3.50 GAA and .881 save percentage. With their playoff cushion all but evaporated, the Canucks no longer have time to slowly work their way out of this slump. They need points, and fast. "I think a win is the top priority," Luongo insisted. "I dont want to sit here and make excuses, injuries are part of every team in the NHL, and everybody goes through it. You still have to find a way to accumulate points. That being said, were missing a lot of guys but sometimes its little things and then all of a sudden it snowballs into bigger things and next thing you know, you dont realize it but youre in a six-game losing streak." Jose Juan Barea Jersey . According to Yahoo! Sports, the team has reached a five-year deal to play their home games on the roof of the Plaza Hotel and Casino. Cheap Swingman Mavericks Jerseys . Or take a relaxing vacation somewhere warm. Brayden Schenn and Scott Hartnell scored, Ray Emery stopped 32 shots and the Flyers beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. http://www.cheapmavericksjerseys.com/?ta...kidd-jersey.com) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil and New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen were selected as the AFCs top players for Week 14 of the NFL season. Cheap Mavericks Jerseys China .com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. Cheap NBA Jerseys . RAPTORS STRUGGLING: The bottom line is the true test in sports isnt just how you handle failure, but how you handle success.TORONTO - George Chuvalo is already in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. And now so is the bell he answered 15 times against Muhammad Ali some 48 years ago at Maple Leaf Gardens.The 77-year-old Chuvalo rang the bell himself Wednesday as it was shown off at a news conference at Mattamy Athletic Centre, site of the old Gardens, honouring the 2014 inductees to Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. A smiling Chuvalo, a Hall of Famer himself since 1990, gave a thumbs-up and then shadow-boxed after hearing the familiar sound.I get reminded of it just about every day of the week, the former Canadian heavyweight champion said of his first fight with Ali on March 29, 1966.I didnt win the fight. But it was a tough battle, he added. People tell me that when they saw the fight it made them proud to be Canadian. That makes me proud to be a Canadian, that makes me very very proud to be a Canadian.Like Chuvalo, the bell — which comes complete with a trigger — is a piece of Canadian history with a story to tell.It was donated by Michael Shillolo, whose father Frank Shillolo used to be the official bell man for the Ontario Athletics Commission.After a crack was noticed during a fight night at the Gardens in 1980, the bell was pulled out of service for repairs. By the time the work had been done, the commission had purchased a more modern replacement.The original bell sat in Franks Shillolo basement for years although it was brought out in 1999 for Chuvalo tto ring during one of his presentations to students on drug abuse.ddddddddddddBoxing runs deep in the Shillolo family.Michaels uncle, Tony Canzano, was a longtime boxing coach, who helped a young Chuvalo get interested in the sport, as well as a boxing judge (he worked the first Ali-Chuvalo bout) and acting head of the Ontario Athletics Commission. Vic Shillolo, Franks cousin, was also a former judge.After Frank died, the family agreed to donate the bell to the Hall of Fame.Chuvalo (73-18-2) was never knocked down as pro. He lost a rematch to Ali in 1972 by 12-round decision at Vancouvers Pacific Coliseum.Chuvalo had just 17 days notice to prepare for Ali the first time around after the champions fight with Ernie Terrell fell through.They had a contest between a bull and a bumblebee at Maple Leaf Gardens last night — with the usual result. The bull came out of it with his face looking like a bucket of balls at a golf driving range, legendary Toronto Star columnist Milt Dunnell wrote at the time.But as Chuvalo recalls Ali went to hospital that night.I went dancing with my wife, Chuvalo said. I got the best of that deal.He did not do so well when it came to his payday. Chuvalo said he ended up with $12,500 with manager Irving Ungerman taking the lions share of the $49,000 purse after expenses.The bell brought back his smile, however.Instant memories. 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