r spots are growing rapid

TORONTO – Darryl Boyce is not blind to the obvious. Paul ONeill Shirts . With injured bodies quietly trickling back, roster spots are growing rapidly in demand for the Leafs. The 27-year-old has made quite an impression in his second real stint with the club, but even he knows the blend of energy and enthusiasm hes chipped in with must last for this NHL opportunity to stick. "Itd be just dumb to not think about it," Boyce told the Leaf Report following a Wednesday practice outdoors in Rexdale. "You understand that everybodys coming back and getting healthy and theres only a certain amount of guys allowed on the roster so youve just got to be able to bring it every night." Boyce certainly did exactly that on Tuesday, a 7-3 Leafs thumping of the Lightning at the ACC. While the game-winner – his first of the season – stands as his sole mark on a crowded scoresheet, it was the raw and more unrefined elements of his game – including some gutsy work on the penalty kill – that impressed. "Its good to see a guy like that, first of all, get his shot because we saw how he worked last year," Joffrey Lupul said in conversation with the Leaf Report. "When he comes in and starts to play, its automatically a guy youre kind of rooting for. Hes worked his way up and again this year worked his way into the lineup... I think every game hes played in hes been noticeable; maybe it hasnt been on the scoresheet, but hes been annoying to the opposition, hes been going to the net hard, been blocking shots and hasnt made any mistakes that Ive noticed. Definitely when you see a guy [like that] come in, it kind of pumps a little bit of life into the team." Boyce was cut rather oddly in training camp – in favour of Phillipe Dupuis – despite the obvious spark he provided last season (five goals, 13 points, plus-8 rating in 46 games). Recalled from the Marlies on December 20, hes offered some much-needed aggression of late, killing penalties while also injecting grit and energy to the fourth line.   A roster crunch of sorts is looming for the Leafs, however, with injured players slowly trickling back. Mike Brown (back) and Mike Komisarek (arm) are both inching closer towards a return – perhaps as soon as this weekend – with Colby Armstrong rejoining practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion on December 17. Colton Orr was the first victim of the gradual crunch with Boyce determined not to follow. "I dont think I can afford to take a night off with everybody getting healthy and us having a big roster right now," he said. "Im just going to try to create energy within the team, try to do the little things right, get in front of shots, chip in with timely goals and just get on forechecks." "Hes a guy thats a team guy; hes really going to do what it takes to win games," Lupul concluded, "but to be honest, hes probably playing for himself too [because] he wants to stay on the team the rest of the year. Its a good situation. Thats always one of the fun, intriguing stories of the year is which guys are going to run with those spots and right now hes doing a great job. "Hes showing why he was up last year and making a really good case to stay when everyones healthy." Five Points 1. Boyce was a real presence killing penalties against the Lightning, notably the shot he blocked from Steven Stamkos with the Leafs killing a five-on-three. "He made a couple good plays on the penalty kill," Lupul said. "It mightve even been twice that he stripped the puck from [Martin] St. Louis and just got it out of the zone which definitely isnt an easy task. You can see his aggressiveness on the PK which is something I think maybe weve been lacking at times, partially just because weve been struggling at times too. No one wants to be that guy that makes a mistake so sometimes when you bring in a new face it can really be a breath of fresh air." Sour from a disastrous month of December, the Leafs began January with a perfect five-for-five effort on the penalty kill, albeit against the NHLs worst road power play. 2. A lengthy stint in the American League and great distance between opportunities (he played his first NHL game on January 24th, 2008) has left the Summerside, P.E.I. native with a great appreciation for whats in front of him. "Its pretty easy when you walk out in front of 20,000 people," Boyce said when discussing the energy hes required to play with. "You realize what youre doing for a living and the position youre in right now. On most nights, its pretty easy to get up, but those nights when youre not feeling the greatest youve just got to do anything you can to get going." 3. Tim Connolly has slid into first-line centre duty with Tyler Bozak on the shelf likely until next week. Connolly has chipped in with three assists in two games alongside Lupul and Phil Kessel, offering a change of pace in the offensive zone from the younger Bozak. "I think Bozies really good at getting in on the forecheck and winning those battles and just moving the puck quick, but with TC, hes going to hold onto the puck a little bit more and look to make some plays," Lupul explained. "Weve had some success with both guys. Tims a little more of a veteran presence and hes really strong in his own zone as well. Theyre both very capable centreman and both have been playing great hockey for us all year." Connolly had just five points in 13 games before being reunited with Lupul and Kessel in Winnipeg on New Years Eve. 4. One aspect thats been critical to Lupul and his success (44 points): winning puck battles. The 29-year-old cites the subtle, but crucial task as one of the more fundamental improvements in his game this fall and a major factor in his evolution as a power forward. Lupul still has yet to go consecutive games without a point, hitting the scoresheet in 31 of 39 games. 5. The door has opened ever more slightly for Jonas Gustavsson, who picked up the win with 21 saves on Tuesday night. Gustavsson will make his second straight start against the Jets on Thursday. "Ive been trying to get Reims going by letting him catch up with a lot of games," Ron Wilson said, "but right now I think the Monster gives us just as good a chance to win and as long as hes winning hes going to keep playing. And same if Reims goes in there and he gets hot hes going to play. We need to win games." Carlos Beltran Shirts . When a few shots broke through that defensive front, Jonathan Quick was there. The Kings won the Stanley Cup two years ago with that basic formula, and they can see it clicking again as they close in on another playoff run. Carlos Beltran Yankees Jersey . No way, absolutely no way. If you do, where do you go from there? If you want to progress as a team and as a club you have no chance if you sell players like that.BAIE-COMEAU, Que. - Philippe Cadorette made 30 saves as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar shut out the Shawinigan Cataractes 2-0 in the lone Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game Tuesday. The Drakkar (21-8-4) only needed a pair of first-period goals from Alexis Vanier and Bokonndji Imama to beat Shawinigan. Roger Maris Jersey. Vanier scored just 22 seconds into the game on the power play, and Imama added another in the dying seconds of the first. Storm Phaneuf finished with 31 saves in net for the league-worst Cataractes (6-23-3). cheap jerseys ' ' '