Jill Scott says the passion for football in the North East is a

TORONTO -- James Reimer thinks about a lot of things. The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender had a premonition and told his wife hed play in Thursday nights game against the Boston Bruins. And he did, replacing the injured Jonathan Bernier. Before that, Reimer considered the possibility that he had played his final game with the Leafs after being in goal for five straight losses before Berniers return from a groin problem. Now that Bernier is lost for the rest of the regular season -- a minimum of three weeks -- with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, Reimer doesnt have to think about riding out the rest of his time in Toronto on the bench. His new challenge is trying to rebound from one of the worst stretches in his career lead the Leafs to the playoffs. "Ive had a lot of success in the past and had to carry the load in different scenarios, and Ive been successful in that," Reimer said Friday. "Youre a competitor and you love the challenges, especially maybe sometimes when the odds are against you. You just go out there and play your heart out and kind of hope that its going to be enough." Even with his best efforts, it might not be enough. With four games left, Reimer and the Leafs have 84 points, one back of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. Columbus has one extra game left, meaning Toronto likely has to win out and hope to get some help, too. The first task at hand comes Saturday night at Air Canada Centre against the Winnipeg Jets. Thats all Reimer, a native of Morweena, Man., is worried about. "The main thing is its not four games in a row," Reimer said. "As a goalie, you cant see it like that. You cant even win 60 minutes. Its about the first five minutes, the first minute, the first shot." Reimer did give up a goal on the first shot he faced Jan. 20 against Tampa Bay, and one within the games first six minutes twice more during a run of five straight regulation losses. The 26-year-old, who allowed 18 goals on 139 shots in that time, was made a scapegoat for the Leafs struggles. That did not sit well with centre Nazem Kadri. "It seems like when the team does not do well, hes the first guy that everyone hops all over, which really that shouldnt be the case," Kadri said Thursday night. "At that point when we were losing, the team in front of him just couldnt bring it together and just couldnt figure things out, and obviously the goalies left out there to dry by himself. We felt bad, and now its about time we have his back and step up to the plate." Itll take more than just Reimer to roll off four more wins, against the Jets in the home finale and then at the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators. But hes undoubtedly at the forefront now and said hell try to do his part. Reimer pointed to Thursday nights 4-3 overtime victory against the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins as evidence of his belief in why the Leafs can do the improbable and make the playoffs. "Maybe sometimes its not the prettiest, but we find ways to win," he said. "We pull together and we lean on each other and thats what it takes. With four games to go, no ones going to ask how we get points, just as long as we get them. I believe fully in this team that weve got what it takes." If Reimer can recapture past form that made him the Leafs starter -- and a good one at that -- hed have a chance to redeem himself and his team for last months losing. Hed also likely make a good case to another NHL team that hes capable of being a No. 1 goaltender somewhere. Saturday, against a Winnipeg team that has had its share of troubles in goal, could be the start of that audition. Reimer cant help but think about the future and what it holds for his career, but thats not at the forefront of his mind. "Honestly right now theres lots of thoughts swirling in your head about a lot of things," he said. "But now its just time to stop the puck. It doesnt really matter what transpires after the season or all that white noise, per se. All Im trying to do is just play my best and get those two points tomorrow and then go on to Florida. I try not to think about all this other stuff." From a team perspective, Berniers injury -- which happened in the third period when defenceman Paul Ranger pushed Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron into the goalie -- just adds to the adversity. "All the time in the NHL youre always provided with challenges through the course of the season, and this is just another one," coach Randy Carlyle said. "Our group has to continue to play to a higher level than we did in the last one. Thats what were going to ask of ourselves." In the process, the Leafs are asking Reimer to be stable and dependable. Beyond that, he doesnt want to put excess pressure on himself with the season on the line. "Obviously its a big game and some people might say its a must-win game and stuff, but when you start putting too much pressure on yourself, you cant perform," Reimer said. "Its a big game and we know whats at stake, but you cant really think about that. Youre just thinking about your own game and what you need to do to be successful." NOTES -- Joffrey Lupul is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, according to Carlyle, who said Thursday night the winger was doubtful to play against Winnipeg. ... Forwards Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Dave Bolland did not practise Friday because they were given so-called "maintenance" days off. Taylor Moton Jersey .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. Russell Shepard Jersey . Left-handed reliever Boone Logan agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. http://www.officialcarolinapanthersfootball.com/authentic-dj-moore-jersey-womens . DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. Shaq Thompson Jersey . The team of Lars Nelson, Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and anchor Marcus Hellner cruised to victory in the 4x10 km event, winning in a time of one hour, 28 minutes, and 42. Rashaan Gaulden Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (5) – He had good saves on Giroux, Akeson, and Hartnell tonight.Manchester City and England midfielder Jill Scott says the passion for football in the North East is a driving force behind the emergence of so many talented female players from the region. A number of current internationals - including Scott, skipper Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Jordan Nobbs and Carly Telford - hail from the North East and have all played at Sunderland at some point in their career.I think there must be something in the water, Scott told Sky Sports. Growing up I was always around football. I had a season ticket at Sunderland from the age of seven and I think there is just a real passion and a real love for the game up here. Durham-born Steph Houghton is Manchester City and England Womens captain If you look at all the players that have come through from the North East they are all hard-working and gritty. I dont know if thats because we played most weekends in the rain and the wind and that made us a lot stronger.But a lot of us played under Mick Mulhern at Sunderland and he was someone who would always give young players an opportunity.I remember playing with the first team around the age of 14 and some of my team-mates were around 29 or 30. Jill Scott has more than 100 caps for England It was tough being so young but giving us that opportunity at that age strengthened us.dddddddddddd He did that with a lot of young players and you can see them reaping the benefits of that as players now. Its fantastic to see so many girls from the North East coming through.Scott was speaking at a coaching session for 35 girls run by Evolution Soccer in Durham, where she joined Newcastle United Womens defender Emily Ellis.This was a fantastic opportunity to come along and team up with Evolution Soccer who run a lot of coaching academies for boys and now they have one for girls, Scott said. Jordan Nobbs (r) and Lucy Bronze (l) are also from the North East Ive been doing soccer schools for the last two years or so now and I absolutely love doing stuff like this. Its great to see how many girls are now getting involved.It was difficult for myself growing up because there were a lot of boys playing and you did get bullied sometimes because you were the only girl playing.But now seeing the girls and talking to their parents, they say their confidence has really gone up because they are around girls and not around boys all the time. 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