TORONTO – It took less than a week for life to sour for the Maple Leafs. Six days after rallying for perhaps their finest win of the season in the sunshine of L.A. – and second in the challenging California triangle – did they drop their third straight game Wednesday, sullied by the hat trick of Steven Stamkos in what proved a dour night at the ACC. "Obviously we havent played as well as we need to," said head coach Randy Carlyle following the 5-3 defeat. "And were not sitting here saying that were playing the type of hockey that is required to have success. Is it a trend? Well we lost three games in a row. If we show the desperation that we displayed in the last half of the game for 60 minutes we surely could improve our chances, thats for sure." With the loss – their fourth in the past five games – Toronto fell three points back of Tampa for second spot in the Atlantic with another key division match looming on Saturday with Montreal in town. Once in fine shape to make it back to the playoffs for a second straight spring, the Leafs are skidding at the wrong time and hurting those chances. They still hold the first wild card position (80 points), but have ceded ground to the Blue Jackets (76 points), Capitals (76), and Red Wings (75) – all have games in hand – also failing to keep pace with the Lightning (83) and Canadiens (83). Still struggling to defend, the Leafs have not had the brilliance of Jonathan Bernier to lean on during this recent three-game slide, nor have they been able to outscore opponents on the strength of their top line, a source of success in many victories this season. With 11 games still remaining they certainly have time to veer back in the right direction. "No sense in panicking," concluded James Reimer following the latest loss. Yielding the first goal for the fifth consecutive game on this night, the Leafs started sluggishly in their first game back from a lengthy five-game road trip, running around in the defensive zone. By the end of 20 minutes they were down 3-2 on a pair from Stamkos, also reeling from the scary loss of Paul Ranger (more on that in Five Points). "Weve had a trend over the last three games where we seem like were starting a little sluggish," said Mason Raymond afterward. "Were not getting the exact start that were wanting. I think later in the game we showed that desperation, but we need that for 60 minutes." Peppering 22 shots at Ben Bishop in the final frame – even pulling to within one on another goal from Jake Gardiner – Toronto made a late push, but like recent comeback efforts in Washington and Detroit, they ultimately fell short. Unhappy with a schedule that saw his team return from 10 days on the road only to host Tampa on the second end of a back-to-back – they lost to the Red Wings on Tuesday – Carlyle felt fatigue was an issue. "Its not an excuse," he said. "But its a trying situation. Its not easy. And you could definitely tell that they had more jump than we did, specifically at the beginning. But we started to play a lot more desperate and we showed that we have more in the tank. Its just that we had to run on some emotion. We didnt have that emotion in the first half of the game and we developed it in the second half of the game and thats the positive part." Five Points 1. Reimers Response Reimer returned to the net less than 24 hours after his performance in Detroit was criticized by Carlyle. His night started just as poorly as the night previous had ended, with Radko Gudas sailing a point shot through a maze of traffic and beyond the surprised 26-year-old. "I just didnt see the puck," said Reimer afterward. "Its a crappy way to start the game." Rarely looking comfortable, though not helped at times by his support staff, Reimer yielded five at the end of the evening on just 30 shots. He owns a .901 save percentage in his last five appearances, all coming consecutively in the past week. "Just like the rest of our team," said Carlyle, noticeably bothered by the swell of attention his comments the previous evening received. "I get in trouble when I comment about goalies with [the media]." "First thing I just wanted to come out and play well and be a difference-maker and unfortunately it wasnt the case," said Reimer. "I felt I made some good saves, but definitely wasnt the performance I was looking for. I wanted to come out and be big, keep your team in it. It just didnt happen tonight." Bothered by a groin injury, Bernier took to the ice Wednesday morning for the first time since he exited a long-awaited return to the Staples Center last week. He was expected to skate again in full equipment again on Friday with his status for a weekend back-to-back still in doubt. 2. Scary Incident Only 4.1 seconds remained in the first when Ranger was hammered from behind by Lightning forward Alex Killorn. Reversing to his left at the very last second, the 29-year-old was caught by the elbow of Killorn as he was slammed into the glass. "He was in a tough spot," said Tim Gleason, who rushed in to confront Killorn afterward. "He was facing the glass I think most of the way in. I think a little extra bump and thats all it takes. It almost looks harmless but its not." A hush encompassing the entire arena, Ranger remained down on the ice for quite a while, surrounded by concerned teammates and the teams medical staff. He was eventually helped off the ice on a stretcher, the intermission beginning with time still left on the clock and the Leafs left to wonder about the health of their fallen teammate. "Thats scary," said Joffrey Lupul of the incident, Killorn receiving a five-minute major and game misconduct. "Thats one of your teammates, your friends, a guy you see everyday. It didnt look great when he was leaving the ice. Youre trying to clear your head and focus on the next period, but you cant lie, obviously part of you is wondering whats going on with him." Ranger was taken to a local hospital and, according to the team, was "stable, conscious and alert". 3. Stamkos Dominates With the hat trick Wednesday, Stamkos now has 13 goals and 25 points in 20 career games against his hometown team. Seven games back into his comeback from a broken tibia, he scored his first of the night on a power-play – David Clarkson in the box – lost back-door by Gleason and the Toronto penalty kill. He added a second marker less than three minutes later, just a step ahead of Dion Phaneuf for position in front of Reimer. The Lightning captain completed the trifecta early in the middle frame. Capitalizing on a failed clearing attempt by Lupul, Stamkos beat his counterpart to an Eric Brewer rebound, banging it past Reimer for the fourth Tampa goal. "We had five guys around the puck," said Carlyle of the marker, which made it 4-2 for the Lightning. "We had five people in position, but we were coasting and we were watching." "Were just getting exposed," added Lupul. "The area in which Stamkos scored his goals, you dont want to give anybody, specifically anybody of that skill-set, that kind of space in that area," Carlyle concluded. 4. Reimer II His future almost certainly resting outside of Toronto, Reimer made no secret of his troubles and tribulations this season, relegated to backup duty. "Its been a really big test of character," he said. "Learnt a lot about perseverance, endurance, and fighting through adversity. Really hasnt gone the way Id hoped. I havent played, I dont think, up to my capability for the last little while. Its tough. Its not for lack of effort, not for lack of passion or desire. But things just arent clicking. Im working hard, trying to stay positive, believing in myself and I fully believe that things will turn around." 5. Depth Scoring Offensive depth for the Leafs has gone almost completely quiet. Lupul and one-time linemate Nazem Kadri – they were split against the Lightning – have just two apiece in the past 14 games. David Clarkson has totaled just four all season and one in the past 23 games. Nik Kulemin scored Wednesday for just the second time in the past 18. Peter Holland has gone 20 straight without a single marker, potting just one point in that span. And Jay McClement, a source of eight goals in 48 games a year ago, has just three in 70 games. All of which has upped the pressure on the teams top line to produce, their failure to do so often meaning defeat. Phil Kessel snapped a four-game goal drought with his 35th of the year against the Lightning and though dangerous, his line was held off the scoresheet otherwise. Toronto forwards have just seven goals in the past six games, carried by the defence which has eight, including four from Gardiner. Stats-Pack 5 – Consecutive games in which Toronto has allowed the first goal. 2-1-0 – Leafs record against the Lightning this season. 7 – Goals from the Toronto forward group in the past six games. 14 – Number of times the Leafs have outshot their opposition this season, including a 39-30 advantage on Wednesday. 22:39 – Ice-time for James van Riemsdyk against the Lightning, leading the team. 7 – Consecutive games with a goal for the Leafs defence. 5 – Goals from Jake Gardiner in the past seven games. 20 – Consecutive games without a goal Peter Holland. 2 – Goals for Nik Kulemin in the past 18 games. Kulemin scored his ninth of the year against Tampa. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3Season: 20.4 per cent (7th) PK: 3-5Season: 78.3 per cent (28th) Quote of the Night "Just like the rest of our team. I get in trouble when I comment about goalies with [the media]. I could say yes and no from here on in, but I dont think that would be fair would it?" -Randy Carlyle, asked about the performance of James Reimer on Wednesday night. Up Next The Leafs host the Canadiens Saturday in another key division clash. Yeezy 350 v2 Clay Fake . Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October. Cheap Yeezy 350 v2 Zebra . Here at TSN.ca we will take a look back at the season by bringing together a panel of experts to help pick the best 50 players of the season. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy...-wholesale.html. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Buddy Robinson scored 43 seconds apart in the second period to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Bulldogs in American Hockey League action Friday night at the Bell Centre. Yeezy Wholesale Authentic . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Core Black-Solar Red . -- The Oakland Raiders expect to have starting right tackle Tony Pashos back for Sundays game against the Houston Texans. NEW YORK -- The newest team in Major League Soccer is doing its part to fill Yankee Stadium with stars. New York City FC introduced Frank Lampard in Brooklyn on Thursday after signing the 36-year-old former Chelsea midfielder to a two-year contract. "Why not New York? Talk about ticking all the boxes. I want to carry on challenging myself." Lampard said at a news conference . "Thats a great challenge, isnt it? City of hopes and dreams. Thats where you want to go to and play isnt it?" The club owned by Manchester City of the Premier League and the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball previously signed David Villa of Atletico Madrid. Both City and Atletico won league championships last year, meaning the expansion soccer team set to begin playing home games at the ballpark in 2015 is also bringing more champions to the Bronx than Yankee Stadiums full-time tenants have lately. The news conference was held at Brooklyn Bridge Park, where several soccer fields share space on a pier in the East River across from Lower Manhattan. A couple dozen fans, many in blue Chelsea jerseys, gathered around to listen, at times cheering and getting laughs from the dais, where Lampard was flanked by club sporting director Claudio Reyna , chief business officer Tim Pernetti, and coach Jason Kreis. Lampard, who has scored 211 goals for England and Chelsea, became the latest international star to move to MLS. Most famous was David Beckham, who joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 from Real Madrid. "I think this is an incredibly exciting time foor the league," Kreis said.dddddddddddd Lampard is "a rare talent, one that scores a lot of goals from midfield, yet is also a disciplined defender and someone who reads the game brilliantly." Lampard was asked about a widely reported encounter with American travellers in 2001, shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when he and teammates were fined following reports they were behaving drunkenly and boorishly in front of the distraught Americans. "I was naive and a young boy at the time and I have some regrets," Lampard said. "I categorically didnt insult anyone, set out to insult anyone, behave badly in front of Americans or in fact anyone. Ive tried in the last 13 years at Chelsea to build up -- well, to just be a good man really and not just be a good footballer, but a good man off the pitch. ... Unfortunately it was very much misreported at the time in England and its actually a chance for me to finally say that." Lampard, speaking with the skyline behind him across the river, said he "of course" plans to visit the Sept. 11 memorial. "You visit this great city, you know what it means to New Yorkers. I think you go and pay your respects, so yes I will," he said. Kreis said the team examined the situation and considers the matter resolved. His newest player is someone with strong feelings about New York. "I want New Yorkers to hear that and see that," Lampard said. "Its up to me to show them here and prove the footballer I am and the person that I am." ' ' '