Herausforderung » Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday

TORONTO – Under the strain of a no. 1 gig in the NHL for the very first time, Jonathan Bernier has learned that its best to do little with off-nights from the grueling schedule, condensed as it is in an Olympic year. "I go home and watch TV and just rest," he said with a smile. "But thats what you need to do to be successful. Thats what Im going to do." And thats precisely what the Maple Leafs need him to do. Outside of the incomparable Phil Kessel, no player means more to Torontos fortunes down the stretch and into a hopeful postseason run than the 25-year-old between the pipes. Freed from the shadows of Jonathan Quick, Bernier has shined brilliantly in his first go-around as an NHL starter, minding the fort on most nights in front of a poor defensive team. The Laval, Quebec native ranks sixth in save percentage amongst goaltenders with at least 30 starts, this despite facing more shots than anyone but Mike Smith – Smith, of course, making nine more starts. Whether Bernier has the juice to maintain such a performance down the stretch could very well determine his teams fate. Though theyve scored in droves all year, the Leafs have also struggled badly to defend, requiring Bernier to fend off a barrage of 35, 40 and sometimes 50 shots against on many nights. His efforts have rarely wavered in spite of the workload. Berniers best month in terms of save percentage was October when he posted a sterling .933 mark, his worst coming more recently in January with a still respectable .916 showing. The Leafs – who allow a league-high of more than 36 shots per game – would not be on the firm ground of a playoff spot currently without such feats. "I knew my biggest challenge this year was going to be consistency," he told the Leaf Report, "to be good every night and hopefully, once in a while, be great and steal a few games for your team. Thats my main goal, to be good every night and give a chance to my team to win. But thats hard. When you havent played that much (as a starter) you feel tired a lot more than you are usually so its more like a grind mentally to push yourself to be better every day and work hard in practice. "Why (Henrik) Lundqvist is known as the best is hes going to be good every night and hes going to be great once in a while. Thats how you become the best is consistency. You can have one good year and then youre not going to be the best because youve got to prove it over and over. Thats what makes you a great player." Not since the 2009-10 season has Bernier played anywhere near this many games (40 starts) and that was when he was a Manchester Monarch in the AHL. His performance then was eye-catching. Then just 21, he posted a league-leading .936 save percentage during the regular season – Nathan Lawson was second at .922 – raising his level even higher in the playoffs with a .939 mark that again topped every one of his Calder Cup counterparts. All of which makes his performance this season if not surprising then reaffirming of the promise he showed early and often as a highly-touted prospect in the Kings organization. The question lingering now is whether he can continue to perform down the stretch or whether the strain of a sometimes painstaking load in Toronto will prove too much to bear. It will be worthwhile testing ground for the 11th pick in the 06 draft and could ultimately decide the Leafs fate this season. They remain a bad defensive team even with his heroics, ranking fifth to last in goals against. If he falters theres every chance they too falter as well (James Reimer lurks in the background in that case as a proven, if not unused, alternative). Bernier was on point in the final lead-up to the 18-day Olympic stoppage, but was scuffed up in his first two starts afterward, yielding nine goals combined in overtime losses to the Islanders and Canadiens. Off-nights like that will challenge the Leafs playoff push. Theyve required great goaltending to get to this point and will need more of the same in the final 20 games, the bulk of which Bernier is in line to start. Bernier for his part is doing what he can to remain sharp in the final leg of the regular season race. Earlier this season he noted that perhaps the greatest challenge of reassuming control of no. 1 duties is the mental focus required each and every night through an exhausting schedule, not simply the physical wear and tear associated with the job. "Its all about rest and feeling good about yourself and making sure you eat properly, you rest, you sleep good," he said. "Those are the things that are going to get you through a full season to be mentally sharp." Ambition is certainly high for Bernier. He wants to be great and the Leafs, at this stage, need him to be great, gambled when they acquired him that he could be great. "I dont want to look too far ahead," he said, "but my goal is to be the best I can be. Its going to take a few years to get that name (for myself) … but right now Im going day by day and enjoying to play games. Thats what Ive been waiting for and it feels good." Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. Replica Soccer Jerseys . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/. Next years tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . There are practical ideas, like this Chewbaca inspired Star Wars jerseys. Star Wars themed jerseys for the Toledo Mud Hens. Clearance Soccer Jerseys . -- The Anaheim Ducks have signed left wing Dany Heatley to a one-year deal, returning the 33-year-old unrestricted free agent to the Pacific Division.BOSTON -- Two days into his second call-up of the season, Brock Holt was the centre of attention in Bostons clubhouse. Holt hit a tiebreaking triple in the seventh inning and scored on Jonathan Herreras suicide squeeze, lifting the Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Saturday. After the game, Holt did interviews in front of a large-screen TV in the middle of the locker room, a spot usually reserved for the games star or starting pitcher. "Its fun," Holt said. On Friday, Holt went 2 for 4 and drove in a run during the series-opening loss to Baltimore. "You want to go out and play well anytime youre out there," he said. "Ive got these first two under my belt and had some success, hopefully I can continue to keep going out there." David Ortiz had a solo homer and two hits for the World Series champion Red Sox, who have won three of four. But it was Holts hit that sparked the victory. "He had been swinging the bat very well in Pawtucket. He was able to get on a little bit of roll," Boston manager John Farrell said. "What weve seen -- I know its only two games -- is a little bit more authority, particularly on the pull side (of the plate)." Holt came up for a day from Triple-A earlier this month, but didnt get into a game when regular third baseman Will Middlebrooks was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. Nelson Cruz had a pair of run-scoring singles for the Orioles, who had a three-game winning streak halted. Junichi Tazawa (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings of relief. Koji Uehara struck out three after a leadoff walk for his fourth save. The benches emptied briefly in the seventh after Bud Norris (0-2) threw high and tight to David Ross, who was trying to sacrifice. Ross yelled something, but Orioles catcher Matt Wieters stepped in between and both sides retreated to the dugouts. "Its emotional. Ross is a good player -- a good catcher and a pro," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "But I know Matt. Hes not going to allow somebody to yell at his pitcher like that -- especially when he doesnt have any reason to." Norris didnt know why Ross was so upset, especially when he was giving up an at-bat to move a runner. "I dont really understand where its coming from, and his point of view," Norris said. "Im trying to throw the ball over the plate and take the out because if youre giving it to me in a sac bunt situation, I want the out every time.dddddddddddd" Baltimore benefited from a challenge that overturned a call at first on what would have been Cruzs inning-ending grounder in the sixth. Holt tripled into the right-centre field gap in the seventh after Mike Carp drew a leadoff walk from Norris. Herrara then dropped down a bunt fouling off on his first attempt. Boston starter Felix Doubront retired 13 consecutive batters after giving up a run in the first before Nick Markakis opened the sixth with a single, but was erased when Delmon Young bounced into double play. The Orioles then got runners on first and third when Cruz hit a grounder to deep third. Holt made a throw from near the foul line. Cruz was called out by first base umpire Ted Barrett. Showalter challenged his first call of the season and it was overturned after a 49-second wait. Ortizs homer hooked around the Pesky Pole and gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Doubront pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking two. Cruzs RBI single made it 1-0 in the first. Boston tied it in the bottom half when third baseman Jonathan Schoop misplayed a probable inning-ending, double-play grounder. The Orioles, who set a major league record for fewest errors last season (54) and errorless games (119), have committed just four this season -- all of them by a third baseman filling in for Gold Glove winner Manny Machado, who is recovering from off-season left knee surgery. NOTES: Red Sox rookie SS Xander Bogaerts got the day off. "Hes played in every game and after some long games and travel, hes being rested -- and it gives us a chance to get another left-handed bat in there," Farrell said. Switch-hitting Herrera started at short. ... Boston OF Shane Victorino, on the 15-day since March 30 with a strained right hamstring, went 0 for 3 in his first rehab game at Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday. The plan is for him play Monday and Tuesday before being reevaluated. ... Showalter said LHP Zach Britton was sick Friday night and not with the team, but he was back Saturday. ... Machado played his first extended spring training game in Sarasota, Fla. Showalter said he "played five innings and had four at-bats with no problems." ... Middlebrooks worked out on the field before the game. ' ' '