CHICAGO - Derrick Rose had that twinkle in his eyes, that same relentless confidence he had when he won the NBA MVP award what seems like an eternity ago.The rhythm is coming back. The comfort level is growing. Rose is beginning to feel like himself again.You all are going to be surprised by the way that I am playing. Just give me a little minute, he said with a sly grin. I know where I am going to be. I know how good I am, and Im very confident with my craft and how good I am. Period.Rose showed more flashes of his All-Star form during Chicagos 105-80 victory over Brooklyn on Wednesday night. He scored seven straight points during an impressive stretch in the second quarter, converting a three-point play before driving inside for a layup and making nifty floater off a feed from Pau Gasol.Rose finished with 23 points, going 8 for 15 from the field and 4 for 5 at the line. He also went 3 for 7 from 3-point range after struggling from beyond the arc in the previous two games.I thought he was more aggressive in general the whole night, coach Tom Thibodeau said, and thats what we need from him. Hes got to continue to do that. I think the more aggressive, the better, the better it is for our team.Rose also played almost 24 minutes in his eighth consecutive start. Racked by injuries the past two seasons, this is his longest run since he made 11 straight starts for Chicago from Feb. 20 to March 12, 2012, according to STATS.I felt good. It felt like I havent played the game right now, Rose said in Chicagos locker room after the victory, and thats no disrespect to the other team. Just feel great. My body is healthy. Mind is good, spirit is good, just trying to keep it going.That has been the trick for Rose since he was limited to 39 games during the 2011-12 season and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia. He missed the next season altogether, and then played in only 10 games last year before a right knee injury shelved him for the rest of the season.He worked off some rust while playing for Team USA in the Basketball World Cup, but the beginning of the NBA season has been marked by starts and stops, with Rose and the Bulls opting for a cautious route that has frustrated a fan base eager to see the Chicago native on the court.Rose, 26, sprained his left ankle in the Bulls home opener against Cleveland, and then missed four of the next five games. He strained his left hamstring during a 100-93 win at Toronto on Nov. 13 and then missed four more games before starting his run of consecutive starts.While Roses health is an important development for Chicago, the point guards most replayed move of the season might have been when he wore a black I Cant Breathe T-shirt during warmups before Saturday nights 112-102 loss to Golden State.The shirt was a reference to Eric Garner, who died July 17 after a police officer placed him in a chokehold when he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. A recording of Garners arrest showed him gasping I cant breathe during the fatal encounter, and thousands have protested a grand jury decision not to indict the officer. Other NBA players have followed Roses lead and worn similar shirts.Roses sporadic play at the start of the season hampered his ability to get used to the players around him. The Bulls bolstered their offence by signing Gasol and Nikola Mirotic and drafting Doug McDermott this past off-season. Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah are much different players than they were when the 2011 MVP was a fixture in Chicagos lineup.I think all this is just a learning experience, with the team, especially with myself, havent played in two years, Rose said. So just picking and choosing when Im going to go out there and do what I am going to do. Really have to pay attention to detail, how the game is going and try not to let it slip that far down.Even after all that time on the sideline, Rose remains a big key to Chicagos success. The Bulls (13-8) are 4-1 this year when he scores 20 or more points.Like I always say, he makes a lot of things easier for a lot of different people on the floor, Butler said.___Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenapBen Gamel Jersey .C. -- The shot that would have beaten No. Custom Seattle Mariners Jerseys .The surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.Letestu had three goals and two assists in nine games before being injured in late October.The 29-year-old has 54 goals and 65 assists in 273 career NHL games, including 39 goals and 51 assists in 188 games with the Blue Jackets. http://www.marinersrookiestore.com/Mariners-Alex-Colome-Kids-Jersey/ . Watch all the action unfold live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. You can also watch the game live with the debut of Wednesday Night Hockey on TSN.ca and chat throughout the game with TSN. Nelson Cruz Jersey . -- Jerel Worthy and his Michigan State teammates charged across the field, holding four fingers in the air while celebrating another sweet victory over their biggest rival. Felix Hernandez Jersey . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said.TORONTO – Doing just enough to lose hockey games, the Maple Leafs playoff chances are dangling on an ever-thinning thread. They matched their second-longest losing skid of the year on Saturday evening, making an error too many in their fourth straight loss, a stinging 4-3 defeat to Montreal at the ACC. Falling further back of the Canadiens – now a five-point gap – and the surging Lightning for the final two spots in the Atlantic division, Toronto is hanging onto to the first wild card position in the East, in danger of falling out altogether if change doesnt come soon enough. “Weve been close, but close isnt good enough right now,” said Dion Phaneuf of four straight losses, all against fellow Eastern contenders vying for a spot in the post-season. Like in narrow losses to Washington, Detroit and Tampa previously, the Leafs shot themselves in the foot just a time or too many on this night, dropping the season series to Montreal in the process. “The margin of error now in these games is so, so, so close that one bounce or one misplay or one unfortunate mistake cost us points,” said head coach Randy Carlyle afterward. A stumbling start and more ineffective goaltending certainly didnt help matters, but it was simple errors in execution that ultimately set the stage for another defeat. Most notable among them were mistakes from two of the teams best players. There was an early and careless neutral zone turnover from Phil Kessel that fed the Canadiens first goal and a later failure from Dion Phaneuf to clear the puck that found the back of the net on Tomas Plekanecs eventual game-winner. “We worked hard,” said Carlyle, his team rallying from a pair of deficits. “[But] we have to work equally as hard and clean up some of the mistakes that we make. Turn the puck over in the neutral ice and it comes back to haunt you. Make a mistake on a turnover penalty killing and it comes back and haunts you. Those are difference-makers in the games and thats what happens when the intensity ramps up in all these games.” Running wild with points in the weeks before and after the Olympic break, Toronto had not lost four straight since the early days of January. They vaulted to 11 wins in 14 games after that stinging streak, requiring a similar resurgence now to keep hold of a second straight playoff berth. The sky may be falling in certain pockets of the city with memories of the infamous 18-wheeler still fresh, but in reality the Leafs situation is not dire to the point that they cant right themselves with 10 games to play. Theyve lost a series of close games of late, doing just enough to lose on each given night. Losses count the same though and that tide – now trending in the negative with clubs in Detroit, Washington and Columbus hunting them down – has to start shifting for the better in a hurry with the Devils up next on Sunday night. “Were still in a good spot,” said Phaneuf, ever optimistic afterward. “Obviously weve slid a little bit because of not winning games, but were still right there.” Five Points 1. Stunted Starts Toronto allowed the first goal for the sixth consecutive game and 37th time this season, actually falling behind by two for the fourth time in those six games. And while they managed to erase that deficit in short order, the trend of digging early holes is a definite negative at this point in the year and any point for that matter. “Its tough coming back,” said James Reimer of the constant need for rallies. “Weve proven that we can do it. Weve got enough character and desire in here to fight back in games, but it obviously makes it a lot tougher on ourselves.” Capitalizing on Kessels giveaway on the opener from Max Pacioretty, Montreal jumped ahead by two on a Rene Bourque breakaway, the Canadiens winger storming by the pair of Cody Franson and Jake Gardiner before beating Reimer with a weak shot glove-side. “I think maybe we just all need to be a little sharper when it starts and obviously me included,” said Reimer. The Leafs dropped to 11-22-4 when yielding the first goal this season. 2. Just Okay Reimers inability to fill the hole left by Jonathan Bernier continued Saturday with the 26-year-old yielding four goals on 36 shots. He owns a .899 save percentage during six appearances in place of the teams injured No. 1. Though he made some fine stops in allowing his team to rally from the early 2-0 hole – including a glove stop just moments before Joffrey Lupul scored the Leafs first goal – Reimer ultimately could not deliver enough of the timely big saves required for victory. This was evident on Plekanecs game-winner. Reimer slid right to left on Andrei Markovs cross-ice feed to Plekanec, but could not keep the shot – from just above the goal-line – from finding a slight hole. “I feel like its a tough bounce,” he said. “Obviously they made a good play to put it through the seam, but I thought I gave myself a chance to get over there, but it just found a way through.” Reimer remains winless on home ice since Jan. 15, last winning a start on Jan. 21. Bernier meanwhile continues to inch back from a groin injury, but not quickly enough for the teams recent fortunes. The 25-year-old skated for a third straight day Saturday morning, but will miss his fifth straight game Sunday against the Devils. “He still has some issues as far as hes not 100 per cent,” said Carlyle, &lldquo;so until hes 100 per cent hes not available to us.dddddddddddd” 3. Slow Ride A slogging rehabilitation of nearly five months finally came to an end Saturday for Dave Bolland, who returned to the Toronto lineup against Montreal. It was the first game for the 27-year-old since Nov. 2, when a tendon on the outside of his left ankle was sliced by the skate blade of Canucks forward Zack Kassian. He missed 56 games. “Hes progressed along over the last three weeks to a point where he feels and the doctors feel medically thats he close to a 100 per cent ready,” said Carlyle, wary of driving up expectations for Bolland, a favourite of his upon landing with the Leafs last summer. “I dont want to put too much emphasis on him specifically because when a player hasnt played in 60 games its a lot to ask of him to come back in and be where he wouldve been coming out of training camp and playing with our hockey club early in the season.” Bollands addition gave Carlyle his first full group of forwards at any point this season with neither injuries nor suspensions on the docket. All of which allowed him to comfortably employ four lines in the fashion he may have imagined at the start of the year. Indicative of a balanced attack and a considerable shift from recent weeks and much of the year, Colton Orr was the lone forward to play fewer than eight minutes against Montreal. “It gives you a little bit more depth throughout your lineup, a veteran guy, and it kind of slots people more into where we envisioned them at the beginning of the year,” said Carlyle, who reunited Bolland with Mason Raymond and David Clarkson. Bolland, whom the Leafs made room for by sending Carter Ashton and Peter Holland to the Marlies, was lost to injury in early November just a week after Tyler Bozak went out with a hamstring issue, drastically affecting the teams depth at centre ice. He played nine minutes against the Canadiens, keeping his shift lengths short at just 33 seconds. “That first shift was probably the hardest,” Bolland said. “Its getting the timing and figuring things out out there. You sort of got to get used to it. I think the heartbeat was hurting a little bit too.” 4. Secondary Offence Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri had combined for four goals in the previous 14 games, but landed a pair against the Canadiens. Lupul fired a rocket by Carey Price for the Leafs first goal midway through the first, Kadri depositing a feed from his 30-year-old teammate on a power play goal later which evened the score at three. With Phil Kessel and the teams top line cooling some in recent days – they did account for the second Toronto goal with Tyler Bozak notching his 16th – contributions from the likes of Lupul and Kadri will be required in the final weeks of the regular season. Toronto forwards had only seven goals in the previous six games, but accounted for all three on Saturday. 5. Ranger on the Mend Paul Ranger was in predictable shock in the immediate aftermath, but realized hed be okay when he was able to move his legs, hands and feet. Reversing to his left with less than five seconds remaining in the first period of a Wednesday tilt with Tampa, the 29-year-old was drilled from behind by Lightning forward Alex Killorn. He was helped off the ice on a stretcher, his teammates looking on with concern. “I remember just feeling pain,” said Ranger, suffering a neck injury on the play. “I know that my body and my mind just went into preservation mode. All I could think was just dont move, stay straight and breathe. I just kind of breathed three in, three out for the next 3-4 hours.” Ranger was taken to a local hospital that night, assessed and discharged. He remained off the ice for a third straight day Saturday and did not play against the Canadiens, his impending return to the line-up uncertain. Though he received word from Killorn in the aftermath of the collision, believing that no harm was intended, the Whitby, Ontario native nonetheless hopes that hits from behind receive more attention and study for improvement. “I think its something that happens a lot in our game and its dangerous,” he said. “Im thankful Im really strong physically and really fit and I think that really helped and probably saved me a little bit in this situation. I wouldnt want anyone else to go through that period, but especially someone whos maybe not as strong or not as heavy you could say.” Stats-Pack 212 – Man games lost to injury for the Leafs this season, including 56 from Dave Bolland, who returned from an ankle injury against Montreal. 2-2-1 – Leafs record versus the Canadiens this season. 9:01 – Ice-time for Dave Bolland in his first game since Nov. 2. .899 – Save percentage for James Reimer since Jonathan Bernier went out with injury. 5 – Number of 20-goal seasons for Joffrey Lupul, who scored his 20th of the year against Montreal. 8:54 – Ice-time for David Clarkson on Saturday, his lowest of the season. 11-22-4 – Leafs record this season when they allow the first goal. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-2 Season: 20.7% (T-4th) PK: 2-2 Season: 78.5% (28th) Quote of the Night “Weve been close, but close isnt good enough right now.” - Dion Phaneuf, following the Leafs fourth straight loss. Up Next The Leafs visit the Devils in a Sunday night affair at the Prudential Center. Authentic Steelers JerseysAuthentic Cowboys JerseysAuthentic Raiders JerseysAuthentic Chiefs JerseysAuthentic Eagles JerseysAuthentic Redskins JerseysAuthentic Falcons JerseysAuthentic Ravens JerseysAuthentic Browns JerseysAuthentic Cardinals JerseysAuthentic Bills JerseysAuthentic Panthers JerseysAuthentic Bears JerseysAuthentic Bengals JerseysAuthentic Texans JerseysAuthentic Broncos JerseysAuthentic Lions JerseysAuthentic Packers JerseysAuthentic Jets JerseysAuthentic Dolphins JerseysAuthentic Patriots JerseysAuthentic Jaguars JerseysAuthentic Titans JerseysAuthentic Chargers JerseysAuthentic Giants JerseysAuthentic Saints JerseysAuthentic Buccaneers JerseysAuthentic 49ers JerseysAuthentic Seahawks JerseysAuthentic Rams JerseysAuthentic Vikings JerseysAuthentic Colts Jerseys ' ' '