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NEW YORK – HBO wanted Nazem Kadri to wear a microphone for a matchup with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins last week at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, but the 23-year-old politely declined. James Paxton Jersey . “Thank God I did because I was a mouthpiece,” said Kadri with a large grin. Kadri went toe to toe with Crosby that night – a 3-1 loss – jawing all evening with one of the greatest in the game. He had no trouble feeling like he belonged on the same stage as a player of Crosbys status, but with more challenging competition and significantly less luck than a year ago, he has found life considerably more difficult this season with the Leafs. Kadri had a scintillating 35 points through the first 34 games of last season, but through the same number of games this season he has a mere 22, still respectable but not quite at the electric level of his first full campaign in the NHL. Why the change? For one, quality of competition has increased for Torontos 2009 first-round pick. Because of injuries down the middle to Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland, Kadri has played higher in the Toronto lineup than he did in the lockout-shortened 2013. Since the start of December in fact, he has been paired with Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk on the top line, an audition which has presented its fair share of challenges. Kadri began with a bang, scoring twice against Dallas on Dec. 5, but since that point he has tallied just three points in nine games, the No. 1 unit unusually quiet through the first three weeks of the month. “Youre playing against a lot of good players,” Kadri told the Leaf Report before a Monday date with the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. “Youve just got to be consistent night in and night out basically.” Kadri was placed in an optimal role for success a year ago. Tucked in behind Bozak and Mikhail Grabovski on the depth chart at centre-ice, he lined up often against third and fourth lines, also rarely if ever squaring off against the oppositions top defensive pairing. And he took full advantage, totalling 44 points in 48 games, his skill often too much to handle. But with Bozak sidelined by an oblique injury until at least the end of December, Kadri, playing with the Leafs top-two scorers, has gotten the oppositions best just about every night. On Saturday against the Red Wings, he was held without a point or even shot on goal by Detroits top pair of Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson. “Hes a young player still cutting his teeth to become a higher level first line, second line centre, whatever word you want to describe an offensive player,” Randy Carlyle said of Kadri prior to the 5-4 shootout loss to the Wings. “Were asking a lot of a young player right now where last year we were able to use Nazzie more as a third line option and protect him from having to play up against the top two lines of other hockey clubs.” “Its everything I expected it to be,” Kadri said of the top line challenge. “Sometimes the puck swings your way some games, but defensively I think Ive really taken strides in the right direction. I know when youre doing everything else well those points are going to start to come.” Unlike last season, the pucks havent swung in Kadris favour very often so far. No player in the league had better fortune in 2013. The Leafs boasted a 15 per cent shooting percentage when Kadri was on the ice in five-on-five situations last season, the best mark of any player in the league. With luck on his side, Kadri accumulated 82 per cent of his overall at even-strength, his 36 points leading the team. Those numbers have predictably regressed this season. The Leafs shooting percentage with Kadri on the ice in five-on-five situations has dipped to 7.8 per cent, the 196th best mark league-wide. His offence at even-strength has fallen in tow, now counting for 59 per cent of his total attack. In spite of the elevated competition and predictable dip in luck, Kadri has still had a productive second season to date. He is on pace for 24 goals and 52 points, numbers about in line with those of a good second-line centre. Still quite young despite what seems like a lengthy tenure in Toronto, there remains plenty of room and opportunity to grow. (The faceoff circle remains one obvious point for improvement. Kadri has dipped to 42 per cent on the draw, the fifth-worst mark of any regular.) And if anything, his experience as the Leafs top centre – which will come to an end as soon as Bozak returns from injured reserve on Dec. 29 – should prove beneficial as a learning experience, a bar for Kadri to aspire to reach someday. “You just learn to be more responsible,” he said. “They rely on you more and I feel like thats making me a better player. Especially with how young I am, Im being able to develop with the best of the best and I think really thats the most important thing.” Babe Ruth Jersey . - The Detroit Lions have 13 takeaways this season — three less than all of last season — and the defence isnt the only unit pleased with the performance. Nestor Cortes Jr. Jersey . Jovanovski, the 2012 champ seeded fifth, will meet surprise Japanese qualifier Misa Eguchi on Friday. Eguchi, ranked 183rd, qualified for her first WTA main draw this week, then beat No. http://www.cheapyankeesjerseyschina.com/jonathan-loaisiga-jersey/ . -- Chris Crawford hit a 3-pointer with 1:36 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the 21st-ranked Tigers beat seventh-ranked Louisville 72-66 Saturday, sweeping the season series from the Cardinals.Almost 40 years to the day since playing their first ever match against San Jose Earthquakes, the Vancouver Whitecaps will face the Quakes once again on Saturday, as the club celebrates its 40th anniversary. But amidst the celebrations, its important the Whitecaps return to winning ways in Major League Soccer against an Earthquakes team that is below them in the Western Conference standings. The Form: Its now four matches without a victory for the Whitecaps who are yet to win against a Western Conference opponent this season, but they have tied their last two games against two of the top teams in Major League Soccer. In Utah last Saturday, the Whitecaps started terribly, going two goals down inside the first nine minutes against Real Salt Lake, but the second half was much improved, and a late comeback ensured the Whitecaps left Rio Tinto Stadium with a point. The Big Question: Will either of the Uruguayans be given the chance to start? Nicolas Mezquida and Sebastian Fernandez made an impact coming off the bench at Real Salt Lake a week ago, both scoring a goal, including a fantastic strike from Fernandez in the final minute of stoppage time to tie the match. Prior to the game, Carl Robinson said last week that the Uruguayan duo had been performing very well in training and wear very close to getting a start in the team. Mezquida has appeared in four matches this season, all as a substitute, while Fernandez started the season but then was left on the bench after a couple of less effective performances. With a Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC coming up on Wednesday, its likely Mezquida and Fernandez will start at least one of the two games. "Everyone will get their chance," said Robinson after training on Thursday. "As a player, all you want is the chance to play and show what you can do, and most of the players will get that chance." The Lineup: Chilean midfielder Pedro Morales missed the trip to Real Salt. Lake to try and heal a back problem that has plagued him in the opening weeks of the season, but if he has fully recovered, he is likely to return to the Whitecaps lineup. Once again, there is a big decision for Carl Robinson in the centre of defence. Last week, Jay DeMerit staayed at home as Honduran international Johnny Leveron partnered Andy OBrien at the back. Zack Britton Jersey. Robinson must decide whether to stick with that pairing and bring some consistency to the back line, or bring DeMerit back into the eleven. Nigel Reo-Coker played the first three matches of the season but hasnt played since due to injury, coachs decision and most recently illness. Its doubtful that Reo-Coker will be considered for the starting lineup but he could return on the bench. The Opposition: San Jose Earthquakes started the season with a five match winless run, but that came to an end last weekend when they won 1-0 at home to Chivas USA. The Quakes are yet to win away from home this season, losing 1-0 at Kansas City and tying 0-0 at Colorado. Yannick Djalo scored the only goal of the game against Chivas. The 27-year-old from Portugal is still adapting in his first few weeks in Major League Soccer as he gets fully fit, but he is a quality addition for the Quakes this season, joining on loan from Benfica. 2012 MLS MVP Chris Wondolowski has scored three goals in six matches so far this season as he looks to win a place in Jurgen Klinsmanns United States squad for this summers World Cup in Brazil. The 31-year-old has an excellent goal scoring record against the Whitecaps. On a day where there will be plenty of focus on the soccer history of Vancouver, it is fitting that there is a heavy Vancouver presence amongst the Earthquakes coaching staff. Head Coach Mark Watson played for Whitecaps in 1994 and 2005 while assistant coach Nick Dasovic previously played for the 86ers and was a player coach with Caps from 2002 to 2005. Both men are from Vancouver. The Odds: The Earthquakes are yet to win in Vancouver against the Whitecaps in Major League Soccer and the Caps must be favourites heading in. Carl Robinsons team are four points ahead of the Quakes in the standings but have played two games more. The Whitecaps continue to develop under Robinson, but they must start to put together 90 minute performances if they are to get back to winning ways. Where To Watch: Whitecaps against San Jose is live on TSN2 on Saturday. Were on air with a special Whitecaps 40th anniversary pre-match show at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt.