Forum » 10:08 and Toronto was caught on a 3-on-1 when Montreal

NEW YORK -- Roger Goodell believes the NFLs new player safety rules are working. Goodell participated in a series of meetings on player health and safety at the leagues headquarters Wednesday. He said the feedback he has received from coaches, players, officials and administrators has been positive. "The overwhelming reaction is that players are adjusting to the new rules, the new techniques," Goodell said. "I do believe that this is a very positive shift in the culture. Youre always going to have things that dont necessarily fit into that culture in a period of time, but people are recognizing when these hits dont fit into the context of the game." Asked about appeals officer Matt Birk overturning the one-game suspension for Tampa Bay safety Dashon Goldson for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New Orleans running back Darren Sproles, Goodell said he had not read the decision. But he stressed that the $100,000 fine delivers a message to Goldson and others that such hits must be eliminated from football. "Its not that there wasnt a violation of the rule, and its not that there were not consequences for violating the rule," he said. "So that, in and of itself, is a shift, and a positive shift that the culture is changing. But the culture doesnt change overnight, and we will probably always have violations of rules." The Buccaneers could wind up being punished financially for excessive fines accumulated by their players this season. In fact, any team is subject to such penalties. Fine amounts under the leagues club remittance policy for player safety count toward a team maximum of $105,000. If a teams players go over that, the club is fined $50,000. If the total of fines gets to $157,500, the club must hand over another $25,000 and match any subsequent fines or suspension amounts. The most an individuals fine can count toward the club total is $50,000, and Goldson already has two infractions worth $80,000 in fines. Tampa Bay is at $87,825 in 2013 -- just two games into the season. Goodell also said the league has compromised as much as it can with the players union on HGH testing. The NFL and NFLPA agreed in principle to conducting such tests in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, but the union has balked about procedural matters in the testing, and about the appeals process, for which the union wants neutral arbitration. Both sides have gotten much closer to finding a solution, but no testing is happening yet. "What does neutral arbitration add but more credibility?" NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "The majority of the policy that they already agreed to allows the commissioner to impose discipline, but an appeal is subject to neutral arbitration if the player so chooses. The players dont want an exception to the rule." The NFL will release its second annual health and player safety report next week. It will show that USA Footballs Heads Up Football program to teach the proper and safest tackling techniques has met with an overwhelmingly popular response. The NFL, which supports USA Football and the program, expected perhaps 100 youth football organizations to sign up this year; 2,800 have, covering more than 90,000 coaches and 600,000 players. "Next year, were going to look to get to all 10,000 across the country," said Jeff Miller, the leagues senior vice-president of health and safety. "We want youth football unified in a way that its taught safer and better." Cheap Sabres Jerseys China . -- Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf has been suspended two games for his hit from behind on Kevan Miller of the Bruins. Cheap Adidas Sabres Jerseys . "Yes, Id like to get them in," Detroits rookie manager said. "Mother Natures going to have a say in that." Sure enough, the Tigers had their game against the Kansas City Royals postponed because of rain on Thursday. http://www.cheapsabresjerseys.com/ .com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Sabres Jerseys .Y. -- When the New York Islanders lead was cut in half in the opening minute of the third period, the sense of impending doom began wafting through Nassau Coliseum.MONTREAL -- Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle had a gut feeling that James Reimer would rise to the occasion in the teams NHL regular season opener. It turned out he was right, as Reimer made 34 saves and Mason Raymond got the game-winner in his first game with the Leafs as Toronto downed the rival Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a fight-filled opener on Tuesday night. One of the fights led to a scary moment when Montreals new enforcer George Parros was carried off on a stretcher in the third period after falling on his face during his second bout of the night with Colton Orr. Parros suffered a concussion and went to hospital for further evaluation. Between the five fights in the game, Reimer made the saves and won a fourth straight start against Montreal. "That was the hunch," said Carlyle. "Hes played very well in this building in the time Ive been here. I felt he gave us the best chance to win." Reimer got the nod over Jonathan Bernier, who joined the Leafs from the Los Angeles Kings in the off-season. Reimer proved his coach right, even if he doesnt acknowledge the debate among fans and media over who should be the Leafs starter. "When Im in there, Im not competing against anybody on my team," said Reimer. "Thats not what its about. "Im competing against the other team, not the guys sitting beside me. They gave me the nod and I wanted to make the most of it and play my hardest for my teammates. And luckily enough, we won." Tyler Bozak scored shorthanded at 17:19 of the second frame and Raymond got the winner 5:10 into the third before Lars Ellers second of the night closed the gap to one goal with 2:22 left in the game. The Canadiens pushed hard in the closing minutes, but could not get the equalizer. "The execution by our team was not there," said Montreal coach Michel Therrien. "A lack of execution with the puck led to two goals and a lack of focus without the puck cost the other two." James van Riemsdyk and Dion Phaneuf also scored for Toronto, who play again Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Ellers three-point night included an assist on a Brendan Gallagher goal for Montreal, which next faces the Flyers at home on Saturday night. The Canadiens 350th consecutive sellout crowd was electric as usual for a Montreal-Toronto game and it didnt lack for action. But the mood turned sombre 2:34 into thhe third period when Parros was prone on the ice.dddddddddddd Orr had fallen and pulled down Parros, who was bleeding and looked woozy. Torontos trainers joined those from Montreal in treating him on the ice for several minutes. "Give credit to our training staff, our medical staff," said Canadiens defenceman Josh Gorges. "The doctors were out there in five seconds. They didnt waste any time. I just hope hes all right." The crowd chanted Parros name as he was wheeled off the ice. Carlyle credited his teams special teams for the win. They got the short-handed effort from Bozak and opened the scoring on a power play. "I thought out special teams were the difference in the game," he said. "The short-handed goal turned everything in our favour and the power play got us going. "But I liked that when we got up 4-2 we were able to play more of the grind game in the offensive zone and chew the clock up." The Leafs were on a two-man advantage when Van Riemsdyk partially fanned on a shot at the side of the net that slipped between Carey Prices pads 8:01 into the game. The teams were each down a man when Raphael Diaz slipped a pass to Eller for a goal at 10:08 and Toronto was caught on a 3-on-1 when Montreal got the puck behind Carl Gunnarsson and Eller fed Gallagher at 13:54. Phaneuf tied it 8:36 into the second as he broke in on the left side to put a wrist shot inside the far post. It was the 19,000th goal in Leafs history in 6,169 games since 1917. Bozak put Toronto ahead shorthanded at 17:39 when he poked the puck away from defenceman Andrei Markov at the point and went in on a break to beat Price to the stick side. Raymond finished a give-and-go with Troy Bodie 5:10 into the third. Price faced 38 shots. Montreal got a scare midway through the first period when Max Pacioretty left with an apparent wrist injury after a hit from Orr. He returned in the second frame. Notes: It was the fifth season in a row Montreal and Toronto played each other in an opener. Toronto leads 4-1, winning the last four. . . The Canadiens called up defenceman Nathan Beaulieu as insurance with Douglas Murray, Davis Drewiske and Alexei Emelin all injured.. . . Nazem Kadri played his 100th game for Toronto. . . Morgan Rielly was scratched for Toronto, while Montreal sat out Beaulieu, Michael Bournival and Ryan White. ' ' '