TORONTO -- Relief came in the form of James Reimer lifting his arms after making a shootout save on Antonie Vermette. By beating the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 in a shootout at Air Canada Centre on Thursday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs shook off the gloom and doom of recent struggles. "It hasnt been a good feeling around here the past couple days," said winger Joffrey Lupul, who scored the shootout winner. "Its funny how even with an ugly, grind-it-out win like that, you come to the rink tomorrow feeling a lot better about yourselves." The Leafs (18-16-3) can feel better about themselves beyond shootout goals by Lupul and James van Riemsdyk and a couple of stops in that competition from Reimer, who made 34 saves in regulation and overtime. Instead, this was a victory to savour for stronger play in regulation and the elimination of the kind of mistakes that led to 10 losses in their previous 13 games. "I thought individually guys really limited our turnovers and the chances we gave up for them to try and get opportunities," said centre Peter Holland, who assisted on Troy Bodies first-period goal. "It just goes to show that when we do execute what we plan on doing, things will fall into place for us." Maybe it was about time. Coach Randy Carlyle spent eight-plus hours at the rink Wednesday with the coaching staff on a day off for players devising what he hoped was a plan to turn the Leafs fortunes around. Presented at the morning skate was a blue print that included a harder forecheck and more aggressive defensive zone play. For the most part, the Leafs followed that against Phoenix (18-10-6). A strong forecheck was evident on Bodies first goal of the season and first in a Leafs uniform, thanks to work from Holland and Jerry DAmigo. The puck got out to defenceman Cody Franson at the point, and Bodie was in a perfect spot to put the rebound in on Canadian Olympic candidate Mike Smith. "(Forechecking is) something weve been stressing," Bodie said. "I think we did a good job of it on the goal. We got a good dump and we had two guys in on it right away and then the third guy joined. We were able to come out with it." Tighter defence than Toronto displayed in a loss two days earlier to the Florida Panthers helped the lead stand up until Martin Hanzal scored 15:08 into the third. Reimer, who started only because Carlyle said Jonathan Bernier was dealing with an unspecified "ailment," was satisfied with how his teammates contained the Coyotes and rebounded from a frustrating loss to Florida. "We all make mistakes," Reimer said. "We sometimes dont show up in a way we want to. I think youre judged on how you respond. I thought we did a great job tonight. We really came collectively and everyone bought in." Reimer turned aside attempts from Radim Vrbata and then Vermette in the shootout, but it was Smiths almost-save on van Riemsdyk in the first round that caused a lengthy review. Referee Paul Devorski assured Coyotes coach Dave Tippett that "110 per cent" it was in the net, and video review found it inconclusive so the goal stood. "Youve got to take him for his word," Tippett said. Devorski never signalled that it was a goal on the ice, which caused Smith some confusion. "He came and whispered it in my ear like its a goal, and he didnt really give a signal that it was," Smith said. "He made the call, he said he saw it go in. Its unfortunate, but thats the way it goes." Like the Leafs, the Coyotes were satisfied with an improved performance, despite this being their third straight loss. "We definitely took some good things out of that game," said Smith, who made 26 saves. "Its not all bad. We did a lot of good things well in the third period there to give ourselves a chance to get a point. As long as were in games, were giving ourselves a chance to win hockey games, I think well be pleased with it." Toronto didnt play perfectly, but players were nonetheless pleased with not only the result but the five-on-five play throughout regulation. "I thought we were pretty strong for pretty much the full 60 and we did things the right way, so that was definitely an improvement," van Riemsdyk said. "We stayed patient, kept it simple and guys did their job, guys battled hard. It was a good two points." Reimer was critical of his teammates after the loss to the Panthers, saying that some or all of the Leafs players dont show up for the entire game. Given how long he paused before delivering that answer Tuesday night, it was well thought-out. "Obviously I was frustrated, but I try and always answer (with) the way Im feeling -- in an honest way," Reimer said Thursday night. "Whether Im frustrated or whether Im happy, I try and answer objectively. I just answered how I thought I saw it." Relief was all over Reimers face after beating the Coyotes, and his words backed that up. "Really proud of the way the guys worked," he said. "They put in an honest effort. It was just a good game all around. I thought we played solid for 60 minutes." NOTES -- Gilbert Brule was in the lineup for the Coyotes, his first NHL appearance since May 15, 2012. Tippett said Brule, who played 12:39, was "flying" in his Phoenix debut ... Defenceman Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger and tough guy Frazer McLaren were healthy scratches for the Leafs. ... Phoenix recalled defenceman Rostislav Klesla on Thursday morning to replace Zbynek Michalek, who returned to Arizona to undergo further evaluation of a lower-body injury. 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Nike Air Max 90 Herr Rea . -- Four months removed from off-season hip surgery, Pirates starter Charlie Morton is in camp with his teammates, hes throwing without limitations, and hes as eager as anyone to see this new-look team take the field. MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin McHales first night back at Target Center since his firing in 2009 started with quite a rude reception as the hometown fans who once adored him booed lustily during his introduction. The night ended on a much better note for him. Kevin Martin scored 31 points to lead the Houston Rockets to their seventh straight victory, 107-92 over Minnesota on Monday night in coach McHales first game back on the Timberwolves homecourt since 2009. "Its as good as the last one," McHale said when asked if this felt a little extra special. "Hopefully, it feels as good as the next one." Kyle Lowry had 16 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his second career triple-double and Samuel Dalembert grabbed 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who put the game away with a 19-1 run bridging the third and fourth quarters. Kevin Love had 39 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who committed 10 of their 20 turnovers in the fourth quarter in coach Rick Adelmans first game against the team he spent the last four seasons coaching. Love made 13-of-19 shots, including all five of his three-pointers, but the rest of his team was just 20-for-61 (33 per cent) and 0-for-7 from long range. Ricky Rubio had 12 assists for short-handed Minnesota, but the rookie scored six points on 2-for-10 shooting and turned the ball over five times. "Its frustrating," Rubio said. "When you win, no matter how you did, you feel good. When you lost, no matter what you do, you feel bad. Thats what it is." Wes Johnson was out with an illness, Michael Beasley missed his 10th straight game with a sprained right foot and guard J.J. Barea (hamstring) was out for the sixth time in seven games. "I have three guards and no small forward," Adelman said. "We tried to adjust but youre putting people out of position. ... We just didnt have enough answers." The Rockets started the season 3-7 and were 0-5 on the road against Western Conference foes entering the game. But the six-foot-seven Martin was way too much for Minnesotas small backcourt, overwhelming Luke Ridnour and Wayne Ellington with an array of cuts to the basket, turn-around jumpers and even a one--handed runner off one foot that swished through that gave the Rockets a 50-42 lead late in the first half.dddddddddddd The Wolves turned up the defence to take a 70-65 lead late in the third, but the Rockets blew the doors open with that big run to take control. Goran Dragic scored eight in the surge and finished with 14 points. "Thats just how our team is," Martin said. "Were a team full of good basketball players and thats what happens. Whoever has the ball in their hand makes the best of it and thats what we did once again." The booing of McHale was a startling reception for someone who once was one of this states most revered sports heroes. McHale grew up in Hibbing on Minnesotas Iron Range and starred at the University of Minnesota before a Hall of Fame pro career with the Boston Celtics. He took over as GM of the Timberwolves in 1995 and helped one of the leagues most woeful franchises become relevant when he drafted Kevin Garnett out of high school in June of that year. The Wolves made the playoffs eight straight years, the last a run to the Western Conference finals in 2004. The Wolves havent been back to the post-season since, with a series of ill-fated decisions by McHale contributing to their downfall. He was fired in 09 and spent two seasons in television before joining the Rockets this year. Adelman had a similar exit from Houston, with management deciding not to give him another contract after last season. Martin, Lowry and Luis Scola all went over to shake Adelmans hand before the game. Adelman spent four seasons in Houston and helped an undermanned team take the Lakers to seven games in the 2009 Western Conference finals. "Its always good to get balanced scoring and have everyone contributing to a win like that," Lowry said, "especially coming up here against a tough team with an All-Star and a great coach." NOTES: Minnesota rookie Derrick Williams got his first career start and finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. ... Ridnour had 17 points and eight assists. ... Rockets F Patrick Patterson picked up three fouls in just over 1 minute of playing time in the first quarter. He scored 13 points. cheap jerseys cheap nhl jerseys ' ' '