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MONTREAL – The question was posed to Jonathan Bernier, perhaps the busiest netminder in the National Hockey League this season and a man who has witnessed the strength of terrific defensive hockey in Los Angeles firsthand en route to a Cup in 2012: Can his Toronto Maple Leafs, currently the top wild card in the East, threaten a deep playoff run without raising their substandard level of defensive play? "Goalies got to be good," Bernier said with an almost uncomfortable laugh. "I personally dont think so," he continued frankly. "Because some games [the goalie] wont get those bounces and [the puck is] going to go in somehow. But we know weve got it in this room. Weve just got to pay the price to play better defensively and, if we do, Im pretty sure we can be one of the top teams in this league." Its an uncomfortable truth for a team that wrung up 11 wins in 14 games before the Olympic break and has designs on making noise in the playoffs after a long-awaited return last spring. This is a hockey club that struggles badly to defend and relies most nights on terrific goaltending and an incredibly potent offence to win. Its a formula that might yield success in the regular season, and it has for the Leafs thus far, but is unlikely to gain much steam when the hockey tightens in mid-April. Head coach Randy Carlyle has been beating the drum loudly on the topic all season, but doesnt have much to show for it. His group remains a work in progress. "Weve been trying and stressing that defensive hockey is whats going to give your team the best chance to qualify for the playoffs," said Carlyle after an instructive practice in Brossard, Quebec. "[But] were in the qualification mode. Were not in the playoff mode [yet]." Only five teams have been worse than the Leafs defensively this season and only one of those teams, the Ottawa Senators, has any hope of qualifying for the playoffs. Toronto has allowed a bloated three goals per game despite boasting some of the finest goaltending in the league with the 25-year-old Bernier. No team, in fact, puts more pressure on their goaltender to be great than do the Leafs. Only Mike Smith in Phoenix has faced more shots than Bernier thus far and hes started 10 more games than the native of Laval. "I think weve seen it," said Bernier of sturdy defensive play. "I think everyones seen it, but I dont think weve seen it consistently enough." Hurting the effort is a bad penalty kill, one thats allowed the most goals (tied) in the league this season, an unstable defence which includes young and growing parts like Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner and a high-end forward group that has shown only spotty attention to defence. A pile of goals and timely goaltending have been required most nights to win. That was true during an 11-2-1 run before the 18-day Olympic stoppage. Running, then, behind the all-world efforts of Phil Kessel, who has been the hottest player on the planet in 2014, the club scored 51 goals – 3.64 per game – but also allowed 41 on the other end. Theyve won despite being outshot in 36 of 48 games – they have a record of 21-10-5 in those games – and despite the fact that theyve allowed a league-high of more than 36 shots per game. Cody Franson, second on the back-end in minutes, believes the instability is tied to confusion in the defensive end, too much thinking rather quick instinctual reaction. "I think were still a little indecisive on things sometimes," he said. "We try and play a quite aggressive style of defence and sometimes when you think too much you end up being a half second slow compared to where you should be. That comfort level just isnt quite there with us yet. I think we still think about things too much." They allowed five in their most recent affair against the Islanders on Thursday night, an overtime loss to a struggling club that was without its best player and leading scorer, John Tavares, and their third leading point-getter in Frans Nielsen. Two of the goals came by way of short circuiting on the power-play with Michael Grabner scoring twice shorthanded in a span of 48 seconds on the same power-play. Another found the back of the net via the aforementioned penalty kill with two more coming on defensive breakdowns, including the overtime winner. "Gifts," said Carlyle after the 5-4 defeat. "Ive got no other word to describe the goals that we gave up." A drastic reversal at this late stage in the year seems unlikely, though Carlyle and the coaching staff continue to push and prod. They did so with any available ice during the Olympic break and continued at practice Friday, narrowing their sights on a tighter neutral zone and improved forecheck – efforts aimed at spending less time in the defensive zone. But with just 21 games to play, including a division clash with the Canadiens on Saturday, its probably safe to say that this is what these Maple Leafs are. The question now is whether they can, as currently constructed, make a little noise in the postseason (assuming they get in) or whether their defensive liabilities will prove too onerous to overcome. Last spring, they nearly toppled a Bruins giant, but required some lightning in a bottle and forgotten brilliance from James Reimer in Games 5 and 6. History points emphatically in the direction of those that can defend. In fact, the last three Stanley Cup winners finished the regular season as either the best or second-best team defensively. And though the Leafs are not yet in the Cup conversation, that remains the goal somewhere down the road. Dave Nonis and the Toronto management team have to be mindful of that fact as it relates to the larger construction of the roster, both now with the Mar. 5 trade deadline looming and over the longer term with the core thats being put into place. Are these the foundations of a club that can eventually win the ultimate prize? "You always see it every year, strong defensive teams win," said Jay McClement. "I think we have the make-up for it. But not without being strong defensively. Obviously, youre not going to win a lot of games 5-4 in the playoffs. We have the goaltending for it and have had it all year. Weve just got to cut down on these mistakes and well be fine. "Were not changing the way we do it, weve just got to do it better." England Jerseys . - Their offence is underperforming. Harry Maguire England Jersey . The Toronto Argonauts (11-7) look for an opportunity to repeat as CFL champions when they host the surging Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-8) on Sunday. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Harry-Kane-England-Jersey/. - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Ashley Young Jersey . Phoenix got injured centre Emeka Okafor and a top-12-protected first-round draft pick in 2014 -- giving the rebuilding Suns potentially four choices in the opening round. The Suns also sent guards Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown and Malcolm Lee to Washington so the deal will work financially. Marcus Rashford England Jersey . Re-signed by the club to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract on July 5, Bass appeared in three preseason games with Columbus prior to breaking a bone in his hand on Sept.Sky Sports Rob Dorsett talks us through his time behind the scenes at Leicesters Premier League title celebrations. A three-tiered cake, all in blue. Two water melons, carved with the faces of Claudio Ranieri and Jamie Vardy. A stuffed fox, draped in a Leicester scarf.These are some of the more outlandish gifts that Ive seen delivered to the King Power Stadium in the last week, in recognition of the most unlikely Premier League Champions. A water melon with Claudio Ranieris face carved into it It has been a strange week. A bizarre season. Captain Wes Morgan reflected on just how surreal it has all been when we spoke at the clubs training ground last week, the day after Spurs drew at Chelsea and that famous party at Jamie Vardys house in Melton Mowbray.At that party, Morgan was seen lying on his back, being dragged along the kitchen floor by Marcin Wasilewski. Now, the morning after the night before, Morgan looked stunned. He didnt know what to say, on or off camera. A strange-looking Jamie Vardy appears on another water melon Rob, I cant believe it. Whod have thought it? When I reminded him that he would be the one lifting the Premier League trophy, he was silent for a moment. He then started laughing quietly.Ive known Morgan since he was 17, when he came through the academy at Nottingham Forest alongside the likes of Michael Dawson and Jermaine Jenas. Leicester captain Wes Morgan admitted he felt drained after lifting the Premier League trophy In truth, Dawson and Jenas were always seen as the more stellar talents at the City Ground, by academy staff and fans alike, but it is Morgan who has gone on to greatness: his character is stamped all over the Leicester City squad.Strength of mind and body, honesty, resilience, determination. Morgan is the leader on the pitch and in the dressing room. If you want a message to get through to the players, you go through Wes. If theres a squad get-together to be sorted, Wes will sort it. Wes Morgan and Claudio Ranieri lift the trophy amid ecstatic scenes at the King Power stadium Frank Clark was the Nottingham Forest chairman who sold Morgan to Leicester in January 2012.I dont think Wes was appreciated enough by anyone at Nottingham Forest, he told me.The club had allowed him to get into the last year of his contract and he would have walked away for free in the summer. So in the end, we did well to persuade Leicester to pay £1m for him.But I dont think anyone realised what a force, what a character Forest were losing. Claudio Ranieri reflected on Leicesters amazing season and says he wants the fans to keep dreaming Now, that force is standing alone on the side of the training pitch, clutching a bottle of water, speechless. Overcome with emotion.It was an amazing feeling at Leicesters training ground last Tuesday. The club had kept a dozen or more camera crews and scores of reporters outside - we were the only live crew to be invited in.I was so busy chatting to the players that Leicesters head of media, Anthony Herlihy, had to prompt me to do the big interview of the day.Dont you want to interview the manager? he asked. Claudio Ranieri had been waiting a few metres away for a couple of minutes, apparently. By that time, we had already done Danny Drinkwater live to Sky Sports Now, and Morgan too. Kasabian member and Leicester City fan Serge says there is not much more he could wish for after seeing his beloved Foxes win the Premier League title I had just grabbed a few words with Ranieri in a huge scrum at the main gate, where several Italian broadcasters were literally fighting with each other to get their camera near to Ranieris drivers-side window.I managed to get my microphone under his chin, but as his car was surrounded, my cameraman Chris Alcock could not get a clean shot. So he made the inspired decision to go in front of the bonnet - this served the dual purpose of providing a clean shot of Leicesters manager through the windscreen - and prevented him from driving away. Genius.We got a few answers from him - and so did the Italians - before he inched forward and forced his car through the gates and into the sanctuary. Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dorma to Claudio Ranieri and the Leicester fans before their game with Everton Moments later, Leicesters team chef, Gary Payne, arrived with a tray full of bacon sandwiches and coffee for us, as he has done so many times before.dddddddddddd It exemplifies the friendly, genuine way in which Leicester is run. It was Garys way of making sure we, at Sky, were made to feel part of the party. This time, though, it seemed only right we share with our Italian counterparts and the feast was gone in seconds.Now pitchside, Ranieri and I had all the time and space to chat freely.He was the same as ever: smiling, calm, charismatic - taking it all in his stride. Former Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli insists fellow Italian Claudio Ranieri should be ranked as one of the best managers in the Premier League Yes, he admitted, this achievement had vindicated his own, deep-held belief that he would one day win a top division title. Yes, it was a special feeling. But, typically modest, he gave all the credit to his players.Those players were now in the middle of a training session, killing time while waiting for the clubs Thai owners to arrive in their personal helicopter so that they could start the official Premier League photoshoot.In truth, at this stage, the players were like kids playing on the local park. Nathan Dyer went in nets, while Vardy and Robert Huth rained shots at him. The diminutive Dyer then pulled off a brilliant flying save, high to his right, and went on a lap of honour before being tripped by Marc Albrighton and dived upon by his teammates. Leicesters vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha says there isnt any truth in reports the clubs owners are buying every player a new car We heard a low rumble overhead that announced the impending arrival of the owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.The pitch had been cleared for the owners entourage to arrive, all smiles and glamour. As the group of 20 or so made their way to the lower pitch, Leicesters club photographer, Neil Plumb, was trying to organise the players into a group ready for the team photo. While he was doing so, Wasilewski and Jamie Vardy managed to nutmeg him three times with a water bottle.He never noticed, but the Sky Sports News pictures became something of a cult internet hit thereafter. Myths busted by Leicester We look at the myths Leicester have busted on their incredible Premier League-winning season As they unfurled the Champions banners, and started chanting, I was again live in the background, offering a commentary. The Thai entourage closed in, camera phones primed and ready, and I had to politely ask them to move slightly to the side so that our camera could still capture the moment. With a polite nod of the head, they moved a few feet to the left and we got some great shots.Those pictures inside Jamie Vardys front room, as the squad crowded together to watch the moment when they were guaranteed top spot.The players, led by Morgan, obviously, were determined to keep the party private. They wanted it to be an occasion for them, together, alone. Finally, they agreed to allow a single club camera in to film them, if the moment arrived as they hoped. The crowning of the champions Lifelong Leicester fan Jordan Halford reflects on the coronation of the champions When it did, and Eden Hazard scored the equaliser against Spurs, we needed to get the extraordinary images onto Monday Night Football as quickly as possible. The trouble was, I was outside the front of Vardys house, along with several hundred elated Leicester fans.The only solution was to get Leicesters cameraman who filmed them, Sam Chambers, to scale a low wall to the side of the property, and hand his camera over while two police officers gave us cover, just feet from the jubilant supporters. It is still a huge relief that we managed to do that, without the fans realising. Srivaddhanaprabha insists the club will just be taking it one step at a time next season After the players left the training ground, to head into town for a meal with the owners and staff, we headed to the stadium, in a journey that took 45 minutes instead of the usual 10.It was chaos. All car horns and flags, smiles and chants. I remember doing the most eclectic and unlikely live report at the King Power Stadium later that day. Again, the club allowed us exclusive access to go pitchside, while outside the worlds media had descended.I bumped into Kasabian bass player Chris Edwards, who was checking out the layout of the stadium before the band play there later this month. Just behind him was Leicester fan Mark Selby, who the night before had won his second World Snooker Championship. It was that sort of day. Leicesters perfect party Leicesters 3-1 win over Everton was the perfect way to celebrate their incredible title triumph Id already booked the de Montfort Gospel Choir to perform for us, but could not let this opportunity slip. So, we went live to Sky Sports News with a rock star, a World Snooker Champion and a gospel choir. It kind of worked.There have been so many wonderful moments that I have been lucky enough to experience this season, from being close to this story, and to Ranieri and his group of players.Seven years ago, the club was in League One. Now, they are the Premier League champions.Leicesters sensational season will live long in the memory. Also See: Five Foxes up for annual award Kante hints at Leicester stay Dembele wont move to Leicester Mahrez wins Foxes fans award China NFL Jerseys White Cheap NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys 2019 Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Youth NFL Jerseys China ' ' '