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TORONTO - The Leafs are hanging onto what positivity they can muster amid a season-long losing streak that struck five games on Tuesday night. "We try to accentuate the positives," said Randy Carlyle after a 4-2 loss to the Sharks, "but the big negative is we lost." It was the fifth straight defeat and six in the past seven games for the Leafs. Despite an engaged effort, they were beaten on this night by one of the leagues premier teams, San Jose now a winner in nine of the past 10 games. Discipline issues continued in the loss, but maybe more concerning for the Leafs were ongoing struggles to generate offence at even-strength, both goals coming via the leagues top-ranked home power-play. Toronto has scored just 18 even-strength goals in the past 14 games, held to two goals or fewer in 11 of those games. The Sharks outshot the Leafs by a wide 35-19 margin at even-strength, scoring three of their four goals in such situations, including the eventual winner from Joe Pavelski, a sequence that saw Torontos fourth line pinned in its own zone for nearly two minutes. Certainly dinged by a rising tide of games missed due to injuries, suspensions and other maladies - they were without Nazem Kadri due to a death in the family, Cody Franson to an injury and Tyler Bozak for most of the night with an upper-body injury - the Leafs have nonetheless struggled to find depth offensively all season. In fact, 84 per cent of their total offence has come from just seven players, one of those being Dave Bolland, who hasnt played in over a month. Lacking much punch from their defence, theyve also gotten very little in the way of contributions from their bottom-6 forwards. Tuesdays fourth line of Colton Orr, Jerred Smithson and Frazer McLaren, for instance, has combined for zero points all season. Perhaps the key to unlocking more consistent success offensively is the Leaf forecheck, productive with pressure during an energetic opening 10 minutes of the second frame - theyd be rewarded for those efforts with a pair of power-plays, scoring on both. "The forecheck creates offensive zone time, it creates and draws penalties, creates scoring chances, wears opposition down," Carlyle said. "We have stressed that weve got to do a better job of getting in there and establishing a forechecking game and establishing offensive zone time. Weve been talking about it. And there are periods of games that we do it very well." But as has been the case throughout the opening two months of the season and more specifically during a dreadful November, which saw them win just twice in regulation, the Leafs have been unable to establish such pressure for a complete night. "We have spurts where were good, I think we play well," said Mason Raymond, who scored the first Leaf goal and his 10th this season. "But again its only spurts. We need to figure out how to put those spurts together into 60 minutes." Five Points 1. Discipline A focal point of concern for Carlyle entering the game, discipline became an issue once more on this night, the Leafs yielding four power-plays while drawing just three themselves. Unhappy with Andrew Desjardins body-check on Smithson midway through the opening period, McLaren drew a roughing penalty and while the Sharks wouldnt score with that man advantage they would grab control of the period thereafter. Theyd score once at even-strength on a goal from former Leaf Mike Brown before adding a power-play marker from Joe Thornton during a five-on-three advantage; Raymond and Jay McClement called for hooking and tripping respectively. "That took momentum totally for the period in their favour," Carlyle said of the penalties. "Disciplines a huge part," said Raymond. "Youre killing penalties, youre not playing offence and youre playing in your own zone so were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot there." The Leafs have taken 125 minor penalties this season, second most in the league. 2. Busy Outings James Reimer has faced an average of 36 shots per game in his 12 full starts this season (he left one start after 32 seconds because of injury). But in spite of the heavy nightly workload, Reimer, who faced 40 shots against the Sharks, refuses to be consumed with frustration. "The only reason you get frustrated is if youre focusing on what other people are doing or not doing," Reimer said. "And thats not in my job description. My job description is to stop the puck and do the best I can to give the boys a chance, so whether were giving up 50 [shots] a night or 10 [shots] a night thats what youve got to do. "If were giving up shots because some players arent playing well or maybe were not playing well as a team thats irrelevant. Theres games where Im not going to play well and I dont want guys jumping down my throat because I didnt play well or play well for a couple games. Its not how it goes. We each work our butts off, we support each and we believe in each other and thats the only thing you worry about. I dont worry about what other guys are doing or how many shots [Im facing]." Reimer is now 6-3-0 when making 30 saves or more this season. 3. Raymond Tied for the team lead in November scoring with seven points, Mason Raymond has already matched the 10 goals he scored all of last season with the Canucks. A bargain free agent find at $1 million for one season, Raymond has 19 points in 28 games, third on the Leafs in scoring this season. The most striking difference for the 27-year-old between this season and last is opportunity. Raymond is averaging a career-high of over 18 minutes per game this year, his speed and pluck offensively a valued asset amid a string of early injuries and suspensions. Raymonds numbers this year in contrast with 2013 Year Games Goals Points Shooting % Minutes 2013-2014 28 10 19 14.3 18:10 2013 46 10 22 12.7 15:49 4. More on the Forecheck Following the opening frame, one that saw the Leafs down 2-0, Raymond harped on the need to "create a forecheck". After the game he expanded upon those thoughts. "I think theres a lot of factors that are going to add up to make a team more successful, but thats definitely one of them," he said of the forecheck. "I dont think anybody wants to be playing in their defensive zone if you can be playing in your offensive zone." "When you stick to the game-plan of just keeping things simple, getting pucks deep, getting a good forecheck, thats just kind of the template that I think most teams have when theyre successful in the league," added James van Riemsdyk. 5. Bad Month Over Phil Kessel finished the month of November with just six points in 13 games. It was among the worst months hes had in a Leafs uniform, just one assist to his name along with five goals. Only Nov. 2010 compares with the mild output he managed last month; Kessel had three goals and five points in 13 games en route to 64 points in 82 games. The 26-year-old scored his team-leading 15th goal against the Sharks on Tuesday, now riding a four-game point streak. Kessel sits 20th in league scoring, boasting 25 points this season. Stat-Pack 18 - Even-strength goals for the Leafs in the past 14 games.6-3-0 - Record for James Reimer when making 30 saves or more this season. 23 - Games this season the Leafs have allowed 30 shots or more. 41 - Shots for the Sharks on Tuesday. San Jose leads the league in shots per game while Toronto yields the most against per game. 12:33 - Ice-time for Tyler Bozak against the Sharks. Bozak left the game for good after the second period with an upper-body injury. 8 - Power-play goals scored against the Leafs in the past five games. 14-41 - Leafs power-play on home-ice this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 2-3Season: 24.7 per cent PK: 3-4Season: 78.5 per cent Quote of the Night "Sometimes you dont play well and you lose and its pretty disappointing, but thats one of the best teams in the league over there and in my mind it was anyones game. Sometimes they dont go your way." -James Reimer, following the loss to San Jose. Up Next The Leafs host the Dallas Stars at the ACC on Thursday night. China Jerseys Outlet . Strasburg (1-1) got 14 consecutive outs in one stretch and allowed only three hits, including Marcell Ozunas homer in the seventh. The right-handers lone walk was to the last batter he faced. Washingtons starter Wednesday, Jordan Zimmermann, left after a career-low 1 2-3 innings, leaving the bullpen "taxed," as manager Matt Williams put it. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Online . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. http://www.cheapnfljerseysoutlet.com/. She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .Brooks, a three-year veteran, was slow to get up after suffering the injury during a 5-yard run by Arian Foster.Brooks limped off the field midway through the quarter and then slowly walked to the locker room a few minutes later. NFL Jerseys Outlet . Neither player was available Saturday for the Knicks 107-98 loss in Atlanta. "Were going in a different direction and weve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub," coach Mike Woodson said before the game.PHOENIX - The St. Louis Cardinals never made it easy on themselves, labouring through injuries and inconsistency, unable to get into the NL Central race until around the All-Star break.Even after they surged into the lead, the Cardinals had a hard time finishing it off, limping to the finish while allowing Pittsburgh to hang around for a chance at the division title.It all came down to game No. 162 and it ended up being the easiest win of the season a€” even if they didnt need it.The Cardinals clinched their second straight NL Central title before the first pitch Sunday and finished off the regular season with a get-to-the-celebration 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Next up: The Dodgers in the NL division series Friday in Los Angeles.Fortunately, we weathered the storm and the guys just put their nose down, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Im real proud of the guys.The Cardinals were assured of a playoff spot entering the day. What that spot would be depended on whether they could beat the Diamondbacks or Cincinnati knocked off Pittsburgh.The Reds took care of business for the Cardinals by beating the Pirates 4-1, a victory that was announced about 10 minutes before St. Louis game against Arizona.The Cardinals celebrated in the dugout, then it did it again after the final out against the Diamondbacks, wildly spraying each other with champagne and beer after an oh-so-sweet finish to their second straight 90-win season.We know Pittsburgh had a good run, but we had a better one, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina said.Once Sundays game started, both teams seemed to go through the motions, the only run coming on Kolten Wongs groundout in the sixth inning off Josh Collmenter (11-9).The Cardinals scratched scheduled starter Adam Wainwright just before the start, using five relievers instead. Justin Masterson (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings and Carlos Martinez got the final two outs for his first save.Arizona went down meekly, managing two hits to finish 64-98, worst in the majors and second-worst record in team history.We had higher expectations coming out of the spring, Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler said. Whether you look at the injuries or the pure lack off execution on the field, this is not how we wanted to finish.dddddddddddd We definitely dont feel like we are the worse team in baseball, even though the record says we were this year.The Cardinals went to the World Series last season, yet have seemed to make it hard on themselves this season, taking the NL Central race down to the final game after limping to the finish.St. Louis had a chance to wrap up the division title Saturday night, but couldnt put away the Diamondbacks, losing 5-2 after Mark Trumbo hit a pair of homers.Cincinnati eliminated the drama for St. Louis with a win that sent the Pirates to the wild-card game and St. Louis into the division series. The result was announced at Chase Field about 10 minutes before first pitch and the Cardinals celebrated with a round of high-fives and hugs in the dugout.I think I threw a pitch without looking because I was watching the scoreboard, Wainwright said. It was a great feeling.Matheny said Wainwright would start the season finale regardless of what happened with the Pirates, but he was replaced by Nick Greenwood just before the game.With nothing to play for on either side, the Cardinals and Diamondbacks breezed through a brisk, free-swinging game that was more like spring training than a season finale.COLLMENTERS OUTINGCollmenter was Arizonas best starter down the stretch of the season and turned in another solid outing the finale, even if he didnt get much support. The right-hander allowed three hits in eight innings, dropping his ERA to 1.26 over his final seven starts.I just wanted to finish the season strong, Collmenter said.NUMBERSThe Cardinals notched their 23rd shutout of the season, third-most in team history. The 1968 team had 30 and the 1944 team 26. ... Arizonas Ender Inciarte went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting streak. ... Masterson earned his first win as a reliever since July 5, 2009, against Seattle.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: LF Matt Holliday was out of the lineup after leaving in the sixth inning Saturday night due to flu-like symptoms.UP NEXT:Cardinals: Wainright will start against NL Cy Young Award favourite Clayton Kershaw in the division series opener against the Dodgers. ' ' '