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PHOENIX - Vince Wilfork still remembers the joy of being showered with confetti on the field where the New England Patriots won their last NFL title.Its something that you really cant put into words, he said of that celebration 10 years ago. Everybody looks at you as a world champion.Tom Brady was there, too, savoring his third Super Bowl win in four years.I was so young that I didnt understand what this was all about and how challenging this is, he said, because everything happened so fast at such an early part of my career.Now, in the latter part, theyre the only players from that team that beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Jacksonville, Florida, who are on the squad that will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday night.Older and, no doubt, much wiser.As elder statesmen on a team with 17 players who werent on the club last season, Wilfork and Brady advise youngsters who have helped keep the Patriots near the top of the league despite considerable turnover — 10 AFC East titles in 11 seasons starting when Wilfork was a rookie.Now hes a six-time Pro Bowler at defensive tackle. As the roster has changed — 18 current players were drafted by the Patriots in the past five years — hes guided newcomers.I have a great group of guys, Wilfork said of his fourth Super Bowl team. I wanted to be a part of getting them there because its not about me. Its about all of them.Hes had that selfless attitude for years, a confirmed believer in coach Bill Belichicks team above all else philosophy.Belichick brings in new defensive players and Wilfork helps nurture them.On offence, thats part of a job description Brady embraces. And hes had plenty of different teammates to integrate into the complex system.Starting with their last championship team, hes completed passes to 33 different wide receivers, 20 running backs, 15 tight ends, three offensive linemen and two linebackers.But there have been two constants: Belichick and Brady.Coach is always pretty consistent with how hes dealt with our team, Brady said. You dont ride the highs and lows of the season. Whether its one win or one loss, you just try to get better and make improvements, and youve got to play your best at the end.Then theres the simple message, Do Your Job, delivered repeatedly when Belichick speaks and when players see signs posted on their way to meetings and practices.When we put that slogan out there, I think that comes along with eliminating any distractions, eliminating any noise that is being talked about, Wilfork said. Its more important for us now to just fall back on our words and do your job and if we do our job, well be in a good spot.Belichick added veteran receivers the past two seasons and both made significant contributions.Danny Amendola caught 54 passes last season despite being sidelined four games. Brandon LaFell caught 72 this season.Then theres Jonas Gray.The running back started only five games at Notre Dame, was waived by Miami just before the 2013 season and claimed by the Patriots off Baltimores practice squad last January. In his fourth game this season with the Patriots, he ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns.He, too, learned from the veterans.Its the Patriots way, Gray said. They get you in there and they teach you how to work. You learn from the leaders of the team. You learn from guys like Tom and Matthew Slater. You just follow their lead and the next thing you know, youre here at the Super Bowl.A much more significant off-season pickup who tried to knock down Bradys passes in seven years with the New York Jets learned quickly what sets him apart.His desire to be so competitive, star cornerback Darrelle Revis said. Ive never seen it. You could put him in the category of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, just some of the great athletes in this world and Im talking different sports, too.On Sunday night, Brady will bring that intensity to his sixth Super Bowl, more starts in that game than any other quarterback.Its amazing, he said. 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Tied 1-1 going into the third, Colorado went ahead at 2:30 on a two-on-one with Jamie McGinn setting up Parenteau, who may not have known too much about it as the puck deflected in off his skate past a sliding defenceman Jake Gardiner. "Video review supported the referees call on the ice that Jamie McGinns shot deflected off P.A. Parenteau and entered the net in a legal fashion," the NHL said in explaining the call. "According to Rule 78.4 if an attacking player has the puck deflect into the net, off his skate or body, in any manner, the goal shall be allowed. Good goal Colorado." Avs rookie Nathan MacKinnon, the 18-year-old first overall pick in the 2013 draft, got an assist -- his fourth of the young season -- on Parenteaus third goal of the season. "It was a great team effort, great team effort," said Avs coach Patrick Roy. Joffrey Lupul scored for a depleted Toronto (3-1-0), which charged hard during a power play midway through the third period but was unable to score. "That was a big (penalty) kill for us," Roy said. "Guys were there for a long time, and then they sacrificed their body." Jay McClements absence due to his wife going into labour further stripped a Leaf lineup already missing Mark Fraser, Nikolai Kulemin and Frazer McLaren through injury and David Clarkson due to suspension. "Youre going to have to deal with adversity throughout the course of the season," said Toronto head coach Randy Carlyle. "And injuries and birth of children, family illness -- all those things roll into the things that you have to deal with. Were no different than anybody else." Said Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf: "We gave up too many chances. Bernie (Bernier) kept us in it. It was right there for us." While Torontos loss column grew by one, so did the Leafs family. McClements wife gave birth to a baby boy. Toronto seemed off its game, reflected perhaps at the morning skate when Carlyle huddled his troops early in a bid to focus them on the task that lay ahead. Colorado, playing an up-tempo exciting brand of hockey under Roy, outshot Toronto 33-28 including 15-7 in the second period. The Avs outhit Toronto 44-33 and won 60 per cent of faceoffs. The game, which started as a goatending display before 19,388 at the Air Canada Centre, was the first between the two teams since October 2011 and offered Toronto fans a first NHL look at MacKinnon. The centrre from Cole Harbour, N.ddddddddddddS., who is living with veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and his family in Denver, is playing on the Avs third line with McGinn and Parenteau. He has collected a point in each of his games including two assists in his NHL debut Oct. 2 -- at the age of 18 years 31 days. That made him the youngest NHL player to collect two points in a game since Jan. 8, 1944, when Ted Kennedy registered four points for the Leafs at the age of 18 years 27 days. MacKinnon did not look out of place, although a failed clearance from his own defensive end led to Lupuls goal. Bernier got the nod in goal for Toronto after stopping 46 of 47 shots in one start and a relief appearance. Both goalies were rock-solid with Bernier continuing to impress with his positioning and rebound control. Varlamov, meanwhile, had plenty of help from his defence in clearing loose pucks. It was a free-wheeling start to the game with few stoppages and a lot of rushes. Bernier had the crowd ooohing when he showed a quick glove hand in stopping Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog five minutes in. Varlamov returned the favour with a little over five minutes remaining in the period, sticking out a leg to deny Lupul in full flight. Carlyle, meanwhile, tweaked his personnel by pairing Nazem Kadri with tough guy Colton Orr and Carter Ashton on the third line. The fourth line featured Troy Bodie, Trevor Smith and Jamie Devane. The smooth-skating first period was followed by a sloppy opening to the second. But play began to open up and Toronto went ahead at 13:12 of the second when Lupul stuffed the pack past Varlamov on a scramble that ensued after a Colorado giveaway. The Avs goalie was down and seemingly had the puck underneath him but did not get a whistle and the Leafs jammed it during the ensuing melee. Lupul, scoring his second of the season, helped his own cause by bodying MacKinnon in the corner as he tried to clear the puck. Ashton got an assist for his first NHL point. Bodie and Colorados Cody McCleod fought after a faceoff late in the period as Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke, Bodies father-in-law, watched from the second row behind the Leaf bench. A late flurry by Bodie had Leiweke on his feet. The Avs finally solved Bernier at 16:39 when Sarich beat him from an acute angle high to the short side. The Leafs goalie seemed to be expecting a pass rather than a shot. "He made a good shot but thats definitely a save that Ive got to make and its a routine save," lamented Bernier. "Thats a goal that I want to take back." It was the 35-year-old defencemans 21st career goal -- and his first since Jan. 10, 2012. And it snapped a stretch of 56 saves and 110 minutes 50 seconds without a goal for Bernier. "Hes given us a chance to win every time hes been in there. And been spectacular at some points," said Lupul. "We cant ask anything more of him." ' ' '