TORONTO – The images of humiliation flashed across a screen one by one inside the Maple Leafs practice facility on Wednesday morning, images of mediocrity from two incredibly embarrassing losses. Willie Cauley-Stein Jersey . Lazy fore-checks. Lazy back-checks. Careless defensive positioning. All the little intricate details that slipped away so badly in a pair of one-sided losses to the Sabres and Predators. Obviously there was lots that we couldve chosen to go through, head coach Randy Carlyle said the next day, even managing a grin. Carlyle was hoping to highlight process over big picture with his job on the line and he got the response he was looking for on Thursday night. The Leafs left behind the embarrassment of recent days with a mostly thorough 5-2 win over the Lightning, ending a three-game losing streak while quieting the panic and weariness of a frustrated city. That, said Cody Franson, pausing to exhale, is a much better feeling than the one that weve been carrying around for the past couple days. Richard Panik, drafted and developed by the Lightning, scored to put the Leafs ahead for good moments into the middle period, Toronto ultimately holding the leagues most potent offence to just two goals and 28 shots. Their goal was to keep the latter number under 25, something theyve done all too infrequently in the past two seasons. That was our main focus, said Jonathan Bernier after a 26-save performance, to keep [them to] 25 shots or under against us, and we were pretty close to that. I thought we played a pretty solid game. His job security questioned repeatedly after a 9-2 loss to the Predators two nights earlier, Carlyle believed his team was more engaged, structured and relaxed against the Lightning. It was a far cleaner effort overall – far fewer turnovers – one that kept Steven Stamkos quiet until the final furious moments of the final frame. It was an example of what kind of team we can be when we stay disciplined to our system and manage the puck, Franson said. And that, generally speaking, was the intent of the video session just a day earlier – demonstrate, under increasing pressure from all corners of the city, that the path toward respectability wasnt so overwhelming or undoable. This isnt a mountain that were climbing or a building that we have to push over, Carlyle said. This is something that youve done all your life and all were expecting you to do is to continue to do some of the things and do them at a higher rate and do them more consistently. Consistency has been elusive for the Leafs all year. The team that beat Boston handily just over a week ago was remarkably different from the one that showed up Saturday in Buffalo. This team, the one that held the high-powered Lightning in check, was vastly changed from the one that yielded nine markers to Nashville. Carlyles message suitably after victory then was to start preparations for Detroit on Saturday. Wed love to be able to be more consistent for sure, he said. Thats a goal that weve set out. And tonight was hopefully a starting point for us. By no means do we think were over the hump. Five Points 1. Stamkos Kept Quiet Carlyle employed his top line and top defensive pairing against Stamkos and, for the better part of Thursday evening, they held him and linemates, Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan, in check. Stamkos scored late with the Lightning net empty and finished with five shots, but he was mostly quiet in defeat. Tampas captain had six goals in 10 career games previously at the ACC. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you dont cover one of the best players in the league, they have multiple ways of hurting you, said Carlyle. Additionally crucial for the head coach in limiting the leagues top goal-scorer since the 2009-10 season was his teams dominance in the faceoff circle. The Leafs won 65 per cent of the draws, led by Tyler Bozak at a remarkable 73 per cent (22-30). Toronto is now up to seventh overall in the faceoff circle, again led by Bozak, who is eighth-best in the league at 57.5 per cent 2. Point Streak Franson extended the longest point streak of his career and the longest currently of any player in the NHL against Tampa. Franson, in line for a big payday in unrestricted free agency next summer, rung up a point for the ninth straight game, totaling nine assists and 11 points in that span. The 27-year-old had never gone more than four games with a point prior to this streak. He is one game from matching Tom Kurvers franchise record for longest point streak by a defenceman. 3. Fourth Line Offence Colton Orr went 50 games last season without recording a goal or even a point. He was demoted in the fall as the Leafs – led by a revamped management team – veered toward a more conventional lineup, one that leaned more on skill and less on grit. Enter the likes of Richard Panik, who scored Thursday opposite his former team, his fourth goal of the year. Panik is now on pace for 17 goals, despite averaging only nine minutes per game, none of that coming on the power play. The 23-year-old is a good example of why the Leafs are better off using more capable players on their fourth line. He might also be deserving of some opportunity on the power play, especially given the ineffectiveness of the teams second unit – Nazem Kadri, Peter Holland and David Clarkson have just two power play goals combined. 4. No Pain No player in the league has thrown himself around more recklessly this season than Leo Komarov. And yet the 27-year-olds body is apparently no worse for wear. He claims to have no bumps or bruises, nothing to signify the nightly punishment his body endures. Ive been thinking about that, too, he said. I guess Im used to it. Komarov says he feels fatigue and the usual tightness after a game, but his body doesnt have anything bad on it as far as bruises are concerned. He isnt one for a regular dip in the ice-bath or hot tub either, but does visit a chiropractor two times a week. The Finnish winger took over the league-lead from Matt Martin in the hits department on Thursday. He threw four against the Lightning and now boasts 88 in 20 games. 5. Under the Microscope The Leafs were under siege after their hapless performance against the Predators, leading to what van Riemsdyk dubbed as a lot of over-analyzing in recent days. Starting his career with the Flyers, the 25-year-old is well-accustomed to the ranting of an engaged fan-base and media corps. Coming from a market like Philly, theres some very passionate fans there as well so you learn some lessons over the years I played there, he said. I dont really let anything faze me as far as stuff like that. Youve got the most passionate fans in the world here, a lot of coverage for our team so you know theres going to be a lot of people giving their two cents – deserved or not. So weve just got to be ready to not worry about that and worry about what were doing in there. Injury Updates David Booth is nearing his Leafs debut, but it seems a likely possibility that the 29-year-old heads to the Marlies first on a conditioning stint. Booth, who was suffering from a broken right foot, hasnt played in a game since the end of September, but has been skating with the big club for the past week. Sidelined since late October, Joffrey Lupul is also closing in on his return. Like Booth, it seems likely that the 31-year-old will be out through the weekend though. The Leafs will send Lupul for one last round of x-rays, intent on making sure his previously broken right hand is healed and in no danger of further injury. Stats Pack 6 – Goals for David Clarkson this season, besting the mark he set in 60 games last year. 11 – Points for Cody Franson during a career-high nine-game point streak, the longest of his career. 4 – Goals for Richard Panik this season. 7-0-0 – Leafs record when scoring first. 22-30 – Faceoff mark for Tyler Bozak against the Lightning. Bozak is eighth in the NHL at 57.5 per cent. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3 Season: 20.3% PK: 3-3 Season: 84.3% Quote of the Night I told them theyve got a better chance of seeing the big guy than that happening. - Randy Carlyle, responding to a players request for another optional morning skate on Saturday. They requested and were granted one on Thursday morning. Up Next The Leafs host the Red Wings on Saturday. Chris Webber Jersey . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Custom Sacramento Kings Jerseys . -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. http://www.nbakingsonline.com/Authentic-Vince-Carter-Kings-Jersey/ . Erik Cole scored on a breakaway with 4:49 to play, and the Stars rallied to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Saturday night. NAPLES, Fla. -- Shanshan Feng of China set a goal to win twice on the LPGA Tour in one season, which she accomplished in her final four starts of the year. The two wins could not have been any more different. Her first win was before a hometown crowd in Beijing and required no small amount of luck. Trailing most of the day, she hit a shot on the final hole that she figured was in the water. It barely cleared the hazard, took a weird and wild hop out of the rough, was running fast across the green and struck the pin to settle tap-in distance away for an eagle and a one-shot win over Stacy Lewis. "I think it was magic," she said. Sunday at the LPGA Titleholders was sheer skill. Starting the final round two shots behind and never thinking it was her tournament to win, the 24-year-old Feng ran off four birdies in six holes to take the lead, missed three birdie putts inside 6 feet that could have put it away, and then held off Gerina Piller with two birdies over the final four holes at Tiburon Golf Club. Feng closed with a 6-under 66 for a one-shot win over Piller to claim $700,000, the richest prize in womens golf. "I actually didnt think I was going to achieve my goal, but I made it at the last minute at the last tournament in Florida, so Im really, really happy," Feng said. The only trouble she faced was figuring out how to light the cannon that signalled the end of the LPGA Tour season. Feng was given that duty as the winner of the CME Group Titleholders, and once she was shown how, she was shocked at how quickly she heard the boom. Feng wasnt the only winner this week along the gulf shores of Florida. Here were the five biggest winners: FLAWLESS FENG: Feng played the final 31 holes without a bogey to make up ground on a strong leaderboard that included some of the best in womens golf. She only needed three holes to take the lead, and she came up with two big shots down the stretch. Her 7-iron into the 15th stopped 8 feet away for a birdie to give her a two-shot lead, and then she hit a touch pitch behind the green on the par-5 17th that set up a tap-in birdie. Those were important, because Piller made birdie on both in the group behind Feng to stay within range. Feng only wanted to get to 15-under 273, win or lose, and it turned out to be a winner. She is exxpected to go to No. Zach Randolph Jersey. 4 in the world ranking, and her $700,000 check allowed her to finish the season at No. 4 on the money list. AMERICAN GIRL: Lewis shot a 63 on Saturday that all but wrapped up the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. She was in position Sunday to win the tournament until a bogey on the front nine that slowed her momentum, and Lewis never got it back. Even so, she closed with a 71 to tie for sixth and became the first American since Beth Daniel in 1994 to win the Vare Trophy. "As Americans, we hear about that all the time -- its been 18 years or its been 20 years or whatever it is," Lewis said. "Im just glad to have that kind of checked off the list. Weve got to get American golf on the map. Thats been the goal and Im just fortunate Ive been playing good golf." INBEE PARK: Inbee Park closed with a 68 to finish fifth, but she was a winner all week. Park, who won three straight majors among her six wins this year, clinched the LPGA player of the year last week in Mexico. On Friday night at the Ritz-Carlton, she delivered one of the most moving acceptance speeches, including this line, "As soon as happiness became my goal, I achieved more things than ever." Park wound up winning the LPGA Tour money title for the second straight year, both times going over $2 million PILLERS BEST: Piller just bought a house in Texas and figured the $700,000 would go a long way toward paying that off. She came close. With birdies on the 15th and 17th holes, she stayed within one shot of Feng and at least gave herself a shot at a playoff on the 18th. From behind a small native bush, the wind at her back, she hit 7-iron from 162 yards from 10 feet and narrowly missed the putt. It didnt go in, but the stroke was not tentative. Piller finished the year by playing in her first Solheim Cup team, and her runner-up finish at the Titleholders was the best of her career. LOOKING AHEAD: One of the highlights of the season-ending event was the announcement of the 2014 schedule. In previous years, the schedule was so tenuous that it wasnt announced until January. LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and his staff put together a 32-event schedule, up nine tournaments from two years ago. The LPGA returns at the end of January in The Bahamas. ' ' '