Minecraft Disskusion » Ohio was rooting for

TORONTO -- Just over a month ago, right here at Air Canada Centre, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock made a comment that now carries prophetic irony.While wearing his Team Canada hat in the midst of another unbeaten run in a best-on-best tournament, Canadas head coach was asked, following a round-robin victory on Sept. 21, about Team North Americas kids getting more love from fans and media than his juggernaut side.I like watching that team because theres tons of skill, Babcock said of the 23-and-under squad. I like winning more, though. I just want to win ...It was telling, perhaps, because 30-odd days later, he has one of the most entertaining, youthful sides in the NHL so far -- but one that has registered just one win in six games despite leading in five of those matches.Even when they found themselves down 5-1 in the third period on Tuesday night to the Stanley Cup contender?Tampa Bay Lightning, the baby-faced Leafs scored twice in the third period to make it interesting before eventually losing 7-3 -- all the while outshooting the Bolts 43-24.Win or lose, these Leafs arent going to be boring this season.Its fun to watch them, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said a day before his team faced Toronto. I think its ... the new NHL, where teams have gone a bit younger. These guys just possess a ton of skill. Its almost akin to the North America team that I had a pleasure of being a part of [as assistant coach] -- just a lot of young guys who have a lot of skill and have a lot of fun playing the game. You can see it when theyre on the ice.The challenge ahead for Babcock is to groom these kids into a more consistent, polished outfit -- something like the offensively talented Lightning team thats been knocking at the championship door for a few years now.Imagine telling a Leafs fan before the season started that on the morning of Oct. 25, Auston Matthews, 19, would be leading the NHL in scoring, with 10 points (6-4); linemate William Nylander, 20, would be right behind with nine points (4-5); and Mitch Marner, 19, would already look like a polished, two-way NHLer because his overall game was so impressive. And then telling that same Toronto fan that his team was controlling the puck much of the time, too.Yeah, that Leafs fan would have taken it. And imagine that fans surprise when you told him or her that -- despite all that -- the team would have only one win in six games.The crux of the matter, of course, as evidenced by?Toronto newspaper reports?on Wednesday morning, was that offseason goalie acquisition Frederik Andersen has fallen on his face so far during his brief Leafs tenure.After Torontos?Jonathan Bernier?experiment did not work out (although I still believe no goalie would have looked good behind that Leafs roster the last few years), the Leafs went back to Southern California for a second consecutive time in an attempt to fix their goaltending woes. They traded to get Andersen from the?Anaheim Ducks?-- and then signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract the same day.Andersen has given up 22 goals in five games and sports a .851 save percentage. A few of those seven goals he gave up on Tuesday night were as much a result of the brutal defensive coverage -- or lack thereof -- in front of him. But it has still been a disaster of a start to the season for the 27-year-old.Babcock has staunchly defended Anderson publicly -- what else is he going to do? But you know that, behind the scenes, management has to be nervous to some degree, even a grizzled veteran such as GM Lou Lamoriello. Theres a lot riding on this investment in goal.I liked him in Anaheim, said an Eastern Conference goalie coach via text message of Andersen. Was always concerned with his durability. Or his desire to play. Anaheim protected their goalies well. But he still made saves, won the Jennings [Trophy] by a goal and he was excellent in the last game [last season] against the Caps to clinch [the Pacific Division]. Its one thing to not make big saves. Its another to do uncharacteristic things and give up goals a junior could stop.I always say you dont lose your skills overnight, the coach continued. It will turn if [Andersen] has any mental toughness at all.Added a Western Conference goalie coach via text message: What I have seen [with Andersen] is busy feet. When hes not set, he has a tough time. I think he is one of the best. He has struggled, though.And finally, from an NHL scout: He looks really active in the net right now. Hes not allowing the play to come to him.Two things to ponder here with Andersen:1) He was always the 1B guy chasing the 1A guy in Anaheim, pushing Jonas Hiller and then John Gibson. He was the pursuer. Now, for the first time in his career, hes been handed the No. 1 job. Theres a mental adjustment with that.2) The Denmark native comes from a non-hockey market in Anaheim, where he played without too much fanfare, to the NHLs biggest market in Toronto, where the lights are shining bright.I asked Andersen after Tuesday nights game about point No. 2.Definitely an adjustment, he said of his move to hockey-crazed Toronto. But youve just got to keep doing what youre doing, dont try to change too much. I think thats something that Ive got to be better at, just play my game and then the results should come.I think they will come. Andersen showed too much promise in Anaheim not to be that guy again. But this is an awful way to get it going here in Toronto. And its a narrative that wont be easily discarded until Andersen really bears down. Every postgame loss analysis from here on out will begin by examining his performance.In the meantime, the Leafs should have more than one win this season. How that will affect the psyche of a young team remains to be seen.Yeah, its frustrating, for sure, Matthews said. But its a long season. Well stay positive in this room. Theres no doubt in our minds well get out of it. Deon Yelder Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Mecole Hardman Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-daniel-sorensen-jersey-large-2166n.html . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Darwin Thompson Jersey .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Bobby Bell Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. ESTERO, Fla. -- A big lead was gone, and No. 8 Ohio State looked to be in trouble.Kelsey Mitchell wasnt bothered whatsoever.Mitchell scored 24 points, including 3-pointers on consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter after her team fell behind, and the Buckeyes held off No. 11 Syracuse 77-72 on Saturday night in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase. The Buckeyes (5-1) led by 15 points early in the second half before needing to rally.They just came in the rhythm of the offense, Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said of Mitchells two big 3-pointers late. Shes such a great player and makes a lot of big shots.The Buckeyes (5-1) will meet No. 5 Baylor on Sunday in the championship game.Theyve got a great team, talented, well-coached, McGuff said of the Bears, who rolled past DePaul in Saturdays other semifinal. Theyre the biggest team in college basketball and weve got a great challenge on our hands. But thats why we came to this tournament.Sierra Calhoun scored 19 points, Stephanie Mavunga had 13, and Shayla Cooper grabbed 10 rebounds for Ohio State.Alexis Peterson led all scorers with 29 points for Syracuse (4-2). Brittney Sykes had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Gabby Cooper scored 12 for Syracuse -- which will meet No. 18 DePaul in the consolation game Sunday.Petersons 3-pointer from the left wing with about 40 seconds left tied the game at 72. But she was called for a blocking foul as Mitchell dribbled near the sideline on the next Ohio State possession, and the Buckeyes star coolly hit both to put her team back up by two.Another free throw made the lead 75-72, and Petersons deep 3-point try from the right wing in the final seconds was short. A pair of free throws then closed the scoring.We played really well in the second quarter and the sstart of the third quarter, McGuff said.dddddddddddd Then our defense really started breaking down and you cant give a team like Syracuse open 3s.Syracuse needed only 1:49 of the first quarter to put together an 11-0 run, with four different players doing the scoring and the last three baskets in that stretch all coming from 3-point range.But the Buckeyes controlled much of the rest of the half, taking a 44-34 lead into the locker room and pushing the margin out to 15 early in the third quarter.Syracuse wasnt done.A 7-0 run got the Orange within two late in the third, and Sykes layup with 7:37 left put Syracuse back on top 62-60. Thats when Mitchell answered with the back-to-back 3-pointers, and Buckeyes would not trail again.BIG PICTURESyracuse: The Orange have now dropped two of their last three games after a 3-0 start to the season. Each of those three games have been of the down-to-the-wire variety. ... Cooper was 4 for 16 from the field -- 0 for 1 from 2-point range, and 4 for 15 from 3-point range.Ohio State: Both of the Buckeyes games in the tournament so far have been close in the fourth. ... Ohio State outscored Syracuse 32-16 in the paint.SPLIT DECISIONPeterson went 1-1 on Saturday.The native of Columbus, Ohio was rooting for No. 2 Ohio State to beat No. 3 Michigan in football earlier in the day -- and the Buckeyes took care of her wishes, prevailing 30-27 in double overtime. But her wish to beat the Buckeyes fell short, despite her season-high point total.UP NEXTSyracuse: Faces No. 18 DePaul on Sunday in the tournament consolation game.Ohio State: Faces No. 5 Baylor on Sunday in the tournament championship game. ' ' '