TORONTO – About a week ago, on a quiet Saturday morning, Randy Carlyle prodded the recent play of his usually potent top line, urging the need for our big guys to get going. But because the Leafs were finding offence from a variety of sources and winning games in mostly thorough fashion the usually-obsessive hockey hub of Toronto barely noticed. That changed Thursday evening when the Leafs stubbed their toe against the hurting New Jersey Devils, their first line hardly making a dent in a 5-3 loss at the ACC. I didnt think our top line was very good and the minutes showed that, Carlyle said afterward, the Leafs top line garnering third-unit ice-time in defeat. And while it may seem a very recent trend, Torontos top line of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak has actually been trending in the wrong direction offensively for the better part of a couple weeks. Theyve hit some on a mostly productive top power-play unit, but produced little to nothing at even-strength of late. Kessel, who still leads the team with 17 even-strength points, has just two such points in the past nine games and only one goal. van Riemsdyk, who recently described his start to the season as lacking, has just four even-strength points in that same stretch and is tied with Bozak for fifth on the Leafs this season (behind the likes of Leo Komarov, Nazem Kadri and Mike Santorelli). Only the 28-year-old Bozak has managed to consistently make an impact, most of that, however, coming on special teams. So often a one-and-done attack last season, the Leafs have gotten by just fine offensively despite that lack of production, ranking second in the league with 3.36 goals per game. Santorelli has emerged with 18 points already, including nine in the past five games. And quiet early despite fine underlying numbers, Kadri and linemate Joffrey Lupul have also recently come alive, the latter posting three goals and five points in three games upon return from injury. Spurred by an unusually quiet and almost withdrawn Kessel, the Leafs top unit spent most of Thursday evening stuck in the defensive zone, rarely challenging Cory Schneider and the Devils, who were playing without a whole slew of top players and had lost five straight previously. We had a tough time getting going, Kessel said a day later, denying speculation that he was hurt while also hinting that he was not at 100 per cent. I think we had a hard time getting into that game [Thursday] night. Its a line that struggles to defend – poor possession numbers indicative of that – one that typically gives up more goals than it scores, but also one that can be a force off the rush many nights – if sometimes sacrificing defence to do so. Kessel, van Riemsdyk, and Bozak have all been on the ice for more goals against this season at even-strength than theyve managed to produce, a trend that dates back to last year and even beyond that to the days of Ron Wilson (Lupul manning the left side of the line at that stage). Only this season has Carlyle (and a revamped coaching staff) started to trim their starts in the defensive zone, matching them less against opposing top lines and easing a burden its become clear they cant always handle. With new assistants Steve Spott and Peter Horachek at his side – along with incumbent Chris Dennis – Carlyle has opted for more of a two-pronged approach this season, often employing a second unit – be it one with Kadri or Peter Holland at centre – to counter-act the best the opposition can throw out there. Theres certain times that you go head to head [with your top line] and when you do you have the confidence that your guys are going to be able to at least manage the same amount of time in the offensive zone – youre not going to be held in your zone for extended periods of time, Carlyle said of the strategy earlier this week. Bozaks faceoff acumen (57 per cent) was an added factor, Carlyle says, offering that group more of an opportunity to start with the puck and make plays thus. It frustrates offensive players, guaranteed it frustrates offensive players if they have to play defence, he said. But rather than frustrate the Devils top offensive players (or what was left of them), it was the Leafs top line that proved frustrated on Thursday. Last night definitely we got frustrated in the end because we werent playing our best, Bozak said. We felt like we were turning it over too much and playing too much in our own end. As noted above, this is not really a new problem for the Leafs. Save for breaking up the line entirely, they could opt for the approach the Canucks formerly took with the Sedin twins. Under then-head coach Alain Vigneault, Vancouver planted Daniel and Henrik almost exclusively in the offensive zone, taking full advantage of their supreme ability to generate offence off the cycle. The trouble for Toronto in doing so similarly is the manner in which their top group generates offence. Thats in transition, the trio thriving off turnovers and speed through the neutral zone. Weve got to use that to our advantage, van Riemsdyk said of the speed game. Were a good skating line and we want to make teams pay when they turn the puck over. Key for Carlyle, conversely, is how they take care of the puck. All three of them can skate, he said. Management of the puck from deep in our zone through the neutral ice is the most critical. Like Wilson before him, Carlyle appears willing to put up with the lines defensive troubles if it can match, at the very least, those troubles with some offence. But thats not been the case of late, hence the push for something more. The key is knowing what we have to do better, van Riemsdyk said, but theres no reason for us to be panicking. Weve still scored a bunch of goals and played good offensively, weve just got to find a little bit more consistency with it and well be fine. Thomas Welsh Jersey . Selected by the Titans in the 2007 NFL Draft, Johnson rejoined the club last season after a five-year stint with Indianapolis. Nikola Jokic Nuggets Jersey . Gough finished in fourth, 0.433 seconds behind American Erin Hamlin, who took the bronze medal at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rzhanaya Polyana. http://www.authenticnuggetsproshop.com/Will-Barton-Jersey/ . Lack replaced an injured Roberto Luongo late in the first period then watched defenceman Chris Tanev score the winning goal midway through the third as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Jets 2-1 in a tight NHL game. Jarred Vanderbilt Jersey . The mood in Seattle was electrified as the parade featuring the NFL champions began near the Space Needle and made its way to CenturyLink Field, the home of the team. At a ceremony inside the stadium, the team thanked its loyal followers -- the 12th Man -- capping a day of boisterous celebration that drew an estimated 700,000 revelers to Seattle. Dikembe Mutombo Nuggets Jersey .com) - Eric Fehrs goal 42 seconds into overtime lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Columbus, halting the Blue Jackets seven-game win streak.CINCINNATI - With a 6-4 record, the Baltimore Ravens would be at or near the top of every division except one: their own. In the AFC North, it translates into last place.Its the only division where being good isnt good enough.Ive never been in a race this tight, this late in the season, Ravens tight end Owen Daniels said. Its pretty crazy.And historic, too.Every team in the North is at least two games over .500 this week: Cleveland (6-3), Cincinnati (5-3-1), Pittsburgh (6-4) and Baltimore (6-4). That hasnt happened in any division since 1935, when the Western Division had Detroit, Green Bay, the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals all two games above the break-even mark.The AFC North is topping itself after being the leagues most successful division over the last six years.Its always been competitive, but this year you are really seeing the youth and talent that has been on these teams stepping up and growing into those roles, Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. Its going to be a heck of a challenge to win this division. Its like the SEC, theres not really a front-runner. Winning the division — who knows how much it is going to cost you?Or how many are going to make it. The division sent three teams to the playoffs in 2011 and could do so again.Part of it is the scheduling format. The North was matched against the AFC South and NFC South, which have only one winning team (Indianapolis) among them and a combined 24-49-1 record. In games outside of the division, AFC North teams have gone 15-6-1.As it currently stands, the Browns would make the playoffs as the division champion. Kansas City (6-3) would get the first wild card. The Bengals, Steelers and Ravens are next in line.The Browns have been the biggest surprise, alone in first place in November for the first time since 1994, when Bill Belichick was the head coach and Art Modell hadnt moved his team to Baltimore. Cleveland is trying to extend the leagues history of at least one surprise team in the playoffs.Since the current format was adopted in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the post-season that didnt make it the previous year. The Browns have set themselves up to be one of this years newcomers.The meaningful games come at the end of November and December, quarterback Brian Hoyer said. Thats something this organization hasnt had in a long time.Things to watch in the NFLs toughest division down the stretch:LIVING UP TO ITS REPUTATION: Its had a dozen teams reach the playoffs in the last six yearss, two more than any other division.dddddddddddd Only Cincinnati made the playoffs last season, ending a streak of five straight years with at least two teams in the post-season. During that six-year span, North teams have reached the Super Bowl three times and won two titles.CAN THE BROWNS HANG ON: A doormat during that six-year stretch, the Browns have a chance to start adding to the divisions legacy. The biggest question is whether they can hold up under the strain of games where everythings on the line. The Browns have made only one playoff appearance since they returned as a franchise in 1999, losing to Pittsburgh in the opening round in 2002.Biggest games left: home vs. Bengals, finish season in Baltimore.WHAT TO MAKE OF THE BENGALS: A 24-3 loss to the Browns on Thursday night knocked the defending division champions out of first place and raised a lot of doubts about whether theyre capable of a fourth straight playoff appearance. Andy Dalton threw three interceptions and finished with a passer rating of 2.0. Their defence has dropped from third overall last season to 30th. And theres no quick fix for any of it. Five of their last seven games are on the road.Biggest games left: at Cleveland, host Denver on Monday night, at Pittsburgh to finish season.STEELERS HAVE IT IN THEIR HANDS: Pittsburghs schedule is in some ways the most favourable of the four teams, including a home game against the Chiefs and two against the Bengals in the last four weeks. One concern: Theyre 2-3 away from home and 8-10 in their last 18 games against teams with losing records.All the teams have gotten better, guard Ramon Foster said. Theyve raised their players in a way youre supposed to develop your talent, from Cleveland all the way up, and I think its going to be this way for years to come.Biggest games left: host Chiefs, in Cincinnati to end season.RAVENS DONT HAVE TOO FAR TO LOOK UP: Baltimore could just as easily be in first place right now. The Ravens lost both of their games to the Bengals in the closing minutes. Theyre 2-3 in the division with only one game left, hosting Cleveland in the final week. It wouldnt take much for them to jump from worst to first and reach the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.Biggest games left: at Texans, host Browns to end season.___AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Pittsburgh, David Ginsburg in Owings Mills, Md., and Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' 'win, and this time went 108 starts until winning the final PGA Tour event of the calendar year.It was really nice to see them run out on the green and see the excitement on their face, Hoffman said. We have been talking about it for a while. Its a little bit longer than I anticipated, but its nice to finally get it done.He referred to it as a low-stress round, with a few exceptions, including the final hole at Mayakoba.Stefani, who closed with a 69, made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 17th to get within one shot. Stefani then hit into a fairway bunker with a lip so steep that he had no option but to hit sand wedge some 50 yards short of the green. Hoffman hit driver that rolled up against the base of a tree, which forced him to play a left-handed shot back to the fairway.Hoffman safely played some 30 feet left of the hole. Stefanis pitch came up woefully short, and he chipped to 5 feet. That allowed Hoffman two putts for the win, and he rolled his par putt to within 18 inches for a tap-in bogey.Hoffman finished at 17-under 267.Lee ran off seven straight birdies on the front nine to take the lead, but the former U.S. Amateur champion couldnt hold on. Lee didnt make another birdie the rest of the way, droopping three shots on the back nine for a 67.ddddddddddddHe finished two shots behind in a tie for third with Andres Gonzalez, who had a 67 for his best career finish.I think I was a little bit nervous and I was rushing myself, Lee said. I should have taken a little bit more time.Jason Bohn, the 54-hole leader, shot 40 on the front to fall out of contention. He closed with a 74 and tied for seventh.Carlos Ortiz (68) and Oscar Fraustro (69) both played well in their native country and tied for ninth. Ortiz was the Web.com Tour player of the year in 2014 with three victories. Fraustro will get into the Sony Open at the start of next year by finishing in the top 10.Hoffman goes to Hawaii one week early by qualifying for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. Hoffman also gets to return to the Masters for the first time since 2011.Hoffman needed some help from Lee, who began missing all the putts he had been making on the front nine. And he needed a little luck. He was one shot behind Stefani on the par-5 13th hole when Hoffman feared his tee shot went into a hazard. It barely stayed in play, and he went on to make birdie. Stefani, who drove into the fairway, hit his second shot into a hazard and made bogey.That was a big change in momentum, Hoffman said.The two-shot swing sent Hoffman on his way. He missed a pair of short birdie putts on the 14th and 15th holes, and then hit an approach to 2 feet on the 16th to build a two-shot lead with two holes to play.Hoffmans wife and two young daughters greeted him on the 18th when he tapped in his final shot. The last time Hoffman won, his wife was pregnant with their first child.My daughter has been wanting to go Hawaii, so I guess well make a New Years run, Hoffman said.The question is which caddie goes with him. He fired his longtime caddie a few weeks ago. A replacement came down with neck spasms and couldnt go to Mexico, so Hoffman used Brett Waldman, who had been working for David Toms.. ' ' '