year ago, two years ago when these decisions were really being mad

TORONTO - When two of the Toronto Maple Leafs best players in the season opener were Brandon Kozun and Stuart Percy a€” two rookies making their NHL debuts a€” it doesnt speak well of the teams big-money stars.Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend.I didnt think we had a very good night, Bozak said Thursday after an off-ice workout. Things werent really going our way. I dont think the three of us played very well. But its only one game and I guess the good news is the only way to go is to get better.The top line was on the ice for two goals against, including P.K. Subbans go-ahead one in the third period. On the shift leading to Subbans goal, three of the Leafs best offensive players werent at their best on defence.Coach Randy Carlyle likes to match up his first line against the opponents, but in this case Montreals Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau dominated.They played a lot of the game in our zone, Carlyle said. I think last night was a prime example of some of the things that (our top-line players) were trying to accomplish through the neutral ice and the turnovers that were created cost us momentum in the game.Van Riemsdyk was less to blame in that department than Bozak and Kessel, who were each playing their first game in more than a week after missing time at the end of the pre-season with lower-body injuries.Carlyle didnt want to excuse Bozak and Kessel for being injured.Its part of their responsibility to play to a higher level, he said. Theres things that they have to do, and its not always on the ice. It could be off the ice, as far as keeping themselves (ready), and theres a program in place with our strength and conditioning guys that when youre injured, it doesnt mean you have days off.Bozak said he mightve been shaking off a bit of rust but didnt think it was that much different for everyone else as the tempo gets turned up at the start of the regular season.The 28-year-old centre, who scored on the power play thanks to a nice pass from Percy, didnt think he and his linemates were nearly at their best in several areas of the game.I think in the second we just got outworked a little bit, Bozak said. We lost some assignments, we had some turnovers and they just wanted it more than us for parts of the second and we cant have that.Video study could help fix some things, and not just for the top line. Carlyle pointed to a lot of positives, like contributions from young players and noticeable special teams, but acknowledged that the Leafs need to adjust.We made some mistakes in the game structurally that, if we continue to make them, itll be difficult for us to find ways to win, Carlyle said. I call it puck support and turnovers. We didnt support the puck on our breakouts, we didnt support the puck through the neutral ice, and we turned the puck over and we gave them an opportunity to get their skating game going, their forecheck game, and they created more off their offensive-zone cycles.Notes a€” The Leafs claimed 23-year-old winger Richard Panik off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. To make room for the six-foot-one, 201-pounder with potential, the team sent wingers Josh Leivo and Troy Bodie to the AHLs Marlies. ... Defenceman Cody Franson, who missed the opener with a lingering knee injury, skated with other scratched players Thursday morning. Carlyle said its a possibility that Franson could play Saturday night against Pittsburgh.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Air Force 1 Hvid Danmark .com) - Will Conant booted a 39-yard field goal as time expired and Air Force played spoiler with a 27-24 win over 21st- ranked Colorado State on Friday. Nike Air Force 1 Just Do It Kaufen . I suppose Sternberg has earned the right to speak out since his Rays, despite one of the lowest payrolls in the Majors at $58 million, are entering the final weekend of the regular season holding down the first Wild Card spot in the American League, one game ahead of Cleveland and two up on Texas. http://www.danmarkairforce1.com/sf-air-force-1-outlet-danmark.html . Her return engagement begins tonight as TSN presents Day 1 coverage of the 2015 event from Melbourne. Watch Eugenie Bouchards opening round match at the Australian Open live tonight on TSN5 at 3am et/Midnight pt. Air Force 1 Just Do It Danmark . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Air Force 1 Just Do It Sort . -- Jerry Rice Jr.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls will look to get into the win column Thursday night when they host the New York Knicks in their home opener. The Bulls had a tough go of it Tuesday night when they opened their campaign with a 107-95 setback to the defending champion Miami Heat in South Beach. On that night, the Heat hung another championship banner and received their rings, while Chicago welcomed back its superstar. Derrick Rose, who missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL, returned to the Bulls lineup. The 2011 MVP showed a lot of the burst that earned him the MVP trophy, but only finished with 12 points on 4-for-15 shooting, and committed five turnovers in about 34 minutes of action. "If anything Im disappointed in the loss," Rose said. "My performance, I can easily change that by making shots and turning down the turnovers. Its something we can learn from. Its not the end of the world; its not the playoffs where were going to be eliminated. We can fix things." Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler were plagued by early foul trouble and the vaunted Bulls defense was torched for 37 second-quarter points. Deng only managed four points, but Butler had a great second half and registered 20 points. It was a great night for Carlos Boozer, who scored a game-high 31 points, but All-Star center Joakim Noah had a rough go of things with two points and 11 rebounds. Noah was eased back into action after missing a significant portion of the preseason with a groin strain. The Knicks kicked off their Atlantic Division title defense Weednesday night with a hard-fought 90-83 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden.dddddddddddd After jumping out to a 25-point halftime lead, the Knicks got smoked in the third quarter and had to play 48 demanding minutes to get the victory. The Knicks committed 22 turnovers in the win. "Thats not us," said New York head coach Mike Woodson. "Last year, we led the league in not turning it over." Carmelo Anthony paced the Knicks with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Raymond Felton chipped in with 18, followed by 16 from Iman Shumpert and 10 from Tyson Chandler. Woodson elected to return to the starting lineup the Knicks used late last season, when New York played great defense and won 13 in a row and 16 of its last 18. Metta World Peace played the most minutes off the bench for the Knicks with a shade under 18. Andrea Bargnani, the former No. 1 overall pick who came over in an offseason trade with the Toronto Raptors, only had six points in his New York debut. "I have to build and get our second unit in gear," admitted Woodson. "We have to get them comfortable with what were doing." Amare Stoudemire, who underwent another knee procedure this summer, did not play despite claims that he was healthy enough to go. J.R. Smith, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, was suspended the first five games of the season in accordance with the leagues drug policy. The Bulls swept the season series with the Knicks last year and have won eight of their last nine at home against New York. ' ' '