Beschwerden » Andrey Kuznetsov and Andy Murray saw

TORONTO -- Relief came in the form of James Reimer lifting his arms after making a shootout save on Antonie Vermette. By beating the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 in a shootout at Air Canada Centre on Thursday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs shook off the gloom and doom of recent struggles. "It hasnt been a good feeling around here the past couple days," said winger Joffrey Lupul, who scored the shootout winner. "Its funny how even with an ugly, grind-it-out win like that, you come to the rink tomorrow feeling a lot better about yourselves." The Leafs (18-16-3) can feel better about themselves beyond shootout goals by Lupul and James van Riemsdyk and a couple of stops in that competition from Reimer, who made 34 saves in regulation and overtime. Instead, this was a victory to savour for stronger play in regulation and the elimination of the kind of mistakes that led to 10 losses in their previous 13 games. "I thought individually guys really limited our turnovers and the chances we gave up for them to try and get opportunities," said centre Peter Holland, who assisted on Troy Bodies first-period goal. "It just goes to show that when we do execute what we plan on doing, things will fall into place for us." Maybe it was about time. Coach Randy Carlyle spent eight-plus hours at the rink Wednesday with the coaching staff on a day off for players devising what he hoped was a plan to turn the Leafs fortunes around. Presented at the morning skate was a blue print that included a harder forecheck and more aggressive defensive zone play. For the most part, the Leafs followed that against Phoenix (18-10-6). A strong forecheck was evident on Bodies first goal of the season and first in a Leafs uniform, thanks to work from Holland and Jerry DAmigo. The puck got out to defenceman Cody Franson at the point, and Bodie was in a perfect spot to put the rebound in on Canadian Olympic candidate Mike Smith. "(Forechecking is) something weve been stressing," Bodie said. "I think we did a good job of it on the goal. We got a good dump and we had two guys in on it right away and then the third guy joined. We were able to come out with it." Tighter defence than Toronto displayed in a loss two days earlier to the Florida Panthers helped the lead stand up until Martin Hanzal scored 15:08 into the third. Reimer, who started only because Carlyle said Jonathan Bernier was dealing with an unspecified "ailment," was satisfied with how his teammates contained the Coyotes and rebounded from a frustrating loss to Florida. "We all make mistakes," Reimer said. "We sometimes dont show up in a way we want to. I think youre judged on how you respond. I thought we did a great job tonight. We really came collectively and everyone bought in." Reimer turned aside attempts from Radim Vrbata and then Vermette in the shootout, but it was Smiths almost-save on van Riemsdyk in the first round that caused a lengthy review. Referee Paul Devorski assured Coyotes coach Dave Tippett that "110 per cent" it was in the net, and video review found it inconclusive so the goal stood. "Youve got to take him for his word," Tippett said. Devorski never signalled that it was a goal on the ice, which caused Smith some confusion. "He came and whispered it in my ear like its a goal, and he didnt really give a signal that it was," Smith said. "He made the call, he said he saw it go in. Its unfortunate, but thats the way it goes." Like the Leafs, the Coyotes were satisfied with an improved performance, despite this being their third straight loss. "We definitely took some good things out of that game," said Smith, who made 26 saves. "Its not all bad. We did a lot of good things well in the third period there to give ourselves a chance to get a point. As long as were in games, were giving ourselves a chance to win hockey games, I think well be pleased with it." Toronto didnt play perfectly, but players were nonetheless pleased with not only the result but the five-on-five play throughout regulation. "I thought we were pretty strong for pretty much the full 60 and we did things the right way, so that was definitely an improvement," van Riemsdyk said. "We stayed patient, kept it simple and guys did their job, guys battled hard. It was a good two points." Reimer was critical of his teammates after the loss to the Panthers, saying that some or all of the Leafs players dont show up for the entire game. Given how long he paused before delivering that answer Tuesday night, it was well thought-out. "Obviously I was frustrated, but I try and always answer (with) the way Im feeling -- in an honest way," Reimer said Thursday night. "Whether Im frustrated or whether Im happy, I try and answer objectively. I just answered how I thought I saw it." Relief was all over Reimers face after beating the Coyotes, and his words backed that up. "Really proud of the way the guys worked," he said. "They put in an honest effort. It was just a good game all around. I thought we played solid for 60 minutes." NOTES -- Gilbert Brule was in the lineup for the Coyotes, his first NHL appearance since May 15, 2012. Tippett said Brule, who played 12:39, was "flying" in his Phoenix debut ... Defenceman Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger and tough guy Frazer McLaren were healthy scratches for the Leafs. ... Phoenix recalled defenceman Rostislav Klesla on Thursday morning to replace Zbynek Michalek, who returned to Arizona to undergo further evaluation of a lower-body injury. Brent Honeywell Rays Jersey . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Brandon Lowe Rays Jersey . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/746i-bre...ersey-rays.html. The Incheon-based tea, of the Korea Baseball Organization said the deal for the 35-year-old Scott included a $50,000 signing bonus. Scott reached the major leagues with Houston in 2005 and hit 23 homers or more for Baltimore each year from 2008-10. Rays Jerseys China . Ontario Superior Court Case Management Master Ronald Dash released the decision on Monday, saying John McCaw Jr. must testify in front of a jury by live video conference. Moores lawyer, Tim Danson, asked the court to compel McCaw - who is based in Seattle - to testify in the case back on February 27. Ryan Yarbrough Rays Jersey . - Roger Federer squandered a big lead and lost to No.Novak Djokovic takes on talented teenager Borna Coric at the Madrid Open on Wednesday, aiming to improve his clay-court season. 2016 ATP Masters 1000 winners Indian Wells Novak Djokovic Miami Novak Djokovic Monte Carlo Rafa Nadal The world No 1 is bidding to bounce back from his shock second-round defeat at the hands of Jiri Vesely at the Monte Carlo Masters last month and will face 19-year-old Coric, who saw off Nicolas Almagro on Tuesday.Djokovic has won the Madrid Masters crown on one previous occasion, back in 2011 and he will want to up his clay-court preparations as he bids to win the one Grand Slam crown that has so far evaded him - the French Open. Roland-Garros gets underway on May 22 and despite his wobble in Monte Carlo, the Serb has already claimed two of the three Masters titles this year as well as the Australian Open.Djokovic is meeting Coric for the first time but the Croatian teenager already has two finals under his belt this season, including one on clay in Marrakech.Coverage on Sky Sports 1 gets underway at 11am on Wednesday and there is an all-Spanish affair to kick off proceedings on the show courts with Feliciano Lopez up against Roberto Bautista-Agut, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes on Albert Ramos-Vinolas.David Ferrer is up against American qualifier Denis Kudla, Juan Martin Del Potro will look to continue his return to form when he meets Jack Sock while eighth seed Tomas Berdych faces Denis Istomin. Masters of their Trade Nadal and Djokovic at the top of the tree One to WatchFourth seed Stan Wawrinka has been woefully out of sorts since winning the Dubai Open in February and Australias Nick Kyrgios is a very obvious threat - the pair also have previous after a verbal altercation in Montreal revolving around Wawrinkas girlfriend Donna Vekic.Already this season, the 21-year-old from Canberra has claimed his maiden ATP title with a win in Marseille and made no fewer than three semi-finals, one of which ended in him retiring injured against Wawrinka in Dubai while the Aussie produced a career best Masters effort in reaching the last four in Miami Masters. Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios have not always seen eye-to-eye Wawrinka, a double Grand Slam champion, has suffered defeats to David Goffin and Andrey Kuznetsov in Masters events thhis year and despite a run to the semi-final in Monte Carlo, he was outgunned by Rafa Nadal and could be an early casualty in Spain this week.ddddddddddddSurprise in StoreThe clay is always capable of throwing up an upset or two and already this week weve had 12th seed David Goffin and 14th seed Dominic Thiem fall by the wayside as well as Grigor Dimitrov, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Bernard Tomic falling to players ranked below them. Fabio Fognini , the maverick Italian capable of stunning the worlds best Wednesday could be a similar tale with Italian maverick and clay-court specialist Fabio Fognini more than capable of surprising number six seed Kei Nishikori.Fognini beat Tomic on Tuesday in their first round encounter and while he has been below his best for much of the season with several early exits, but coupled with his favourite surface, a top-ten player and a high-profile event that is usually when the mercurial Italian is at his best.The pair have met on one previous occasion with Nishikori victorious in four sets at the 2011 Australian Open, and Fognini is a very different threat on the red dirt with all three of his career titles coming on clay. In Case You Missed ItBernard Tomic was a first round casualty on Tuesday and effectively handed his opponent victory at match point in Madrid. Novak Djokovic is out to make amends for an early exit in Monte Carlo Rafa Nadal moved into the the last 16 with a routine win over Andrey Kuznetsov and Andy Murray saw of a resiliant and at times inspired Radek Stepanek to advance. Murrays Masters route Who could Andy Murray face in Madrid? You can follow all the action from Madrid on Wednesday with the action getting underway on Sky Sports 1 from 11am. Also See: Barry Cowans Madrid questions Murrays Masters route Latest scores Sign in to watch on Sky Sports 1 ' ' '