TORONTO -- All coach Randy Carlyle wanted his Toronto Maple Leafs to do was breathe. Anthony McCoy Jersey . "Thats been our catchphrase now, because you cant do anything if you dont breathe," he said. Breathe despite seeing an eight-game losing streak all but ruin their playoff chances. Breathe despite blowing a two-goal, third-period lead to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre. The Leafs did that, then got a chance to exhale with a 4-3 overtime victory that, if nothing else, keeps their hopes alive for another couple of days. "Were alive, but theres a lot of things that have to go our way," Carlyle said. "Make sure that we dont get too far ahead of ourselves. Weve only won two games here." Nazem Kadris goal 2:51 into overtime was just one of several pieces that must fall into place for the Leafs to rebound and make the playoffs as a wild card in the Eastern Conference. They likely need to also win all four of their remaining games, as they got no help Thursday night from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who beat the Philadelphia Flyers to remain one point ahead (85 to 84). The Blue Jackets also have two more games left to play, leaving the Leafs (38-32-8) to hope for help along the way. They could also have to lean on backup goaltender James Reimer, after starter Jonathan Bernier left Thursday nights game 7:22 into the third period with what Carlyle would only say was a lower-body injury. Bernier, who missed five games with a groin injury last month, was set for an MRI, according to Carlyle. In stopping 10 of the 11 shots he faced in relief throughout the remainder of the third and overtime, Reimer picked up his first victory since March 13. "Worried for Jonathans health, obviously. But its not worrisome with James coming in," winger Troy Bodie said. "Hes a good goalie, hes proven himself. He went in there and did a great job." Reimer had to do a great job because the Bruins (52-18-7) were pushing. They had already cut the Leafs lead -- which was built on goals by Paul Ranger, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk -- to one by the time Bernier was forced to leave. The play that led to Berniers injury even included a penalty on Ranger, who pushed Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron into the goaltender. Reimer came in and got the Leafs through the penalty kill before allowing the tying goal to Bergeron at the 12:51 mark of the third. "It showed some character to be able to come back against a desperate team like Toronto," said Bruins forward Milan Lucic, who scored Bostons second goal of the night 5:03 into the third. "These are the type of the situations you can find yourselves in in the playoffs." The Leafs can still dream and hope for the playoffs because Reimer stopped the next six shots he faced, holding on long enough to allow Kadri to eventually be the hero on the power play in overtime. "I tried to hold the boys in there and keep it close," Reimer said. "I had faith in the boys. They pulled it out, and obviously it was a good feeling." Any other feeling than the thrill of victory on Thursday night wouldve almost certainly ended the Leafs chances, especially given the Blue Jackets win in Philadelphia and their extra games left. Kadri said after the teams morning skate that he and his teammates were well aware of their spot in the standings, which is much further down than they were a few weeks ago. They also knew the Bruins were atop the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division and had all but clinched home ice throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. In losing back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 26 and March 1, Boston mightve picked up a vital lesson after a month filled with so much winning. "Its adversity that were going to face in the playoffs," Bergeron said. "Weve got to make sure that we realize that." Lessons in losing are cheap for the Leafs with time running short. They have just four games left, beginning Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Thats their home finale before travelling to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators to close out the season. Asked if he thought his Leafs would have to run the table to make the playoffs, Carlyle responded simply: "I just worry about the next one." That has been the mantra dating to Torontos losing streak, which ended Tuesday with a victory over the Calgary Flames. Now the Leafs are on a winning streak, their first since March 8 and 10. "Weve won two in a row now, so thats a starting point," Bozak said. "We have huge games coming up here to end the season. But that was a tough test for our team tonight, and we were able to come out on top." Just being able to come out on top against one of the NHLs top teams gave the Leafs a boost of confidence. But listen to players within the locker-room and there was never any of that missing. "We always have the confidence in our group no matter what happens and I think we have a good core group of leadership in here and guys that are all pulling the rope in the same direction," said van Riemsdyk, who hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. "We stuck with it, even though things were tough, were going to have to continue to take it one game at a time, one shift at a time and go from there." NOTES -- Winger Joffrey Lupul was scratched with a lower-body injury and replaced in the lineup by Jerry DAmigo. Carlyle did not know for sure but called Lupul "doubtful" for Saturdays game against Winnipeg. ... First-liner Phil Kessel, who has been playing with a bruised right foot, had two assists for his first multi-point game since March 10. ... Bodie played 20:29, by far a career-high. Carlyle explained that was a product of wanting to create a checking line to open up van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Kessel for more favourable ice time. ... Former Flames captain Jarome Iginla returned to the Bruins lineup after missing the Bruins 3-2 loss to the Red Wings with what the team called a lower-body injury. ... Bruins forward Carl Soderberg returned to Boston for the birth of his child, which meant Jordan Caron played his second straight game. Robert Turbin Jersey . A Los Angeles judge on Thursday said the case wont finish by Tuesday but will continue on July 21 because some lawyers for team owner Donald Sterling have personal plans. Sterling is suing to block his wifes unilateral deal to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. J.R. Sweezy Jersey . The Scotsman was dismissed only five days after being told by the club he would remain in charge for the "foreseeable future. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mitch Maier didnt particularly want to be on the mound. Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost didnt really want to see him there, either, but figured it was the best option. In the ninth inning in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Indians, Yost moved Maier from centre field and put him in to pitch to preserve an overworked bullpen. "Lets hope it doesnt happen again," Maier said after the 13-7 defeat. "I dont like to be put in that situation, but we needed an inning." It was the 11th time in Royals history theyve used a position player on the mound. It was Maiers second time, joining Jerry Terrell and Joe Simpson as the only Royals position players to do it more than once -- Maier threw a scoreless inning at Boston last year. The Indians led 13-5 when Maier entered. He worked around a hit and was the only one of the four Royals pitchers not to allow a run. "I was a lot less nervous this time," Maier said. "I wasnt trying to do anything fancy or throw curveballs or anything. I just wanted to throw strikes." With the Royals starting pitchers allowing 24 hits and 21 runs in 10 2-3 innings in the three losses, the bullpen was summoned often. "Mitch saved us," Yost said. "Louis Coleman saved us. If we had to go to one of the other guys that would have been two days in a row for them and they would be unavailable for us Monday." Coleman, who was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Omaha, threw a career-high 57 pitches in three innings. He gave up home runs on back-to-back pitches to Casey Kotchman and Jason Kipnis in the eighth. Travis Hafner hit one of the longest home runs in Kauffman Stadium history and Shelly Duncan homered and drove in three runs for Cleveland. For the first time in the Indians 111-year history, they scored at least eight runs in their first three road games of a season. Hafners home run in thee fifth inning off Luis Mendoza went an estimated 456 feet and was the first to land in a sports bar behind the right-field bleachers. Brandon Mebane Jersey. . It was the longest home run at Kauffman Stadium since David Ortiz, then with Minnesota, hit one 458 feet on April 8, 2001. "Ive seen a lot of games here and I havent seen a ball hit that far," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "That was pretty impressive. Hes hit two balls already that the people in Cleveland were used to seeing before he hurt his shoulder (in 2008)." Hafner went 3 for 4 and drew an intentional walk. Duncan hit a three-run homer in the Indians six-run third inning and walked in his next three plate-appearances. Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1), who had not pitched since April 7 while serving a five-game suspension from a spring training incident against Colorado, gave up four runs on nine hits and three walks in five innings to pick up the victory. Mendoza (0-2) was pulled after four-plus innings, permitting nine runs -- five earned -- on nine hits and four walks. "Its not the way we wanted to open up at home," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "It would say a lot about this team if we could bounce back." The Royals will try to snap a four-game losing streak Monday against Detroit and 2011 Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander. Brayan Pena had his first career-four hit game. Chris Getz added three hits, including a triple, and drove in a pair of runs with a second-inning single as the Royals took a 3-0 lead. NOTES: The Royals recalled Coleman from Triple-A Omaha and optioned OF Jarrod Dyson to the same club. ... KC RHP Felipe Paulino, who is on the disabled list with a forearm strain, is scheduled to throw 35 pitches Monday in an extended spring game in Surprise, Ariz. ... The Indians swept a series in Kansas City for the first time since April 2008. cheap jerseyscheap jerseys from china ' ' '
