the coach and the job hes doing because hes ve

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - When the Los Angeles Kings current and former backup goalies faced off in a defence-dominated game, Martin Jones and Jonathan Bernier matched each other for 58 consecutive scoreless minutes.The Kings goals in the first and final minutes added up to a skid-snapping shutout.Jones made 19 saves in his seventh career shutout, and Anze Kopitar scored 37 seconds into the Kings 2-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.Marian Gaborik got an empty-net goal to seal Jones third shutout in his last four starts for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who ended their three-game losing streak with just their second victory in seven games.We wanted to make sure we had a better start and carried it through the game, said Jones, who hadnt started since yielding six goals to Montreal on Dec. 12. We havent been playing our best hockey lately.Jones had played just once in relief of Jonathan Quick in the Kings past 12 games. Although he didnt exactly face an offensive onslaught by the Leafs, Jones made several big saves in the third period and narrowly edged Bernier, the goalie who he replaced as Quicks backup last season.Kopitar had a goal and an assist, and he returned to the game after Dion Phaneufs shot hit him in the face in the third period. Jeff Carter added two assists for Los Angeles.We were mostly just trying to pin the puck down and keep it in their zone, said Kings defenceman Drew Doughty, who had an assist while playing 28 1/2 minutes. I think we still had some lapses where we let them back in, but it was a good start.Bernier stopped 18 shots in the Maple Leafs third game under interim coach Peter Horachek, who will finish out the season after replacing the fired Randy Carlyle six days earlier.Toronto opened a tough four-game West Coast road trip with its ninth loss in 12 games, but took comfort in limiting its opponent to 20 shots for the second straight game — a rarity earlier this season.Well take that loss, because I thought we deserved better, Bernier said. Were feeling pretty good about ourselves, even though we lost. ... We have to look at the positives, and our game lately has been much better. Most of the West teams are playing really good defensively, and youve got to match that.The Leafs have lost seven of nine on the road, while the Kings picked up their first victory in four games on their seven-game homestand, their longest of the season.The Kings won without rookie Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli, who are tied for second on the roster with 12 goals apiece. Pearson is out indefinitely after breaking his leg in Los Angeles last game, and Toffoli missed his second straight game with mononucleosis.Kopitar wired a top-shelf shot past Berniers head in the opening minute, but the puck hit the in-net camera and came out so quickly that nobody except Kopitar was sure he scored. The teams played another minute before the goal was confirmed by video review during the first stoppage.Scoring chances were scarce in the first two periods, with both teams adeptly moving the puck out of their zone. Horachek has emphasized defensive responsibility and limiting shots in his first week in charge.We cant really play much better on the road, centre Nazem Kadri said. They got a fortunate bounce on their first shift, but I think we might have outplayed them. In the second period, we really got our legs going, played down low, possessed the puck and put pucks to the net.NOTES: Toronto C Leo Komarov went to the dressing room early in the second period after a hit from Kings D Matt Greene left him holding his right arm. He didnt return, although Horachek said he could have played. ... Bernier was on the Kings first Stanley Cup championship team in 2012, although he never played in the post-season while Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Los Angeles, which drafted Bernier 11th overall in 2006, traded him to Toronto in June 2013. ... Kings C Nick Shore didnt make his NHL debut after getting recalled from the AHL earlier in the day. Jim Otto Raiders Jersey . -- During Kansas shootaround on Wednesday before the Jayhawks faced Oklahoma, coach Bill Self told Wayne Selden Jr. Kenny Stabler Jersey . (AP) -- The head of the committee that developed Major League Baseballs plan to expand instant replay says he is optimistic the system will be in place this season, even though owners and unions for players and umpires have yet to approve. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Womens-Charles-Woodson-Inverted-Jersey/ . MacIntyre stopped 49 shots and the Marlies defeated the Texas Stars 5-1 in Game 1 of the American Hockey Leagues Western Conference final. "I felt in control, so that was nice," MacIntyre said. Derek Carr Youth Jersey .Y. -- AJ Allmendingers journey is almost complete. Jim Plunkett Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick.MONTREAL -- Montreal Impact management are confident that new coach Frank Klopas will get the team back on track after a horrendous start to the Major League Soccer season. Sporting director Nick De Santis said Thursday that Klopas has done a good job preparing the club for games and that he still has the players support. The winless Impact (0-4-3), who were leading the league at this time last season, are last in MLS heading into a home game Saturday against the Philadelphia Union. "The coaches, I can guarantee you, from the first day have done good work," said De Santis. "You can see the intensity from the players in every practice. "Yes theres tension and pressure, less confidence, but thats pro sports. I think the team believes in the coach and will come out of this." There has been speculation about Klopas future among fans and media as the winless run to start the season -- the worst in the teams 21-year history including its pre-MLS days -- drags on. It hit a fever pitch after last weeks 4-0 loss at Kansas City. If Klopas is feeling the pressure, he didnt show it. "I know its about results," he said. "Im not here to make excuses. "Im very thankful to be part of this organization. I think Nick and all of us work hard. Thats all I can do. I dont think about the other stuff. The only thing I can do is prepare the team and make sure we do as well as we can to get the team back on track." The Impact will play their first game on the grass field at Saputo Stadium after three home games indoors at Olympic Stadium, where they had a loss and two draws. Another defeat -- in the first meeting between the clubs since Montreal sent Andrew Wenger to Philadelphia for Jack McInerney in a swap of strikers last month -- would put more heat on Klopas, the former Chicago Fire boss who replaced the fired Marco Schallibaum in December. There has also been criticism of De Santis, who made no major off-season moves despite a late-season tailspin and a one-sided loss to Houston in the first round of playoffs in 2013. "I understand the frustration," said De Santis. "Im from Montreal. "I live here every day and I know how people feel. They have a right to criticize and Im in a position where I have to accept that. But Im very confident in this team and that, with a few additions, we can improve this team." Since the start of training camp, the Impact have added former New York fullback Heath Pierce, little used forward Santiago Gonzalez, and made the McInerney trade. De Santis said he is looking at adding a third designated pllayer to go with striker Marco Di Vaio and midfielder Hernan Bernardello, and that he has his sights on Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti.dddddddddddd He wont be able to sign anyone until the July transfer period, however. In the meantime, the Impact have been pleading for patience. Team president Joey Saputo wrote this week on Twitter: "Very frustrating start to the season. We need and will turn this around. Lets stay focused and determined. More than ever, we need our fans." Despite their record, the Impact are only five points out of a playoff spot as the entire Eastern Conference has had trouble winning. Kansas City and Columbus share the conference lead with 11 points, including only three wins each in six games. De Santis said that missing Di Vaio for the opening three games to a suspension and injuries to Bernardello and midfielder Sanna Nyassi have hurt. He said the team has also been unlucky and could have won a game or two that slipped away. Missing injured central defenders Nelson Rivas and Adrian Lopez has also been a problem as veteran Matteo Ferrari has found himself working with youngsters most weeks. Lopez, who blew out a knee after only one game for Montreal last summer, had his first full-field practice Thursday, but is not yet ready to play. The oft-injured Rivas looked ready to return two weeks ago, but is back to running laps during practice. Ferrari said he hasnt given up hope. "I like the coach and the job hes doing because hes very professional," the former AS Roma and Everton defender said. "He likes the details and he prepares the game well. "Theres nothing I can say negative. If I look at the standings, its bad, but the first place team has three wins, not five or six. So lets win a couple of games and then well be talking about something else." Klopas also talked about Jeb Brovsky, a workhorse under Schallibaum last season who became a fan favourite for his toughness and his extensive work for charities and other causes. The third-year fullback has spent most of the season on the bench while Pearce played left fullback. Brovsky is likely to stay there for now. "He played on the left side and Im looking for more of a natural left-footed player," said Klopas. "On the right side, we have (Eric) Miller and (Hassoun) Camara, so theres competition. "Jeb has handled it well. But to be fair, when you put him on the left side, its not ideal, even if he played well last year. Im looking for a left-footed guy that can open up the field, that can get crosses in. But hell get opportunities." ' ' '