ere justppointing; they didn’t really - I think that’s pushing

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Mats Sundin was the captain. Paul Maurice was behind the bench. Andrew Raycroft was starting in goal. And Alex Steen was scoring the game-winning goal as the Maple Leafs reeled off their fifth consecutive win in St. Louis. That was Feb. 6, 2007, a long and often dark run of seven years since the club last won five in a row. But with another standout performance from Jonathan Bernier, among other things, they would finally match the mark again in the Arizona desert on Monday night. “Its always nice to get a couple wins in the backpack,” said Carl Gunnarsson after a 4-2 victory over the Coyotes, “but weve got a long ways to go here. Were not satisfied. We just know that if we keep doing this we can continue this win streak.” The Leafs have been a different team since they were dropped handily by the Hurricanes in Raleigh earlier this month. What was then their third straight loss (en route to four) and a low point in a season veering off the rails seems to have proven a turning point. “We found out winnings fun,” said Jake Gardiner with a large grin. “Practice the other day was light – we had a three-on-three scrimmage and we want more of that. Hopefully we can keep winning.” Though they were outplayed by the Coyotes in the back half of Mondays outing – outshot 29-15 over the final two periods – a once lackadaisical group has found, in recent days, the necessary will to start earning wins with more consistency. Compete was the word head coach Randy Carlyle tossed around repeatedly as the losses mounted in the early days of 2014, but of late, that tenor has changed for the better. “We knew we were a great team – we just didnt compete enough,” said Bernier, who made 39 saves. “Thats the main thing. I think were doing it right now.” Continued brilliance from the 25-year-old between the pipes has also helped, not to mention a scorching run from Phil Kessel, who scored his team-leading 24th goal in the win. “We feel that this group can continue to grow and play to a higher level, but its enough talking about it,” said Carlyle. “Action speaks louder than words. Weve got to continue to grow this group to be a playoff hockey club. That was a statement we made before and were going to continue to make it because we believe in this group; we believe we can play to a higher level; we believe weve got more; and I think they believe theyve got more.” The win streak has nestled the club into the first wild card position, now with 57 points in 51 games. Five Points 1. Berniers Zone Bernier improved to 3-0-0 lifetime against the Coyotes while bumping his save percentage up to .927 this season with the 39-save performance at Jobing.com Arena. His efforts throughout the night were the ultimate difference in the game. “We had some turnovers tonight that were pretty juicy and he definitely bailed us out,” said Gardiner, bailed out in one such instance by Bernier in the opening frame. “I think this is probably one of his better games.” Entrenched as the Leafs first option in goal at the moment, Bernier stopped all 27 shots in the opening two periods, including 15 in a one-sided second frame. His stop on Radim Vrbata with just over eight minutes to go in the third kept the score at 3-1. Nazem Kadri would increase the lead back to three just a few minutes later. “I thought I was seeing the puck pretty good tonight,” said Bernier, who owns a 17-14-4 record this season. 2. Five Straight Only five players from the last Leafs squad to win five straight are even in the league today: Steen, Matt Stajan, Carlo Colaiacovo, Hal Gill, and Nik Antropov. 3. Kessels Scorching Run Phil Kessel had two points before the first period even closed in Phoenix, extending his point streak to six games. The 26-year-old has four goals and 12 points in that span, now up to 50 points in 51 games this season – good for seventh (tie) in league scoring. “When he gets hot hes one of those guys that everything he shoots has a chance to go in,” said Carlyle of Kessel. “Hes got a skill-set that the puck follows him around. Those are signs of great players.” 4. Source of Success Cody Franson described what he believed to be the source of the teams recent success. “I think weve played a tighter brand of hockey,” said Franson before Mondays game. “Weve managed the puck a little better and weve really just had everybody get on the same page and buy in. We havent had any nights where guys were trying to do a little too much or we didnt have any passengers. Just the whole team coming together as one has made it a little easier for us to execute our game-plan.” 5. Gardiners Showing Jake Gardiner had yet to post a multipoint night this season before boasting his fourth goal of the season and an assist against Phoenix. But despite the fine offensive numbers, the 23-year-old had his share of struggles in the desert, especially with the puck. A giveaway early in the first preceded a terrific opportunity for Vrbata – one that was turned away by Bernier – and then later that period another giveaway led to Lauri Korpikoski ringing one off the cross-bar. Gardiner would score the games opening goal moments later. “I had some good plays, had some bad plays,” said Gardiner, who played just under 19 minutes. “Both Morgan [Rielly] and I werent very happy about the way we played, but we got the win and as a team we played pretty well.” Stats-Pack 19-6-3 – Leafs record when scoring first this season. 6 – Consecutive games with a point for Phil Kessel, who has four goals and 12 points in that span. 82 – Games between goals for Carl Gunnarsson, who scored his first of the year on Monday. 6 – Power-play goals for the Leafs in the past five games. 11 – Games between goals for Nazem Kadri, who scored for the first time since Dec. 23 against the Coyotes. 3 – Consecutive games with a point for Kadri, who has five points in that span. 10-7-1 – Record versus the Western Conference this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 2-6Season: 22.8% (4th) PK: 3-4Season: 77.3% (28th) Quote of the Night “We found out winnings fun.” -Jake Gardiner, on the difference in atmosphere around the team in recent days. Up Next The Leafs head to Colorado for a Tuesday date with the Avalanche. Fergie Jenkins Jersey . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. Ben Zobrist Jersey . "Opinion: Womens World Cup is the best Soccer of the year," Hanks tweeted to his 8.73 million followers on Friday. "Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Kris-Bryant-Kids-Jersey/. Garcia had eight birdies overall to go with a lone bogey on the fourth to move to an 18-under total of 198 at the Asian Tour event. "I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch," Garcia said. Mark Grace Jersey ., climbed from seventh to fifth spot in womens competition Sunday at the ISU world junior figure skating championships. Kerry Wood Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team.England will face a high-pressure showdown with Scotland if they succumb to unbeaten New Zealand in Fridays World Cup clash in Wellington, says Mark Butcher. Eoin Morgans men, who lost to Australia by 111 runs in their opening Group A game, face another tough encounter when they take on the Black Caps, who overcame Scotland by three wickets on Tuesday to make it two wins from two games. Opener Moeen Ali says England must up their skill level against the co-hosts and former batsman Butcher told Sky Sports World Cup that a second defeat would be tough to recover from. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum says his side will have to play extremely well against England Having played so poorly against Australia in the first game, all be it that nobody expected England to turn Australia over at the MCG, you then go along and play one of the other favourites in the competition, New Zealand, and you are 0 & 2 if you lose that one, he said.Suddenly the Scotland game - something that you would walk through - ends up being something that you really have to concentrate hard on.At the moment, the way that some of the England players are going in terms of their form, youd imagine that the nerves would be ramped up to very close to 100 per cent. So its not going to be straightforward for them.I do think that New Zealand gave Scotland an enormous opportunity in terms of the way that they batted; I think that Brendon McCullum will be disappointed with the lack of professionalism in that run-chase, even if they were trying to get it done as quickly as possible to boost their net run-rate. Marcus North and Charles Colville enter The Zone to assess Englands performance against Australia at the Cricket World Cup But even so, to allow the opposition captain to stand there and say we ran them close will be disappointing; they didn’t really - I think that’s pushing it a little bit too far.dddddddddddd New Zealand allowed Scotland to feel as though they got close. The game was a very one-sided affair.After taking on England, co-hosts New Zealand face Australia in Auckland on February 28 before ending their Group campaign with matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh on March 7 and March 13 respectively.Butcher says that the Black Caps, who play all of their games on home turf, will be out to prove a point on Friday.New Zealand will be looking forward to playing England; most teams - the former colonies, if you like - enjoy playing against England whenever, wherever.In a home World Cup and, given the sort of form theyve been in over the last six to 12 months, New Zealand will be desperately looking forward to that England game. They will not be as profligate when it comes to their turn to win a game against England as they were against Scotland.New Zealand took a firm grip against Scotland thanks to a devastating new ball burst from Trent Boult and Tim Southee that reduced Preston Mommsen’s side to 12-4.Boult (2-21) found prodigious movement to trap Calum Macleod and Hamish Gardiner for golden ducks - but Butcher believes theres no reason why Englands new-ball attack cant wreak similar havoc.Jimmy Anderson is the most effective bowler with the new white ball in the first 10 overs of the game, he said.He could very easily do to New Zealand what Trent Boult has just done to Scotland. Those deliveries could have got any batsman out.If you get the ball full enough and its swinging, you have the chance of making in-roads in a match.You can lose a match in the first 10 overs by batting poorly, so England will look at New Zealands performance and say these guys threw it away, let’s make them do it again.Watch England take on New Zealand from 12.30am this Friday morning on Sky Sports World Cup. Then don’t miss England against Scotland on Sunday. Our coverage begins at 9pm. No contract? Dont miss out! 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