TORONTO -- Morgan Rielly probably wont read this. Youth Blidi Wreh-Wilson Limited Jersey . Already wise beyond his years at the age of 20, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie defenceman learned during training camp that he cant check Twitter as often as he used to. That lesson has served him well during a season-ruining losing streak, but its still almost impossible to avoid the chatter in a hockey-mad city. "When youre out eating at Earls or something, its on a TV and theres people talking about (us), whether its the skid were on, trade rumours or how weve been playing," Rielly said Tuesday. "Playing here in Toronto there are people that arent afraid to have a chat with you if youre at the mall or something. Youve just got to learn to deal with that and cant worry about it too much." Roommate Jake Gardiner tries to take his mind off things by seeing movies, like "Noah" on the teams most recent off day. Coach Randy Carlyle doesnt try to put on sunglasses and a hood to hide from the attention because "thats not me." Even if the Leafs wanted to, theres no real way to escape the pressure -- something area natives and former players know all too well. "Its not fun for them right now, I know that," said Calgary Flames forward Joe Colborne, who spent the past three years in Toronto with the Leafs and minor-league Marlies. "Obviously theres a lot of attention, even out West, on the Leafs, so its well-documented, for sure. You definitely feel for those guys." Empathy was in short supply for Colborne with his Flames at Air Canada Centre seeking to extend Torontos season-worst skid. But even before his Detroit Red Wings sent the Leafs to an eighth loss in a row Saturday night, Mimicos Brendan Smith expressed some sadness at how friends Gardiner and Dave Bolland have to deal with the extra criticism that he called "nonsense." "I think for everybody its difficult," Smith said. "I feel bad for them with all that pressure. Its tough. Every professional athletes going to feel pressure in some kind of way, but its definitely tough here." Red Wings goaltender Jonas Gustavsson looked at the Leafs and recalled a "similar scenario" he went through in Toronto. That was the infamous run in the winter of 2012 that then-general manager Brian Burke compared to "an 18-wheeler going right off a cliff." Gustavsson went 0-3-1 during that 1-9-1 stretch that cost coach Ron Wilson his job. But as a Swede, he managed to avoid a lot of the negativity surrounding the team because he read coverage from back home, not in Canada or the United States. After experiencing that, hes quick not to make any blanket statements about how playing in such a big market affects players. "I think thats very individual," Gustavsson said. "I think some guys have no problem whatsoever with it because they dont really care about media and TV, things like that. Maybe some guys follow it more than others and maybe have tougher times with it." Flames forward Matt Stajan, who played five full seasons and parts of two more with the Leafs, brushed off the emphasis on the extra attention that comes with being in what some consider the centre of the hockey universe. "Its not easy. In Calgary if we lose eight in a row its not easy," Stajan said. "I think the pressure from the outsides one thing, but in the dressing room you have expectations as a team and you feel that pressure anyways. "People look too much at the pressure outside. I think youre in the NHL. As a team you have pressure on yourselves to win games and be at your best every night, and when it doesnt happen, youre feeling it." Theres no doubt the Leafs are feeling it, even if its not something players would like to admit. Assistant general manager Claude Loiselle said Tuesday on Toronto radio station Sportsnet 590 The Fan that players have been squeezing their sticks during this skid. In talking to reporters, players tend to shift the focus back to hockey and away from the white noise. "Its just a matter of keeping concentrated on just playing the game and not what everybodys saying," Rielly said. "You cant be too concerned about whats going on out there, you just got to worry about what youre able to control." No ones denying the talk is out there. Captain Dion Phaneuf conceded that in a results-oriented business, theres bound to be some heavy "scrutiny" on the Leafs. A losing streak like this in a place like this ratchets it up even more. "You look on Twitter or TV, its pretty much what everyones talking about right now," Gardiner said. "But were kind of used to that. ... You just got to have fun with it and try to ignore what people are saying." Mens Ropati Pitoitua Tennessee Titans NFL Jersey . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St. Mens Eddie George Light Blue Jersey . Kitna told The Dallas Morning News (http://dallasne.ws/1aaJ38v ) of his plans Wednesday. Kitna retired after the 2011 season, his 15th in the league, and was coaching football at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash.The Indiana Pacers squared their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Atlanta Hawks and will now go for the lead Monday night when they return home for Game 5. "Were back with the home-court advantage," Paul George said. "We cant get complacent with that. We got to be able to put this series away. This is a tough team and a team thats going to play til the end." George and David West knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to cap a big run in the final minutes Saturday, as the Pacers escaped with a 91-88 win in Atlanta. Georges shot with 2:11 remaining gave the Pacers the lead for good and Wests -- from the same spot on the high left side moments later -- ended an 11-2 run that gave Indiana a four-point lead with 1 1/2 minutes left. George later clanked two free throws off the rim with 7.5 seconds left and a chance to make it a two-possession game, but Atlantas Pero Antic missed a 3- pointer at the buzzer. "It (was) one of those games we have to do whatever it takes to win," said Pacers coach Frank Vogel. "I thought our offensive motor improved. Nineteen fast-break points might have been more than weve had in two months. Our guys got out and played with force and were pretty good when we do that." George had 24 points and 10 rebounds, West scored 18 points and George Hill added 15 for the Pacers, who sat struggling 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert in the fourth quarter for the third straight game. Mens Steve McNair Elite Jersey Lights Out Black. Hibbert, who started despite speculation he would come off the bench, was 3- for-5 for six points and picked up his first two blocks of the series. He has 24 points and 17 rebounds in the four games. Paul Millsap scored 29 points for the Hawks, but just 11 came after halftime as the forward battled foul trouble. Kyle Korver added 15 points, including three free throws after he was fouled late on a 3-point try from the right corner. Those shots got Atlanta within a point with 1:24 remaining, but Hill responded with a driving one-hander at the other end after grabbing an offensive rebound and the teams traded blunders after that. After Millsap threw a pass away, Korver deflected a Lance Stephenson pass at the other end, leading to a jump ball that Stephenson tipped out of bounds. Millsap missed a one-handed shot in the lane after spinning off Luis Scola and DeMarre Carroll fouled George on an inbounds pass, sending him to the line for the foul shots he would miss. Antic missed on his attempt to tie, so its back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. "I think were still a confident group," said Korver. "We let one slip away but we showed we can go and compete in the games (in Indianapolis). Thats what our mindset is now. We have to let this one go and get ready for Monday." Game 6 will be Thursday night in Atlanta.wholesale jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
