Basisphilosophie » game on the line.The minor

TORONTO -- Toronto Marlies coach Steve Spott felt his team had more than enough opportunity to pick up two points Saturday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum. Torontos power play was held scoreless on three opportunities, including once in overtime, and the Marlies out-shot the Iowa Wild 39-27, but fell 2-1 in a shootout to the visitors. Carson MacMillan and Zack Phillips scored in the shootout to help Iowa snap a five-game skid. It was the Wilds fourth win in 11 games. "I think we had more than enough opportunity to put the game away," said Spott. "Very good players with empty nets and were hitting posts, were not getting pucks up and over (Wild starter, Johan) Gustafsson. "We had some glorious chances, that we didnt put in the back of the net. When you let a team like that -- thats desperate -- hang around, thats what the result is going to be." Toronto dropped to 1-1-0 on their current three-game, three-night stretch and had their three-game win streak snapped. MacMillan faked a slapshot and then beat Marlies starter Garret Sparks in the first round of the shootout. Then Phillips faked a shot, got Sparks moving before beating him glove-side in the third round. Jamie MacQueen scored in regulation for Iowa (26-30-10), while Gustafsson made 38 saves for his 12th win of the season. Peter Holland had the lone goal for Toronto (40-20-6). Sparks made 25 saves in his first loss since Jan. 25. The Marlies couldve had a fourth power-play opportunity, in the third period. Wild forward Brett Bulmer was assessed a roughing minor, but Brandon Kozun retaliated with a careless cross-check and negated the man advantage chance. When asked of Kozuns penalty, Spott responded, "I think he wont play tomorrow." With the win, the Wild earn a split in the season series. The Marlies won the only other meeting between the two teams 4-3 on Jan. 15 in Des Moines, Iowa. Holland tied it 1-1, with his ninth of the season, at 1:12 of the third period by picking up the rebound off of a Kenny Ryan shot and beating Gustafsson stick-side. "Kenny made a nice play, just coming down the right side and threw it off the pad," said Holland of the play. "I was lucky enough to kind of pick up the rebound, pull it across the net and tuck it in the far side." Toronto dropped to 5-12-4 when trailing after 40 minutes this season. MacQueen opened the scoring at 7:37 beating Sparks with a shot from the bottom of the face-off circle for his second of the season. Prior to MacQueens goal, Kris Foucault had a great scoring chance when his shot beat Sparks, but hit the post at 6:00 of the second. Holland had an excellent chance to open the scoring at 16:00 of the first period, but put his shot off the side of the net with Gustafsson out of position. "We missed a couple point-blank opportunities with open nets, putting it out the far side," said Holland agreeing with Spotts assessment. "Either that or hitting the post, a couple bounces go our way, its a different story." Toronto concludes their three-game, three night stretch, when they host the Abbotsford Heat on Sunday. The Marlies need three points to clinch a playoff spot as well as their third consecutive North Division title. Its something the Maple Leafs minor leaguers are focused on. "As we go forward here our job is to win the division and try to catch Grand Rapids for second in the conference and thats still our goal," said Spott. Added Holland: "Thats obviously our main objective here is to clinch as fast as we can. We dont want to take any of the teams we play lightly, but just work on things going into the playoffs. Give guys who dont get a lot of minutes a chance to play more. Its definitely something were focusing on." Notes: Rookie defenceman Eric Knodel made his professional debut replacing Korbinian Holzer for the Marlies. The Maple Leafs recalled forward Jerry DAmigo from the Marlies on Saturday. Marlies goaltender Drew MacIntyre was a healthy scratch as Christopher Gibson backed up Sparks. Spott said Holzer, MacIntyre and captain Trevor Smith were all given the day off to rest bumps and bruises. Air Jordan 3 Wholesale . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. Jordan Retro 3 Wholesale .C. -- Kurt Busch put his chances at "70 per cent" at running the Indianapolis 500 this year because of recent developments that have pushed a potential program along. http://www.airjordan13ireland.com/ . The group of Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, & Slava Kozlov were a dominant force for The Wings at one point in the 90s. Air Jordan 3 Retro Cheap . Then Klay Thompson put his foot on the gas. Thompson scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Harrison Barnes scored 14 points in his season debut to help the Golden State Warriors to a 106-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Cheap Jordan 3 Ireland . Browns advice worked. Irving scored 20 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 88-82 Saturday night. Irving made his first shot of the night on a layup a little over three minutes into the game.DENVER - This rookie just may be called up from the American Hockey League after catching everyones attention in an impressive debut.Sorry, though, its not the next Sidney Crosby, but a new overtime rule that should allow players like Crosby to showcase their skills even more with the game on the line.The minor-league organization has long been the place to experiment with new directives, just to see how well they work — or dont work — before the NHL takes a look. Some (oversized blue lines) werent popular. Others (not being able to change players after an icing call) have been promoted.The new OT rule possibly could be coming soon to an NHL rink near you.Its certainly entertaining for fans and a lot of fun to watch, said David Andrews, the president and CEO of the AHL for the last 21 years.Currently, the NHL uses a 4-on-4 OT model for five minutes. If no one scores, then it goes to a shootout.But heres how the extra period works on the AHL level: Its seven minutes long — or until someone scores, of course — with the opening three minutes 4-on-4. Then, after the next whistle, it switches to 3-on-3 for the last four, leading to lots of room for creativity and scoring chances. If that doesnt decide things, it goes to a shootout, a concept that drives many a coach bonkers since its almost like a skills competition.Thats the thing, though. This new overtime system has cut down significantly on shootouts.Last year, the AHL had 65 per cent of its OT games decided in a shootout, Andrews said. This season, its shrunk to 25 per cent.Even more, of the 99 overtime games so far, 35 of them have been decided in 3-on-3 action.Initially hesitant over the newfangled OT ordinance, Roy Sommer, the coach of the AHL Worcester Sharks, has warmed up to the idea. He thinks it would be a big hit with fans and players on the next level.If you put your three best NHL players against each other with all that ice and creativity, man, it would be something to watch, said Sommer, one of the all-time winningest AHL coaches. I know I wouldnt leave.As for when — or even if — this version of overtime arrives at the NHL level, thats hard to predict. In a statement, the NHLs hhockey operations branch said the league follows the American Hockey League and other leagues closely.dddddddddddd ... Were always interested in ways to make an already great game better.Colorado and Toronto had a 3-on-3 situation in overtime earlier this season after both teams drew penalties. It was riveting as players raced from end-to-end, unable to risk heading to the bench for fear of an odd-man rush going the other way.If we did this, theres no way games would go to a shootout, Colorado forward Matt Duchene said. As much as shootouts are fun to watch, Im not a big fan of them, because it stinks to finish a game on a non-hockey play.But Id love to see overtime 4-on-4 and then 3-on-3, because it would be amazing.Chris Wideman can attest to that. The defenceman for the Binghamton Senators has scored two of his 12 goals in overtime this season — one in 3-on-3 and the other on a 4-on-3 power play.Lots of odd-man rushes, breakaways, explained Wideman, whos in his third season with the minor-league affiliate of Ottawa. From the pure entertainment side, you cant beat it. As far as for the players, its a lot of fun for us. It gives you a chance to show off a little skill.One possible downside? More ice time for players, which could take its toll over an already grueling regular season.NBC hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk wouldnt mind seeing something similar to college footballs overtime rules. His suggestion is this: One team receives a 4-on-3 power play for two minutes and if it scores, then the opponent gets its chance. The one that stops the other wins.If were trying to get away from the shootout, there are ways of trying to do that, said Olczyk, a former NHL player and coach.Hey, maybe another test idea for the AHL. But the minor-league outfit isnt just a petri dish for the NHL. A lot of times, its the AHL that institutes a rule that causes the NHL to take notice and later implement, like the delay penalty for flipping a puck over the glass in the defensive end. Or the trapezoid area behind the goal.Or, maybe soon, this new OT rule.The fans love the shootout, Avs defenceman Erik Johnson said. But theyd LOVE 3-on-3 in overtime. 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