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TORONTO – It took less than a week for life to sour for the Maple Leafs. Six days after rallying for perhaps their finest win of the season in the sunshine of L.A. – and second in the challenging California triangle – did they drop their third straight game Wednesday, sullied by the hat trick of Steven Stamkos in what proved a dour night at the ACC. "Obviously we havent played as well as we need to," said head coach Randy Carlyle following the 5-3 defeat. "And were not sitting here saying that were playing the type of hockey that is required to have success. Is it a trend? Well we lost three games in a row. If we show the desperation that we displayed in the last half of the game for 60 minutes we surely could improve our chances, thats for sure." With the loss – their fourth in the past five games – Toronto fell three points back of Tampa for second spot in the Atlantic with another key division match looming on Saturday with Montreal in town. Once in fine shape to make it back to the playoffs for a second straight spring, the Leafs are skidding at the wrong time and hurting those chances. They still hold the first wild card position (80 points), but have ceded ground to the Blue Jackets (76 points), Capitals (76), and Red Wings (75) – all have games in hand – also failing to keep pace with the Lightning (83) and Canadiens (83). Still struggling to defend, the Leafs have not had the brilliance of Jonathan Bernier to lean on during this recent three-game slide, nor have they been able to outscore opponents on the strength of their top line, a source of success in many victories this season. With 11 games still remaining they certainly have time to veer back in the right direction. "No sense in panicking," concluded James Reimer following the latest loss. Yielding the first goal for the fifth consecutive game on this night, the Leafs started sluggishly in their first game back from a lengthy five-game road trip, running around in the defensive zone. By the end of 20 minutes they were down 3-2 on a pair from Stamkos, also reeling from the scary loss of Paul Ranger (more on that in Five Points). "Weve had a trend over the last three games where we seem like were starting a little sluggish," said Mason Raymond afterward. "Were not getting the exact start that were wanting. I think later in the game we showed that desperation, but we need that for 60 minutes." Peppering 22 shots at Ben Bishop in the final frame – even pulling to within one on another goal from Jake Gardiner – Toronto made a late push, but like recent comeback efforts in Washington and Detroit, they ultimately fell short. Unhappy with a schedule that saw his team return from 10 days on the road only to host Tampa on the second end of a back-to-back – they lost to the Red Wings on Tuesday – Carlyle felt fatigue was an issue. "Its not an excuse," he said. "But its a trying situation. Its not easy. And you could definitely tell that they had more jump than we did, specifically at the beginning. But we started to play a lot more desperate and we showed that we have more in the tank. Its just that we had to run on some emotion. We didnt have that emotion in the first half of the game and we developed it in the second half of the game and thats the positive part." Five Points 1. Reimers Response Reimer returned to the net less than 24 hours after his performance in Detroit was criticized by Carlyle. His night started just as poorly as the night previous had ended, with Radko Gudas sailing a point shot through a maze of traffic and beyond the surprised 26-year-old. "I just didnt see the puck," said Reimer afterward. "Its a crappy way to start the game." Rarely looking comfortable, though not helped at times by his support staff, Reimer yielded five at the end of the evening on just 30 shots. He owns a .901 save percentage in his last five appearances, all coming consecutively in the past week. "Just like the rest of our team," said Carlyle, noticeably bothered by the swell of attention his comments the previous evening received. "I get in trouble when I comment about goalies with [the media]." "First thing I just wanted to come out and play well and be a difference-maker and unfortunately it wasnt the case," said Reimer. "I felt I made some good saves, but definitely wasnt the performance I was looking for. I wanted to come out and be big, keep your team in it. It just didnt happen tonight." Bothered by a groin injury, Bernier took to the ice Wednesday morning for the first time since he exited a long-awaited return to the Staples Center last week. He was expected to skate again in full equipment again on Friday with his status for a weekend back-to-back still in doubt. 2. Scary Incident Only 4.1 seconds remained in the first when Ranger was hammered from behind by Lightning forward Alex Killorn. Reversing to his left at the very last second, the 29-year-old was caught by the elbow of Killorn as he was slammed into the glass. "He was in a tough spot," said Tim Gleason, who rushed in to confront Killorn afterward. "He was facing the glass I think most of the way in. I think a little extra bump and thats all it takes. It almost looks harmless but its not." A hush encompassing the entire arena, Ranger remained down on the ice for quite a while, surrounded by concerned teammates and the teams medical staff. He was eventually helped off the ice on a stretcher, the intermission beginning with time still left on the clock and the Leafs left to wonder about the health of their fallen teammate. "Thats scary," said Joffrey Lupul of the incident, Killorn receiving a five-minute major and game misconduct. "Thats one of your teammates, your friends, a guy you see everyday. It didnt look great when he was leaving the ice. Youre trying to clear your head and focus on the next period, but you cant lie, obviously part of you is wondering whats going on with him." Ranger was taken to a local hospital and, according to the team, was "stable, conscious and alert". 3. Stamkos Dominates With the hat trick Wednesday, Stamkos now has 13 goals and 25 points in 20 career games against his hometown team. Seven games back into his comeback from a broken tibia, he scored his first of the night on a power-play – David Clarkson in the box – lost back-door by Gleason and the Toronto penalty kill. He added a second marker less than three minutes later, just a step ahead of Dion Phaneuf for position in front of Reimer. The Lightning captain completed the trifecta early in the middle frame. Capitalizing on a failed clearing attempt by Lupul, Stamkos beat his counterpart to an Eric Brewer rebound, banging it past Reimer for the fourth Tampa goal. "We had five guys around the puck," said Carlyle of the marker, which made it 4-2 for the Lightning. "We had five people in position, but we were coasting and we were watching." "Were just getting exposed," added Lupul. "The area in which Stamkos scored his goals, you dont want to give anybody, specifically anybody of that skill-set, that kind of space in that area," Carlyle concluded. 4. Reimer II His future almost certainly resting outside of Toronto, Reimer made no secret of his troubles and tribulations this season, relegated to backup duty. "Its been a really big test of character," he said. "Learnt a lot about perseverance, endurance, and fighting through adversity. Really hasnt gone the way Id hoped. I havent played, I dont think, up to my capability for the last little while. Its tough. Its not for lack of effort, not for lack of passion or desire. But things just arent clicking. Im working hard, trying to stay positive, believing in myself and I fully believe that things will turn around." 5. Depth Scoring Offensive depth for the Leafs has gone almost completely quiet. Lupul and one-time linemate Nazem Kadri – they were split against the Lightning – have just two apiece in the past 14 games. David Clarkson has totaled just four all season and one in the past 23 games. Nik Kulemin scored Wednesday for just the second time in the past 18. Peter Holland has gone 20 straight without a single marker, potting just one point in that span. And Jay McClement, a source of eight goals in 48 games a year ago, has just three in 70 games. All of which has upped the pressure on the teams top line to produce, their failure to do so often meaning defeat. Phil Kessel snapped a four-game goal drought with his 35th of the year against the Lightning and though dangerous, his line was held off the scoresheet otherwise. Toronto forwards have just seven goals in the past six games, carried by the defence which has eight, including four from Gardiner. Stats-Pack 5 – Consecutive games in which Toronto has allowed the first goal. 2-1-0 – Leafs record against the Lightning this season. 7 – Goals from the Toronto forward group in the past six games. 14 – Number of times the Leafs have outshot their opposition this season, including a 39-30 advantage on Wednesday. 22:39 – Ice-time for James van Riemsdyk against the Lightning, leading the team. 7 – Consecutive games with a goal for the Leafs defence. 5 – Goals from Jake Gardiner in the past seven games. 20 – Consecutive games without a goal Peter Holland. 2 – Goals for Nik Kulemin in the past 18 games. Kulemin scored his ninth of the year against Tampa. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3Season: 20.4 per cent (7th) PK: 3-5Season: 78.3 per cent (28th) Quote of the Night "Just like the rest of our team. I get in trouble when I comment about goalies with [the media]. I could say yes and no from here on in, but I dont think that would be fair would it?" -Randy Carlyle, asked about the performance of James Reimer on Wednesday night. Up Next The Leafs host the Canadiens Saturday in another key division clash. Cheap Replica Shoes China . Fourteen players were suspended last summer by Major League Baseball as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal, ranging from All-Stars to also-rans. Wholesale Shoes Brands . The second-ranked Jayhawks will play the Miners of Texas-El Paso at Imperial Arena in the Bahamas. The game can be seen live on TSN2 starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/. Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats. Replica Shoes Wholesale . Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp said there was no new information on the 80-year-old Hall of Famers condition. The family has requested privacy. Wholesale Shoes 2020 . The veteran NFL receiver received his work permit and is in Montreal for the start of the Alouettes rookie camp. Johnson even took in the Montreal Canadiens Game 5 win over the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre Tuesday night. PARIS -- You could almost hear the sigh of relief from her English teammates as Emily Scarratt broke through one tackle, evaded another and touched down in the corner of Canadas end zone. After having to fight for every inch against a resilient Canadian team, England needed a stellar solo effort from its star centre to cement a 21-9 win over Canada in the womens rugby World Cup final. Scarratt scored 16 points on Sunday, including 10 straight to close the gold-medal game, as England won its second World Cup and its first in 20 years. After England dominated in the first half, Canada closed to within two points on a Magali Harvey penalty halfway through the second. But Scarratt kicked a penalty of her own a minute later, then capped the scoring with a try six minutes from the end of regulation. "We had a couple of opportunities to score tries that could have made a difference, but because we didnt then they were full of confidence and more physical and fresher than us," Canada coach Francois Ratier said. "When you have two opportunities and you dont score, then its almost impossible. Its not a question of passion or heart. Its just a question of in the final of any sport, if you dont score when you have the opportunities, then the other team will take them." Scarratt received the ball from a lineout and ran past Mandy Marchak, fended off fullback Julianne Zussman and ran the ball in to give England some much needed breathing room. She kicked a conversion to cap a spectacular tournament for the England centre. "Its just a missed tackle," Ratier said. "We tried to tackle high but (Scarratt) has a really strong upper body. We should have gone lower but thats the way it is." Harvey had all of Canadas points on three penalties and finished the tournament with 61 points, second only to Scarratts 70. It was Canadas first appearance in the World Cup final. Its previous best finish was fourth, which it did in three consecutive tournaments from 1998 to 2006. England, meanwhile, ended 16 years of heartache by finally winning it after finishing as runner-up to New Zealand in the last three tournaments. Harvey was named the IRB womens player of the year after the game. Canadian captain Kelly Russell was also a finalist for the award. Harvey and Russell were two of the five Canadian players on the World Cup roster who were on the team that lost to New Zealand in the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens final. Canada fought to a 13-13 draw with England during the group stage, but it looked like a different English side in the first half on Sunday. They keyed in on Harvey and prevented her from making a game-breaking run as she did in Canadas semifinal win over host France. On offence, England used its size to exert all sorts of pressure, making several dangerous advances into Canadian territory. Scarratt opened the scoring 11 minutes into the match. England dreew a penalty after an impressive break from Natasha Hunt, who used her speed to run down the middle deep into the Canadian zone.dddddddddddd England could have come away with more early on, but Canadas defence held firm with some solid tackling. Canada was spared a try when Hunt was tackled near the touch-line. An official review declared Hunt had not moved the ball into touch when she was brought down by Andrea Burk. England kept coming, and Scarratt kicked her second penalty of the game at the 25-minute mark to put England up 6-0. Canada had trouble getting into Englands zone and it proved costly when Danielle Waterman capped a series of crisp passes and scored the games first try at the 33 minute mark. Scarratt missed the convert as England went up 11-0. "We were not able to match physically. At times we were dominant but they were more consistent," Ratier said. "They won some balls and we were not able to attack on the outside. We tried, but they were just better at defence." Canada finally started to get some momentum late in the half, and it paid off with a key penalty before the break when England was called for offside. Harvey converted the kick on the last play of the half to cut the deficit to 11-3. Harvey started the second half with two long penalties, the second from 42 yards out, and Canada suddenly looked dangerous trailing just 11-9. But that was as close as Canada would come. Scarratt responded with a penalty one minute later to restore Englands advantage to five points. Canada had some opportunities to close the gap, but Scarratt rescued her team when she scored a try with six minutes left in regulation, and added two points on a conversion. Canada continued to press for their first try of the game as time ran out. While the Canadians were able to get deep into Englands zone, the English did an excellent job of preventing any runs on the outside from getting through. "I was happy with how I played, how my team set me up, how they played," Harvey said. "Its too bad it couldnt go until the end, so it wasnt enough." Magalis scoring, including an incredible try against France where she ran the length of the field, has made her the breakout star of the Canadian team. Ratier said while she is a good teammate and a good player, she is still only one part of the team. "Shes a winger, so she scores tries because its her job," Ratier said. "Shes the first to get a bit annoyed when shes made out to be the star of the team, because she doesnt feel like that at all." But Ratier sees the value of having someone like Harvey become the face of the team, especially for a sport like womens rugby which is still finding a foothold in the Canadian sports landscape. "Its good for visibility, its good for marketing, its good for promotion of the sport, its good for the image big time," he said. ' ' '