Inland Waterways » we grew and thats where consistency came for

With the contracts of both Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel set to expire after this season, Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis has his work cut out for him if he wants to re-sign what are the Leafs top earning players on a yearly basis. The Phaneuf negotiations may prove to be somewhat easier however, as the Leafs captain told TSN 1050 that unlike Kessel, he is willing to negotiate with the team during the season. “I have no issue negotiating during the year, I did my last deal during the year,” Phaneuf said in an interview with Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Jeff ONeill Friday afternoon on Leafs Lunch. "I love playing here and I want to be a part of this organization.” In the last year of a six-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Calgary Flames, the 28-year-olds stance is in contrast with the Leafs leading goal-scorer, Kessel who indicated the team may have only until the end of the month to get him to agree to a deal, saying he felt in-season negotiations would become a distraction. Coming off his second straight season finishing in the top-10 in league scoring, the 25-year-old Kessel will likely be seeking a significant increase on the $5.4 million cap hit he is currently costing the team, whereas Phaneuf may seek an amount more in line with his current $6.5 million number. Besides his contract status, Phaneuf touched on some of the other main storylines circulating around training camp, including the battle in net between James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier -- someone he got to know when the two played together at the world championships -- and the prospects of 19-year-old defenceman Morgan Rielly making the team. “Obviously theres going to be competition there between him and ‘Reims and thats good for everyone and its good for our team,” Phaneuf said. “Theres a competition at every position during training camp and thats no different.” Thus far, the Leafs captain believes both goalies are handling the situation well and is not concerned about whether the battle could eventually divide the two young netminders. “Controversy is going to come from the outside. Both of them have handled it well so far and their going to push each other for the betterment of our team.” As for Rielly, Phaneuf likes what he sees from the teams fifth overall pick in 2012. “Hes obviously a very skilled guy that skates very well, he sees the ice very well and he passes the puck, Phaneuf said. When you have guys that come out of junior, passing is the biggest thing at the next level I find and he passes the puck hard and that will help him. “Im excited to see what he does in the pre-season thats for sure.” Facing another compressed schedule as a result of the two week Olympic break, Phaneuf admitted the season will be again be a grind, but believes the coaching staff handled things well last year and is prepared for a similar situation this season. “The biggest thing for our team this year I think will be getting rest and really preparing. I think last year managing how much you practiced and your workouts, they did a really good job with our team and I think youre going to have to do much of the same this year.” Besides managing the compressed schedule, Phaneuf said he thought a key to success will be the teams focus on having a consistent approach and following the message of head coach Randy Carlyle. “We knew that if we kept to the way we had to play and to our system that we felt gave us a chance every night, thats where we grew and thats where consistency came for us. “Its the big stretches of losses that can really hurt you and I thought our consistency was very good and were going to have to do that again.” Mohamed Elneny Arsenal Jersey . -- Tiago Splitter tipped in a rebound with 2. Alexandre Lacazette Arsenal Jersey . Damyean Dotson, 19, Dominic Artis, 19 and Brandon Austin, 18, were suspended after the school received a police report concerning allegations made by a student who said she was assaulted by the players in early March. http://www.arsenalsoccerproshop.com/Authentic-Marc-Andre-Ter-Stegen-Arsenal-Jersey/ .C. Now hes squarely in the U.S. capital and helping the Washington Wizards playoff drive. John Wall scored 33 points, Gooden got 11 of his 21 in the final quarter and the Wizards overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 101-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Alex Iwobi Arsenal Jersey . Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October. Granit Xhaka Arsenal Jersey . No pretty goals on this night, just get to the front of the net and fight for a chance. MIAMI -- LeBron James caught an alley-oop flip from Dwyane Wade on a fast break, threw down a dunk and then headed up court with his arms spread like some superhero. James can look the part, whether hes wearing a clear mask or a black one. Switching to a clear protective cover at the NBAs request, James had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists Saturday to help the Miami Heat earn their seventh consecutive victory by beating the Orlando Magic 112-98. James dispensed with the black mask he wore Thursday when playing for the first time since he broke his nose. "He was a clear-mask guy tonight," teammate Chris Bosh said. "He was just a regular dude, a regular citizen of Gotham." Wade scored 24 points and Bosh 20 for the Heat, who shot 58 per cent. Eleven players scored for the Heat, and their bench totalled 39 points. James said league officials wanted him to wear something that would allow opponents to see his face. The newer mask seemed to bother James more than the black one did, and he frequently took it off when the clock was stopped. "Its not comfortable," he said. "Having something on your face isnt comfortable, but it is what it is." While the mask was a nuisance and James nose remained tender, neither hindered his performance. "Its another challenge for a great player," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "His game is an aggressive, attacking game, and theres going to be contact. But coming off the injury, he has been as aggressive as he was before." James streak of five consecutive games with more than 30 points came to an end, but he took just 12 shots and played only 31 minutes. "When you come out and take care of business, thats a reward," he said. After sitting out a week because of his broken nose, he avoided another injury when he went stumbling into the third row after making a fast-break layup and settled in an unoccupied seat. The Heat improved to 10-1 since Feb. 1, and theyve won their past four games by an average of 19 points. "Defensiively were flying around and were communicating," James said.dddddddddddd "And offensively, obviously were playing at a high level." The Heat completed a sweep of the four-game season series against their in-state rivals. "Theyre an efficient team, the most efficient team in the NBA," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. "Thats done with LeBron setting up people, and youre getting shots that you want. Youre not rushing." The game was the first for the last-place Magic since they broke a 16-game road losing streak at Philadelphia on Wednesday. Tobias Harris led Orlando with 20 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 18. With the Heat taking the lead for good early in the second quarter, Bosh played only 18 minutes, his lowest total since Nov. 16. "I got a bunch of night-off jokes tonight," Bosh said. "I enjoyed it. Guys filled in and did their job." Among the contributors off the bench was Greg Oden, playing his 11th game after being sidelined by knee trouble for 3 1/2 years. He went 3 for 3 for eight points with four rebounds in 13 minutes. "Im happy to be on the team," Oden said. "When I get a chance to play, I just dont want to mess up." Heat guard Mario Chalmers had the highlight play of the first half, fetching a loose ball while seated at midcourt with his back to his basket, then flipping a pass over his shoulder to James to set up a fast-break basket. The Heat also got to the rim often out of their half-court offence. "They do a good job moving the ball, driving, kicking," Vucevic said. "They make plays for each other. Theyre very unselfish." NOTES: Orlandos Arron Afflalo missed his fourth consecutive game. He was out with a sprained ankle and is now recovering from a brief illness. ... At 42-14, the Heat have tied their best start through 56 games. They had the same record a year ago, when they went on to win their second consecutive NBA title. ... The Heat improved to 15-0 at home when leading at halftime. ' ' '