Fighter-Kumpelz » Ward has now missed 13 games wit

TORONTO - Stephane Robidas remembers what it was like to be a healthy scratch more than 20 times early in his NHL career.You cant take anything for granted, the veteran defenceman said. Theres always people that are coming in and they want to steal your job, they want your spot, they want to be in the lineup.Early in the season for Toronto Maple Leafs, Stuart Percy has been that job-stealer. The first defenceman in franchise history to put up a point in each of his first three games in the league, Percy has at least temporarily taken Jake Gardiners spot in the lineup.Its just how it goes, said Gardiner, who was a healthy scratch for a second straight game Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. Its a business. If someones playing really well or youre not playing your game, youre not going to play.In the process, Percy has given the coaching staff a good problem to have with seven defencemen vying for six spots. In his fourth career game, the 21-year-old was second on the Leafs in ice time with a steady 23:34.Weve said right from the beginning that were going to create competition for positions, coach Randy Carlyle said. If they compete for the position and they earn it, its a novel concept.Percy was a first-round pick in 2011, so his growth into an NHL player shouldnt be a surprise. But he entered training camp staring at three veteran left-handed defencemen firmly ahead of him and Henrik Tallinder with the Leafs on a tryout as the favourite to make it as the No. 7.A shoulder injury to Tallinder and a knee injury to righty Cody Franson opened the gate for Percy to show what he could do. So far, so good.The poise that he has with the puck, the decision-making, he always seems to make that good decision, hold onto the puck when its time, move when its time, Robidas said. Hes very reliable defensively, very good stick, always in good position. Hes been very effective on the power play, as well, and played against some really good players.Carlyle praised Percy for reading where the forecheck is coming from, exiting the zone with one pass and making the right pass in all zones on a consistent basis.Percy, a native of nearby Oakville, Ont., said he takes pride in playing a 200-foot game. His offensive skills were never a question, according to Carlyle, just Percys ability to adapt to this level after one full season in the American Hockey League.Percy showed a flash of being ready in Torontos season opener, when he assisted on a Tyler Bozak power-play goal with a perfect setup from below the goal-line.Maybe I didnt expect (to adapt this quickly), but I definitely strived for it, Percy said. Im just playing my usual game. Its how Ive played most of my career. Just sticking to it, keep things simple, be assertive out there and always have your head moving.Carlyle, who enjoyed a 17-year career as a defenceman, knows that the position comes with a steep learning curve. Playing more games with less practice time and at a quicker pace can go against young players, he said.With that in mind, Percy is taking to heart some advice he got from another former NHL defenceman, Steve Staios, whos now in player development for the Leafs.For me just to keep my foot on the gas and dont let up, Percy said. Just to keep playing hard and practising hard every day and working as hard as I can to stay here every day.Percys ability to stick beyond a game or two came at the expense of Gardiner, who hasnt played since Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Well removed from his shuttling back and forth between the Leafs and AHLs Toronto Marlies, Gardiner signed a US$20.25-million, five-year contract in the off-season, but that didnt keep him from sitting in the press box two games in a row.This happens, Gardiner said Tuesday morning. Its happened to me a few times before and it happens to everybody. You cant play great all the time. Just rebound the next time I get an opportunity.Gardiner said he has watched a couple of video clips and believes he has to tighten some things up defensively.Carlyle said Gardiner simply needs to play better.We feel that we have a quality hockey player that can play to a higher level, and he agrees with that, Carlyle said.Meanwhile, Percy is playing at perhaps as high a level as can be expected for someone with three games of NHL experience. But with what Carlyle called a comfort zone as far as on-ice instincts, Percy has shown evidence he can stick around for some time.We understand theres going to be valleys and theres going to be hiccups along the way, Carlyle said. But I dont think thats any different than any of our other young defencemen.Percy has simply been better than the Leafs other young defencemen, Gardiner and second-year player Morgan Rielly. All three are lefties, and with captain Dion Phaneuf on that side now there isnt room for all of them at once.We have a healthy, I guess, competition to stay in the lineup and thats always good for the team knowing that the teams going to get everybodys best efforts, Percy said.___Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Byron Murphy Jersey . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. Arizona Cardinals Jerseys China . - Andre Drummond had his best night on the boards. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysa...r-murray-jersey. Head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed the news after the Leafs morning skate on Monday. Kozun was hurt during Friday nights home game against the Red Wings and did not make the return trip to Detroit for Saturdays game. Zach Allen Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Hakeem Butler Jersey . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri.MONTREAL -- It took the arrival of the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes to get the Canadiens out of their funk. The Hurricanes came to the Bell Centre riding a four-game win streak, and sporting one of the best records in January at 9-3-0. But Montreal cooled them off on Tuesday night, winning 3-0 on the back of a 36-save shutout by Carey Price and an all-around team effort in front of him. "The team was engaged," said head coach Michel Therrien, celebrating a Habs victory for the first time in almost two weeks. "It was a nice team win. A lot of guys had great games." Coming into this one it was a tale of two teams. The Hurricanes (24-20-9) had won four in a row and 10 of their last 13. They jumped four places in the Metropolitan Division in the month of January, good for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Forwards Alexander Semin and Eric Staal came to Montreal looking to extend six-game point streaks. The Canadiens (28-20-5), meanwhile, had lost four in a row, including a 5-0 shellacking at the hands of the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Montreal had been outscored 19-5 on their losing streak, and had given up at least four goals in each of their last six games. But the Habs kept the opposition off the scoreboard on Tuesday, relying on two first-period goals, a staggering 27-blocked shots and a goaltender at his best. "As a group we knew what we needed to do," said Price, who earned his third shutout of the season. "Theres no question that we talked about it enough, and it was time to do it. "We played with a lot of confidence tonight. Thats what it comes down to. It came down to us just willing to win." After a big save by Price on Nathan Gerbe at one end of the rink, the Canadiens Brandon Prust scored what turned out to be the winner on a fast break the other way at 6:11 of the first period. Rene Bourque, who had only one assist since the start of the year, started the tic-tac-toe play when he found Josh Gorges in the clear to Anton Khudobins right. Gorges, who finished the game with a team-high seven blocked shots, quickly dished the puck to Prust, who beat the Hurricanes netminder with a wrist shot under the blocker for his fifth of the season.dddddddddddd "My goals are usually when crashing the net, going off my leg or something," said Prust. "This was a good one to get." The Canadiens doubled their lead late in the period when Brendan Gallagher persistently poked home his own rebound, getting the better of the Hurricanes in a six-player melee in front of Khudobins net. Max Pacioretty added an easy tap-in at 1:41 of the second for his 22nd of the year to make it 3-0. Therrien praised his team, but also the way they approached the recent bad form. "Its really important how you face adversity," said Therrien. "We decided to stay positive with our players. Its all about attitude. When you have the right attitude, its always helpful." The game was Carolinas second in as many nights, and fifth in seven days. The Hurricanes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Monday, scoring three third-period goals for the come-from-behind victory. "We seemed to be out of gas a little bit," said Eric Staal, who was frustrated on three occasions by Price. "You never want to use that excuse, but we have played a lot of hockey here. "If we were really feeling good and jumping, we would have had a better attack. But when we did get chances, Price was real good and made a lot of key saves." Khudobin made 27 saves for the Canes. Montreal has now won six of its last seven against Carolina at the Bell Centre. Notes: Before the game, Habs assigned forward Louis Leblanc to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Leblanc has yet to register a point in eight NHL games with the Canadiens this season. a Carolina starting goaltender Cam Ward has now missed 13 games with a lower-body injury. a Ex-Hab forward Aaron Palushaj, who played 41 career games with Montreal between 2010 and 2012, was in the starting lineup for Carolina. a The Canes and Habs meet again on Feb. 8 in Raleigh, N.C., for the third and final time this year. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '