TORONTO -- Dion Phaneuf admits he made a mistake. [url=http://www.cheaphornetsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-cody-zel ler-jersey]Authentic Cody Zeller Jersey[/url] . The Toronto captain said Thursday he erred in not talking to reporters following the Maple Leafs 5-3 home loss Tuesday night to the

TORONTO -- Dion Phaneuf admits he made a mistake. Authentic Cody Zeller Jersey . The Toronto captain said Thursday he erred in not talking to reporters following the Maple Leafs 5-3 home loss Tuesday night to the St. Louis Blues. Phaneuf was widely criticized for blowing off the media following the clubs sixth straight loss that dropped it to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. "I shouldve been available, thats about all Im going to say about it," the veteran defenceman said following Thursdays practice. "I cant remember the last time I didnt make myself available but I shouldve been available." On Wednesday, a day off for the Leafs, Phaneuf told a Toronto all-sports radio station he didnt talk because he was too emotional following the loss. "I just didnt play well enough," he said. "Bottom line, I wasnt even close to the level I have to play at. "I accept responsibility for that. I will be better." Phaneuf and his teammates dont have time to fret about their respective situations. Toronto visits the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night in one of just eight regular-season games remaining for the Leafs. The contest is important for both teams. Philadelphia (38-37-7, 83 points) is sixth in the Eastern Conference heading into action Thursday night. Toronto (36-30-8, 80 points) is tied in points with Columbus, Detroit and Washington, but all three clubs having games in hand on the Leafs. With each mounting loss, the Leafs find themselves increasingly under the media microscope in Toronto. There was no shortage of TV cameras and media at Thursdays practice. "If you look back two weeks ago we werent having to answer these questions, but the reality is were where were at right now," Phaneuf said. "We havent won in six games and when you dont win hockey games there are questions asked and theres every right to ask those questions because its our job to win games. "Im not going to stand here and say weve played well, we havent. I know right now it seems were at a low point but well come through it." And for head coach Randy Carlyle, the turnaround wont come about by continually harping on how tight the Leafs have played during the streak. "The more you talk about it, the more you focus on the tightness the harder it is to flush," he said. "We have to be prepared to look at the positives that are in the hockey game, the things weve done well and not focus on the negatives. "Pressure comes from within, comes from outside, it comes from everywhere. I think the amount of pressure you put on yourself to perform is really and truly who you have to answer to." But Carlyle didnt sugar-coat Torontos current situation, either. "We feel theres a lot of areas in which there are some positives but you cant look past weve lost six in a row," he said. "Bottom line, theres no other way to say it. "We cant feel good about ourselves but we have to prepare ourselves to play the best game of the year (Friday)." Toronto could have defenceman Paul Ranger back Friday. Ranger left a 5-3 home loss to Tampa Bay on March 19 on a stretcher with a neck brace after being hit by Lightning forward Alex Killorn. "I feel pretty good but Ive got to talk to the trainers and doctors and see if they can clear me to play," Ranger said. "I think its just a combined decision (Friday). "If I can help in any way Im going to and I plan on it. I had some encouraging words from teammates and trainers saying, We could use you back. It felt pretty good. Im excited to get back into a game and contribute as much as I can." Carlyle would consider playing Ranger in Philadelphia if the defenceman was cleared medically. "He looked good (Thursday)," Carlyle said. "As soon as the player tells us, then we have an option." Toronto has been plagued by poor starts over its losing streak, something Carlyle says gives the opposition an advantage. "It seems like were chasing the game and when you chase the game you have to open up and that gives the team youre playing against more opportunities," he said. "Its tough enough when youre on an even keel . . . especially at this time of year. "The bottom line is we have to find a way to start better and continue it." Forward Phil Kessel agreed. "It helps to get the first goal," he said. "Youre up one instead of being down one or down two. "Its tough to come back in this league." Given the intense media glare in Toronto, forward Nazem Kadri said its hard for the Leafs not to feel pressure to win. "When you drop six straight its definitely hard to focus on other things," he said. "Weve had some meetings and understand this is desperation time. "We have to play for our lives so we have to go start acting like it." Defenceman Cody Franson said the Leafs psyche remains solid. "I think were in a good spot," he said. "Obviously weve been through a tough stretch here but . . . were very aware of our situation and we all want to do the right things to get this back on the right foot. "Were aware of what we have to do. We dont feel sorry for ourselves, weve played well in a lot of games and done a lot of good things and were going to build on that." Toronto returns to the Air Canada Centre on Saturday versus Detroit, the first of four straight home games. After facing Calgary (Tuesday), Boston (Thursday) and Winnipeg (April 5), the Leafs will end the regular season with road games against Tampa, Florida and Ottawa. "Its not like were out of a playoff position," defenceman Jake Gardiner said. "Were in a decent spot, we can still compete for those last two spots and just see what happens. "Yeah, theres always that pressure . . . but we know we have a good team in here and we know we can do it. Its just a matter of playing the way we know we can." Hornets Jerseys China . Goodell said in an ESPN Radio interview Monday (http://es.pn/1gkbauy ) that participants played harder and made the game very competitive. Goodell says he had fun watching the game Sunday and thinks fans did, too. Authentic Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Jersey . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open. http://www.cheaphornetsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-dell-curry-jersey . -- The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in 33 seconds of the second period en route to defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in American Hockey League action on Friday.MONTREAL -- The Columbus Blue Jackets ran rings around the Canadiens all night. Montreal took eight minor penalties and played almost an entire period shorthanded in their 3-2 loss to a speedy Blue Jackets team on Thursday night. "They were first on the puck, making us react to them, putting us on our heels a bit," said Lars Eller of a young and energized Columbus team in the heart of a heated playoff race. "When they do that, we take penalties." Montreal played more than 15 minutes down a man, including 50 seconds on a 5-on-3. Seven different players did time in the penalty box for hooking, tripping, holding, high-sticking and once for having too many men on the ice. Forwards Brian Gionta, Daniel Briere and Max Pacioretty saw their average ice time significantly reduced. "There were a lot of guys sitting on the bench for long stretches that should have been out there," said Eller. "Its not good for our rhythm. We want to be five guys on the ice." The undisciplined Canadiens began showing signs of frustration midway through the second period, taking several unwarranted penalties. Newcomer Thomas Vanek gave Columbus Artem Anisimov a slew-foot when he was beaten to the puck, and Ryan White hooked Ryan Johansen after the 21-year-old flew past him. In the third, P.K. Subban and Tomas Plekanec took back-to-back penalties for high-sticking. But as successful as the Blue Jackets were in drawing penalties, their power play was a bit of a dud. Columbus went 0 for 8 with the extra skater, and saw all 13 power-play shots turned away by Carey Price. "Wed love to get a power-play goal," said Columbus forward Brandon Dubinsky, whose teams power-play unit has not found the back of the net it its last 26 opportunities. "Its going to be important down the stretch. But we didnt earn all those power plays without playing the right way." Dubinsky scored the go-ahead goal at 6:53 of the second period, at even strength, to give the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead after burying a juicy rebound past an off-balance Price. "We skated, we were physical, we fore-checked hard," added Dubinsky. "I liked our tenacity. We created turnovers." One of those turnovers came on the game-winning goal. Johansen made rookie defenceman Jarred Tinordi pay for a giveaway at the Canadiens blue-line. Johansen intercepted Tinordis weak pass, and beat Price on a partial breakaway for his team-leading 27th goal of the year at 16:59 of the third period. "That doesnt feeel good," said Tinordi, who had an otherwise solid game, blocking three shots in 15:29 of work. Authentic Jeremy Lamb Jersey. "Its a stupid play on my part. I put it on my backhand, trying to go through the middle. (Johansens) a quick player. I should have anticipated he was going to be there." The Blue Jackets (36-27-6) showcased their speed from the get-go, setting the tone after the initial faceoff by springing Cam Atkinson on a breakaway in the games first six seconds. Price, who stopped 37 shots for the Canadiens (38-26-7), got the better of him. But it was Prices counterpart, last seasons Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who got the better of the Canadiens in the end. Bobrovsky made 25 saves for the win, and has now started the last 16 games for the Blue Jackets as well as 23 of their last 24. The Habs beat Bobrovsky in the first period when Brendan Gallagher turned his stick into a baseball bat, hitting a puck out of mid-air at 14:53 to give the Canadiens the 1-0 lead. After an initial save, Gallagher took a swing at a waist-high puck, which floated above the net, landed on Bobrovsky chest and trickled past the goal-line. Columbus wasted no time finding their equalizer, scoring exactly one minute after the Canadiens. With the youngster Johansen in the box for cross checking, Derek MacKenzie scored a short-handed goal right off the faceoff. The Blue Jackets are now tied for third in the league with nine short-handed goals on the season. After the Canadiens killed off three straight minor penalties to start the third, Vanek made it 2-2 at 7:46 with a slapshot from the face off circle to Bobrovskys right. The Blue Jackets have now collected 15 out of a possible 20 points in their last 10 games (7-2-1). The team is holding on to the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Columbus hopes to play post-season hockey for only the second time in the franchises 14-year history. In 2009, they were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference quarter-finals. Notes: Brandon Prust (upper-body injury) was not in the lineup for the Canadiens. Prust was hurt in Tuesdays 6-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan White got the start in his place. ... RJ Umberger was a healthy scratch for the Blue Jackets. Rene Bourque and Douglas Murray sat out for the Canadiens. ... Max Pacioretty hasnt scored in seven games, his longest goal drought since November. Hes two goals shy of 100 with the Canadiens. ... The Montreal Impacts Marco Di Vaio, Patrice Bernier and Justin Mapp were in attendance. 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