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OTTAWA - It was a hollow victory at best. The Ottawa Senators were more than happy to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 Saturday night on home ice to extend their win streak to four games. But in the big picture it meant little. "It was important for us to try and win this hockey game and send the fans home happy in the last home game," said Spezza. "(The streak) shows that we can be a more consistent club, but it still doesnt matter because we didnt make the playoffs and that was our ultimate goal and we didnt get there. Obviously weve done some better things of late, but we would have liked to do that earlier in the season." Spezza scored the lone goal, and Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots for his fourth shutout of the season as the Senators played their final home game of the regular season. Ottawa wraps up the season Sunday against Pittsburgh. With the victory, the Senators (36-31-14) tied their season-high winning streak of four games and finished the year above .500 on home ice with an 18-17-6 record. It was also their first win against Toronto this season. Senators coach Paul MacLean tried to focus on the positive of winning the last four games despite the disappointment of falling short this season. "Were playing games that dont mean much in the standings as far as getting us into the Stanley Cup playoffs which is what its all about," said MacLean. "But at the same time finishing our home schedule like we are is way better." The Leafs (38-36-8) capped off their season with 12 losses in their last 15 games, leaving them below the Senators in the standings. "Its terribly disappointing and emotional," said Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. "Its like you almost get in a state of depression because its such a negative in your life. Were embarrassed about the way things unraveled for our hockey club." James Reimer faced 37 shots, making a number of big saves to keep Toronto in the game. Reimer finished the season with a 12-16-1 record. With his future unknown Reimer, who will be a restricted free agent, was visibly emotional following the game. "There definitely were some thoughts like that (that this could be my last game with Toronto," said Reimer. "I was just trying to come in here and have a last memorable game. Thinking about all the memories, its just been an interesting time." Despite the difficulties he and the Leafs had down the stretch Reimer admitted to feeling somewhat positive about his game of late. "Ive been feeling really good the last couple of games and really getting back to the way I can play," said Reimer. "Its good to have a night (Saturday) statistically to show where I was back to, but obviously it would have been nice to get the win. Personally its good to end on a high note." Milan Michalek had a chance to put Ottawa up 2-0 on a breakaway in the third period, but Reimer was able to get over and make the save along the post. "I think we created a lot of scoring chances and just couldnt put one in the net," said Ottawas Erik Karlsson. "Luckily for us Anderson was standing on his head and made some unbelievable saves when we needed it and we only needed to score the one." Anderson was pleased with his and the teams overall performance, but admitted he wished they could have played like this earlier in the season. "I think its bittersweet," said Anderson. "Theres also some frustration that we couldnt have done this sooner throughout the year, but thats just part of the growing pains and some of the adversity we had." The Leafs had a two-man advantage for 23 seconds midway through the third period, but were unable to capitalize. Torontos inability to produce on the power play had been a huge problem down the stretch. In their last ten games the Leafs were 4-for-30 with the man advantage. "Its disappointing to not be playing next week," said Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. "This is our job. Its a business and were in the business of results and we didnt get results. We were in a very good spot and we let it slip away and thats the extremely disappointing part of everything." Spezza opened the scoring at the seven-minute mark of the second with a power-play goal. Karlsson found Spezza alone in the faceoff circle and the Senators captain caught the inside of the post for his 23rd of the season. Spezza now has 56 points in 56 career games against the Leafs. Both teams had goals called off in a scoreless first period. At the eight-minute mark of the first, Torontos Tyler Bozak had a goal called off immediately due to a high stick, and on the ensuing play the Senators had a goal of their own waived off after incidental contact with the goaltender was called on the play. Notes: The Senators were without C Mika Zibanejad, who is undergoing tests for an undisclosed condition, D Jared Cowen (lower body, day-to-day) and RW Bobby Ryan (sports hernia, out for season). LW Matt Kassian was a healthy scratch. The Leafs were without G Jonathan Bernier (left MCL, two weeks), RW Joffrey Lupul (knee surgery, 3-4 weeks), Dave Bolland (lacerated ankle, unknown) and Carter Ashton (knee, unknown). D Carl Gunnarsson was a healthy scratch. D Petter Granberg made his NHL debut. Stitched Rockies Jerseys . Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, city natives, handled the catering for teammates that begged them for the tasty postgame feast. Cheap Rockies Jerseys . Neither player was available Saturday for the Knicks 107-98 loss in Atlanta. "Were going in a different direction and weve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub," coach Mike Woodson said before the game. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ . In question is whether 26-year-old Matt Frattin will be on it. A a€?mediocrea€? training camp, as Carlyle put it earlier this week, has Frattin lingering nervously on the bubble at the end of the exhibition season, pushed out of a likely job by Brandon Kozun, the small, but feisty winger determined to make the NHL for the first time. Colorado Rockies Gear .Y. -- That hangover from the Big East tournament is gone for Villanova. Colorado Rockies Shirts . He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5th. The 34-year-old Laval, Que. native has played six seasons with the Penguins.You dont know them. Not many people do. Days… Weeks… Months… Almost a year has gone by and still… you dont know them. The legendary Robert Montgomery Knight, aka, The General, one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history, strolls in to inspect the troops. He came to see them, to share his wisdom before they march into madness… to see who exactly this rag-tag bunch of players, not blue bloods… scrappers… fighters… winners, were. Coach Knight, the leader of the last college team to go undefeated and win an NCAA title, the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers, shows up at practice in late February to tell them to take it "one game at a time". He is a fan of how they play. "Play Angry". The 2013-2014 Wichita State mens basketball team does just that. But more importantly, plays hard, plays tough and plays together, leading to an NCAA-record 30-0 regular season mark under head coach Gregg Marshall. Saturday, March 1, 2014: Charles Koch Arena, Wichita, Kansas: Senior Night. The final matchup before the conference tourney and the opponent Missouri State is no easy out for the Shockers. This is also the final home game for two Canadian senior forwards, Chadrack Lufile, as well as his best friend, a young man whose last name is famous, not only in the state of Kansas, but on a couple continents, Nick Wiggins. Nick has a younger brother, Andrew who you may know, playing in the same state only two and half hours away, for a program so steeped in tradition, the inventor of basketball was the first head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, fellow Canuck James Naismith. I got on the phone with Nick Wiggins and Chadrack Lufile post-practice this week to talk life in the shadows and possibly shocking the world. Did you guys know one another before signing at Wichita State? NW: Weve known one another since we were teenagers. CL: We actually went to the same junior college together at Vincennes in Indiana. NW: I signed first. I didnt force him to sign or anything… just told him it would be special for us to go together. Why Wichita State? CL: Nick had narrowed his choices down to Baylor and Wichita State. He talked about his visit, how they treated him, the ambitions of the coaches and players. There was just a feeling; a good feeling about it all. Once Nick decided, I was in, too. We had to take advantage of what looked like a great opportunity in front of us. NW: When we first got here, first couple years, we didnt play as much as wed have liked to but it was always about team. Still, it was tough at times, knowing you could help the team on the court more. CL: My Dads a minister. He has a huge influence on all that I do. Once, wed lost three straight, neither one of us was playing a lot and my Dad prayed for us. Not just us, but the team. I remember telling Nick about it. NW: Yeah, I mean we had 7-8 guys on this team last year who could score 20 in any game, but we share the ball. Thats how play. CL: And then we ended up in the Final Four. We believed... Iff you had to compare your game to any Wichita State great from the past, who would it be and why? NW: So many great players who have come through here.dddddddddddd Id say Cleo Littleton. He was known for his defence and for being a great teammate. I think thats me. CL: X! Xavier McDaniel. He and Antoine Carr, another Shockers legend, came in to to see us last year and really instilled in us to "Play Angry". Thats our thing now: Play Angry. He (McDaniel) told me to box out hard, never let anyone get to the ball before I did, rebound strong, run the floor harder than my opponent, be versatile with my game. We emulate the guys who were here before us. They are Shockers for life! What do you say to the pundits who believe 30-0 is a function of you guys playing in the Missouri Valley Conference, the perceived lack in your strength of schedule and not because youre a great team? NW: Schedule us. Everyone talks KU (Kansas), but they wouldnt play us. We wanted to do it at a neutral site, but they didnt want it. Thats ok, people who dont believe mid-majors can compete with major D-1 schools havent really watched us play. They will find out soon enough. CL: Say what you want about our conference or the teams we beat. Just come play us. We feel like we can compete with anyone. We beat the #1 team in the country in Gonzaga in the tournament last year. Ohio State was #7, Pitt #20. Just play us. Do you think you should be ranked #1 in the country? CL: Honestly, I think we should be! NW: We dont really pay it much attention. It could be almost like a distraction. We dont look past anyone. You still gotta win. The team we play our last home game against, Missouri State, is tough. They had us down by like 17 with about 11 minutes to go in the game before we fought back and won. It was a war. Im sure they wont care that its Senior Night for us when we play them again. They wanna win, too! If Wichita State runs the table by winning your conference tourney, should you be a #1 seed for March Madness? NW: We proved all year we should be a #1 seed. I think the selection committee will do the right thing and give us that. We lost some great guys from last years team and still havent skipped a beat or lost a step. Coach Marshall has us prepared. This will be a special ride to go on with this group of guys. Dream Scenario: Clearly winning it all is the ultimate dream. But, if Wichita State had a chance to play Kansas in the final on April 7 in Dallas, why would it be that much sweeter? CL: Lets Go!!! Do you know how hype that would be?!? NW: If they seed us and Kansas in the same region 1-2, wow, the rivalry... My brother. I believe itll happen. State bragging rights. Man, I would have lifetime bragging rights in my house (laughs)!!! CL: Andrew (Wiggins) would come down to chill and hang with us. Id tell him "Youre not ready for us, Bro (laughs)!" Im no genius or anything, but I believe all of this. All the things that are happening with Wichita State are meant to be. I feel like well meet Kansas, God Willing. And God Is Good... ' ' 'Attendance at Rogers Centre was 19,656. ' ' '
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