There were a lot of picturesque California sunsets and sunrises between then and now. Plenty of time for reflection for everyone involved.

So there was a sentimental feeling as Carlyle returned to his first NHL head coaching home – the place where he’ll always be remembered as the man who helped get a talented group of players over the top. The 2007 Ducks made history as the first California-based team to win the Stanley Cup and Carlyle was asked on Monday about his own role in that accomplishment.

He wouldn’t bite. In fact, he acknowledged that he’s reluctant to even wear his championship for fear it might look like he’s flaunting that success.

“In reality, it’s the players that go out there and earn it,” Carlyle said. “The coaches, you swing the gate (open). That’s one of the things that we’re trying to always sell our players on: When they take responsibility for the actions that go out on the ice, then coaching becomes easy.”

If there is one thing we have learned about this particular group of Maple Leafs, it’s that they seem to have accepted more of the responsibility in the last month or two. The unexpected 3-1 victory over Anaheim on Monday night vaulted them to 14-3-3 over their last 20 games – a stat made all the better when you consider where they were when it started.

No one saw this coming back on Jan. 9 when the Hurricanes laid a thorough 6-1 pounding on Toronto. Carlyle appeared to be at his wit’s end that night and some would use that occasion to start calling for his job.

That talk has since disappeared and you need look no further than the Leafs top players for a reason why. They have truly taken this team by the horns, something that couldn’t be missed on Monday as Toronto handed Anaheim just its sixth regulation loss at home all year.

It was a span of six minutes 53 seconds where Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak gave their team a 3-0 lead. First Bozak scored on a power play, then Kessel converted on a breakaway after Bozak chipped the puck off Ryan Getzlaf’s stick. Paul Ranger added a much-needed insurance goal by finishing off a 2-on-1 with Kessel and that was more than enough of a lead for Jonathan Bernier.

The Leafs goaltender was extremely busy over the final two periods, making 34 of his 43 saves, to help Carlyle walk out of Honda Center with two points that were more satisfying than most. It was Ranger who noticed that the coach was a little more enthusiastic than usual after this victory.

After a life spent in hockey, Carlyle knows how this all works.

There aren’t a lot of nights like this one in the unpredictable world of professional sports and, as a coach in particular, there is only so much control over the outcome. Carlyle has likened the job to that of a door-to-door salesman – where you’re constantly trying to get your players to buy into a vision for how the game needs to be played.

It was particularly interesting to arrive in Anaheim and hear both Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne acknowledge that they could have done more to keep Carlyle employed before his firing on Dec. 1, 2011. Many of the core members of that team remain here today and time has given them perspective on what the coach was trying to accomplish in those tough final weeks when they stopped buying what he was selling.

“We were playing really bad at that time and I think he did everything that he could to wake the team up,” said Selanne. “It just doesn’t work. I think all of the players can look in the mirror and say `We didn’t do our job.’

“Most of the time the coach has to pay the price and that was the case again. It was tough to see him go.”

Carlyle is now knee-deep into his next NHL assignment and trying to repeat the success he had over seven-plus years with the Ducks. It is no secret that there is a long way to go. The coach mentions the need for better defensive play at least a couple times per week and saw his team go into a bit of a shell after building the 3-0 lead against the Ducks on Monday.

However, there is a feeling in the Leafs dressing room that some positive strides have been made. A rough stretch in December came when they faced a series of tough Western Conference teams so to come here in March and beat one of those was satisfying.

With games in San Jose on Tuesday and Los Angeles on Thursday, there is still more opportunity to measure how far they’ve come.

“We’re still a really young group, you know?” said Bernier. “It takes time, it takes games to learn from, mistakes. I find that we’re really playing with confidence right now.
“We’ve grown as a team and that’s what we want.”

The Leafs now sit second in the Atlantic Division and are in excellent position to earn a second straight playoff berth this spring. That would represent a positive step for Carlyle and his staff, especially given some of the bumps along the way.

Unusually reflective upon returning to Southern California, the veteran coach detailed what went right during his time with the Ducks. It sounded a lot like the kind of statement he’ll hope to make when his time in Toronto eventually comes to a close.

“You come to work and you try to put your best foot forward day in and day out,” said Carlyle. “The one thing that we’ll always take pride in is that we as a coaching staff when we were here felt that when we left this organization they were in a better position than when we came here.

“That’s all you can really say.”

DALLAS — Rich Peverley underwent a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat six months ago after a physical revealed the condition at the start of training camp.

The Dallas Stars’ forward missed a game last week with a recurrence of the problem.

His biggest scare came Monday night when he collapsed on the bench early in a game against Columbus and was rushed through a tunnel and stabilized.

"When he dropped, it was red alert," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "Don’t worry about the game. It was about getting the doctors. The players don’t want to play, and I don’t want to coach the team right now."

After Peverley collapsed, Dallas players were pounding their sticks on the boards to try to get the attention of officials. When that didn’t work, they started jumping off the bench onto the ice with the game going on.

After the game stopped and the chaotic scene played out, the Stars stood in stunned silence, clearly in distress, unsure what had happened to a player they knew had a history of heart problems.

"I was scared," Ruff said.

Stars forward Erik Cole tried to rush into the tunnel just after Peverley was carried through, only to be turned away. He then gnawed at the thumb on one of his gloves while he waited for word on what the players would do next.

Sergei Gonchar stared blankly near fellow defenceman Trevor Daley, who was hunched over on the bench, wiping his face with a towel.

Play was halted at 6:23, and the postponement was announced about 30 minutes later.

Dr. Gil Salazar of UT Southwestern Hospitals said Peverley was treated "successfully" for a cardiac event at American Airlines Center.

"We provided oxygen for him," Salazar said. "We started an IV. We did chest compressions on him and defibrillated him, provided some electricity to bring a rhythm back to his heart, and that was successful with one attempt, which is very reassuring.

"As soon as we treated him, he regained consciousness. He was able to tell me where he was."

Many in the hushed crowd lingered long after the postponement was announced "as a result of the emotional state of the players on both teams caused by the medical emergency." The NHL didn’t say when the game would be rescheduled.

Peverley’s wife, Nathalie, accompanied him to a hospital, and the Stars essentially told the Blue Jackets they weren’t up for finishing the game.

"They’re shaken and they want to reschedule. We understand that," John Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations, told Fox Sports Ohio. "They were shaken to the core."

Peverley missed the preseason and the season opener after the procedure during training camp. He made his Stars debut on Oct. 5 against Washington.

"We monitor him closely for a different type of arrhythmia he has," Salazar said. "He does have a pre-existing condition, and the condition — a normal quivering of the heart that does not allow him to send blood to places where he needs to, in his brain and heart."

Peverley sat out last week’s game at Columbus and couldn’t fly because he felt strange. But he played in Dallas’ next two games before Monday.

"There wasn’t any concern," Ruff said. "Our doctors have done a fabulous job monitoring the situation."

In 62 games this season before Monday, Peverley had seven goals and 23 assists.

He was acquired last July from Boston with forward Tyler Seguin and defenceman Ryan Button for forwards Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser, and defenceman Joe Morrow.

"The first thing (Peverley) asked me was how much time was left in the first period," Ruff said.

"First thing Rich asked me when I spoke to him- 'how much time left in the period'. You know, typical athlete"-Coach Ruff

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) March 11, 2014

The Stars went to the airport after the postponement, and even had a scheduled departure for St. Louis that was earlier than it would have been if the game was played. Dallas is scheduled to play the Blues on Tuesday night.

"He’s going to be OK," Ruff said. "The care he’s getting and the care going forward is the most important thing."

VANCOUVER — John Tortorella was shocked by what he had witnessed, but he wasn’t the only one.

The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period.

"This is a kick in the teeth," said Tortorella "It’s certainly going to take a little bit more than normal coach’s speak (to get) by this game."

New York’s first three goals came on power plays and its fourth came one second after another Vancouver penalty had expired.

"A 3-0 deficit going into the third period, we were pretty deflated," said Martin.

"The coaches came in and made it clear we didn’t do enough in the second period and we didn’t play for one another, and if we didn’t pick up our game in the third period they’d have no problem taking guys out of the lineup and not dressing everybody."

Josh Bailey, Ryan Strome, Calvin de Haan, Frans Nielsen, Anders Lee and Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Islanders (25-33-9).

"I’ve never been in a game like that as far as seeing a period like that, because we were playing so well going in," said Tortorella. "In between periods, we talked about the things we needed to do to nail that game down, but we really put ourselves in a jam with some bad penalties and they gained momentum a"

His voice trailed off and then he continued: "What could happen, happened. And, it’s been going on for a little while here, since eternity. But, somehow, we’ve gotta try and put it behind us."

Chris Higgins, Henrik Sedin, Ryan Kesler and Chris Tanev scored for the Canucks (29-28-10), who suffered their 12th loss in the past 14 games.

"We just took some bad penalties and they had some seeing-eye shots that went in and got the momentum," said Higgins. "We battled back to tie it up and they scored that fifth goal."

Rookie Nicklas Jensen was in the box for New York’s first two goals. The first penalty, a slashing infraction late in the second period, prevented a goal. But the second one was a holding call in the offensive zone. The penalties spoiled what could have been an extremely memorable night for Jensen as he recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Sedin’s goal.

New York converted four of eight man-advantage opportunities while Vancouver was good on two of four.

Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov made 20 saves for the win as Eddie Lack stopped 21 shots for the Canucks.

"It’s was a very weird third period," said Lack. "It’s not only the (penalty killer’s) fault, it’s my fault, too. I need to stop the puck and I didn’t tonight."

After Bailey put the Isles on the scoreboard 1:13 into the third, Strome, on a five-on-three, and de Haan scored seconds apart to create a 3-3 tie.

Nielsen put the Islanders ahead 4-3 just under three minutes later as he put in a shot from the wing.

The crowd let out a huge roar of relief after Tanev brought the Canucks even at 9:54 of the third.

Martin, however, gave the Isles the lead only 10 seconds later on a backhand from the slot, and Lee padded New York’s lead just a minute and 44 seconds later.

A disappointed Kesler said the Canucks have to start playing like they still want to make the playoffs.

"Being up 3-0 and the blowing it like that, it’s embarrassing," he said.

Notes-Alex Burrows drew an assist on Kesler’s goal, earning his 300th NHL career point…. The Islanders had seven rookies in their lineup.a The Isles lost Michael Grabner, a former Canuck, to an upper-body injury late in the second period following a collision with Vancouver defenceman Tanev. a Canucks winger Zack Kassian served the second of a three-game suspensiona The game was rare in that it featured three Denmark natives – Jensen and Jannik Hansen of the Canucks and Nielsen of the Islanders. All three of them earned points. Only seven Danish players have suited up in the NHL this season. a Monday marked the ninth anniversary of the Aquilini Investment Group’s purchase of the Canucks from former owner John McCaw. a Islanders defenceman Thomas Hickey is the only player to suit up for all 67 of their games this season.

When I started writing on the Blue Jays seven years ago, part of my goal in launching the blog was to provide the point of view of a fan who attempted to balance off his passion for the team with some semblance of reason. I’ll leave it to you to decide how successful I’ve been in that pursuit.

The intent wasn’t to be completely detached or analytical, because that hardly seems fun for me or for you. We should never forget that what we’re talking about is grown men in polyester active wear gallivanting about the lawn, chasing balls.

The problem as of late is that the reason and the passion seem less like counterbalancing weights, and more buckets of cold and hot water that I alternately dump over my own head. I find myself simultaneously optimistic about the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays, and utterly pessimistic about the very same team. Even about the very same players.

This was illustrated well over the weekend, when the potential signing of Ervin Santana launched fans into concurrent frenzies of excitement and shrugs of indifference. The feeling was something like: “The Blue Jays can’t win without him, but probably couldn’t win with him, but maybe they could, but we’ll never know and who cares anyways, excuse me as I refresh my browser to see if there is any news that I totally don’t care about…”

Elsewhere, there’s the dreaming on marginal players, like Todd Redmond and Ryan Goins. I find myself making passionate defenses to myself of their potential and their role on a winning club in 2014, even if I suspect that I’m torquing my thought process to find any small slivers of light in the darkness. But a few at bats later, I’m just as ready to write them off and look for small streaks of sunshine somewhere else.

Step right up, Chris Getz. No, seriously. I have dreamed up a winning scenario that hinges on your ability to play every day.

There are moments when the marginal upgrades feel monumental, like swapping Dioner Navarro for the husk that wore J.P. Arencibia’s gear in 2013.  Even if Navarro is just average, it’s got to be a vast improvement, right? At the same time, a look around the AL East shows the Tampa Bay Rays with an enviable tandem of Ryan Hanigan and Jose Molina and the Yankees adding Brian McCann. Moving forward and keeping pace aren’t always the same thing.

In some instances, there is a rationale for the swing from one extreme to another, such as the case of J.A. Happ’s transition from potential optimism upside play – “new arm angle!” “movement on the fastball!” – to an evidence-based source for pessimism after lousy outings and news of a bothersome back. Conversely, there’s the swing to optimism that comes with seeing a healthy Melky Cabrera swapped in for the rickety old man who stumbled about for months last season.

If the fickle nature of good health is at the core of this year’s edginess, then the indecipherable state of the starting rotation is the other half of that unstable element. After watching two more or less promising seasons undermined by an absurd cluster of injuries, Happ is but one of many Blue Jays whose health has us feeling jittery in this preseason.  Go up and down through the list of starting pitchers, and you’d be hard-pressed to find pitchers who you fully expect to stay healthy and be successful through more 30 starts.

R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle both tossed more than 200 innings last year, and looked much better in the second half of the season, tossing to ERAs of 3.56 and 3.18 respectively. But they’ll also be pitchers over the age of 35 this year, which means that health concerns should never be far from our mind.  Even Buehrle – the model of consistency or at least a model of spotless attendance – has to break down at some point.

As for Brandon Morrow, I don’t think anyone is going to believe in his ability to remain able-bodied and prosperous until he actually does. Except that if he does…well, maybe you have something. Maybe. I hope so.

Even with all of last season’s acquisitions, I figured the Blue Jays would likely find themselves just out of the playoff picture with 90 wins. This year, I can still construct a positive scenario in my head that gets them to that win total. It’s a scenario with many maybes, and ifs, and other conditionals.

And I dearly want to believe it is possible, even as I want to insulate myself from the disappointment if all goes wrong.

TORONTO – Hockey Night in Canada will have a new host this fall.

On Monday Rogers unveiled its NHL broadcasting “dream team” set to anchor national coverage across all Rogers properties, including the Hockey Night in Canada brand. The team will be led by George Stroumboulopoulos.

The 41-year-old Stroumboulopoulos, who first made a name for himself as a Much Music VJ and increased his popularity as host of his own CBC talk show, will host Saturday’s iconic Hockey Night in Canada and anchor Sunday night’s NHL Hometown Hockey broadcasts on City.

“Hockey is one of my deep-seated passions and I’m thrilled to be going full circle, returning to my roots in sports broadcasting,” Stroumboulopoulos said via press release.

Watch Live at 2 p.m. ET: Rogers unveils NHL broadcasting dream team

The interviewer and host spent the first four years of his career as a sports reporter at Toronto radio station Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “It’s a dream for me to work with Ron MacLean and Don Cherry, as well as my old friend Jeff Marek, who I started my career with. I’m also looking forward to working with Daren Millard and the entire team at Rogers.”

Don Cherry, Ron MacLean, Daren Millard and Jeff Marek will also be cornerstones of Rogers’ coverage of 500 NHL regular-season games, starting this fall.

“We know how passionate fans are about hockey, and so we’ve brought together the best anchors to deliver the best hockey experience to Canadians,” said Scott Moore, president of Rogers’ Sportsnet and NHL properties. “George is one of the smartest and most versatile broadcasters in the business, and Ron and Don are icons in the hockey world. Along with Daren and Jeff, our new broadcast team brings a tremendous amount of talent, expertise and personality – and most importantly, they all possess a supreme passion for hockey.”

Cherry and MacLean will continue the popular “Coach’s Corner” every Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada, a first-intermission institution since 1980.

“I knew that Rogers would never mess with the greatest segment on television. We’re going into our 29th season of Coach’s Corner, and we’re stronger than ever,” Cherry said via a statement.

MacLean will also host Hockey Day in Canada and Sunday’s new Hometown Hockey Community Celebration, which will bring a weekly NHL broadcast to various hockey communities around the country.

“I’m thrilled about the way Rogers and Hockey Night in Canada intend to recognize the community in the new deal. Thirty-five million voices will play a part, and I’m simply honoured to be a part of the team,” MacLean said. “As for Grapes and me – Year 29 is coming up. For 28 years, Don’s been wired, but now he’s wireless. What a break.”

Millard, who has been a member of Sportsnet’s broadcast team since the network’s inception in 1998, will host the new Wednesday Night Hockey on Sportsnet, in addition to his current role of hosting Hockey Central at Noon host and Toronto Maple Leafs regional hockey on Sportsnet. Marek will host Thursday Night Hockey on Sportsnet 360, in addition to the weekend afternoon NHL pre-game shows on Sportsnet. In addition to his NHL responsibilities, Marek will host Friday Night Hockey and the Memorial Cup.

“Twenty years ago, George and I used to sit in the producers’ room at The Fan 590 radio station in Toronto and talk about how we had to, one day, work in hockey together,” Marek said. “So today’s a great day.”

In November 2013, Rogers Communications paid $5.3 billion to secure a 12-year deal with the NHL for exclusive national broadcast and multimedia rights in Canada, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

In the latest update from Dallas, the Stars say Peverley — who has a history of heart problems — is in stable condition at a local hospital after being treated for a “cardiac event.”

Rich Peverley update: #Stars centre in stable condition at Dallas hospital after collapsing during Monday's game. http://t.co/8kwhKJZdx8

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 11, 2014

As word of the scary incident spread, the NHL community took to Twitter to offer their thoughts and prayers to the Guelph, Ont., native.

The @NHL is a brotherhood…. pic.twitter.com/UqVdQ1qVXT

— Happy Gilmore (@_Happy_Gilmore) March 11, 2014

Sad to hear about a great past teammate in Rich Peverley. Extremely glad he is okay! Thoughts and prayers are with you! #PrayForPeverley

— Evander Kane (@EKane9JETS) March 11, 2014

Thinking about you Rich Peverley. Get well soon

— Eric Nystrom (@enystrom23) March 11, 2014

Wins and losses aside the NHL is a small community. I think we can all say our thoughts are with Peverley and his family. #getwell

— Bobby Ryan (@b_ryan9) March 11, 2014

Thinking about the Peverley family on this tough night

— marc savard (@MSavvy91) March 11, 2014

I hope Rich Peverley is ok. Scary incident in the Dallas game tonight. Positive thoughts and prayers from all in our Organization.

— Dallas Eakins (@dallaseakins) March 11, 2014

Thoughts & prayers w/ Rich Peverly and his family. Played with Rich with Canada in '10, awesome player & guy. Wishing him a speedy recovery

— Matt Duchene (@Matt9Duchene) March 11, 2014

Hope all is well with Rich Peverly. Doesn't matter who you cheer for, let's all think about him and his family at this time.

— Gabriel Landeskog (@GabeLandeskog92) March 11, 2014

Thoughts are with Rich Peverley and his family right now. Let's hope for a speedy recovery.

— Sam Gagner (@89SGagner) March 11, 2014

My families thoughts and prayers go out to the Peverley family hoping for a speedy recovery. #brotherhood

— James Wisniewski (@jameswisniewski) March 11, 2014

Thoughts and prayers go out to pevs and his family thinking of you bud

— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) March 11, 2014

Thoughts and prayers go out to Rich Peverley. Very scary what happened in Dallas tonight. Great work by the Stars' medical staff.

— Martin Biron (@martybiron43) March 11, 2014

Thoughts and prayers to my old roomie Rich Peverly. May you find the strength to overcome the battles you face moving forward. @DallasStars

— Jordin Tootoo (@Jtootoo22) March 11, 2014

Prayers for rich peverley

— chris stewart (@CstewSTL25) March 11, 2014

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Randy Carlyle acknowledged the standing ovation with a brief wave of his hand, thanking the Anaheim fans in his usual understated manner for their appreciation of his tenure behind the Ducks’ bench.

Carlyle was even more grateful to leave Honda Center with yet another win for his surging Toronto Maple Leafs.

Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and two assists, and the Maple Leafs celebrated Carlyle’s return with a 3-1 victory over the Ducks on Monday night.

"It’s always satisfaction when you beat your former hockey club," Carlyle said. "I’m not going to hide that fact. I feel good about it."

Paul Ranger scored and Jonathan Bernier made 43 saves as Toronto opened a five-game trip with its third consecutive victory, leapfrogging Montreal into second place in the Atlantic Division.

Carlyle was back in Anaheim for the first time since the Ducks fired the only coach to lead the franchise to a Stanley Cup title. He was greeted warmly in the first period during a video tribute on the scoreboard.

"It was kind of touching," Carlyle said. "I didn’t really know what to expect. I’m very appreciative and thankful for the people that supported me in my time here, and my family. It’s a very special place, and as I’ve said, we’re moving back into the area at some point in our life."

His Leafs then forced the Ducks to play almost as poorly as they were playing when he got fired.

Bernier didn’t have to make many tough saves despite his gaudy stats for the Leafs, who are ramping up for their second trip to the post-season under Carlyle, earning points in 10 of their past 12 games.

"I think he was pretty excited," Bozak said of his coach. "He might have been a little more nervous for this one, but we’re glad we could get it for him."

Carlyle won a club-record 273 games and made the playoffs five times in his six full seasons with the Ducks, but was fired in November 2011 with Anaheim off to a miserable start.

The Ducks have done exceptionally well since the change to Bruce Boudreau, who won 100 games faster than any coach in franchise history and led Anaheim to last season’s Pacific Division title.

Corey Perry scored his 35th goal and Frederik Andersen stopped 20 shots in the Ducks’ third straight loss to playoff-bound Eastern Conference teams.

"We’re in a funk," Boudreau said. "And we’ve just got to get out of it before too long, and do what we do. We’ve just got to get back on our horse."

Before this loss to end a five-game homestand, Anaheim fell one point behind streaking St. Louis in the overall NHL standings with consecutive shootout losses to Montreal and Pittsburgh.

The Ducks hadn’t lost in regulation since before the Olympic break, but they couldn’t generate many serious scoring chances against Bernier and the Leafs’ shot-blocking defence.

"We should have had more guys in front to make screens, tips, and get in the dirty areas," Ducks defenceman Francois Beauchemin said.

"Right now we’re struggling to score goals because we’re not going to the front of the net and winning those battles and getting those tough goals."

Toronto took the lead during 4-on-3 play late in the first period when Bozak redirected a pass from captain Dion Phaneuf. Kessel then roared past two Ducks defencemen and got a fortunate bounce off Andersen’s stick for his 34th goal.

Early in the second period, an atrocious Ducks breakdown led to Ranger’s goals.

The Ducks broke through at the end of a dominant shift by their top line late in the second, with Perry banging home a puck on the doorstep for his fifth goal in five games since the break.

Anaheim went scoreless on four power plays, dropping into an 0-for-19 slump since the break.

NOTES: Carlyle isn’t the only former Anaheim resident who returned with the Leafs: Joffrey Lupul, Peter Holland and Troy Bodie all played for the Ducks, while defenceman Jake Gardiner was a top Anaheim prospect before the club traded him along with Lupul for Beauchemin in February 2011. … Anaheim C Mathieu Perreault missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury. Boudreau expects him to return Wednesday in Calgary. … The Ducks are 4-6-2 at home since their 20-0-2 start to the season.

TORONTO — The overhaul of "Hockey Night in Canada" has begun.

Rogers executives took over a CBC-TV studio Monday to tout an upcoming NHL broadcast season that, under its guidance, will "be a season like never before" with a "fresh face."

That fresh face is CBC-TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos, who will be the new host of "Hockey Night in Canada," taking over from veteran anchor Ron MacLean, whose Saturday night role will be trimmed to co-host of Coach’s Corner.

Rogers boss Scott Moore admits the 41-year-old Stroumboulopoulos was recruited in a bid to attract a broader audience to the media giant’s various sports channels, especially as younger viewers appear to be increasingly tuning out of TV entirely.

"We want to get a little bit younger, we want to catch that demo that is not necessarily coming to the television at all — that are either playing video games or not going out and participating in the games — we want to get a new breed of Canadian fans that get passionate about the games," Moore, president of Sportsnet and NHL properties, said following a televised news conference.

"I think George does that, I think George brings a different sensibility but one of the great things is having him with the rest of the team. He’ll sort of be like that ‘Sesame Street’ thing — one of these things is not like the others — but he’ll bring something different and his own unique take on hockey broadcasting."

The shakeup is Rogers’ first major personnel change since acquiring the NHL broadcast rights in a blockbuster $5.2-billion deal in November.

MacLean and Don Cherry will continue to host their popular Coach’s Corner segment, and MacLean will still host the annual "Hockey Day in Canada" show. In addition, MacLean will be involved in a new Sunday night telecast, "Hometown Hockey Community Celebration," on City.

Meanwhile, Sportsnet personalities Daren Millard and Jeff Marek will also be part of the Rogers broadcast package. Millard, who will continue to host "Hockey Central at Noon" on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, will also host "Wednesday Night Hockey" on Sportsnet. Marek will be at the helm of "Thursday Night Hockey" on Sportsnet 360 in addition to weekend pre-game shows on Sportsnet.

The new HNIC broadcasts will continue to be shot at CBC studios and air on CBC-TV, the result of a four-year sub-licensing deal, Moore said. But the HNIC brand will also be used on City, Sportsnet, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 360 and FX Canada, offering up as many as seven games on Saturdays.

The announcement came as CBC announced that Stroumboulopoulos’s Gemini Award-winning chat show "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight" would be cancelled after the completion of its 10th season.

"I knew that you can only do something for so long before it’s time to try something else," said Stroumboulopoulos, a rabid Montreal Canadiens fan who began his broadcasting career as a radio reporter at the Fan 590 (now Sportsnet 590 The Fan).

"I love the Rogers component but I love the CBC component as well and it felt like a natural fit. But yeah, I knew that the show as a daily show was going to change and I’m still talking to the CBC about what we can work together on in the next little while. I have no interest in walking away from it and I’ve been led to believe that they don’t either."

A former MuchMusic VJ known for his pierced ears and black clothing, Stroumboulopoulos will no doubt bring some edge to "Hockey Night in Canada," which has been headed by the straightlaced 53-year-old MacLean since the mid-80s.

MacLean appeared to take a light-hearted dig at the handover Monday as he joined the press conference, shaking Stroumboulopoulos’s hand with the barely audible quip: "Don’t screw this up, it’s a big show."

Later, he said he was glad to continue working with Cherry on Coach’s Corner and understood why Rogers was keen to revamp "Hockey Night in Canada." He harkened back to how he took over the reins from former host Dave Hodge.

"I think it’s a great idea to get George — someone younger, it’s always good," he said. "Dave was 26 when he started, I was 26 when I started and we sort of broke in as the fresh faces to a great team."

He looked forward to Stroumboulopoulos’s spin on the venerable Saturday night staple.

"George can handle the show — he’s a great ringleader," said MacLean, who hosted the show for nearly 30 years. "And (with) his interview skills, that just really hasn’t been a part of the Saturdays for the last little while. I think they will want to re-trigger that skill, of a good interview."

The change could meet resistance from some traditional hockey fans but Calgary Flames executive Brian Burke thinks Stroumboulopoulos is "brilliant."

"I don’t think there are a lot of guys who could switch from a news format to a sports format, but he can," Burke said at the NHL general managers meetings in Florida. "He’s a brilliant guy, I think."

"I had no idea that was coming, but I’m a big fan of his," he added. "It surprises me, but that’s good news."

Cherry said Stroumboulopoulos better know his stuff or he won’t last.

"You have to be honest and the camera … you can’t lie," said Cherry. "I’ve seen guys come and go, they’re entertaining, but you can’t fool the public."

Moore said talk of the shakeup began as soon as Rogers secured the NHL broadcast rights, although details were only recently confirmed. A broader cast of analysts and panellists has yet to be announced, he added.

And even though MacLean will have a more limited role on Saturday night, Moore insisted he’s a key part of Rogers’ hockey coverage.

"I was always a proponent that in any way shape or form Ron was a key part of what we were going to do going forward and if we were going to bring somebody else in we needed to find someplace that Ron could truly help us build something," said Moore. "I think that’s what we have on Sunday night."

MacLean noted that his new Sunday night gig — which will also be hosted in studio by Stroumboulopoulos — ends any possibility of returning to a possible new season of CBC’s reality show "Battle of the Blades," which also airs Sundays. But he expected to continue his presence on CBC through upcoming Olympic coverage.

Moore said adding hockey to City’s Saturday and Sunday night prime-time lineups should help promote the overall schedule. He noted that Saturday nights have typically featured OLN repeat programming.

He expected Sunday night hockey to draw a much bigger audience to City’s prime time, allowing the network to push weekday comedies including "2 Broke Girls" and "Mike and Molly."

"Sunday nights we have an advantage in that we will not be buying Hollywood programming for at least six months of the year," he said. "I think that’s good for the Canadian broadcast landscape, I think it’s good for hockey, it’s also a great lead-in for City News which will move to 10 o’clock on Sundays."

As far as his role as the new face of "Hockey Night in Canada," Stroumboulopoulos said he didn’t expect to change things that much. He stressed that he expects to stay out of analysis and focus on his strengths as an interviewer.

"I’m just going to bring me to the team," he said. "I am who I am, I have my life experiences, and my professional experiences.

"But I don’t think that the way the show has been done needs to be … like, ‘Oh, let’s bring in the new guy and get something drastically different.’ That’s not what I do. I just come here to be hopefully a quality host to the show that can put everybody else in a position to shine."

Four years after guiding the Calgary Hitmen to a WHL championship and a berth in the 2010 Memorial Cup, Jones made a triumphant return to the Saddledome with the Los Angeles Kings.

"I was excited to play here for sure," said Jones, who made 24 saves to backstop the Kings to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday. "I had four great years here. It was a good road win. It wasn’t pretty."

Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist for the Kings (38-22-6), who have reeled off eight straight wins.

"Definitely we didn’t want to make it as interesting as it was, but yeah I guess it was pretty big," said Kopitar of his third-period goal that put the Kings up 3-0 and eventually stood up as the game winner. "It wasn’t the prettiest win tonight, but at the end of the day we got the two points."

Kopitar commended Jones for his play in between the pipes for the Kings.

"He put on a really nice show tonight," Kopitar said. "He’s been stellar for us. Every time he’s been in the net, he’s been really good for us."

Justin Williams and Trevor Lewis also scored for the Kings.

Mike Cammalleri and Brian McGrattan scored for the Flames (25-33-7), who lost for just the second time in their past nine games at the Saddledome. Coincidentally, it was the Kings who last beat the Flames at home on Feb. 27.

"The way we played the last seven-eight minutes of the game, if we had played the whole game like that, the outcome might have been different," said McGrattan, who has goals in back-to-back contests after going 29 games without scoring. "We hung around the whole game. We came on at the end. We didn’t give up."

Playing in his fourth straight game, rookie Calgary goalie Joni Ortio made 20 saves in a losing cause.

With the win, Jones improved his record in his rookie season with the Kings to 10-4.

"It’s a totally different animal being here and at this level and in this dressing room, on this side of the ice," said Jones, who played his entire WHL career with the Hitmen.

"I just wanted to make sure I stayed focused. I was excited to be here but wanted to make sure I was focused on the task at hand here."

Never drafted by an NHL team, Jones was invited to L.A.’s training camp in 2008 and subsequently signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings.

With Jonathan Quick out of L.A.’s lineup due to a groin injury earlier this season, Jones was called up by the Kings and promptly won his first eight NHL starts, three of them shutout victories. He lost his next four decisions before making 25 saves in L.A.’s 6-4 road win over the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 26.

Quick played the next five games in net for the Kings, all wins, before L.A. coach Darryl Sutter decided to give Jones the start against the Flames.

"He was really solid," Sutter said. "To be quite honest, when we came back from the Olympics we started in Colorado and he won that game also. We were down 4-2 and he hung on and he won that game also. He did a good job in there tonight."

The Kings scored on their first shot on goal at 4:05 of the first when Williams redirected a pass from Anze Kopitar past Ortio. Williams drove hard to the net and attempted to get his stick on the pass from Kopitar, but the puck instead bounced off his shin and into the net behind Ortio.

"They’re a bigger, more physical team than us and I thought they imposed their rhythm right from the start," said Calgary coach Bob Hartley. "They got that early goal and that kind of put us on our heels."

The Kings then went up by a pair at the 10-minute mark of the first when Lewis tipped Slava Voynov’s point shot into the top corner behind Ortio, who lost his stick on the play when his own defenceman Kris Russell accidentally knocked it out of his hands.

The Flames had a great chance to pull within one in the dying moments of the first, but Jones made a shoulder save to stop a shot fired his way by former Hitmen teammate T.J. Galiardi before sticking out his left pad to stop a backhand attempt by McGrattan.

Jones also had to be sharp early in the second period as he stood his ground to turn aside back-to-back shots of the stick of Calgary forward Paul Byron.

Early in the third period, Jones made a shoulder save to stop Calgary forward Mikael Backlund from scoring on a partial breakaway with the Kings on a power play.

Kopitar added an insurance marker for the Kings at 7:01 of the third when he tipped Drew Doughty’s point shot past Ortio.

A short time later, Jones lunged forward to stop a point blank shot by Cammalleri to keep the Flames off the scoresheet.

With Mike Richards serving a delay of game penalty, Cammalleri finally scored at 15:29 of the third to break Jones’s shutout bid. Cammalleri’s shot appeared to deflect off Voynov before trickling through Jones’s legs.

McGrattan made things interesting by scoring with 2:22 remaining in regulation when he spun around and fired a slapshot from the slot past Jones.

Notes: Injury woes for the Flames continued as a pair of rookies were forced to leave the game. Markus Granlund played just 12 seconds early in the first period before taking a hit from L.A. forward Jarret Stoll, forcing him to leave the game with an upper-body injury. Defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon also sustained an upper-body injury in the third period and didn’t return. a The Kings played without forward Jordan Nolan, who was assessed a one-game suspension for sucker punching Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu on Sunday. Tanner Pearson drew into the lineup in place of Nolan. a After being acquired by the Kings from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL trade deadline last Wednesday, forward Marian Gaborik is still looking for his first point with the Kings. Gaborik played on a line with Kopitar and Williams. a The Kings improved their record when leading after two periods this season to a perfect 21-0.

Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston each scored 18 points and an ailing Pierce hit a key late 3-pointer to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 101-97 victory over the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

Pierce scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and Joe Johnson added 14 for the Nets, who won their season-high eighth straight at home. Brooklyn moved three games behind Toronto in the Atlantic.

The 35-year-old, who had been battling through a "stinger" in his right shoulder felt fine during the morning after receiving treatment and admitted that he wasn’t expecting to play but he couldn’t pass up on the opportunity Brooklyn had to close the gap in the division standings.

"I knew the implications of this game. Maybe if it was a different type of game, (I sit out)," Pierce said. "But this was one of our biggest games of the year. Division rival, a lot on the line tonight, so you can always pen me in with those type of games."

Pierce was all over the floor in the final 12 minutes of the game, hitting a pair of shots beyond the arc, making four free throws and stealing the ball twice.

The victory was critical for the Nets, who lost to Toronto last time they played, on Jan. 27, after Williams turned the ball over on an inbounds play with 12 seconds left and Patrick Patterson hit the eventual game-winner with 6 seconds left on the clock.

"This was a big game. It give us the split," Williams said. "We didn’t want them to get three up on us in case of tiebreakers. We gained a full game on them. That much closer to catching them."

The Nets next big test comes on the road as they go for a season-series sweep over the two-time defending world champion Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

Kyle Lowry scored 21 points to lead Toronto, which had won three straight and nine of its previous 11. Tyler Hansbrough and Amir Johnson added 16 points each.

The Nets played their sixth straight game without Kevin Garnett, who was in the starting lineup but was scratched minutes before tip-off. Nets coach Jason Kidd said the 38-year-old veteran, who has been bother by back spasms, "tightened up, so we pulled the plug on him". Brooklyn also missed Andrei Kirilenko, who was out because of a sprained right ankle.

The Nets trailed 94-92 after Lowry split the defence in the lane for a lay-up with 2:15 left.

Brooklyn then answered with five straight points as Andray Blatche’s reverse lay-up tied the score at 94 and Pierce followed with his 3 with 1:14 left despite Lowry’s attempt to block the shot.

Brooklyn’s small lineup gave the Raptors trouble.

"Their lineup is funky, man. When you have Paul Pierce at the 4, it is tough to guard," Lowry said. "Amir is an unbelievable defender but he is also our help guy and sometimes it is tough for him to get back out. I mean, Paul made a 3 over me and I was literally on him, in which I could smack him in the face."

DeMar DeRozan then beat Livingston to the basket but was fouled and made two free throws to pull to 97-96 with 1:03 to go. On Brooklyn’s next possession, Williams drove to the lane but his shot was blocked by Johnson, setting the stage for a go-ahead or game-tying shot.

However, Terrence Ross lost control of the ball and Pierce came up with the steal.

Livingston hit two free throws to extend the Nets’ lead to 99-96 with 22.8 seconds left. Lowry had a chance to tie with a 3 but missed. Blatche was then fouled with 6.5 seconds left and was only able to hit the second free throws to push the lead to four points.

As the Raptors proceeded to move the ball up the court, Lowry was fouled. He hit the first shot to make it 100-97 with 5.2 left. He purposely missed the second one but was called for a lane violation.

Pierce, who exited Sunday night’s game in the first quarter with 10:45 left due to a sore right shoulder, then hit two free throws to seal the win and even the season series between both teams at two games apiece.

The matchup between Toronto and Brooklyn, who are in third and sixth place, respectively, in the Eastern Conference, had a playoff atmosphere to it with the home crowd at the Barclays Center on its feet once Pierce hit that 3-pointer.

In the long run, it would definitely help Raptors coach Dwane Casey’s inexperienced post-season squad.

"Again, it was playoff type of basketball with physicality. I’ve said it forever that we have to get ready to play that style of basketball", he said. "We had three big time turnovers because they got into us at the end of the game."

Brooklyn trailed 30-19 at the end of the opening period but had a strong second quarter, pulling to 51-50 at the half.

Down 60-59 after a tip-in shot by Jonas Valaciunas in the third quarter, Johnson and Williams each hit two 3-pointers to spark Brooklyn on a 14-0 run, leading 73-60 with 4:28 left.

But the Raptors answered with an 11-0 run over the next 3 minutes, capped by two free throws from Hansbrough.

NOTES: Kidd said the Nets will re-evaluate Garnett on Tuesday. Rookie Mason Plumlee started in Garnett’s place and had six points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes. They’re 5-1 in Garnett’s absence. . Brooklyn last won eight straight at Barclays Center back on Dec. 28, 2013 to Jan. 28, 2013. . The Nets’ 22-9 record since Jan. 1 is tops in the East.

Mayor Regis Labeaume (la-BOHM’) spoke of Mulroney’s involvement yesterday as he reacted to news that ex-media baron Pierre Karl Peladeau is running for the Parti Quebecois in the April 7th provincial election.

Labeaume insisted Peladeau’s involvement in politics would have no effect on any return of the Nordiques, who began as a World Hockey Association team in 1972 before switching to the N-H-L in 1979.

The team moved to Denver in 1995 and was renamed the Colorado Avalanche.

Peladeau has been one of the key movers to bring an N-H-L team to the provincial capital.

His Quebecor company purchased the naming and management rights to a new arena where a team would be based.

Labeaume praised Peladeau’s jump to the political arena but didn’t offer an endorsement.

The mayor says Mulroney, a vice-chairman of the Quebecor board, has been involved in the hockey file right from the start and both he and N-H-L commissioner Gary Bettman share a mutual respect.

After overcoming a three-goal deficit the Senators forced the game to overtime only to watch it slip away as Seth Jones scored the winner 3:49 into the extra period as the Nashville Predators defeated the Senators 4-3 Monday night.

Ryan Ellis broke in alone on goaltender Robin Lehner and Jones was there to bang home the loose puck.

"It was a tough one to slip away and we almost gave it away," said Jones. "We need all the points we can get right now so it was nice to pull away with two."

The win allowed the Predators (27-28-10) to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Senators say they take solace in earning the single point, but at the same time know they need to be better if they hope to stay in the playoff race.

"The way the game was looking going into the third period it looked pretty bleak for us to get that one point so we’ll take the positive," said Ottawa’s Marc Methot. "It would have been nice to get two, but we’re happy with the resiliency we showed at the end."

Nick Spaling, Craig Smith and Eric Nystrom also scored for Nashville. Pekka Rinne faced 37 shots. This was Rinne’s first victory in four starts since returning from injury.

Jared Cowen, Methot and Jason Spezza scored for the Senators (28-25-12).

Craig Anderson allowed three goals on 29 shots before leaving the game early in the third. Lehner faced 13 shots in relief.

Senators coach Paul MacLean said he didn’t have an immediate update on Anderson, but didn’t believe it was anything serious.

Holding a 3-0 lead the Predators nearly let the game slip away in the third as the Senators scored twice in a span of 2:39.

"I thought we played real well, especially the first two periods," said Nashville’s Mike Fisher. "We thought we were the better team, but then gave them a little life in the third and the crowd came alive for them and before you knew it, it was 3-3."

Spezza tied the game with 67 seconds remaining in regulation. The newly acquired Ales Hemsky, who had three assists, found Spezza at the side of the net and the Senators captain banged it in.

"We knew we had to make a push in the third and it showed a lot of character for us to get a point," said Spezza. "We kept coming and coming, but it sure would have been nice to pull that one out in overtime."

The comeback started midway through the third, as Cowen was able to find the puck through traffic in front and push it past Rinne.

Spezza picked up his second assist of the night as he found a surging Methot to make it a 3-2 game at the halfway mark.

The Predators three unanswered second period goals appeared to make this game look all but decided.

"We normally do a better job of locking these games down," said Predators head coach Barry Trotz.

Anderson could hardly be blamed for any of the goals as he was the victim of two redirections and a giveaway. Anderson’s night came to an end at 4:10 of the third after he was hit in the head by teammate Milan Michalek.

On the first goal Spaling tipped a Michael Del Zotto point shot at the eight-minute mark of the second.

Less than two minutes later Colin Wilson won the faceoff in the Senators end and got the puck to Jones on the point. The blue liner then passed it to Mattias Ekholm, who took a shot that Smith re-directed in front.

The Predators made it 3-0 on Nystrom’s unassisted goal. Methot went to clear the puck and it landed directly on Nystrom’s stick for the easy finish on Anderson.

A scoreless first period was highlighted by the damage inflicted by Shea Weber’s powerful shot.

First, Anderson dropped to the ice after taking a Weber shot in the shoulder and minutes later Cody Ceci took a shot to the head that left him with a lacerated right ear. He did not return to the game.

"You never want to see anyone go down like that," said Weber. "Hopefully he’s doing all right because that’s nothing you ever want to see."

Following the game Ceci tweeted, "Thanks for all your concerns just a cut and a little shaken up should be back at it soon enough."

Notes: The Senators were without LW Clarke MacArthur as he has a hand injury, but is expected to return for Saturday’s game against Montreal. D Patrick Wiercioch, was a healthy scratch for the Senatorsa LW Gabriel Bourque and D Victor Bartley were healthy scratches for the Predatorsa.The CIS Men’s Basketball Champion Carleton Ravens were honoured before the game and took part in the ceremonial puck drop.

Tenth-seeded Raonic, playing for the first time in more than a month after suffering ankle ligament damage, fired a modest 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Colombian Alejandro Falla with a break per set providing the winning margin.

"I’m playing well this week, better with each match," said the 11th-ranked Thornhill, Ont., native. "I’m proud to be back on court again. I’m happy to be back and really happy to be playing so well, so quickly."

Raonic lined up a match against Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, who struggled to beat Czech Jiri Vesely 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4. Raonic owns a 2-1 lead in that series, winning their last in a 2012 Tokyo semifinal.

"I have got to go out there and play well, that’s the main thing to focus on," said Raonic. "I have to really take care of my serve, and try to sort of make the most of the situations as they occur.

"Andy’s in a situation where he didn’t play for a big chunk of time (back surgery) and I’m in mine. I have to really buckle down and focus on myself and make sure I do my things well, and then change a few things that I may need to facing him."

Wozniak is making quick progress after a shoulder injury with a 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-0 defeat of Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The Blainville, Que., native set herself up for a huge test in the next round. She will face world No. 2, top seed and Australian Open champion Li Na after the two-time Grand Slam winner beat Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-4.

This event marks the first time since late 2012, when her shoulder problems began, that the No. 241-ranked Wozniak has gone past the second round at a WTA-level tournament.

Wozniak was pleased to advance after fighting and losing a second-set tiebreak but dominating in the final set to sweep to victory.

"I"ve had a tough year and a half with my shoulder," she said. "It was a good match for me today. Russians are always tough, I had to being my ‘A’ game today."

Wozniak claimed victory in just under two hours, committing 10 double-faults in the match but breaking on nine of 13 chances.

Wozniak credited her French coach Nathalie Tauziat with helping her to the victory.

"She gave me encouragement and a boost for the third set," Wozniak said. "I was playing a little too far back on the court in the second. My balls were not as deep as in the first.

"In the third, I tried to step up more, take the ball early. I didn’t want to let her get back into it like I did in the second set."

Wozniak, who will move into the 180s on ranking according to WTA estimates, is pleased with her comeback, which has bloomed this week in the desert.

"It’s really good, I’m happy, I’m progressing with every match, step by step," she said. "I’m finding that aggressive way I used to play. It gives me confidence to start finding my game like before."

Wozniak will next play Li for the fourth time, standing 1-2 in the series.

"It’s a privilege to play her," Wozniak said. "I’ll have to play the way I know I can, like I’ve played this week. She loves to dictate from the first ball. I’ll stay on her and try to have a good match.

"I won’t be any more nervous than usual. I know how to handle these situations because I’ve been in them before. It will be important to start from the first point and stay with her in the rallies."

So it is likely a compliment to this group that there are no fires burning brightly anymore. The Department of Player Safety routinely suspended another player — Jordan Nolan, for one game — while on site here, and the hockey world has united around the fact that head shots mean games missed. Period.

But what about the hashmarks? And TV timeouts? Dry scrapes?

All you need to know about Day 1 at the GM meetings, in our daily notebook, as the GMs split into three groups to discuss various issues:

• Here’s one we didn’t see coming: St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong was touting moving the hashmarks further apart — from three feet in the NHL to the Olympic-sized five feet — to minimize obstruction off a faceoff.

“Lots of support for that in our (break out) group,” Detroit GM Ken Holland said. “Less obstruction, less interference off the draws. Probably would lead to less centre icemen getting kicked out … because of the jostling around.”

Who knew that was a problem?

• The concept of utilizing 3-on-3 hockey in overtime took a major hit here. It seems Holland’s baby just isn’t going to fly.

“It was tough enough getting four-on-four,” said Rangers GM Glen Sather. “Three-on-three is a bit of a pipe dream, in my opinion.”

Here’s a thought: some people don’t like the shootout because it’s a bit of a gimmick, right? Well, we see plenty of penalty shots these days, and there is a clear-cut breakaway every other night in the NHL.

I ask you, how often do you see three-on-three hockey being played? Perhaps three-on-three is more of a gimmick than the shootout.

NHL polling shows them that 80 per cent of fans love the shootout. It’s not going anywhere.

• In a league where scoring is flat, and coaches seemingly spend more time teaching players how to stop goals than how to score them, tell me again why they don’t allow almost any puck that ricochets in off a skate to stand as a goal?

Sure, there is a safety issue. But when is the last time you saw a player actually kicking at a loose puck near the goal line, in an attempt to hoof it into the net?

“I think there was a little bit more discussion about that,” said Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish. “We’re getting a much broader leeway in terms of what we’re allowing, in terms of goals that are deflected. Distinct kicking motion is pretty tough to determine, and we’re all feeling that way. So our group anyway would like a little bit more liberal definition of allowing more goals.”

Basically, err on the side of a good goal. When it’s not, it’s pretty easy to tell.

• These GMs always talk about unintended consequences to rules changes that have been made. One is a big, tough rookie Luke Gazdic in Edmonton. Under the new rules forcing rookies to wear visors, the Oilers heavyweight is forced to have a shield on, despite his penchant for fighting. And if he takes it off, that’s a two-minute minor.

Another is goaltender interference, in a day and age when teams “collapse to the net” all the time.

“I don’t think it’s an epidemic,” Calgary GM Brian Burke said. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things: teams dropping five guys down, defending home plate, and then the offensive group has to match that. So you have more scrums in front of the net.”

Trying to discern whether a goaltender has indeed been bumped is getting harder and harder. “Some goalies are pretty good at embellishing hits,” Sather said. “You can skate by a guy and a slight breeze will knock him over. It looks like he has been hit by a cannonball.”

This is the one penalty call on which many feel the referee should be consulted. Unlike whether or not a puck entered the net, which is easily discerned by Toronto, the feeling for the game that an on-ice official could provide might be able to cut down on those erroneous goaltender interference calls that can negate a good goal.

“It’s a pretty dicey topic when you start talking about goaltenders. They need to be protected,” Sather said. “If you’ve got a forward standing in front of the net and a goalie gets bumped by a player on the opposite side, the player will fall on him to make it look like he has been pushed into him. On the other hand, it could be a real hit. That might be something you could review.”

The CFL club didn’t provide a reason for the move but a league source requesting anonymity said it was to allow Mitchell to pursue NFL opportunities.

Mitchell, 28, is the fourth Argo player to be released this off-season to pursue an NFL deal, joining receiver Dontrelle Inman (San Diego), defensive back Neiko Thorpe (Oakland) and linebacker Marcus Ball (unsigned).

Mitchell’s departure leaves a considerable hole on the Argonauts defence. He had 32 tackles, five sacks and a fumble recovery last season and was named an East Division all-star.

The Argonauts acquired the six-foot-five, 316-pound import in a trade with the B.C. Lions before the 2013 season. Initially, there were reports Mitchell wouldn’t report to Toronto but he did show up and had an impressive training camp before his all-star season.

Prior to joining the Lions, Mitchell spent two seasons on the practice roster of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

The Los Angeles Kings centre was assessed a double-minor penalty for roughing while Joensuu was issued a cross-checking penalty on the play.

The punch on Joensuu occurred at 19:56 of the second period where, during a small scrum, Nolan grabbed Joensuu and popped the unsuspecting Oiler with his glove still half on.

Los Angeles won the game over Edmonton 4-2.

And the Miami Heat got a win they desperately wanted.

Wade scored 13 of his 22 points in the final period and led a critical 12-0 run down the stretch, James led all scorers with 23 points and the Heat clinched a playoff spot by beating the Washington Wizards 99-90 on Monday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

"We needed a win," Wade said. "We needed this win."

Chris Bosh scored 22 for the Heat (44-17), who moved within one game of Indiana (46-17) in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio (46-16) for the league’s best record. Ray Allen added 13 for Miami, which was coming off a trip where it lost at Houston, San Antonio and Chicago, the last of those coming in a late collapse on Sunday.

Wade hasn’t typically played back-to-backs this season. He did this time, and the Heat simply rolled with him in the final minutes on the way to avoiding what would have been their first four-game slide since 2011.

"He made the right plays," James said.

Bradley Beal scored 18 points, Martell Webster added 17 and Drew Gooden scored 15 for the Wizards. Marcin Gortat finished with 14 points and a career-high-tying 18 rebounds — 10 of them in the first quarter alone.

John Wall finished with eight assists for Washington.

"I’m proud of our guys," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "They kept battling, working. We didn’t shoot it the way we’re capable of. We got some good looks. We shared the ball. We attacked the whole game."

Washington led 84-83 midway through the fourth, when Wade took over.

A three-point play put Miami ahead to stay and he then had assists on Miami’s next three baskets — a short jumper and then a 3-pointer from Bosh, then a layup by James.

Wade capped the run with a score of his own, on the way to his first 13-point, three-assist fourth quarter since Feb. 18, 2009. His 13 in the fourth marked his highest-scoring quarter this season, and came with him playing consecutive days for the first time since Jan. 4 and 5. It was only the third time all season he’s appeared in both nights of a back-to-back.

Both teams shot only nine free throws; despite being in attack mode, James didn’t shoot one for the second straight game, just the second time that’s happened in his career, the first coming in December 2003, early in his rookie season.

"Very surprised," James said.

James went scoreless for a stretch of nearly 15 minutes in the first half, and still easily led everyone with 19 points by intermission. The entirety of his first-half scoring came in two impressive spurts — three 3-pointers in as many tries over a span of 2:43 early in the game, then 10 straight Heat points in a stretch of 3:23 late in the half.

"I felt good about this game the minute, the second I saw LeBron come into the gym today," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We had an early walkthrough and he ran in the gym. Came up to every single person, player and coach and shook everybody’s hand and said, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get ready for this game.’ That’s what leaders do."

Miami’s lead was 12 early in the third before Washington went on a 10-0 run, with Gortat scoring the first eight and Trevor Booker’s jumper getting the Wizards within 59-57. And after Miami rebuilt the lead to seven, Washington took off on another quick burst, this one enough to give the Wizards their first lead since 1-0.

In less than 2 minutes, Washington outscored Miami 11-0, Webster scoring six in 25 seconds. He head-faked James in the air to start what became a four-point play, then had an alley-oop dunk off a Wall pass on the next possession as Washington took a 65-64 lead.

"I think we match up with those guys perfect," Wall said. "We battle those guys."

Allen had two 3′s for the Heat late in the third, and it was 73-all entering the fourth. The Wizards scored only 17 points in the final 12 minutes.

"We saw a few things," Wade said, "and we were able to take advantage."

NOTES: Gortat had never grabbed more than nine rebounds in a quarter. He’s the 12th player with 10 boards in a quarter this season. … Washington missed its first six shots, as Miami took a 10-1 lead. … March 10 matches the second-earliest date for Miami clinching a playoff spot. The Heat did it on March 8 last season. … Heat F Udonis Haslem made his 700th regular-season appearance. … Washington outrebounded Miami 50-33.

The colourful former NHL head coach will return for a 29th season of his popular Coach’s Corner segment, along with sidekick Ron MacLean. The two were unveiled Monday as part of broadcast team assembled by Rogers, which acquired the Canadian NHL rights in November for $5.2-billion over 12 years.

Cherry has become a television icon on Coach’s Corner, which was first broadcast in 1980, for his sometimes eccentric wardrobe and outspoken nature. And the 80-year-old says he has no plans to change.

"Never," Cherry said emphatically. "Right off the bat, I told Scott (Sportsnet president Scott Moore), ‘Don’t expect me to change because after all these years I’m not going to change.’

"I don’t know how to change, to tell you the truth."

CBC personality George Stroumboulopoulos will anchor Rogers’ NHL coverage. That will include hosting the Saturday night broadcasts, a task MacLean handled for nearly 30 years when "Hockey Night in Canada" was solely a CBC entity.

In addition to co-hosting Coach’s Corner, MacLean will remain involved in the annual "Hockey Day in Canada" show while also appearing on Sunday night telecasts.

Daren Millard and Jeff Marek round out the Sportsnet team.

The mega deal also includes a four-year sub-licensing agreement with CBC. That’s allowed Hockey Night to survive but with Rogers running the show but Cherry, for one, isn’t concerned with all the recent changes.

"Doesn’t bother me one bit at all," Cherry said. "When I coached the Boston Bruins, it was, ‘Hey, you just worry about your job, don’t worry about anybody else’s.’

"Hey, if they screw up the rest, that’s their fault, it’s not my fault. I know one thing, Coach’s Corner will be the same."

Monday’s announcement was the first major personnel shuffle since Rogers acquired the Canadian NHL broadcast rights, but Cherry isn’t expecting the communications giant to make wholescale changes.

"Why ruin a good thing?" he said. "We’ve got a good thing going, everybody watches us and I don’t think they’ll fool with it too much.

"I know one thing, they won’t fool with Coach’s Corner, and that’s the main thing isn’t it?"

Cherry has landed in hot water on Coach’s Corner over the years, be it for his staunch support of fighting in hockey, calling superstar Sidney Crosby a "hotdog" or stating he didn’t believe female reporters belonged in a men’s locker-room. However, Cherry said he never worries about his comments ultimately costing him his job.

"No, I’ve never dreamed how they could get rid of me," he said. "I never think that way.

"If you start worrying about your job, you’re in trouble, which I am not. What would they do without me?"

Cherry is under contract to co-host Coach’s Corner at least through the 2015-16 season. Cherry said he was initially offered a four-year deal but has always signed two-year contracts and was content to keep it that way.

"That’s the way I like it," he said. "If they don’t want me at the end of two, then I can leave … but the way I feel now I feel terrific and I look terrific."

But even Cherry has trouble explaining his immense popularity within the hockey community.

"I have no idea," he said. "If I did I’d probably screw it up.

"I don’t think of myself as a performer, I’m just an old hockey player who got lucky. I’m not like MacLean, I’m not professional … I try not to be professional because once you get too smooth you lose something."

Cherry also has some sage advice for Stroumboulopoulos.

"You have to be honest," he said. "With the camera, you can’t lie.

"I’ve seen guys come and go but you can’t fool the public. My only advice is be yourself."

Police say it’s believed Terry Trafford, a centre with the Saginaw Spirit in Saginaw, Mich., may have left the state to return to his hometown of Toronto.

But Const. Victor Kwong says authorities have no record of Trafford crossing the border.

Lt. Brian Cole with Michigan state police said Monday that Trafford is considered a "voluntary missing person."

Cole says a detective is trying to confirm where Trafford last was seen and to whom he may have spoken.

The team says he last was seen March 4 at the Wendler Arena, the Spirit home arena.

Carolina Panthers (12-4, 1st in NFC South)

Team needs: OT, WR, CB

Projected salary cap space: $7.2 million

Key free agents: WR Brandon LaFell, CB Captain Munnerlyn, S Mike Mitchell, Ted Ginn Jr., QB Derek Anderson

Candidates for release: N/A

Free agent fit: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

The skinny: With limited space and a lot of their own free agents to sign, the Panthers won’t be able to do much in free agency. They already made their biggest move before the start of the free agency period by signing ascending pass rusher Greg Hardy to the franchise tag, which will eat up $13 million in cap space. Now, Carolina will need to improve the back end of their defence – which is where you could see its free agent money going. Outside of that, the team needs help on the offensive line and at receiver but that may come with cheap labour in the draft.

The #Panthers are attempting to trade WR Steve Smith, per source. Given his $7M cap number and age (34), seems unlikely.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2014

New Orleans Saints (11-5, 2nd in NFC South)

Team needs: CB, RT, C

Projected salary cap space: $5.6 million

Key free agents: FS Malcolm Jenkins, ILB Jonathan Vilma, C Brian De La Puente, RT Zach Strief, OLB Parys Harlason

Candidates for release: RB Pierre Thomas (cap savings of $2.9 million), released Lance Moore

Free agent fit: C Brian De La Puente

The skinny: The Saints had to part with a number of longtime starters to have some breathing room with the salary cap. The next is expected to be Darren Sproles, which will save $3.5 against the cap. New Orleans needs to address their offensive line with both centre Brian De La Puente and right tackle Zach Strief scheduled to hit the market. It’s crucial to re-sign De La Puente. He hasn’t missed a game in four years and played in 100 per cent of the Saints’ offensive snaps last season. They also need to upgrade at cornerback.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Team needs: DE, QB, TE

Projected salary cap space: $23.7 million

Key free agents: FB Erik Lorig, OLB Dekoda Watson, WR Tiquan Underwood

Candidates for release: CB Darrelle Revis (cap savings of $16 million), P Michael Koenen (cap savings of $3.25 million), DL Demar Dotson (cap savings of $2 million)

Short of a trade in the next two days, the Buccaneers are expected to release CB Darrelle Revis by 4 p.m. Wednesday, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2014

Free agent fit: Michael Johnson, defensive end

The skinny: No one spent more money than the Buccaneers last off-season and all they were rewarded with was a 4-12 season. So the Bucs hired a new coaching staff and general manager — now they’ll need to find players on both sides of the ball to fit their new schemes. The biggest question remains at quarterback with Mike Glennon. It remains to be seen if he can be a legitimate franchise guy. They’ll bring in competition, most likely a proven veteran to push the second-year player. Tampa Bay will need to add an outside pass rusher, wide receiver, and a tight end as well at some point this off-season. Bringing in a player like Michael Johnson with the money saved from Revis’ pending release would go a long way.

Atlanta Falcons

Team needs: OT, DL, TE

Projected salary cap space: $26.2 million

Key free agents: DT Jonathan Babineaux, DT Peria Jerry

Candidates for release: DE Osi Umenyiora (cap savings of $3.5 million), S Thomas DeCoud (cap savings of $3 million)

Free agent fit: Paul Soliai, defensive tackle

The skinny: The injury to Julio Jones exposed the lack of depth through the Falcons roster in a surprising last-place finish. The Falcons do not have enough talent on their offensive or defensive line and will spend the bulk of their off-season looking to upgrade there. Matt Ryan took a beating last season and they will look to add a free agent and a high draft pick to help protect their franchise quarterback. In free agency, a massive defensive tackle like Paul Soliai would be an outstanding fit. Mike Smith needs someone who can consistently stop the run.

Pistorius denies guilt in both events, which took place before he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013.

But his friend, Darren Fresco, testified Tuesday that Pistorius shot a gun through a car’s sunroof, after having an altercation with police and months later in a separate event was holding a gun when it fired in a busy Johannesburg restaurant.

In the first incident, Pistorius became furious with a police officer who had pulled over the car Fresco was driving and handled Pistorius’ licensed gun, said Fresco. Pistorius later fired the gun out of the car’s sunroof without warning, said Fresco.

Fresco’s accounts corroborated much of the testimony of a previous witness who was present at the sunroof shooting.

Fresco also testified that at a busy Johannesburg restaurant he handed his gun, a Glock 27 .40 calibre pistol, under the table to Pistorius and the gun fired. Fresco said Pistorius asked him to take the blame for the incident, which he did. The restaurant incident happened in early 2013, about a month before Pistorius killed Steenkamp.

The runner is charged with premeditated murder for the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013. He also faces three firearms charges, including the two incidents of shooting a gun in public where Fresco was present. Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

When the car Fresco was driving was stopped for speeding in late 2012, Pistorius argued with a police officer who handled his gun, which Pistorius had left on the passenger’s seat.

‘"You can’t just touch another man’s gun,"’ Fresco recalled Pistorius telling the traffic officer. "Now your fingerprints are all over my gun. So if something happens, you’re going to be liable for anything that happens."

Fresco said the altercation with the police ended and they drove away with Samantha Taylor, the runner’s girlfriend at the time, who has given a similar account of the episode. Later that day, Pistorius shot out the car’s sunroof, Fresco said.

"Without prior warning, he shot out the sunroof," Fresco, who was driving, said of Pistorius, who he said was in the passenger seat.

Fresco said he "instinctively" moved over to the right side of the vehicle and away from where the gun was shot, and then asked Pistorius if he was "mad."

"He just laughed," Fresco recalled. "But it felt as if my ear was already bleeding."

In the second gun incident, Fresco testified Tuesday that Pistorius asked him to hand over his gun at a restaurant in Johannesburg’s posh Melrose Arch district. He said warned Pistorius that the gun was "one-up," meaning it had a bullet in the chamber.

"I knew that he had a big love for weapons … my assumption was that he had competency," Fresco said in court. The gun fired and Fresco said he took the blame for the incident, because Pistorius feared bad publicity. That incident happened about a month before Pistorius killed Steenkamp.

In earlier testimony, the chief lawyer for Pistorius questioned the methods of the pathologist who conducted an autopsy on Steenkamp. Prof. Gert Saayman was testifying for a second day about the gunshot wounds suffered by Reeva Steenkamp when Pistorius opened fire through a toilet cubicle door at his home before dawn on Valentine’s Day last year.

Saayman has asserted that, judging by the food contents in her stomach, Steenkamp probably last ate no more than two hours before her death. Steenkamp was shot after 3 a.m., meaning she must have eaten after 1 a.m. This might show a wrinkle in Pistorius’ statement that the couple was in the bedroom by 10 p.m.

Saayman said the amount of urine in Steenkamp’s bladder at the time of her death amounted to the rough equivalent of a teaspoon. The evidence could relate to theories about whether Steenkamp had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, as Pistorius contends, or was there following a loud argument with the runner, as the prosecution has suggested.

The pathologist said he had conducted between 10,000 and 15,000 autopsies over 30 years.

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6, 1st in NFC East)

Team needs: S, DE, KR/PR

Projected salary cap space: $23.5 million

Key free agents: QB Michael Vick, S Nate Allen

Candidates for release: WR Jason Avant was released last week, S Patrick Chung (cap savings of $3.25 million)

Free agent fit: S T.J. Ward

The skinny: The Eagles main priority for the rest of the off-season will be defence after GM Howie Roseman made some savvy offensive re-signings before the start of free agency. The most glaring need is at safety, where a reunion between Chip Kelly and former Oregon Duck safety Ward is a possibility – for the right price. Devin Hester could also be in play as Philadelphia is in need of a quality return man.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8, 2nd in NFC East)

Team needs: DE, OL, LB

Projected salary cap space: $639K

Key free agents: DT Jason Hatcher, LB Ernie Sims, G Brian Waters, DE Anthony Spencer

Candidates for release: DE DeMarcus Ware (cap savings of $7.4 million), WR Miles Austin (cap savings of $393K)

Free agent fit: LB Shaun Phillips

The skinny: Don’t expect many free agent signings from “America’s team” — the Cowboys are in the worst cap situation in the entire league. So bad, in fact, that releasing their most talented defensive player – DeMarcus Ware – may be the only way to relieve some of the pressure. With Ware reportedly unwilling to take a pay cut, the signing of a cheap, yet effective pass rusher like Phillips is a likely scenario. The same kind of deal for a receiver would be ideal.

New York Giants (7-9, 3rd in NFC East)

Team needs: OL, DL, RB

Projected salary cap space: $17.5 million

Key free agents: DT Linval Joseph, LB Jon Beason, WR Hakeem Nicks, DE Justin Tuck, RB Andre Brown, TE Brandon Myers

Candidates for release: C David Baas (cap savings of $1.7 million)

Free agent fit: RB Ben Tate

The skinny: Coming off a dreadfully mediocre season, the Giants head into 2014 with major changes on the horizon. New York has 23 unrestricted free agents and most of the changes are likely to come on an offence that was downright embarrassing in 2013. Bringing in a running back like Tate could pay big dividends for a team that ranked 29th in total rushing yards last season. GM Jerry Reese is expected to try and re-sign Tuck and Beason — whether or not he’s successful is another story.

Washington Redskins (3-13, 4th in NFC East)

Team needs: OL, WR, LB

Projected salary cap space: $21.9 million

Key free agents: LB Perry Riley, WR Josh Morgan, WR Santana Moss, S Brandon Meriweather

Candidates for release: Cut LB Adam Carriker and P Sav Rocca last week

Free agent fit: CB Aqib Talib

The skinny: The Redskins will finally be able to make moves in free agency after being handcuffed by a $36-million cap penalty for the last two seasons. Known for his free — and largely reckless — spending methods, owner Dan Snyder is expected to make serious offers for multiple top free agents. An aggressive pursuit of one of the top offensive linemen should be expected, as well as an offer to a wide receiver. The Redskins have also emerged as major players for former Patriot corner Aqib Talib.

Fenninger was 0.86 faster than Fabienne Suter of Switzerland, timing 1 minute, 33.01 seconds on the sunbathed Silvano Beltrametti course.

"It’s steep and fast and bumpy, very bumpy," said Fenninger, an Austrian who briefly led the overall standings last week by winning back-to-back giant slaloms in Are, Sweden. "You have to be a good technician skier (so) that you can be fast in (this) downhill."

Racing earlier on the same twisting 2.3-kilometre (1.43-mile) track, Adrien Theaux of France was fastest in the only men’s practice run before the final downhill races Wednesday.

Theaux timed 1:31.54, 0.01 ahead of Olympic super-combined champion Sandro Viletta of Switzerland. Another Swiss, Carlo Janka, trailed Theaux by 0.04 in third.

Bode Miller of the United States took a tumble near the finish but was not injured, and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway missed a gate and finished almost two seconds back.

"It will be a close race," said Svindal, who just missed the podium in three events since leaving the Sochi Olympics early after being weakened by allergies. "It means that I’m not as fast as I was at the beginning of the winter. That’s the way it is."

Svindal has already won the season-long downhill title but needs points to take the overall standings lead from Marcel Hirscher of Austria, who skips the speed race. Hirscher leads by only four points with 100 earned by each race winner.

Svindal and Hirscher are each scheduled to start three of the four remaining races in World Cup finals week.

Fenninger is unlikely to start the women’s slalom on Saturday, while Hoefl-Riesch has a full slate of four races in five days.

The German leads by 29 overall, and has an 80-point advantage on Fenninger in their duel for the downhill discipline trophy.

"We didn’t want to risk that she skies today not in a good shape," German Alpine team director Wolfgang Maier said. "The problem is it would be a chance to lose her for the whole week."

Green Bay Packers (8-7-1, 1st in NFC North)

Team needs: DL, OL, S

Projected salary cap space: $29.3 million

Key free agents: TE Jermichael Finley, DT B.J. Raji, DT Johnny Jolly, DT Ryan Pickett, WR James Jones, OLB Mike Neal, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, RB James Starks, QB Matt Flynn, FB John Kuhn

Candidates for release: None

Free agent fit: C Ryan Wendell

The skinny: Packers GM Ted Thompson isn’t a fan of spending in free agency and that has largely worked in the team’s favour. That trend continued over the weekend, as Green Bay re-signed cornerback Sam Shields for the next four seasons. The team will also likely attempt to re-sign centre Dietrich-Smith. The Packers may have to alter their spending practices a bit as they have just one defensive tackle on the roster.

Chicago Bears (8-8, 2nd in NFC North)

Team needs: DL, LB, CB, S

Projected salary cap space: $8.2 million

Key free agents: CB Charles Tillman, DT Henry Melton, LB D.J. Williams, S Major Wright, KR/PR Devin Hester, DE Corey Wootton, QB Josh McCown

Candidates for release: DE Julius Peppers (Cap savings of $9.8 million), released KR/PR Devin Hester and P Adam Podlesh last week

Free agent fit: DE Lamarr Houston

The skinny: With quarterback Jay Cutler locked up, the Bears offence – which ranked eighth last season in total yards – is set for the future. This off-season will be focused on rebuilding a defence that allowed the most yards and points in franchise history. Wooton and Melton could be re-signed but with an unfavourable amount of cap space it’s most likely that GM Phil Emery will look to the draft for the defensive upgrades. However, Emery should examine free agency for some short-term fixes as Chicago looks to rebound from a disappointing 2013 season.

Detroit Lions (7-9, 3rd in NFC North)

Team needs: WR, S, CB

Projected salary cap space: $10.8 million

Key free agents: QB Shaun Hill, TE Brandon Pettigrew, DE Willie Young, CB Rashean Mathis

Candidates for release: Already released WR Nate Burleson, S Louis Delmas and OL Leroy Harris

Free agent fit: CB Captain Munnerlyn, S T.J. Ward

The skinny: The Lions’ cap situation isn’t great and that comes down to the approximately $45 million tied up in Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh. Cuts have been made but a new deal for Suh is a must as the defensive tackle’s cap number in 2014 is a staggering $22.4 million. Detroit’s biggest needs are a reliable receiver to line up opposite of Megatron and some relief in a secondary that has struggled in the pass-heavy NFC North.

Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1, 4th in NFC North)

Team needs: DL, CB, QB

Projected salary cap space: $41.2 million

Key free agents: DE Jared Allen, DT Kevin Williams, CB Chris Cook, WR Jerome Simpson

Candidates for release: Already released TE John Carlson, WR Greg Childs and DT Letroy Guion

Free agent fit: CB Alterraun Verner

The skinny: With a new coaching staff in place, the Vikings will be looking for a fresh start in 2014 and having more than $40 million to spend certainly helps. Mike Zimmer went all in to re-sign Everson Griffen — to replace Jared Allen — and Minnesota are expected to be bidders on former Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner. The Vikings are expected to address their terrible QB situation in the first round of the draft and it sounds like Matt Cassel will be back as the No. 2.

The Munich state court was to hear testimony Tuesday from a tax-fraud investigator. A verdict is scheduled Thursday.

Hoeness is charged with evading 3.5 million in taxes, but he admitted to much more Monday, saying he wanted all facts "transparently on the table."

Hoeness faces punishment ranging from a fine to 10 years in prison if found guilty, and judges could consider his confession a mitigating factor in deciding the sentence.

The 62-year-old, who was part of West Germany’s 1974 World Cup-winning squad, reported himself to authorities last year.

Darren Collison scored 20 points and Chris Paul added 17 points and 11 assists for the Pacific Division leaders, who were 55.1 per cent from the field and improved to 23-1 when shooting at least 50 per cent.

Goran Dragic had 23 points and five assists during a foul-plagued 33 minutes for the Suns, who slipped a half-game behind idle Memphis for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot and are 1 1-2 behind Dallas. Phoenix hasn’t made the post-season since 2010 under coach Alvin Gentry, now a Clippers associate head coach.

Gerald Green, who had a career-high 41 points for the Suns in last Thursday’s 128-122 win over Oklahoma City, finished with 16 points after averaging 23.4 over his previous 13 games. Miles Plumlee, playing his second game after missing the previous two because of a sprained right knee, had 12 points and nine rebounds as all five Suns starters scored in double figures.

Dragic came in averaging 20.5 points, third in the league among point guards behind Stephen Curry (23.5) and Kyrie Irving (21.5). But he picked up his third foul 2 minutes into the second quarter and wasn’t a factor until the fourth, when the Suns rallied from a 19-point deficit with 8:11 remaining and got it down to 109-105 on Dragic’s layup with 32.5 seconds to play.

But that was as close as they got, as Matt Barnes made three of four free throws to close it out. Barnes finished with 13 points, just six days after scoring a season-high 28 — including six 3-pointers — and making 12 of his first 13 shots in the Clippers’ 104-96 win at Phoenix.

Things got testy with 5:28 remaining, as Griffin and P.J. Tucker began wrestling on the floor after they jockeyed for position in the paint on a missed 3-point shot by Barnes and Griffin fell on top of Tucker.

The two had to be separated, and the game was delayed while referees Bennie Adams, Jason Phillips and Matt Boland examined the video monitor to sort it all out. Tucker was charged with a loose ball foul and then ejected, while Griffin stayed in the game.

But not for long. Griffin picked up his sixth foul on a charge under the basket with 3:23 remaining and the Clippers ahead 105-95. Dragic made a pair of driving layups 28 seconds apart to slice the margin to 105-99 with 2:21 to go. But Paul responded with a 16-foot bank shot and two free throws for an eight-point cushion with 1:21 left.

The Suns trailed by as many as 25 after Paul’s 17-footer extended the Clippers’ margin to 77-72 with 7:14 left in the third quarter. Barnes hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Clippers a 90-76 lead heading into the fourth.

Griffin sat the final 1:03 of the third after picking up his fourth foul, then reported back in with 7:04 remaining and the Los Angeles leading 103-85.

The Clippers, who came in averaging a league-best 107.8 points, led 62-45 at halftime by virtue of Griffin’s 29 points and 11 each by Collison and newly acquired Danny Granger, who had 14 off the bench. They built a 34-23 lead through one quarter after Griffin went 8 for 9 from the field and made all six of his free throws.

Griffin came within one point of the franchise record for any quarter, shared by Randy Smith (Oct. 20, 1973 at Boston) and Baron Davis (Jan. 29, 2010 at Minnesota).

NOTES: Clippers G Jamal Crawford was on the inactive list for the fourth time in five games because of a left calf strain. He tried to play through it during Saturday’s win over Atlanta, but spent only 9 1-2 minutes on the court and attempted two shots — both of which missed. "I don’t know when he’s coming back. I just don’t know," coach Doc Rivers said. "I didn’t think he looked good the other night, just running. I don’t get involved very often with that stuff, but he wasn’t running natural, so we’ll just wait until he’s back to playing 100 per cent." … The Clippers have scored at 100 or more points in 16 straight home games since their loss to the Suns. It’s their longest such streak since the 1983-84 season, their last one in San Diego. … Griffin posted his 23rd consecutive game with at least 20 points, extending his career-best streak.