TORONTO – Their best chance to survive the lingering and uncertain absence of two of their most trusted centres wont rest on any one player. Instead, coming off their worst outing of the season, the Leafs will have to rise as a collective unit to withstand this latest bout of adversity. "It puts a strain on everybody else and it puts a strain on the other guys to make up some of the minutes that those two play and it gives another opportunity for other people to play higher in your lineup," said head coach Randy Carlyle, a day after the team returned from a week-long western Canadian road trip, shut out by the Canucks on Saturday night. Carlyle couldnt say for certain when either of his top two centres would be available to return from injury. Dave Bolland had successful surgery in Vancouver over the weekend and was due to fly back to Toronto on Monday. The 27-year-old suffered a lacerated tendon against the Canucks on Saturday, his left ankle sliced in scary fashion by the left skate of Zack Kassian. "Its too early to say," said Carlyle of a timeframe for Bolland, who had six goals and 10 points in his first 15 games as a Leaf. "They can say that its five months and then we hope its two. We dont really know until the healing process starts and they do an assessment and then well get more tightened in on the timeframe for you." Neither could he say with any certainty when Tyler Bozak would return. Leading Toronto forwards in ice-time this season (21 minutes per game), the 27-year-old has been out the past four games with a hamstring injury. The earliest he can return from long-term IR is Nov. 21. "Hes still a ways away," said Carlyle, adding that Bozak had not been working out nor riding the bike. The injured duo cant be replaced. Outside of Jay McClement, no two forwards are relied on by Carlyle in more situations than Bolland and Bozak (power play, penalty kill, opposing top lines). But in their absence, the Leafs must plug holes and move forward collectively. And they can start with 24-year-old James van Riemsdyk. For the first time since college, van Riemsdyk may just line up at centre (Leaf management is surely scouring for additional options), slotting in at Mondays practice alongside Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. "Hes played there before so it doesnt take rocket science to go in that direction," Carlyle said. A winger growing up and right on through the ranks of the U.S. National Development Program, van Riemsdyk last played centre for two seasons at the University of New Hampshire in 2009. He made that move oddly enough because Trevor Smith – having just completed his second season with the Wildcats and now a teammate in Toronto – decided to leave college hockey and take a shot at the pros. Already averaging upwards of 20 minutes nightly – a regular contributor on both special teams units – van Riemsdyk will be asked to continue his already impressive production at a position hes unfamiliar with in the NHL; he moved back to his natural wing position upon landing with the Flyers. "Its completely different – well not completely different, but there is a lot of differences," said van Riemsdyk of the adjustment, noting the need for additional work on the draw. "Its more a timing thing. Youve got to be used to the feel of it – its just a different feel. Whereas a wing, you play more in straight lines, you get to certain areas and youre going to be fine. Centre, its a lot more reading and reacting to different situations on the ice; reacting to how theyre forechecking and different things like that so you have to know how to read the different plays a little bit more." The Leafs briefly considered moving van Riemsdyk to centre prior to last season – he watched some video – but were never pressed into a situation where they had to try it. Increased contributions and opportunity also lie elsewhere. Lining up in the two-hole behind van Riemsdyk in all likelihood, the Leafs will also count on getting more from Nazem Kadri, who slid onto a line with David Clarkson and Mason Raymond at Mondays practice. The 23-year-old does have 13 points already this year, but is likely to see more challenging matchups on a consistent basis (he matched up with Evgeni Malkin successfully last week) with Bolland and Bozak both out. McClement is already logging huge minutes (nearly 17 per game, second highest of his NHL career), but he too, will be asked to do more in the absence of Bolland and Bozak, specifically in the face-off circle. The injured centres have combined to take 65 per cent of team face-offs this season. McClement has already seen his duties rise in this regard with Bozak out since Oct. 26; the 30-year-old took 28 face-offs against Vancouver, 28 against Calgary and 21 against Edmonton. An opportunity additionally lies in wait for Clarkson, who returned from a 10-game suspension on Oct. 25, totaling just a single assist in his first five games. All but absent from the power play so far – he didnt see a second in games against the Oilers and Flames – the 29-year-old should see increased opportunity on the man advantage, a position he held comfortably with the Devils (14 power play goals the past two seasons). A second line contributor for much of the past two seasons, Lupul too, should see his ice-time rise, riding on the top unit for the first time since 2011-2012, when he totaled 25 goals and 67 points in 66 games. Predictably, Carlyle expects more from the group as a whole. Despite boasting a sturdy 10-5-0 record (tied for first in the division), the Leafs have yet to appear at their best consistently this season; yielding nearly 37 shots against per night – second worst in the league – while totaling the most minor penalties to date. Only the superb play of their two goaltenders – James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier both rank amongst the league leaders in save percentage – terrific special teams and incredibly accurate shooting has kept the group afloat and swimming with some success (adversity tested previously due to the Clarkson suspension and other injuries to a slew of players). As Carlyle noted, "Injuries are a part of the life of an NHL hockey club. Were living our fair share of them and its just the next one along the way." No excuses can and will be made, especially in light of what the plucky Ottawa Senators accomplished last season. Led by head coach Paul MacLean, the eventual Jack Adams winner, Ottawa survived the absence of its top defender (Erik Karlsson), top centre (Jason Spezza) and top goaltender (Craig Anderson) and still managed to make the playoffs. And so, when asked how his team could help van Riemsdyk adjust to the centre ice position, Carlyle pointed not to an individual, but to the team at large and the coaching staff additionally. "Thats what really were trying to focus on is, were really not giving ourselves the best chance [to win]," he said. "Some of the things that we have been doing have crept into our game and theyve become more the norm than abnormal. And thats our job as a coaching staff to eliminate those things." "Whatever we need me to do to help the team win games, Im fine with," van Riemsdyk said. .C. -- When Michael Jordan speaks, people still listen. [url=http://www.nflofficialauthentics.com/nfl-jerseys/arizona-cardinals/jonathan... Cooper Cardinals Jersey . 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Pacquiao is coming off two losses and has not fought since his devastating knockout defeat at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez almost a year ago. Garcia said hes noticed subtle signs of decline in the Filipino boxer, once considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. "Everybodys end comes someday and it could be this fight," Garcia said. "He does have a lot to lose in this fight, and thats pressure not only for him but his trainer and everybody in his camp." "There are things Ive seen in his last two fights that maybe a lot of people who havent fought dont see. I went through those things and I already see them ... A lot of fighters go through the same things, they dont even tell their wives, but I can see it in him." Pacquiaos trainer Freddie Roach bristled when told of Garcias comments. There has been no love lost between the two camps since a physical altercation between them in the training gym on Wednesday. "When does he watch my guy? Does he see my guy train every day, does he see the sacrifices my guy goes through, does he see the roadwork we do every day?" Roach said. "If Manny shows any sign of slippage in training camp Id be the first to tell him its time to quit, and its not time yet forr sure.ddddddddddddI hope they are overconfident because Manny is going to destroy this guy." The undercard for the fight at The Venetian casino in Macau begins Saturday night, followed by the main event about 3 hours later. It begins early Sunday local time. Pacquiaos contentious points loss to Timothy Bradley, followed by his frightening knockout against Marquez had raised questions about whether he could ever get back to his top form, with Garcia among the doubters. "The Manny of three, four years before should have beaten Bradley," Garcia said. "Marquez is 40 years old and Pacquiao was supposed to beat him, to knock him out. Pacquiao got tired and he got knocked out, it wouldnt have happened three or four years ago. He hasnt dropped anybody since 2009." Roach acknowledged Pacquiaos recent failure to knock out opponents -- dating to his victory over Miguel Cotto in 2009 -- but said the Filipino fighter was eager to do so as way of announcing his return to the peak of the sport. "He could have knocked out a couple of guys since then, but his compassion got in his way," Roach said. "Coming off two losses, he knows he has to be impressive, and being impressive is not winning by close decision, being impressive is winning by knockout. "I dont feel Rios can go the distance with a guy with the talents of Manny Pacquiao. Its a world-class fighter going in against a guy who is a journeyman at best." cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '