(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to pick up where they left off before the Olympic break when they visit the John Tavares-less New York Islanders in Thursdays clash at Nassau Coliseum.Toronto was one of several NHL teams that had hot streaks interrupted by the NHLs Olympic break. The Maple Leafs had won five of six right before the hiatus and the club is 11-2-1 over its last 14 games.With 70 points, the Maple Leafs are currently holding on to the seventh of eight playoff spots in the East. Toronto also is just one point in back of both Tampa Bay and Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division. The top three teams in each division get an automatic bid to the postseason.Toronto is aiming to qualify for the postseason for the second straight spring. Last season the Leafs halted the longest playoff drought in franchise history by making the postseason for the first time since 2004.The Maple Leafs emerge from the break with a road-heavy schedule ahead of them over the next few weeks. Toronto, which is just 11-12-5 as the away club this season, will play two straight and eight of its next 10 on the road.The Islanders, meanwhile, get to continue a five-game homestand on Thursday, but theyll do so without the services of captain and star centerman Tavares.Tavares helped Team Canada win the Olympic tournament, although he missed the semifinals and gold medal game after suffering a partial tear in the MCL of his left knee. Although the injury was originally feared to be worse, it will still keep Tavares sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. However, he will not need surgery as was originally believed.The culmination of the regular season could mark the end of the 2013-14 campaign for the Islanders, who are already 14 points out of the Easts final playoff berth.Tavares, who expects to miss 8-to-12 weeks while recovering, is New Yorks leading scorer with 66 points and is tied for the team lead with 24 goals. He is also third in the NHL in points.The Islanders lost seven of eight games before the break in a stretch that did serious damage to the clubs postseason chances. Without Tavares, the club expects to have a difficult time getting back into the thick of the playoff race.New York and the Leafs have split two meetings so far in 2013-14, but the Isles are 4-1-1 over the last six encounters between the clubs. Toronto, however, has won three straight and four of the past five games at the Coliseum.The Isles are 8-14-8 as the host team this season. The club is playing the third test of its five-game homestand tonight and will complete the stay on Long Island after welcoming New Jersey and Florida on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Munir El Haddadi Barcelona Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Sergi Roberto Barcelona Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. http://w... .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. [url=http://www.barcelonafcteamshop.com/Authentic-Jordi-Masip-Jersey/]Jordi Masip Barcelona Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Douglas Barcelona Jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg.ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks didnt talk about ending their nine-game losing streak against Miami. The Hawks only wanted to make up for the last loss in the streak -- an overtime defeat in Miami last month. Paul Millsap scored 26 points and the Hawks overcame LeBron James 30 to beat the Heat 121-114 on Monday night, leaving Miami to bemoan its defensive woes. "To us, this was a get-back game," said Atlantas Lou Williams, who had 12 points. "We felt we should have won the last one in Miami that we lost in overtime." James blamed poor defence for Miamis fourth loss in its last six games. "We scored enough points to win, so obviously it was defence," James said. "Especially in the first half." The Hawks led 71-70 at halftime. DeMarre Carroll finished with 19 points and Pero Antic had 17 for the Hawks, who beat Miami for the first time since Jan 2, 2012. It was Atlantas first home win over the Heat since Nov. 18, 2009. The Hawks have been rebuilt under second-year general manager Danny Ferry and first-year coach Mike Budenholzer. Most Atlanta players said they had no idea the Hawks had gone so long without beating the Heat. "I never even knew that," Millsap said, adding the Hawks were more motivated by Miamis back-to-back NBA championships. "Anytime you play Miami or any great team, you want to step up and play your best," Millsap said. "I think thats what we did today." Chris Bosh had 21 points for Miami, which was without Dwyane Wade for the second straight game. The Hawks set a season high for points in a half and points allowed by a Miami opponent in a half. The Heat trailed despite matching their season high for points in a half. It was only the second time in Miamis franchise history both teams had at least 70 points in a half. "I cant just pinpoint what it is," James said of the defensive woes. "Its a little bit of everything. At some point weve got to figure it out. Its just not good basketball right now." Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said the defensive problems were "all across the board, A through Z." "There just wasnt a lot of pride on that side of the court tonight," Spoelstra said. "We tried to win it on a shootout and then when our offence came up dry on the roaad toward the end, a couple missed shots and turnovers, we werent able to secure a win.dddddddddddd" The Hawks led 57-45 late in the first half and kept a 97-92 advantage entering the final period. Even so, Miami appeared bound for its eighth comeback from double-digit deficits of the season. With a large portion of the Atlanta crowd chanting "Lets go, Heat!" James sank a 3-pointer with 7:06 remaining for a 104-all tie. James made another jumper on Miamis next possession to give the Heat the lead. Carrolls 3-pointer for Atlanta tied it at 107. Miami took its last lead when Mario Chalmers, who had 17 points, made one of two free throws. The Hawks regrouped to lead 112-108 following two free throws by Millsap. The Hawks led 116-111 when a missed layup by Atlantas Shelvin Mack set up James three-point play to cut the lead to two points. Kyle Korver, who had 12 points, answered with a 3-pointer. James had a turnover on a bad pass and a missed 3-pointer on Miamis next two possessions. Wade, who missed his second straight game, said before the game there is "still a little soreness" in his knees. Some players on each team wore purple shoes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Kings hometown. Both teams and the officials wore "Dream Big" logos on their warm-up shirts. Kings daughter, Bernice King, delivered a brief message before the game. Korver hit a 3-pointer to open the second period, extending to 109 his NBA record of consecutive games with a 3. James was slow to return to his feet after he was hit in the back of his head by Korver, who was trying to block a shot with 3:18 remaining in the first half. Korver was called for a flagrant foul, but the call was overturned following a review. NOTES: The Heat and the Celtics each had 70 or more points in the second half on April 12, 1990, at Boston, the only other time Miami and its opponent each scored at least 70 points in a half. ... Spoelstra said G Toney Douglas, acquired in a three-team trade on Wednesday, was working out in Miami. ... Forward-centre Chris Andersen, who has missed the Heats past three games with a right knee contusion, returned with eight points. ... C Greg Oden did not play. ... Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the former University of Georgia star, attended the game. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '